The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-12
From the Phil North American and DAILY Adp
THE CREOLE AFFAIR
MR.. WEBsTEh's LETTER TO MR.. EVERETT.

MR. WEBsTEh'S LETTER TO MR.. EVERETT.
They who impugn the instructions conveyed in
this letter. to overlook the true position of the
honorable Secretary in this matter, and the duties
which that position imposes. Mr.. Webster is at the
head of foreign correspondence he is there not
the opponent or advocate osavery not as welded
to the opinions of the North partial to the ''pecu
liar Institutions Of the South he is there Ane
rcan citizen in the broadcast Of that term the
representative of the whole country. He is there
governed by great constitutional principles by the
spirit Of past legislation by official precedents, and by
those general rights and usages recognised in the in
tercourse of nations 1t in this broad light that
to regard Mr. Webster, the duties of his station,
and the spirit of his instructions to Mr.. Everett
The claims for naturalization, preferred by those
who deprived of their slaves in the tragic crimes
and disasters which have beel the Creole, of a
character that brought them legitimately within the
cognisance of the honorable Secretary. Indeed
he had no alternative, even if he desired one,
consistent with his official position They came to
him in a 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 considered
| abroad Coming in this shape, and under the autho-
rty of presidents, 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 to whom these claims addressed, and the
probable disposition that may be made of them under
this policy would not in any way affect the duty
Of the honorable Secretary in presenting and urging
them for this change has never been officially recog
Missed 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 I'M
bodied in the shape of national law.
We should remember, in urging claims on foreign
power, that if waive what may be regarded by
some doubtful, may soon be required to suren-
der what is not doubtful. One encroachment paves
the way for another, and each succeeding one will
| bring with it increased exactions. Nature guards
herself at the extremes, and wise nation will take
up lis position upon the extreme line of is rights
The spirit of aggression can then be met with mode
ration and irmness, and argument be exhausted be-
fore deeper encroachment has rendered necessary
resort to arms. If you would avoid war in defence
Of palpabIe 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 only surrendered all her capt.
tai to the enemy but she put even the fate of that at
issue upon the doubtful fortunes of the field.