The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-16

I y
proclaim senioiciay from yeur seals here that these
matters are not be presented in their true light 70 the
people, then there will be danger of conflict iof u
10 not ia the of man 10 not IN the nature u
! alnaiion like this when 4 secs rvni rover con'snu
ing for the ascendancy Of the world speak the Ian
guage OF submission the language Of avoidance 70
say the least Of Il. great people like this cannot.
under such circumstances, forbear; and they would
he pressed upon every point until at last an appeal 70
and TO the God Of Battles would become inesi-
table.
II 10 TO avoid these consequ Is for the pur-
pose OF letting the People know the true condition OF
things and the real state Of the issue that this report
has been presented ! ask no action upon II desire
10 say nothing that can be construed into an nna-
ton threat that war is TO follow believe the con
trary; and conscentousy viewing the matter in all its
tire responsibility, except, as have said, far as had
the aid and consolidation Of majority OF the Commit
tee Of Foreign Affairs yes, bare majority, as the
gentleman from New York has told you. And IL is
with regret and pain that contemplate the fact that
il is only majority report had hoped upon that the
question of our foreign relations there were parties In
this country and that should have met the issue,
whatever it may be, united and flee People ought
10 meet il.
Mr.. ADAMS obtained the floor, but yielded il to
MIR. Ora NIGER, who said Ii the House will lis
ten TO my bag pipe few moments longer, shall feel
exceedingly obliged and if is music is not so loud as
that of my friend from South Carolina Mr. Pickens,
il is only because cannot fill my bags with much
wind he blow into his. Sir, speak by no au-
thony other than that Of Representative OF the peo
Pile of the State of New York. My own course would
have been TO suffer this report to pass BY in silence
leaving to the honorable gentleman from South Caro-
lima all the honor OF its authorship for have no doubt
and never have had doubt from the moment hen he
first read it, that every sentence, every word in il was
his own. ! have down to this time supposed hat IT
was much my right on this floor, and the right OF
any other member, to speak my opinions without
fear Of dictation the right Of the gentleman
from South Carolina TO utter his | only declare that
the opinions have expressed solely and exclusive
y my own, without consultation with any one.
should have called for the reading of the report
had supposed until the gentleman from South Caro-
lima taught me better, that the Executive Departments
Of this nation conducted the negotiations upon all de-
catc matters between and foreign Governments.
had supposed that at any rate for the last IL
the Executive Of the United States had claimed some
little authority in all matters connected with our for
eign relations and should have supposed that party
which had permitted our Army TO fall into disgrace
which had suffered Navy down to state OF even
acknowledged dilapldation-and which had permitted
the whole border country to be left defenseless would be
the last upon earth to present such document this
trust that the Administration which is about to come
into tpower though II may not manifest quite SO hot
courage breathcs through this report, will show
upon the high seas upon the border and if need be,
in the tented field power to resist the aggresslons
Of foreign foe than The gentleman and his friends
have exhibited II ii does not II will dlsappont the
hopes Of the People Of this country, and for one,
want none of it. Let preparations be made. Let
the unfortunate man now in confinement be tried ac-
cordng to the laws of the State of New York, unbi-
assed by the action of this House. and let the nation
calmly await the ssue,
The gentleman says that my courage has suddenly
"oozcd out from the palms Of my hands" acknow-
ledge that life has fol many charms; probably no
man cings to il with greater tenacity than do,
closely bound by all the enjoy nents of the pre-
sent life and responsibilities of the future ! never
speak of my courage, profess to have been born
nsenshle To fear" All | have to say is, that when
the laws ofmy State and Of tho nation shall have
been executed, and consequences TO be met, all
differences Of opinion between the gentleman from
South Carolil and myself upon this and all other
questions will be buried in love Of country, and
will be found Shoulder to shoulder, battling in the
common cause.
Mr. PICKENS addressed inquiry to MI. Grang
or, which the Reporter could not hear
And throughout the whole debate, there much
confusion in the Hall and the difficulty of hearing
was greater than it generally is, owing chiefly,
TO the members standing up in the asles and talking
loudly at the same time, in contravention Of that ex
cellent but long forgotten rule, which is numbered
"34" See edition of Rules, December 7, 1910