The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-12
From the Phi. North American and Daily idr.
THE CREOLE AFFAIR.
MR.. wEpsrEn's LErrER ro MR. EyERrrr

MR. wEBSTEn's LETTER TO MIR EVERETT.
They who impugn the instructions conveyed IN
this letter, seem to overlook the true position OF the
honorable Secretary IN this matter, and the duties
which that position impose. Mr.. Webster Is at The
head OF our foreign correspondence he Is there not as
the opponent advocate ofslavery not as welded
to the opinions of the North partial TO the "pecu
liar institutions" of the South; he is there as an A ne
can in the boadest of that term as the
representative of the whole country. He il there to
governed by great constitutional principles by the
spirit of past legislation by official preccdents and by
those general rghs and usagrs recognised in the in
tercourse of naton 1t is in this broad light that we
are to regard Mr.. w ebste the dunes of his station
and the spirit of his in, ructons to Mr.. Everett.
The claim for indemnlfcation, preferred by those
WHO were deprived OF their slaves, in the tragic crimes
and disasters which have beie the Creole are Of a
character that brought them egitimately within the
cognlsance of the honorable Secretary. Indeed
he had no alternative even II he desired one,
consistent with HIS official position. They came to
him in shape that compelled attention they adj
dressed themselves through him to foreign power
and they approached in every substantial particular,
other claims, which had been respectfully consdere
abroad. Coming in this shape and under the auho.
ry of precedens. he was bound to consider them
and bound to urge them by those considerations in
which lay their strength. A change of policy in the
power 10 whom these claims addressed, and the
probable disposition that may be made of them under
this new policy, would not any way affect the duty
of the honorable Secretary in presenting and urging
them for this change has been officially recog-
nised by our Government. Nor any deeper re-
pugnance to the character of these claims, which
may have sprung up in certain sections of our own
country, affect the obligations of the Secretary in the
matter for this deeper repugnance has never been inn
b died III the shape of national law.
We should remember, in urgng claims foreign
power, that if we waive what may be regarded by
some as doubtful we may soon be required 10 surren.
der what is not doubtful One encloachment paves
the way for another, and each succeeding will
bring with it increased exactions. Nature guards
herself at the extremiiies and nation will take
up lis position upon the extreme line of rights,
The spIfit of aggression then be met with mode
ration and trmness, and argument be exhausted boz
fore deeper encroachment has rendered necessary
resort TO arms II you would avoid war IN defence
Of parabe, violated rights, take up such position
that something may be yielded for the sake Of peace
When Rome withdrew her armies from her borders to
her capital she no, only surrendered all her capt.
tai t. the enemy but she Iul even the fate of that at
Iss ue upon the doubtful fortunes of the field,