The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-29

'not the slightest interference " Or how came 10
| learn through friend that such course con-
tempIated or 10 be SO lavish of thanks for matter
which in Dowise concerned IT, or TO express the gra-
/ tutous and volunteer opinion that II was ''proper
for the occasion :" But, sir during the TRADE of
/ which the senator relieved himself, in endeayorng
/ to raise some new issue, or 10 divert the Senate
and drive me from the old one he affected TO sup
pose had alleged Inc suing out OF habeas corpus
by the prisoner an interference by others, although
Il had made no alluson in that respect and then
i inquiries with AN air Of great triumph IN what
i school of law had been taught My answer Is, IN
Il the school Of the State which sent me here where
learned that a murderer cannot claim exemption
from all human laws because he is British subject
lin the courts Of which State the senator oflen APP
pears as counsel in important causes, was recently
associated in practice with legal hrm In our great
commercial city, and ought to be, and pretends TO
be familiar with our constitution and laws. And
vel he writes a letter TO the governor Of New York
II EXPRESSING his qualification that the governor had
manifested disposition TO direct nolis prosequi in
The case Of Mcleod, and returns thanks for the
promptitude with which the governor was about TO
discharge indicted British murderer without trial
because such release 'proper for the occasion :"
Now sir, there is not a student at law in the most
obscure Office in that State, intelligent
an intelligent woman, nor scarcely an intelligent
child, but knows that the governor has no more
90 wer over the indictment, before conviction, than
the image which surmounts the capitol at Albany
And yet the "grest constitutional lawyer" of the
age, who is shocked at decision which places for
/ egn and domestic murderers on the same ground,
thanks the governor Of New York that he is about
to set Mcleod at large by directing nOle prose
quiz" Verify, we need not inquire IN what school
i such sentiments taught Besides, we will glance
at the last clause OF this pirate letter without
ment, and how far miserable threat Of war
i thrown into the scale to influence decisions. There
are Paixhan guns smoulderng cities IN its Ian
| guage, but embarrassment and danger and collision
| with foreign power paraded in succession, TO
contribute their influence and quicken the New York
executive in entering the nOiLs prOssqui.
But, sir, after exhausting all other subterfuges,
the senator grayely informs us that he thought il
more becoming to discharge the individual murde-
rer, and hold the British nation responsible for the
/ act which IL ayowed, or, TO employ his own Ian
guage, he thought il best TO discharge "the lamb
(Ihe murderer Of Durfee,) and seek redress Of the
British lion" Bold and patriotic, truly Then, sir
why il not adjusted with the British lion !" to-
gether with Oregon and the right Of searchl The
pretenee that Lord Ashburton was unauthorized was
| an after thought and is eontradicled by both his
own and Mr. Webster's first dispatches; for Lord
Ashburton says his mission has been determined by
his sovereign "by unfegned desire to settle this
(the northeastern boundary and all other qisaions
0fdi6ersnes; - and Mr. Webster says he charged
/ by the queens government "with full powers TO
negotiate and settle all matters in discussion between
the United States and England" Then why, sir,
repeat were all matters in difference, Of which these
questions formed conspicuous part, not settled Be
cause the American Secretary negotiated upon the
principle Of equivalents, and settled, rather gave
i up, the only one which then embarrassing to
II Great Britain, and which she anxious TO dis
pose of when with less sacrifices the whole could
and would have been hOnorably adjusted, If
| American interests and honor had not been dIsre.
gsrded.
And why did Great Britain wish to dispose of
the northeastern boundary She il was the
time to gain military advantages. She saw that the
brave and hardy sons of Maine, Notwithstanding
the desired change in the general government,
had resolved no longer to brook her insolence and
outrage, but rallying to the defence Of their
own SOIL and the maintenance Of their rights, upon
their own responsibility, regardless Of her threats
and in defiance Of her power. At this period the
condition Of the world filed the mind Of the Brit
ish government with fearful apprehension. The
dark catalogue Of wrongs which she had visited
upon mankind rose up before her, and spirits Of
evil like the visions which disturbed the slumbers
Of the guilty Richard, filed her Imagination with
| terror and CONSERVATION. She remembered that
her serpent monarchy was stranged when it crawled
! around the sleeping cradle of our infant Hercules
She remembered the fate Of the serried hosts
, she had destined to reve amid the "beauty and
booty Of a sacked and plundered city. She heard
be echo Of the guns which subdued her pride upon
tie ocean wave, and conquered her fleets upon
Champlan and Erie. She saw the glaring eye
balls of her own starving subjects turning upon
her in madness and desperation and heaved TO her
mighty centre with the throes Of approaching dis
solution. She saw the Celestial Empire arouse from
nertness and ethargy, to avenge the rapine which
had been visited upon its people, in the name Of
benevolence and Christianity. She the fierce
Aiighan posing his spear in his mountain passes,
Chershing his Wild revenge and hiding his time to
repay her butchery in kind She another
Hyder Ally laying waste the Carnatc with blood
and desolaton, and Tippoo Saib dying desperate
ly with sabre in his hand, amid heaps upon heaps of
her slaughtered countrymen. She saw an Irish
Parliament assembling upon College Green, and the
brave and generous sons of Erin taking their proud
station with the nations Of the earth. She saw the
r aged king Of an impusive and revolutionary race
descending to his resting place, and she heard in
the distance the fearful cry of Regency regency "
:. This, Mr.. President induced her to cultivate
with us pacific relations, and would have secured us
an honorable settlement Of all matters in difference,
had they not been ngloriously sacrificed and yield.
| ed. But the senator from Massachusetts, denies
that our honor was compromised in the matter Of
the Caroline, and assures us that he drew from the
British government an ample apology for that and
the murder Of Durfee, which was accepted by him
for and in behalf Of his government, in satisfaction
Of the outrage, and he points to it as one of his
proudest trophies and the choicest among his mas
ter-peces Of diplomacy
This sir, we will read; but, should first adequate
| w prepare our minds for occasion 30 mementous
| as beholdng this naughty power humbled before
US. But the American secretary has turned from
| the gentle "iamb"--the murderer of Durfee-to
| avenge the dignity of insulted laws, by throting
| the British lion. See the fierce monster cover and
tremble the secretary approaches to execute his
purpose! Genius of Britannia, 'if you have tears,
| prepare to shed them now!' Your proud red flag
is lowered your spirit shall now be bowed and
broken! Daughters Of Columbia, rejoice!-your
great and tyrannic rival has been vanquishcd, and
satisfaction has at last been extorted for the nva-
sion Of your soil and the murder Of your children!
All, Victoria, Victoria! this is the day of American
triumph and Of British humiliation! The apology
has been wrung from her, and here it is deep, pain
fu and humiating to Great Britain il is true; but,
she is rendering high and solemn satisfaction for
the violation of American soil and blood Of AN Amer
lean citizen, who was murdered in his slumbers.
The penalty is severe, that even Great Britain
desires to pay it by instruments. Her request, in
the penitude of the secretary's mercy, is granted,
and here is the first one, in the language Of Lord
IAshburton:
Nearly Eve years passed since this occurrence