Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-10-07


atom, an Bn, his arres, aud trial It per sonally re
snops i5,e for his share in the act, while ac""s u"
dior the orders Of his Government, gave r'e 10 alaV
npes,;ons AID serious difficulties. MIR, w here SAID
that according his opinion those legal proceedings
were directly adverse to the well seted doctrines ana
,rncip,s Of pubic law, and calculated not only |"
arouse the unation oi GoVernnent hui OF Tue Peo
ME Iivinr under such Government. IL wouu OF SO ~
this country lf an America" should De oraerea 10 10
an AZ, nv his Government subject to he hanged II nc
did not obey the order, and should be eiz"d oy 10
rorn = a,ou and tried CRIMINAL for that act, every
America, would cry out against It as an Outrage
Every elevated Government would al once 90 so, anu
world saw TO such foreign Governme nt--""e are re
sponsble for the act committed by hi whom you nave
sezed and We are prepared 10 meet The cost qnences
and not him who hos only o5eyed our paramount or
ders
There were to me many urgent reasons ter prefer
;np thc Department Of SAFE. !: What was known al
WASHINGTON had been creniacd throughout the c"un.
to ou- shpring would haze deprecated full one-ha
lie then ihnn g TIA, the crisis approaching might be
,yrr,ed br pnrsuing n Just and honorable policy to-
w,,ds the other party FIRST, by admitting that the ar
rest Of Mcleod wrong, ana, then, by demanding an
,,oloov for the violation Of territory IN the capture
Of The steamer Thus, to put ourselves in the right
and hon demand Justice Of England. MIR. Webster
here advcrted his speech al public meeting III Eng
land in lsi0 where he asserted that, III case ." war
between the countries, the on eminent advantage
| would depend on the question OF right when r'eh
Iun IN
when right the side Of England, she was a
match f,r any nution. The tribunal OF public OPINION
had now become powerful element IN questions OF
peace and war Nations could not now 60 10 war, but
ior grounds and ustiiying them IN the ludg
ment of Chrstendom. The light of Christianity had
begun 10 exert restraint upon both people and
| Governments. The settlement of disputes between
Christian nations was now commonly oy negotiation
Such IS the principle Of the age.
As the negotiation and correspondence had not YET
iaub, nj no lion q
enr him TO speak Of il with any particularly; but he
felt al liberty express his opinion, notwithstanding
his connection with IT. that IT would be found that the
honor and peace of the country had been preserved
with the greatest nation ot the earth But ne couid
not pass from this topic without bearing testimony 10
the sincere and desire manifested by the Presi
dent Mr. Tyer) throughout the whole negotiation -
tie acknowl,dged with deep impesslveness, his obi.
CATIONS TO the President for the steady and unbroken
confidence reposed in himniniiely beyond his (Nlr
w. - confidence IN himself Great must ever be the
weak ness the nego,iaor who misrusted by his
Government but he had had no such cause ut weak
| ness. After interchange Of IDEAS and views upon
he matters in dispute, the President had told him the
ultimate decision rested with HIM, (alr W.
Mr. Webster said that It gave him great satisfaction
10 De- able 10 hear witness to the cordial cooperation o
the commissioners of Massachusetts and Maine; aud to
their distinguished aid and assistance he had borne les
tfonnv in Official communications in The proper quarter
heretofore. Aga'n-haPpy had been the selection made
nv Great Britain OF person 10 represent
negoation-a thorough Engshman, but sngacious,
upright, and enlghened-n doubt could be entertain
ed that whatever he, in the full exercise OF his power
and Judgment, should agree to- would be ratified by
his Government But, while unswerving!y faithful To
his own Government, that distinguished parsonage
Lord Ashhur,on) had acted aud spoken iavorahy
10 the people and Governmcn, Of the u. S. Further
on this point, Mr. w. said that the correspondence
Hhcn published. would best plain the negotiation; and
he prepared to await quite calmly and firmly upon
the Judgment Of his country, when that publication
shall have taken place.
