Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-06-06
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF
GEN. william d. Butler
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Gen Butter refused 10 yield his principles TO pro-
mo eshe aspirations Of ken,ucky's champion::-
Mel her caioemen,s nor threats could swerve MIN
from the line of rectiude; and this Iacs accouu's
tor his having lived so much in retiremen, since
The period oi Mr.. Clay's detection ion MS oio
political friends. ,o., -.
While he held sent in Congress in lS4l The
cease of the Mcleod trial came up, ana 1en. but
Ter delivered one Of the most effective speeches
which were uttered on the occasion. AS SHOWS
nstrone colors his political principles, as well a:
furnishes specimen OF his congressional style
debate, we give an extract:
The following resolution Of Mr.. Floyd beins
under consideration
"Resolyed, That the President of the United
States be'reQuested 10 inform this House, ii no
incompatible with the public interest, whether any
officer OF The army, or the Attorney General o
the United States, has, since the 4th OF March last
been directed 10 visit the Stale OF New YORK iol
any purpose connected with the imPrlsohAneu
aud trial of Alex Mcleod, and whelher oy dus
executive measures or correspondence Inc Diils'
government has been given Ito understand tna
Mr.. Mcleod will be released or surrendered ano
il so. to communicate to this House copies OF Inc
instructions aud report OF such otticer:"
Mr.. w q. BurLKR addressed the House as
follows:
aMr. SPEAKER: When this resolution was
under consideration, about month since,
confess felt much anxiety to mingle in the de-
bate then in progress And, although thai
anxiety has in great degree subsidized with The
feelings of the moment that gave rise to 1t, ye'
/ will avail myself of the present most unex
pected opportunity 10 give my views upon IT,
As am limited to single hour, will enter
at once on what design saying, without pre-
face or exordium.
"Although the whole course pursued by Mr.
Webster in relation TO the burning of the Caro-
line, and the demand for the release of Nc
Leod, meets my unqualified disaPprobation, and,
as have no doubt will meet the condemnation
of nine.tenths Of the American people; vel my
purpose is less to or criticse that course,
than 10 express my own views on these mpor.
tant and highly interesting matters. have,
however, another object in view, and that not
a subordinate one. desire to repel with due
contempt, some of the many and bitter attacks
that have been made upon the Democratic
party and the late President in the progress OF
this debate, BY the Federalsts who have under.
taken the defence of Mr.. Webster, their leader,
and their fayorte. They charge US with al.
tempting to stimulate the nation into war, for
base political purposes. For these, and all such
charges, can but feel the most thorough con
in the ally habit of making the most bitter
and ruthless charges against whole party, to
be the very last who would dare TO whisper
aught injurious TO the reputation Of any indi.
vidual member Of such party. Sir, the Demo.
cratic party know too we'll on whom the bur
dens of war always have fallen, and must fall
to desire it when not demanded imperatively for
the honor and safety of the nation. And look
upon him, or them, who desire war for any
other purpose, with as much contempt as
would upon those who would skulk when wal
was proper. And | might, with much more
truth, retort on the gentlemen who have made
these charges, that they have conjured them up
With the vain hope Of screening themselves and
their leader from the contumely and disgrace
that are likely to oyertake them.
81 will now beg leave TO turn my particular
attention to the gentleman from New York, (Mr
Hunl.) owe that gentleman an apology Tor not
having heard his whole speech 1t was accident
alone that heard any part OF it, understood
him 10 say-and know did moi misunderstood
him-,hat Mr.. Van Buren,, by his misconduct,
was Justly chargeabe with the burning Of the
Caroline, and all lis train Of evil consequences;
that but for his gross and criminal neglect of a
high official duty, these misiorlunes would never
have betallen the country. l understood him
specifically 10 charge that Mr.. Van Buren,,
with The hope 10 gain the northern districts OF
New York Tor his friends who were candidates
for Congress, and thereby to strengthen himself,
had abstaned from issuing his proclamation,
which, had ne issued al a proper time, would
have prevented all these disasters 10 The country.
Sir, lei me tell the gentleman who has made
these charges, that he is paying his own noble
State most shabby compliment when he an
nounces to the world that her support is TO bt
purchased by such vile means, when he holds
out the possibility even that The President OF th'
United States could hon 10 win her favor, eithe
for his friends or himself, by a crmina! derelic
ton of duty. Its said and from undoub,ed au
thority, that charge Of precisely an opposite
character was made against him pending the We
ry elections 10 which The gentleman has referred
II was then convenient TO charge him with toe
rigid administration of the law, 10 the oppression
OF the patriot cause; by which his friends are sail
10 have lost ground both in N. York and Maine
One OF these charges is about as true as the 9th
er, and both Of them false. Can any sane NAL
believe that Mr. Van Buren,, in the first 81,
months OF his presidency, was so much alarmed
about his reelection as 10 be driven 10 such des
peraIe and despicabe resort as lhis2 Whom d
he fear as competi.or2 Was it Gen. Harrison
He had Just beaten him TWO 10 one. Was il Nj
Cay7 Tothe reproach of party supported b
his name and talents alone, they have ever aban
doned him at the hour OF need, and LETT him to tn
modification OF being distanced by every compe
titor. What party had he to fear2 The Whi
partyl The discordant elements that have sine
made il up, were then in ale OF angry chaos
The Odds and ends, and shreds and patches O
all parties that now compose il, had not yet bee
forced even into repusive contiguiiy. Th
Southern Shareholder and Northern abolitionis
had not yet been taught lha, their honor and lhei
interest required OF them 10 pull kindly in 10
same harness. No sir; these were among III
many other equally strange things taught after
ward in The Harrisburg convention, and form
too important epoch in the history OF In
times 10 be ,h,nnicled al any other period
They were heralded into The world by the hard
cider shout, and made their advcn, under r.
coon.skin banner But, whatever inducemenl
Nj. Van Buren, nigh, have had 10 pursue dill
terent course, am prepared TO prove that in re
lation 10 This matter al least he did all that coul
be desired or expected oil wise and vigilar
Chief Magistrate. Ii may be true that he did nC
issue his proclamation quite as soon as the gen
tleman from n York thinks he should have done
but of what avail was Il when issued? Simply
10 inform the people Of That which the simrles
man 10 The community knew Just as well before
that we were al peace with England, and that
would be unlawful 10 engage 10 the civil wars {
Canada. This if i, had been done in time, wou'
have satisfied the gentleman from New York; 10
so he has expressly Informed this House
would no. have satisfied the nation, nor lid
content Mr.. Van Buren,. He ftli himself Gale
upon 10 resort TO much more rigid and muc
more efficen, means. u the gentleman, who
so fond of censnriug the President tor neglect c
datv, wishes 10 know what he has DONE let hin
read the public documents within his reach, an
he will find that, on The 7ih Of December, 1888
--mofe than twenty days before the burning @
The Carolne-he issued his orders, through III
Secretary Of STATE, commanding the Disric, At
,orneys in the States bordering on Canada L
prosecute with rgor all persons who should b
found guilty OF intermeddling in the affairs G
tina, country. He will also 6ud that, on the sam
day, and through The same medium, he addresse
The several Governors Of those States, exhorln
;hem to like vigilance. And those Governor
severally issued procamaions. So that tn
peace and harmony OF the two nations woul
have remained unbroken, il proclamalions coul
have been of any avail. Blu, this is not all tia