Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-07-27
rwENrY- SEVENTH coNGREss..lst Session.
I'M: PERTURBATION BILL.
Remarks Of III. Rheu in Mc H. of REPRESENTATIVES,

~ fs4N 4 $50 IsS II SoNSNElSs..lst s>t~Nioh
TilH FDGIIFiCATIpN Bill.
Remarks Of III. Rheu in Mc II. ot Representatives,,
Juiy 10.
Mr. RilETi said that he had not risen to discuss The
details OF the BILL but TO make few remarks upon
lam positions which had been assumed by the gentle
man from Rhode Island Mr. TllIlnghasl and the gen
llemnn from Ohio MIR Mason lie understood those
gentlemen to affirm that, when the heads Of Depart
heh's required appropriations from Congress 10 carry
oh me purposes OF Government those appropriations
nug, 10 be granted, oerws. the responsibility which
TIE constitution designed 10 attach To them would not
c&'s therefore they ought not to be held responsible
Tor Inc defence oil the country unless voted the APP
preparations they required for tina, defence Mr. beg
ged to know whether h had correctly understood the
position the gentlemen had assumed:
Here Mi llngaast and Mr.. ilason severally ex
planned
Mr. Il. proceeded. lie was clad the gentlemen had
qualified ;ler reGarks hut lie we'll assured, If lie
Reporters had correctly reported the gentleman from
Oao air. Mason in his former remarks, that he
would ha reported 10 have said what he Mr.. Rhett
bad imputed TO him. MIR. Il. denied that the heads OF
Departments responsible either for the appropriu
tons here made, for the defence Of the country
Congress alone responsible; Tor Congress alone
could vote Tor the imposition Of taxes; and the heads Of
Departments, III their communications, were merely
advisory, and, Ike The speeches Of members Of Com
.ress, might be worth something's worth nothing,
rording 10 the estimation in which they were held
The people here in this Hall, rule themselves BY their
Representatives., and not ruled By the heads OF
Department: nor were tile beads o.: Department rcspo
slbe for improper legislation here. lie would be
glad il he u hear the name OF an Execu
tive officer in TINS House: and after the dcclama,ions
which he had heard here in former times from the
party power, lie had hoped that Executive m
urEce and Executive opinions would scarcc ever b.
heard again N debates Bat IN t!!s, rs n many
other things he mad been disappointed lie had heard
with interest, the Gppea, Of the gentleman from OHIO IL
Ih,, md 0 mlyars
that nnr 10 vote appropriations from the pr"sr;; posi-
tlGn Of the country, ard the aspect 81 ITS affairs. lie
was glad always 10 hear such sentiments uttered: but
he would rather, on this occasion. That they had been
uttered by another than by gentleman whn but last
week. voted out the Treasury from three 10 five md
lions II dollars IL hr given 10 the States, and now
called loudly for appropriations for the defence o the
country. II the country was IN danger, then he (Alr
r would ask, how dared we 10 give away money out
Of the Treasury Was il good policy, or good sense
such lunc'rr, 10 give the money out oi the
Treasury. and then turn round under cry Of danger
aud lay taxes The people - place Il: Would the
peGr!. lr able understand ii;ss sach 81
legislation. Gould the gentleman himself defend 1t:
he mast, Therefore, conclude that the gentleman either
must he nconsisten; in his pa.rot-n and hs iegisa
ton, or he could not believe in the danger which he
supposed exist Ils allusions not u be mis-
taken; and lie (Mr. X agreed with him, that every
member that floor, independent ns Executive dicta-
tion Of official opinions must vote for appropriations
according 10 his y;ew OF the position and danger OF the
country.
Mr. r. would express M opinion upon the difficulty
bet wcen this country aud Great Britain, reference
10 Alexander Mcleod That subject was IN agitation
elsewhere and he woud wish the hands Of the ESecn
tive To be free in carrying out their own policy But
il obvious, from the position assumed BY the Sc
cretary Of State, in his late correspondence with the
British Minister That, should Mcleod be surrendered,
The officially MAS ob.iaed. IL clear that re-
dress and ample redress, mnst be hy the British
Or oGr honor he furnished. Mr. H. sad .
that when the emergency occurred, wien the charac-
Ter the dependence, and the honor Of the American
people were pu, in hazard he would not stay to inquire
who was rrt or wrong, whether the position taken
hy this Administration exactly that which Il ought
u be. With his vote the Government should not be
dsrraced. Her honor should be maintained. Anh let
Il cost ,cha It might nre!gn Nations must be tnngh 10
resnrct us The gentleman from OHIO had ntnatcd
thai The former Administration had been dormant with
REGARD 10 this outrage upon American righis-tat lis
friends were formerly rs dumb "a Balaam assault
that now they were loud in their declarations Tor re-
dress He (llr. K thought the gentleman had done
the late Administration injustice. In his opinion, our
foreign relations, during that Administration, were
never mayed with more dignity and skill THIS
Committee would recocct the Message Of 4 former
President upon the Maine Boundary Question, when
cyery patriotic bosom in that Hall sweiIed with emo.
ton al the lofty il had assumed Congress met
his recommendation by placing millions at his disposal,
and The trust conded to him was properly administer
3D. The difficulty in relation to Mcleod, the gentle
man should recoIlect originated, properly speaking,
with this Administration, and the former one had
scarcely any thing 10 do with it.
The British Minister intlmated for the first tune to
the former Administration, but few weeks before II
se nj out of power that Mcleod had acted under Bri-
si authority Our Government questioned the pro.
prrty If the British Minister'S demand, upon tue
ground that in their correspondence with the brush
Government il had not hitherto assumed that POSITION
md therefore before took decisive steps, required
Ia be more distinctly informed upon tina, point "
;c,,pl- the neremotory demand made by the British
Minister for tile release o hcL@od-was aiser ne ic-
,eved renewed instructions from The British Govern
ment in consequence of the correspondence with the
r,rmer Administration, and uade upon President
Harrison few DAYS after coming int" power. lhs
uirht he said 10 have been the beginning 81 Tie Nc
cod affair Before that, there was nothing hostile OF
very serious in aspect; but now, by tue positions
which each Government had assumed and the tone
e The subsequent correspondence, there Was no qcs
non hut what one nation the ether would be com
nclled u recede or the alternative rs ne
AR X had had no influence the question hereto
fore he intended 10 have III the future but ne
rus,ed although he might be supposed TO be opposed
!, the present ADMINISTRATOR he would MAINTAIN u IN
he highest and tirmest attitude 1t might assume W
,-olectn. the honor and tic rights d! the country II
he emergency should arise which the gentleman rom
Ohio seemed so strongly 10 ailude to, he Air y
rus;ed that The patriotism Of Tic country winch inc
,on,Iemon so emphaticaly invoked upon this bill,
,omd r;sc n NEE, il. and he (Nr r. tor one, would
49,. H. sun,or to This or any other Administration IN
enr,s to maintain The rights and honor Of The Anne
-ican people.
uoI-sr OF REPRESENTATIVES,,