The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-07

That is system Of research after truth which
will hardly commend itself 10 the attention of most
men. But, sir, what | wish principally to do now,
IS to turn to another part Of this speech where Mr.
DicKMsoE said. Here Mr.. w. quoted from Mr.
DicKnsos's speech.l | before gave the gentleman
notice that would call upon him for the authority
upon which he made such a statement as that an
attempt was made at Washington by members Of
the government to stop the course of justice; and
now, If the gentleman is ready with the proofs,
would be glad TO have them.
Mr.. DICKINSON. will reserve what l have
TO say until the gentleman has done, when shall
produce il TO hissats faction.
Mr. WEBSTER. l undertake 10 say, no au-
thorty will be produced is produeibe, that there
were attempts made at Washington TO interfere
with the trial Of Mcleod. What occurred II was
suggested by the government 10 Governor Seward,
that the President was gratifed that he had come
to the conclusion to enter nolls prossqu in the
of Mcleod. Was that palpable interference with
judicial authority Was that resistance Of the
binary process Of lawl The government Of the
United States had nothing at all to do with it, But
wish TO know in what school the gentleman
has been taught that il man is in prison, and
his counsel moves to have him brought up on
the great writ of habsas corpus, that that Is
any resistance of Judicial process in favor of the
prisoner | dare say the honorable gentleman,
among his authorities, can produce none to show
such to be an interference. He may call what
apply the term to the journey Of the Attorney Gen
eral to Albany. But that does not prove II so. L
hold the gentleman responsible to prove that the
government did some act or acts which the common
sense ofmen holds 10 be papable and direct inter-
ference. lsay there was none. He quotes the let
ter Of instructions to the Attorney General. That
contains no interference. That letter says to the
Attorney General, that il the case were pending in
the courts Of the United States, that the President
could have control over it, he would direct the pros
ecutIng officer 10 enter mol pros; but It belonged
entirely TO the governor Of New York il is referred
to the governor himself That is evident in the
letter which the Attorney General carried to the
governor of New York. and there not another act
done by authority at Washington in reference to
this matter, and | call upon the gentleman at his
leisure to produce his authority for his statements.
One word more in answer to the remarks the gen.
tleman made this morning, and shall leave it. The
ebuiton which have been commenting upon, and
which is black and foul-mouthed as ever was
elected from anything standing on two legs, was
published few days before the honorable SEN
ator from New York made his speech. He
referred to it, and stated a fact contained in
II. was here in my seat and heard it
and arose, and told the honorable senator il was AN
utter falsehood. He knew | denounced it as an alb
solute calumny. He saw on the face of that state
ment thai, if It was true, it was utterly dsgraceful
to me. 1t was, he said, disgracefu to the country
what DONE and lift disgraceful to the coun-
ty II must De 80 10 me. stdteQ my denial OF the
truth Of that speech Of Mr. lngersol in the strong
est terms-in the most emphatic language. What
them The very next day he proceeded to read that
speech in the Senate; but il objected to, and
not read. But next day, he tells us, he sent his
speech to press and inserted this speech of In
gersoll, knowing had pronounced it falsehood.
Yes, miserable, calumnious, and scandalous as il
was he snached at it, and put it in his speech, and
then circulated il to the full extent Of his ability.
happened to go into the chamber one day when the
Senate not in session, and found agents and
messengers Thanking and directing that speech to all
parts Of New York; and | do not doubt that enough
of it sent by him into Broome county to fill
barn, and pretty bad fodder it would be. And now
beg to know if that is friendly, candid, or JUST
Does any man think he can stand up here with the
proper dignity of senator Of the United States and
pursue such a coursei He knew the speech he
quoted caumnious He heard it pronounced
utterly false.
Mr.. DICKINSON. Only one single point in il
was answered or denied by the senator. That was,
that the fee Of the Attorney General was not paid by
the government Of the United States. l referred 10
the statements because had a right to do it, and
thinking il was part of my duty.
MIR. WEBSTER. do not say what man has
Mr. DICKINSON. As a matter of propriety,
them
Mr.. WEBSTER Well, say i, was not proper
to do il. Suppose had dragged out of a ditch
some calumny on the gentleman which he denied,
would be proper in me to persist in it after that
deniai
Mr.. DICKINSON. The speech quoted was doc
umentary matter, and had right and full liberty
to lay such before the country.
Mr.. WEBSTER. That is true of documentary
history, but when did that speech become documen-
u Mr.. DICKINSON. l, wa. considered so by me,
because it printed and went to the public from
official source.
Mr.. WEBSTER. Indeed! So any falsehood,
any vile calumny that is raked up, no matter what
it is, if printed, is documentary history Now, sir,
repeat again, that 1t has given me pain to be driven
INTO this conroversy-great pain; but repeat again
that if am attacked here for anything done in the
course of my public life, shall defend myself NV
public reputation, be ii little, be it such as it
may, has been earned by thirty years service in
these halls. 1t is dearer to than life ITSELF and
till life is extinct will defend it. In this part of the
case, would now desire to see produced those au-
thoritles, which, it is said, prove upon or the adj
mnstration in which bore part, direct and pal
pable interference in the judicial proceedings ofone
of the States Of this Union. | will now allude, as
briefly as possible, to the remaining points of the
treaty, to which allusion had been made. The sub
ject Of the delivery Of fugitives from Justice has
been revived. 1t has been said that an innocent
woman had been sent back to Scotland. Why, |
believe the fact is, that woman had murdered her
husband, or some relative in Scotland, and fled to
this country. She was pursued, demanded
and carried back, and from some defect
in the ordinary regularity of evidence, or
some such cause, which not unfrequently occurs
in criminal trials, she was acquitted. But, sir,
undertake to say that the article for the extradi-
ton of offenders contained in the treaty of ls42 if
there were nothing else in the treaty Of any value,
has of itself been Of more value to this country,
and is of more value to the progress Of civilization
the cause of humanity, and the good understanding
between nations, than could be readily communal
What was the state and condition of this country
on the borders at the time of this treaty. Why, it
was the time when the "patriot societies" were all
in operation---when companies were formed and
officers appointed by secret associations to carry on
the war in Canada; and as have said already, the
disturba were SO frequent and so threatening
that the United States government here despatched
General Scott to the frontier to make a draft on
the State for militia to preserve the peace of the
border. What in the world repressed these dis
orders' Nothing in the world but provision be-
tween the two governments that if those "patrots"
and "barn-burners' went from side to the other
to destroy their neghbors property trying to bring
war all the time--for that was their object