Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-02-13
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer.
WASHINGTON Cry, Feb. 9, 1886

Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer.]
WASHINGTON CRY, Feb g. 1886
This as was expected, has indeed been an
evenlful day in Washington. From other sources
you and your readers have doubtless learned the
grand finale OF this remarkable discussion in the
House, on the question Of rendering The notice.
| shall, therefore, at once proceed 10 give you a
bird's-eye view, or rather SKETCH OF the proceed
ings; which, from the intense interest with which
they were invested not only BY the great moment
OF the immediate subject and collateral issues in
volved, but by the excitement, evidently deep and
thrilling, pervadins all members of either party,
have lett impressions never 10 be efaced from The
minds'of members of this Congress until memo
~ itself ceases TO perform its functions.
| MIR. T. b. King OF Georgia, who was entitled
TO The floor, opened The debate, Immediately after
The House mel and went into Committee of the
Whole. II had been expected that he would have
attempted 10 make something of showing in
favor Of the proposition Of Britain TO arbitrae, as
he had introduced that project, in effect into the
House But, alas for Mr.. King his big gun
was spiked on the fourth instant by The Secretary
OF Stale So he conenltd himself with furious
TRADE against the President, personally, which
was totally without either point or effect, other
than such as would be produced by any old lady
OF soured temper, who might choose 10 let of
volIey Of virago-ish abuse against every thing in
general, and nothing in particular. The only an.
swer appropriate 10 such an effort is, undoubted
", that provided by the common law in certain
cases-ihe dncking STOOL
MIR. J. @. Adams followed MIR. \. in speech
in favor of the notice. Unfortunately, his exor-
dunn was scarcely finished within his hour. The
chairman's hammer fell just as be was beginning
10 serve up the marrow of his argument upon The
question OF title. Like other great men, il takes
him loo long 10 &c, fairly started. He was three
quarters Of an hour, almost, in proving up that
par OF our claim TO Oregon which he seems to
think is 10 be found in The Bible! However, he
evidently made the commencement Of great
speech, which need moi, and probably will not be
lost 10 The public, as the hour rule does not rule
The newspapers.
When Mr. Adams was has forced 10 conclude,
Mr.. C.. ]. Ingersoll, the chairman OF the commit
lee on Foreign Affairs, moved that The hour rule
be suspended, in order TO permit MIR. A 10 finish
his speech This motion became The subject Of
numberless amendments and questions OF order,
ard consumed an hour and a half of the lille
time remaining for debate. II was finally ne
| Salivcd, having assumed The shape Of PROPOSE
ion 10 p sipone the time OF closing the debate
from the hour agreed on, until noon tomorrow
| Had il narrowed down 10 single proposition, 10
allow Mr.. Adams an additional hour. il would
| have carried beyond doubt. But MIR lngcrsoll,
with all his talent aud learning, is no parliament
airy leader ANY one in The House can out-ge-
neral him.
General HARRISON oil Georgia, the chairman Of
the committee on Military Affairs, next obtained
the floor and received the universal attention Of
! the House Tor an hour, during which he made
strong and effective speech, Ia show The necc siv
Of placing the country in the best possible state Of
defence. He was Tor such preparation as safe
guard-nol that he believed war would evenlua;e
tiom the controversy, provided the notice he given.
| Mr.. c. j. lngersoll next made a most interest
ing speech, which, by-the-bye, had very little
| bearing on the question Immediately before the
Committee. Though gratGed; exceedingly gra-
titled as was, in common with every one pre-
sent, was disappointed in finding that his clio
sing argument had so little 10 do with the sublect
of the notice As usual with Mr.. l., he devoted
a large portion OF his hour 10 political and di-
plomatic "reminiscences. He referred TO the most
remarkable coincidence between the suggestion
! made by MIR. Winthrop at the beginning OF the
session relative TO arbitration, the late propo-
sal of the British Government, and the subse-
ouenl movements OF Me,srs. Mangum and King
| in The Senate and House. This is The subject OF
|
possible, will write you more al length concern
| ing il tomorrow. Mr.. J. spiked the lntelligen-
GERS biggest CUNTS hurrah over The enormity OF
the Presidents assertion that our title TO Ore
eon is clear and unQueslionable-by quoting
| from the instructions OF MIR. Clay 10 Mr. Gala
tin, Gin '26 beleve) directing him 10 assert and
maintain the same position npon The question.
He next noticed The arguments oil gentlemen who,
in the course Of the debate, have declared the
4 ooJ, tko. iaIa
| destruction OF our seabnard cities, &c, would re-
suit from giving the notice. He illustrated the
fallacy of such predictions with an anccdote Of
The times of the lale Canadian troubles. He
asserted. upon the highest authority" that
when Mcleod was seized and imprisoned,
Mr.. Webster, then Secretary OF State, wrote
a note (marked private) TO the Governor
Of New York, couns-ling that functionary
10 release Mcleod instantly or the sacking OF
the great city of the new world would be the con-
sequence. The Governor, somewhat ncredulous,
before making up his mind ventured 10 write 10
Mr.. Webster 10 know phen Britain proposed 10
adopt that measure OF retaliation for the assumed
wrong inflicted on her by the imprisonment OF
McCloud. Mr.. Webster replied Immediately
| instantly" and that the only way to prevent the
city from being reduced 10 ashes, was 10 abandon
all attempts to vindicate the laws OF The State OF
New York, and TO let the prisoner 60 scott free
When Mr. w. found that the Governor was not
TO be operated on, and, at any risk, was deter
mined 10 maintain the laws Of the State, he
employed the District attorney 10 defend Mcleod
al a fee of five thousand dollars; and an attempt
TO get him of without trial, was made under
writ OF habcas corpus, which having failed, then
another, by advances 10 the Marshal in charge OF
the prisoner 10 conDive at an escape. The peo-
pie became so enraged at these manifest attempts
10 lrampe the State laws under foot, as to inform
The Marshal that if the prisoner was not forhcom-
ing for trial, his own body should suffer the penal.
| ties which would be inflicted on that of Mcleod
# convicted after final trial. From this anec-
doe he deduced a strong argument 10 show how
eroundIess are such fears in The present crisis
He next referred 10 Mr.. Websters management
OF the interests OF the country as developed by the
shameful sacrifices of the Ashburton treaty, which
were 100 orcibly proved by the declaration of The
British minister in Parliament-that King George
the third, BIZ tracing the red line on the map, had
acknowledged that Britain had not shadow Of
title 10 The country in dispute; Of which she obtain
ed so undue portion BY the final settle.