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

Standing MS Omcioun threat, mat IL woute " ~
moved 10 the federal court, If adverse. Ana stand
il will, the test Of tme--a proud monument OF UNI
yielding Judicial integrity.
In this, as in other matters where British inter-
ess were TO be cared for the secretary was ready
TO yield sat once" and concede all, and even more
Than was requested Mr.. Fox demanded the re-
lease Of Mcleod, upon the absurd ground that me
murder of citizen in his sleep act Of self
defenoe;n and this was far even British as
s,lrunce yentured. But the American secretary, TO
show his alacrity, though he denied thai Il was
sef defence" went step further than the British
minister would gs, and conceded that Mcleod must
he released, even though he had committed wanton
murder.
tMr. WEBSTER here called Mr. DicKissos to or
der. The Vice President desired TO know the poin
Of order Mr.. w. said Mr.. d, had charged him
with going further TO favor the British interests than
the British minister. The Vice President said Mr.
d. was speaking Of late secretary, and was not ou
Of order. Mr.. w: What when the secretary il
| the same person the senator The Vice Presl
dent said that could not change The rue.1
Mr.,DioKRsos proceeded. am wellaware, Mr.
| President how strong is the desire TO close the
mouth of every one upon the AshbuTton negotia
lions and the affair Of Mcleod, and to render every
tongue upon that subject silent as that OF the
murdered Durfee-the resort Of those only who fear
the truth and the light But sir, know the rlgets
If a representative Of a sovereign State, and sha
not fail TO exercise them, and TO drag to lght ana
expose 10 the gaze Of outraged and insnhed Peo-
dc the conduct of those who have betrayed their m
erests and honor. IL is and has been from the pc
Einning an attempt to stIAe debate, and prevent
reyiew of transactions which need only to be exam
| ned 10 be execrated by the whole American peo-
| le When the voice Of the representative shall re
| hushed-when the acts OF public ofhcers may not
I've canvassed. and their errors and deInquenclss
feeey and fully exposed-the voice that shall de-
are such doctrine will pronounce the departure OF
and nFOclalm the adj
| vent OF a dark and fearful despotsm.
But sir the senator from Massachusetts has re-
.entIy manifested desire TO charge over portion
| If these opinions 20 the account Of General Harl
/ son, and hide them in his grave. Without inluir-
ling whether on the nth day Of his administration
ttieneral Harrison, surrounded by horde ofhungry
oice-hunters, either could did give this subject
ths attention. can that senator that my BUSH
Faess is with him, and not with General Harrison.
III am not in this pursuit To be turned over TO the
memory Of the venerated dead. The senator an.
bounced the gratifying intelligence that he was re.
,ponsible for anything which bore his name; and
these documents only bear his name, but ex
hbi in their sentiments authentic evidence OF their
paternity, shall hold him, as late seerstary re-
sponsible, and shall not inquire what were were
not the opinions Of General Harrison or his success.
sor, or Of the other members Of the cabinet, who
bought proper to retire. when the secretary stood
llone" My issues are with him, and shall not be
lriven or diverted from them.
The senator calls upon me to produce my author.
ty for saying that in the Mcleod affair there was
palpabe and direct interference with the courts OF
New York, and puts forth his demand in tone cal
culated to induce others to suppose that no such
authority existed. Sir, | have presented it once
without comment and will now present il with and
prove my assertion to all who will either listen OF
read, beyond the cavil Of the most artful equvoca
ion direct contradiction however ofl-repeated OF
brazsn may be the denial.
NJ h.va airaadu hat Mr. Sacretaru W.
iter despatched the Attorney General Of the United
States TO New York, for some purpose, concerning
the trial Of Mcleod and we will now notice his in.
structions. In speaking of the destruction Of the
Caroline and the murder of Durfee, he says:
Indyiduas CONCERNED in 1t cannot be arrested and tried
before the ordinary tribunals for the violation OF munt
pal law. II the attack the Caroline njustihabe
this government has asserted the law which has beer
oaed the law Of nations and the redress which
sought the redress authorized IN such by the
| provisions Of that code.
he use OF the executive Of New York, and the attorney
General of that State You will carry with also ah,n
e spd,nes OF the recognition by the British government Of
he destruction OF the Caroline an act opubc force
| lone by national authority.
Lockport wherever else the trial may be holden
urnish the prisoners counsel with the evidence Of which
will be in possession material to his defence You will
that he have sful and eminent counsel such be no
reaay retained; and although you desired to &C
counsel yourself you will cause II to he signifed Il
lin and to the gentleman who may conduct his defence
hat is the wish of this government that in his
proper steps be taken Immediately for removing cause
" writ Of to the Supreme Court of the United
! Mcleod had been indicted for the murder OF
Durfee, whose life he had boosted he had taken and
| exhibited the bloody weapon which he declared
vas the instrument Of death. The question raised
by the American Secretary was not whether he was
guilty the act, for that TO be determined by
! Jury upon his trial, but it whether he could be
| tried other persons who are charged with crime;
the Secretary Mr. WEBsTERl contending that he
| could not be.
| 1t, sir, was an interference direct and palpable
with the of justice in New York for the fed
eral gOvernment-yes, sir the federal government
| by its federal secretary, to send federal off.
| Ger to take any part in her administration OF
criminal justices and II was an offcious menace to
declare that an indicted murderer could not be Ear
rested and tried before the ordinary tribunals be-
| cause he British subject, and had murder
ed by British authority, and to direct appeal to
| the federal court if contrary doctrine was held
| II was such interference to send a COPY Of this
| vaunted document to the governor of the State,
where the criminal was charged, and to the attor-
1ey general whose duty it was TO prosecute the in
dictment in behalf Of the people, if ordered by the
governor--for "heir use ~ 1t was such interfer.
snce to direct a federal officer to proceed to the
place Of trial, and to do, what he would not have
done in the of an American-"furnish the
prisoners counsel with evidence material 10 his de-
fence" which his counsel could have procured or il
could have been furnished by the British minister,
whose instincts seem to have been less sharp upon
he subject than those Of the American secretary.
1t was such interference for the federal government
to direct Its officer to see that the prisoner had skli
and eminent COUNSEL and in case his defence-that
OF having murdered by a,thority-was overruled, to
have it sIgni6ed to such counsel that it as The ,oisJ,
Of this government" that the case should be removed
by writ of error to the federal All this the
senator assures us, no interference in the
slightest degree" with the authorities of New York;
but would fam have believe that the Attorney
General was sent so that he should not interfere;
and then pays the people and institutions of that
State another high compliment, by assuring them
that the object of the federal government in looking
aner IL was only to see that the process and pro-
ceedings in court of law in that State were "fariu
conducted I"
And now, sir, permit me to inquire whether any
one is blind or weak enough to accept this version,
The senator affects to be indignant because il was
suggested that the counsel Of Mcleod was paid
from the treasury; and yet, sir, while denying the
remotes interference, he directs the Attorney Gene
raj to see to the employing counsel-"to see that