The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-06-24
VIGILANCE SHOWN BY THE ADMINS
TRATION IN RELATION TO TEXAS.

VIGILANCE SHOWN BY THE ADMINS
TRATION IN RELATION TO TEXAS.
On Friday the I4th of June, Mr.. Walkers resolu
tons for information relative to act Of the British
Parliament, &C., taken up the Senate, aud on
motion by Mr.. Evans, Wing leader. were laid upon
the table by a strictly party vote.
| The resolutions were as follows:
Resolved That the President of the United States
be requested to inform the Senate whether the Par
lament OF Great Britain has passed any act extend
ing ITS criminal jurisdiction TO the United States
as TO subject any portion OF their citizens persons
within their limits its penalties for acts done with
10 the same, and to communicate copy OF said act,
II any such there be, together with any information
he may possess as to the means which may have been
adopted to carry it into effect.
Resoired, That he be also requested to inform the
Senate whether the Government Of Great Britain
has issued circulars It's diplomatic or consular
agents to collect information TO the condition of
any portion OF our population and if so, to trans
mt 10 The Senate copy thereof if in his possession,
together with any information he may possess as to
| the OBJECT oil issuing the same.
These resolutions were ordered to lie on the table
/ on motion as above mentioned They constituted
call for iniormat'on-for information of importance
which it was extremely desirable in the lrrsen,
state OF things the American People should have
Ii is at all times desirable that the People of the
United States should be well informed Of the actual
state Of relations with the leading powers of the
world, but particularly with Great Britain, whose
action touches them in so many points. 1t is also
customary for such calls to pass without, difficulty as
matter OF course. What harm could the passage
OF these resolutions have effected .None--but on
the other hand, might have been Of vast utility For
II the information called for had resulted in a dis
proof OF any action the part Of the British Gov
eminent, t'rierng with the rights of citizens of
the United States and clearing her from all imputa-
ton OF special inquiries with regard to particular
class Of persons under the exclusive jurisdiction of
the United States, the matter would have been
| satisfactorily put at rest. And it, on the other
hand, it had appeared that the British Govern
ment had been interfering with the rights Of citizens
of the Union, and had issued orders to its consular
agents to make sinister inquiries with respect to the
condition of large class Of persons under the urs-
dict on of the United Staes--the facts would have
come out in form the best calculated to direct
public attention TO the subject, and 10 the remedy.
But happily, in this 10Th century of the Christian
era, even s. mates cannot prevent true information
from reaching the People although they may affect
the manner and form of disseminating that informa
ton njurously 10 the interests Of truth and contra
ry 10 their obligations, enlightened statesmen
| Thanks 10 the immortal Dutchman who invented
printing and TO the spirit Of liberty which actuated
our oreiathers, and which is not yet exnct-even ths
great monarchy Of England with all its diploma tic
secrecy and despatch, cannot prevent its movements
from being well known by the American People I;
and II Is to be hoped that no erroneous views and
partial representations Of partisan presses on this
subject wil prevent our countrymen from investga-
ting it.
| The facts appear, on uDquestonable authority, to
be, that Great Britain has extended her jurisdiction
over citizens Of the United States not for acts COM
mitted on the high seas and in relation TO her action
upon which she might be able 10 quote some scrap
wrested from its proper place Of the law Of ma
tons, but for acts done within the terra frma limits
Of the United States. 1t must be remembered that
her doctrine is, that subject born within the limits
Of Great Britain is bound to perpetual allegiance
And il appears that she has made all such subjects
smenabe to her laws for acts done b, them under
the sanction Of the laws Of the United States, and
within the limits not constructive, nor maritime but
on the mainland Of the United States
And 1t further appears that the Government of
Great Bdtsin has issued circulars to its diplomatic
consular agents to collect information with respect
to the condition Of the slaves Of the United States
This act Of the British Governments analogous TO
that act Of which, with good reason it 30 bitterly
complained, the part Of the Government Of
France after the peace Of Amiens, by which Bona
Pare instructed his consular agents to take drawings
Of the fvrthcatons and soundngs Of the harbors Of
the United Kingdom, and to collect information on
the state Of the orresses, the number Of each gsrr-
and the ammunition and apparatus Of war general
y. This was done in time Of peace, and the British
> Government complained Of II as an act not only
uncourteous, but also, as 1t truly was. con.
rsry TO the law Of nations But il was
not more truly adverse to that law, than the in
strucons Of the British Government to its consuls in
ref,renoe 10 slave population. Why were these
instruction. Of Bonsparle contrary to the law of ma
; tons Did they lsad armies, or impl, order, TO
hostile squadrons to cruiser No But thew. bv
official act Of the Government deliberately sough,
out the vulnerable parts Of the Anperial kingdom
they eyince a want of good neighborhood which in
peace, the official agent Of a Government are not
entitled to show by any official acts The vulnerable
parts of Great Britain would not have been more
exposed by Bonsparts gaining the information he
sought than the vulnerable parts Of the United States
would be by the information which the British d,,lo
maisis consular agents we're directed to seek itb
respect TO certain portion Of the population Of the
United States. The ofsnsiveness OF these Official
acts rests on precisely The same general principle
The case may be easily and spty illustrated by SUPP
sing Joint resolution passed by the Senate and House
OF Representatives Of the Union, and approved by
the President, that diplomatic consular agent.
in Great Britain be directed to collect informant
with respect to the state Of the Iabor'og population Of
Ireland. The whole Government Of the Union
would not by such an act be more fully and perfectly