Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-19
TwENrY-sEvENrH CONGRESS
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
wAssIsGros. April ~, ~.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Gfest Britain. lie never rises to speak on any
subject without attracting attention; hut on such a
subject ne this, all were eager to hear, and mem
bers crowded around him, that they might not lose
n word he should utter.
l stated last night that Mr. Wise replied yes,er'
day, to Mr. Linn, Of N. Y. and MIR Slade OF VI
His was enphstically war speech. and standing
in the relation TO Mr. Tyler and the cabinet that
he does, IL was considered Indicative OF the
feeling at the other end OF the avenue, or OF wish
existing in that quarter TO stir wsrspirit among
the people. To-day Mr. c. J lNGERSOLL came
out with what MIR Adsms wittily but sptly termed
"a pacific war speech" There were five points Of
difference between US and England, namely; the
\. T.. Boundary Question, the Right of Search, the
Caroline affair. the Creole Case, and the Oregon
Boundary Question On all these England was IN
the wrong; he thought there was no need OF any
war-that there would not be war-he wished well
to Lord Ashburton would be glad TO see HIM set
tie matters here and 90 home and be promoted to an
Esrldom; but he advised him to yield everything
that we claimed and then peace would be preserv-
ed. As war. he did not think It such an evil as
most people; there were many advantages in il.
As to our not being prepared, and all that, he said
II had ALWAYS been the case that the nation worst
prepared for war was IN the end victorious. The
British might burn New York, but then II was
easy for us to burn London for them to burn
New York. As 10 the RICH Of search, he declared
there such thing in peace.
MIR ADAMS replied chic fly to this speech, but m
ciden,ally also to Mr. Wise's. Mr. A had not spo
Ken Two minutes hctOre Mr. L. explained ana ucnie cd
what he had said, and some alteration took place
to what he did say, in the course of which Mr. l.
got very angry and used the word Senile as dlStn.
gushing MIR Adams remarks. MIR a. thus tainted
with being an old man, replied with becoming dig =
nifty, but with a keennoss that pierced the very
Joints Of MI !. AMI made him wriihe. MIR \. then
went on, only occasionally interrupted 10y MIR l.,
whom he fairly tortured by the scorchns irony
casms, and ridicule, which he poured uFon him
He noticed and ridiculed the idea that the nation
that goes into war unprepared - sure TO come
out victorious He said that Mr. !. had spoken with
cold indifference Of the burning Of n. York which
he seemed 10 admit would be n very probable thing
IN case OF a wnr-he was quite reconcied TO this
event by the supposition that Il New York was
burned, we could burn London. a cry four or 1--WE
times hrge. and thereby settle the account with
large balance IN our favor. Sir said MIR A. Il there
was man in this House who heard the gentleman
from Pennsylvania speaking OF burning ciiies IN the
manner he did, without feeling of indignation and
shame, he wanted no intercourse with him. Mr.
A. dated upon this burning of cities till he had
kndled fire on Mr. lngersols head hch Il not as
icy as Mont Blanc, mus, have felt a burning
tsn.
MIR A. said he attributed some importance TO the
remarks OF the gentleman from Pennsylvania IN
connection with the speech from the gentleman from
Virginia, Mr. Wise; but he hoped Lord Ashbur on
would not, he hoped he would consider them made
for little display IN this House, for home consump.
ton for "Bunkum," and that he would not 20 home,
tons with this government Just as II this speech
had never been made. This irony was a dagger
that went TO the soul Of MIR l. and made him change
color frequently, though to do him justice, lie joined
IN the hearty laugh, and frequently, ra ssd by
Mr. A. at his expense.
In the course of his remarks. Mr. A gave very
Interesting history Of the negotiation between this
Government and Great Britain in regard to a mu.
tu-l concession of search. which took place in ISIS
-lS-2O. Before he left England TO assume the
duties Of Secretary OF State under Mr. Monroe, Mr.
