Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-25
Correspondence Of the BAl,inoie PsiriO,.
MR.. ApAMs-MEXlco. AND OUR FOR
EIGN RELATIONS.

rise to interesting debate upon many topics for
eigu the subject. MIR Adams remarks are too
important to be passed by with mere reference to
his name as taking pat in the debate. therefore
send you abstract of his speech which Is no, very
long and which is very characteristics.
The bill bling in committee Of the whole and
several gentlemen having addressed the committee
for and aud agains, the measure,
MIR ADAMS said he meant to lie very short; not,
however, because the matter of debate was no;
abundant, but precisely because II was. lie hoped
the bill would be laid aside but il not, and 1t was TO
be discussed in its details, he should have good
deal TO say.
90 the bill itself, the gentlemen from Kentucky
and from South Carolina, tMessrs Pope and
Holmes) had opened sources OF debate which
brought up our whole policy, foreign and domestic,
Of peace aud war; and as specimen TO whata length
such debate might run, the mere title OF the bill
suggested matter OF ample discussion. IL was bill
for the protection OF the Territory of Florida; yes,
for PROTECTION. Protection OF WHAT For n fort
night past the walls OF that House had resounded
with tones of horror at the very word protection!
Gentlemen could not away with Il. And TO whom
had the bill lately passed, and to which such strenu
Gus opposition had been made-lo whom, he asked,
did that bill extend protcc,ioni To a large portion
Of the population OF this Union. Aud against what
were they to be protected Against the pacific 20
Icy and legislative attacks OF foreign nations. And
what had the House heaidl Time alter time had
Southern gentlemen, the very men who now warm
ly supported this bill declared that the very word.
the idea itself OF protection was unconstitutional.
To protect one portion OF the community Ivy taking
for their benefit money out OF the pockets OF another
portion, twas iiasrant, open violation 81 the Con
sttutionl Butt 1t were thus unconstu TO pro-
tcct the honest labor OF MIR AS constituents, how
came Il 10 lie constitutional 10 giant protection to
the people Of Florida? aud that 10y taking what was
the property of all the rest Of the community
A voice. That is not in the title Of the bill
MIR a. said the word protection was in the tile
of the House bill, though the hill of the Senate was
rather more cautious. The Senate committee
seemed TO have been aware that the protection was
not altogether the best IN the world for Southern
gentlemen TO use.-lA laughl But there it stood
the title, the head and front Of tho House bill
lit was a bill for "proteetion." Now, where was
the constitutional distinction between protecting the
people Of Florida from some eighty Seminole In
dams, at an expense of 100000 IN the best lands
the world, aud the protection OF the honest indus.
try OF our own people our own friends and relatives
ay, and of the Anglo Saxon blood, (here was the
rub) because they happened TO reside at the North
But Mr. A. would not pursue this subject, unless
the committee refused TO lay aside the bill.
What other object had the bill The bill said
i, "to provide for the armed occupation and set
Element OF the unsettled part Of the peninsula Of
East Florida Yes; were TO give away lands
worth 100000 for the purpose OF inviting, tempt
ing, brbns men 10 come with their wives and chill
dren TO be destroyed either Ivy the Indians or the
yellow level
lie confessed that the ILL being for protection
was no obstacle in his mind to its passage into
law. The people of Florida had right TO be pro-
teeted IN their persons and propery-just rs good
a right the people of Massachusetts, but no bet
ter. Protection the corTelatve 10 allegiance, on
all the principles of law; and when Government
declared, in regard any portion Gifts people, that
It would not protect them II absolyed them, tpsO
faeiO, from the duty of allegiance. He had been
voting millions for the last ten wears for the protec
ton Of the people of Florida. The gentleman from
New York (Mr Granserl had said this had cost us
twen,y-iiv millions; but that was not two thirds
OF what we had spent upon 1t. lie had given with
an unsrudgins hand, and ms constituents were viii
ling pour out both blood and treasure TO ten times
the amount, If necessary whether for the people of
Florida, or the people OF Alabama, ol Georgia ;
and ia fact, they had gone for these people far be
yond mere protection. They Rad swept the coun.
