The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-19
aNsx, Jaw Mr. CLAW was elected Speaker, and the

"Next day Mr. Clay was electeu speaker, anu inc
oath administered to him by my venerable col
league, William Findley, one of the Oldest men and
members of the House of Representatives. The
day after, Peterson Goodwin, of irginia, submit
ted the customary motion for the appointment OF
the standing committees, which were then much
fewer than since. MIR. Clay, placing Mr.. Macon in
the chair, with the promptude and decision OF his
character forthwith called the attention Of Congress
and the country to the outrages at the river Raisin,
the ncursions as conducted in the Chesapeake, and
the enemy's general unwarrantabe conduct, by
moving resolution that so much Of the Presidents
message as related the spirit and manner in which
the war had been waged, should be referred TO
lect committee. Raising his fine voice in the splen-
did hail. surrounded by representatives of the coun-
try most Of them strangers to him and TO each 9TH
er, with great animation and force, the speaker,
with bitter recollecons of the defeat and destruc-
ton of his Kentucky companions, expressed his
adherence Of the enemy's inhumanities--not only
| the massacre of our citizens on the western
frontier, but the conhagration Of hamlels, VII
| lagos, and farm-houses on the maritime border.
The latter outrage has not been denied, said
he, but apologized for on the pretence that we
had first fired on their flag. Although he be-
lieved the allegation false, he was glad it was
thought necessary to make any apology. There
ought to be inquiry. Ifthe facts were reported,
they called for the Indignation of all Christendom,
and should be embodied in an authentic document.
Mr.. Clay enjoyed Mr.. Madison's confidence; and
IL IL pTODdDie tIdt uiOuOu was Wy PIccoi-
cert with him. No opposition was made to it, un-
usual as it was for the presiding officer to leave
| the chair as the House organized,
take the floor, and present motion for the appoint
ment of an important select committee, the compo-
ston of which would be his own act. But Mr..
Clay was not man to be deferred by such con-
sderations. Soon after, however, the matter APP
peared to be settled, Mr.. Thomas Grosvenor, of the
| New York delegation, the readiest and boldest
debater Of the House, one Of the strongest OPP
ponents of the war and administration, made a
motion to reconsider; which motion is apt TO
open what seems to be closed He desired to
amend the resolution, by adding to it the words,
and by this nati0n after the word enemy:
| That is, that the spirit and manner in which we
had carried on the war, should be authenticated, as
well as that of the English. As the Presidents
message (said Mr.. Grosvenor) contrasts our hu-
mainly with their barbarity, wish to see the evil
aence of the former This, specious intimaton,
was warmly repealed by Robert Wright, of Mary
land, an elderly gentleman, quick with retort of all
kinds, whether with tongue, pen, or pistol-for he
had fought some desperate duels. The amendment,
he objected, cast imputatlon libel our land and
naval officers, who had distinguished themselves as
much by humanity as valor. After a short dis
cussion, Grosvenors motion was re ected, but by
only majority of twelve and the Speaker an
| nounced the special committee, without putting
Mr.. Grosvenor upon il, according to common par
liamentary usage to place those members on CON-
mittees who take an active part in debating the
subjectmatter. The war members Of the COM
mittee were Nathaniel Macon, John Forsyth, Rob
ert Wright James Clarke and Perry w. Hum
phrcys: the federalists were William Castor
and Thomas Cooper. Mr.. Castor was one of the
abest and most pleasing speakers of the House, a
leading member Of the opposition, afterwards chief
Justice of North Carolina. James Clarke was after
wards governor of Kentucky; John Forsyth gov
ernor of Georgia. senator of the United States, min
lister to Spain, and Secretary of State. Mr. Wright
L,l sc had
ed that State in the Senate of the United States.
This select committee did not make their report till
the following December, 1873; when it appeared,
and was printed in volume of 200 pages, written
| by John Forsyth. Of course it required time TO
| procure the evidence and digest it. Under several
heads the report explaned-hrst, the bad treatment
of American prisoners secondly, their detention as
British subjects, natives, naturaized; third,
detention of mariners prisoners found in England
when war was declared; fourth, compulsory service
| of American seamen in British ships-of-war fifth,
violation Of flags of truce; sixth, ransom Of Ameri-
can prisoners from Indians in British service; sew
enth piage and destruction of private property in
| the Chesapeake bay and neighborhood; eighth,
massacre and burning of prisoners, plage and
shooting of citizens, and burning of houses after
surrendering to British and under their protec-
ton; ninth, outrages at Hampton-the last thus
mentioned in the report. The shreks of the
innocent victims of internal lust at Hampton were
heard by the American prisoners, but were too
weak to reach the ears or disturb the repose of
British officers, whose duty men required them
| to protect every female whom the fortune of war
had thrown into their power. Human language
affords no terms strong enough to express the emo
| tons which the examination of the evidence has
awakened. In the correspondence between the
American and British commanders, will be found
what is equivalent to an admission Of the facts by
| the latter. No punishment has followed conviction
of the guilty The power of retaliation being vested
in the Executive, no measure is proposed by this
report. Such enormes instead of inspiring terror,
as was probably intended, being calculated to pro-
duce the contrary effect, the committee close with
resolution that the President be requested to collect
and present TO the House evidence Of every depart
ure by the enemy, during the war, from the ordi-
nary mode Of conducting it among civilized nations
"Mr. Humphreys, of Tennessee, and Mr.. Coop
er, of Delaware, were not, believe, in public view
after that Congress. The other members of the Sc
ect committee from whom this report emanated
were all conspicuous in various public stations, as
governors, judges, foreign ministers, and secretaries
But none of them reached the posthumous celebrity
which their chairman's name has come to-no doubt
without his either expecting or desiring it, and
remarkable specimen of American democracy, j,
merits full exhibition. Representative democracy is
a modern experiment in politics, which has never
yet been fully carried out. None of its disciples
was more disposed than Mr. Macon for the trial.
so that candid portraiture of him is curious il
may be edifying."
We do not remember ever to have read more
striking sketch than the one just preceding. It is
Of character with the whole book, and imparts to
the style Of the writer degree Of unusual spirit
making it more like some we-told and ingenious
story, than the detail Of matters of fact. We
have no doubt that Mr. lngersolls book will be rap
idly purchased and eagerly read. Men of all par
ties will admire its frankness, and the numerous
rich and long-buried stores of information with
which it abounds. Even those who would assa
will pause before views ably so boldly, and SO
ntellgenty expressed and portraits critical and
just. We hope to be able to resume this hasty re-
view at an early day.
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