WIlberforce, he said, sought interview with him.
his object was 10 inquire whether this Government
would be willing 10 enter into arrangement for q
mutual right of search the coast OF Africa, for
the purpose of putting stop TO ;he slave trade
Mr. Adams told him, that such had been the manner
IN which the Government OF England had exercised
that right VIII Oh they had claimed and we had de
MED, that he did not think his countrymen would
ever agree to any such arrangement; bu, il they
chose they could make the proposition. The PRO
position was afterwards, while he was Secretary of
State, made. He opposed il vigorously and almost
alone, IN MIR Monroe's cabinet-the members of the
cabinet, who were slave holders, and Mr. Monroe
himself, favoring IL. Both houses OF Congress TOO
favored IT, and passed resolutions recomme nding
the President to into the Negotiation. He had
a conversation with MIR c. F. Mercer on this sui
Ject, and so widely did they differ that they had
warm words about II; and another member from
Virginia, Gen. Alexander Smith, afterwards in
letter TO used as Hrgume nj agains,
his election To the Presidency the TACT that he was
opposed to Rboshing the slave trade He wanted
10 state the conversation he (Mr Al had had with
Gen. Mercer, but Gen. NJ. posi~ely forbade him
tGen. 81 20 DO so, as private conversation
The resolutions recommending the President 10 en-
ter into the negocatlon for the mutual right OF
search, passed this House with but NINE negative
votes Such was the feeling then, this right Of
search among Shareholders, right about which We
hear much now.
The negotiation was entered upon; as Secretary |
ol State he was the organ and the very reigctani
organ Of the Government in directing our Minster |
Mr. Rush, 10 enter upon il. Mr. Rush opened the |
subject to Mr. George Canning, who at once told |
him n draw up the convention 10 his own ~sy and
he would sign It. Mr. Rush did draw II up, and Mr. |
Z. signed II without dottiog j. or crossing l. Il |
came here and submitted 10 the Senate: in the |
Meantime, party hostile TO MIR Monroe had sprung
", and there was not the same disposition 10 SUP.
bort or TO go with the administration. Some liuIe /
lieaUons were made in the Treaty by The Senatc !
nd !, was sent back TO Eogllud for ratification:
'u1 MIR Canning took umbmge a. the alterations
ner being drawn up by the American Minister
unset and would not raIify !. as altered, and thus
ie.l through.
During this recital, MIR A. was listened to wi h
teathless aitentlan, especially by the Souihs q
zen, INTO whose minds new light seemed to break
many OF whom were entirely Ignorant that any
leh negotiation had ever taken place. But that
lr Adams should then have been 20 opposed TO
us search, and the Shareholders IN Mr. Mouroe's
base Of the subject altogether. I. viii he recol.
cied that MIR Calhoun was one Of the members OF
at Cabinet.
MIR Adams said that he saw no difficulty IN set.
ng The question Of the right Of search. He had ia
IN the correspondence between the two nations
n this subject, and he had asked himself wherein
eY differed, and really he could not tell England
10 moi claim the right Of search; she only claimed
~ right 10 VISIT merchant shps-it might be Bri-
~ Vessel TO see that they were not pirates-and
see n they holsted the American flag, that they
sd rehtto DO so. That flag should protect oil
mo had a. right TO protection under IT, but ~ might
used ~ hose who had no right TO use il and oil
1ty claimed and this we must conce Ie 10 them.
vas thai they should 90 on the deck Of the vessel
I'd see ii she were an American vessel The
lme night as TO all merchantmen which our cruz
ere meet or the ocean, IS exercised by US and by
li nations.
Mr. lngersoll had spoken Of the influence which L
governor Cnss' pamphlet had had 10 France
o prevent the ratification Of the qundrupe Treaty
q regard 10 the mutual right of search. Mr. a. |
i'd not entirely concur IN Gov Cess views but Il /
he pamphlet had had any such effect ns Mr. l. had
imputed TO u, he very much regretted IL. He r..
grehed - because " was inducing FfuLce 10 act IN
bad iaith' The treaty had been negotiated by an
authorized public agent and was binding on Fr9ncs
and the refusal 70 ratsiy by the French Chambers
might involve Europe IN a war. But he regretted
# any such influence had been used, on another
accounts II was involving US IN the war which must
one Of these days, come IN Europe, and he wished
70 keep clear OF oil participation IN European affairs
This was the policy Of Washington nd Jefferson
and u was the true policy Of this country. Ues,id
that when war should come, it would not lie for
the right Of search; but IL would he for the desrue
NfaNH - Ia ~ q