try OF every vestige OF an indian and had given an
enormous aud fertile territory TO their jurisdiction ;
and al this under color of defending them from the
hostiiities Of the Indians.
lie had said that his friend from Kentucky had
opened large field. He was now for protection,
but how had he voted when it had been proposed TO
protect the manufacturer ofiron, article indispen
sable TO US in war; and how especially had his friend
from South Carolina (Mr HoImes) voted2 His
friend said il bill not for protection hut for re.
venue. Mr. A. had been amused, he could not but
smile at his friends excuse. Now. for his own
part he willing 10 vote for any honest bill for
revenue ana lor protection tOoi Out, Us lac under
stood there not the least chance that the fruit
OF all their labor would receive the ratification Of the
Executive. They had been told from what was
held good authority that the President would sign
no bill for revenue il 1t was passed with even the
slightest intention OF protection; SO that rs soon as
the Tariff bill was sent 10 him 1t was vetoed.
A voice: "What authority have you for saying
thntl"
Mr. a. did not profess to speak from authority
but "bird Of The air had carried the matter" In
II. -. -
White House had assured him that the very word
protection was in the bill. we should have, "Veto,
and ditto, and ditto" Roars Of hUghier And this,
as MIR A. understood, was the reason why the gen
tleman from South Corolina had been so anxious
10 get the word into the title so as 10 ensure the
velo and because with his constituents, If that
but IN the title, II would be ten times more "bill
Of abominaiions' than even the tariff OF 1928
lLaughlerI So he wanted TO put the word title!
Much merriment prevailed in tho committee, Of
which Mr. a. seemed largely to partake; and no
little confusion pervaded the Hall
But the gentleman from South Carolina had
brought other topics into the discussions; no Ind told
the committee, and most truly, that in case Of war
with Mexico, (nnd he had some how coniriyed to
make Mexican war relevan, in discussing tho pre-
sent bill) the Gulf Of Mexico would DO covered
with swarms Of priyateers. Yes, and not only the
Gulf of Mexico, but the West Indies seneully The
coasts Of Great Britain and of France, and oil India
and China too. There was not q droD Of salt wa
ter on the globe that would not be tfaverseI by
these prlvaieers; and who would be their owners
The people OF Mexico ony7 No; but our good
friends ncrOss the water; and II we complained 10
the Government Of England, VIC should he told that
it was "a perfectly lawful interference with the
commerce Of other nations 10 run under false colors
that the only Inconvenience attending IL was the
danger Of being taken; and that risk those who en-
gagged IN this branch OF business must calculate 10
run. Loud 1ughterl
Mr. A. would venture to say that we should not
have been six months at war with Mexico before
the Gull would be covered with Baltimore clippers
with British owners. lie thanked the gentleman
from South Carolina for his timely warning. w hat
he had prophesied was perfectly true. But il did
not stop there. Mr. A. went further; le not gentle
men lay the hai,onng JUNCTION to their souls, that
We could have war with Mexico alone Gentle
men might talk with as much contempt ~ they
pleased about Mexico and war with so feeble q
power. Certainly such war would not be fOrmi-
dnJle in ITSELF The only danger attached to such
a contest would be that we should he tempted TO
invade the Mexican territory, ard capture the m
Gent palace OF the Mont,zumas; and in that case
Tue consequence was very likely To follow which
Hume said would have followed, had Henry V. and
his SUCCESSORS succeeded IN retaining tho British
oOnquosis m France, w: that the seat Of Govern
mcnt would be transferred. Hume s1id II would
have been transferred from London to Paris, and
hat England would have bec0m' oOmplTa lively
dcpopuntcd and converted into province al France
which no doubt true; and Mr. a. feared that II
We conquered Mexico, the seat Of our government
would lie transferred 10 that fertile and delightful
country, so much richer and more powerful by na
turc than our own.
Bot contest with Mexico would have other rOn
sequences than the sweeping away Of our commerce
by Mexican pfiyateers Any man worthy Of the
name Of statesman, any one capable Of looking
further than mere war with Mexico, could not fail