But, said MIR. W. there yet some unsettled ques
tons the chief Of which the slate of co"nia
trade with England more COMMONLY called the West
iGdla trade Thus he had continually locked into
since The present arrangement was mace IN lc3o. lie
had always been OF opinion that the arrangement was
nnfavorab!e to New Eagland. Since his entrance UP
on the duties Of the Office which he NOR held, he had
informed boih by private ad:ices fom merchants
and h. committee Of Congress, and to the matter he
intended 10 give his attention. Another question wes
The boundary west Of the Rocky Mountains. Towards
Mexico and other States with which there remained
unadiustod QUESTION:, calm and dgnihed course had
been adopted, calculated 10 insure prompt justice ci
such Of eur citizens as had claims outstanding.
Mr. Webster proceeded to say that he was present in
the hall as guest; that soon after his return from
Washington he lad been invited by 4 number of his
inst valued personal and political friends TO p1rase 81
Il pluc u,Gner, mat they might extend 10 hun HE
usual greeting their fellow citizen, and to congnlu'
late him upon the result Of his pubic At his
instance, however, the contemplated dinner was DIS
peastd with, end the pesen. meeting substituted bn'
he hat. come 10 address the meeting on subjects not
alluded IN the letter of invitation which he had re-
ce;vcd from his respected friends II would not be
proper the occasion; but It was his design, al
some future Tune 10 make known his opinion npon The
condition 81 political parties and ;her prospects,
But he had before in;imacd, it would not lie pro-
Ger f,r him the occasion TO express opinions al
iere nj from those which entertained by some oil
Al I'm had II pl HIM VINO
we're amonr scnc Of his long cherished ard re-
spec,ed friends, with whom he had heretofore ac'eo
in concert They might well turn upon ham, ana say
Il was in bad for him 10 so nse the occasion tc
On, To such friends with HON he acted for years, how
far lac agreed with them now, and how far he was con
strained to differ from them But the Mayor, IN ms
remarks had been KIND enough TO say to hun, that
having performed the duties Of his Office with honor
It light he left him (Mr. w TO take care OF hif
own honor and reputation. 81 am eyaeHy 81 las opt
a;os continued Mr. Webster, amidst great cheering
and proceeded 10 remark, that Ee was qne oil OPT
nion, wien a question touching hrs own honor, or con
ncctcd witt; his character, aoseas he was 20 suffer the
consequences 81 his GccisGn, he oug 10 be trustee
10 make that decision, and he would d. so. On that
question, he would leave the meeting as enlightened as
| he found it. lie would make prom:ses--he would
feel free when the day closed as when IL daSnrd -
| Three cheers There was Gecacy IL the case he
,lta case of differing from friends, but emba rfass
meut II he saw The path Of duty, there was some
thing within him which told BIN To pursue 1t, Gnd
throw embarrassment to The winds. public man had
no right ~ te embarrassed, If h. honest, and al
public men are 10 be presumed honest. (l.aughtrr)
People had found fault with him for remaining IN the
cabinet and these people had carried in question his
fidelity Wing, and that after twenty years homes
service as 4 Wing. But Wing he still was, and
hoped 10 continue rs long rs he lived. But be
would rot weld ~ that species Of denuncialion. lie
was hard 30 be coaxcd and st harder TO be driven
In remaining in Office, he had acted according to the
dictates of has Judgment for thinking he couia
render service 10 his country, he had chosen io
remain; and he would leave 10 his assembled fellow
citizens, il the country would have been better Gil i
he had left service upon the breaking up Of the en-
binst He bad tasted ALIKE OF The sweets and The bit
,erness Of Office aud lie measuTab,y lnG'iler
ent 10 cittl1f he des'r"ns OF preserving
what little reputation he might conceive hiHsr TO pos
sess than risk tho loss of it nv engaging in new
movements, tic end Of which were beyond his ken.
Mr. Webster proceeded to remark on The pro-
ccedinrs &C the late Wing Convention held in this