Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-07-30

Van Buren, except tile Creole. Application was made
t. the Executive by the owners for redress. After
feeble and tame negotiation Of many years, the British
Government agreed to compensate the owners IN tho
otthe Comet ana Enconium, but refused to make
any that of the Enterprise the ground that the
first occurred before her act of aboshng slavery
had gone into operation and the other after 1t had
The administration Mr.. Van Buren's) accepted the
compensation and acquesced in the REFUSAL in the case
of the Enterprise, without remOnstrance or protest,
and thus waived right and admitted the absurd
and dangerous principle which the refusal was pa-
ced.
What the Administration shamefully omitted to DO,
resolved to % through the Senate, if possible, and
with that view and in order per petuate claim OF
right moved in the Senate in $40 the three follow
ing resolutions, and succeeded in passing them by
unanimous vote, with some slight amendment, Colonel
Benton voting for them, but NOT standing by me- as
he says, for lie uttered word in their support
"Resolyed, That a ship vessel tie high seas, in
time Of peace, engaged in lawful voyage IS according
the laws of nations under the exclusive jurisdiction
OF the state to which her flag belongs much so as
constituting part of its own domain.
"Resolyed, That if such ship vessel should be
forced by Of weather other unavoidable cause,
into the Port Of friendly Power, she would. under
the laws, lose of the rights appertanlng to
her on the high but on the contrary, she and
her cargo and persons board with their property.
aud all the rights belonging to their personal relations,
as established by the laws of the State to which they
belong, would be placed under the protection which
the laws of nations extend the unfortunate under
such circums tances.
Resolved That the brig Enterprise, which was for
ced unavoidably. by stress of weather. into Port Ham
ilton Bermuda Island while lawful voyage on the
high from part of the Union another comes
within the principle embraced in the foregoing resou
lions and that the seizure and detention ct the ne
roes board by the local authorities OF the island
act in violation Of the laws ofnatons, and high
" unjust to citizens to whom they belonged.
Such was the condition in which the administration
of Mr.. Van Buren, left these outrageous cases. They
brought t. the notice of the public and the
principle first contended tor surrendered, and that
maintained BY Great Britain in the of the Enter
prize, acquiessed in and of course all claims Of COM
pensaton the part Of the rendered hopeless
ne following Administration had nothing to stand on
but my resolutions and the vote of The Senate in their
favour IT, then, "he Inflated owners were sacrificed,
it not by me- Their rendered hopeless
by the preceding administration, with which Mr.. Ben
ton intimately associated, and in which he acqui
csced for be raised his voice in their favour in
the long period OF years. during all which time his
voice might have been potential. turn now, to ex-
plain what done in reference this subject by the
negotiation which ended in the Ashburon treaty and
how much the South, which he me Of having
abandoned, has gained by it. For that purpose In
sert an extract from my speech on the treaty
t'Such the state Of the facts when the negotia
lions commenced in reference to these cases. and it
mains be shown in what state it has left them
in the first place. the broad principles of the laws ofna
tons, which placed our right in my resolutions
have been clearly stated and cOnclusivey indicated
the very able letter the Secretary of State which has
strengthened cause rot little, we'll from its in
trinsic merit the quarter from which it comes. In
the next place, have explicit recognition OF the
principles for which contend in the OF Lord
Ashburton, who expressly says that the great gen
era principles affecting this case (the Creole they do
not differ and that is followed by IAN engagement
that instructions shall be given the Governors Of her
Maestys colonies on the Southern borders of the u
States to execute their laws with careful attention
to the wishes Of their Government to maintain good
neghborhood, and that there shall be ofhclous in
reference with American vessels driven by accident
or violence into their ports The laws and duties Of
hospitality shall be executed This pledge
cepted by Executive, accompanied by the express
declaration o. the President through the Secretary of
State thar he places his reliance those principles Of
public law which had been stated in the note Of the
Secretary OF State"
Here we have positive acknowledgement of the
principles which the administration of Mr. Van Buren,
had abandoned and pledge that necessary measures
would be taken to prevent similar occurrences in fu
ure, and the laws and duties Of hospitality be execu-
ted Now when add that all this, thus far, has been
faithfully executed, may assert with truth that you
gain much. lar than | had hoped, considering
the state in which the subject had been left by the
preceding Administration. So much for the charge
that had abandoned YOU on the occasion, aud the
assertion OF Col Benton that he had stood by the ell
tatcd owners
have now repealed all the charges intended to
shake your confidence in my fidelity to you in reference
to the vital Of all subjects to the South have
shown that they all rest either statements that
utterly false conclusions that entirely
or nconeusve have also shown that Col. Benton
has involved hmselfat every step in false statements,
contradiction. inconsistency, and absurdtes. will
not say that he made lbs charges knowing them to be
false, for that would brand him base calumniator
AMI slanderer !; but will say that he ought to have
known they we're. 1t may be, however, that he
TOO much blinded by passion and prejudice, or lacked
the discrimination to perceive they were.
| have passed over all that directed against me
personally, nd not intended to impeach my fidelity to
You and yoEr because it did within the
reasons which induced notice him at all. have
also passed the torrent oahuse he has poured
against me; only for the reason, but because
ierenty and regards it the finest portion Of his
speechor he has used expressions which pretty clear
y indicate that he anticipates it Will raise him the
level Of the great Athenan orator for indignant den
uncistion. He mistakes his fate He will be FORUM
ste should be escape sinking to the level of Thersltes
lie seems not to apPrehend that the difference wide
between the Indignant elOQuence of patriotism and
truth and scurrilous defamation. | also pass his
attack the Southern Address, because it has been
100 generally read, and is too well understood by you
for him to DO any mischief by assaling it. The won
der is that he should venture make an attack in
open daylight The remote twilight region of the past
lying between truth and fiction best suits his taste and
geniCs.
Passing all these by, I am brought to where he
hTOs of his disguise and enters the camp of the
II, and, openly procaimng himself abolitionist,
ndorses all thelr doctrines and steps forth their