Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-07-24
MR. cAtHoLrNs ADDRESS.
GOV cLupEp.l

cor cLUDED.
My stand prevented the bill from becoming law, and
that constituted the second link the series OF causes by
which enabled avert war between the two
tries Col Benton then went tor the BILL and was, be-
heve for the whole OF Oregon HAD the treaty been re-
jected at the preceding session, the stand took and the
resistance made to the bill would have been all in vali
1t would have passed. and the country precipated into
war; but asst was, time gained which all mpor
tant The agitation however, kept up about Ore
gon and similar bills introduced the succeeding
sessions, which failed by small majortes. In the mean
time negotiations were commenced, and the clam TO the
whole of Oregon made. The cry "all none, and
so strong the current in its favor that both parties
Welded to n the early part OF the session had resigned
my in the Senate, but was reelected short time be-
fore the session commenced and took my seat several
weeks aiterwad saw and felt the strength OF the cur
rent but resolved 10 breast it, and the peace OF the
country possible 1t was arrested and counter current
created Col Benton himself yielded to the counter cur
rent and delivered speech after the battle was won IN
which he belaboured those who stuck to all or none;
after he found that they were in minority IL was TINS
chain of causes of which the Ashbuon treaty was the
first and indispensable link, which averted war; and by
saved the two countries from one OF the greatest cala
tiles which could have betalen them and, might add
the civilized world | shall ever remember with proud
satisfaction, that took prominent lead and high
" responsible part the side OF peace throughout the
whole.
also admit that the treaty contained no stipulation in
favor of the of the vessels any prevent SINH
lar outrages in future. 1t objection and admitted
it to be my speech in favor OF it, but not sufficient
induce its rejection But although the treaty
tanned spulaons guard against like outrages there
after, much nevertheless, done in the negotiation to
prevent them, and to place the South much ee
waited ground in reference to the subject than where
stood, when the negotiation commenced. To understand
how much done towards this, brief statement
OF facts connected with the case OF those vessels is ne
cessary.
They all coasting vessels, having slaves board,
and all either stranded in their voyage from the At
anc ports to those the Cult the British possessions
Bermuda and the Bahama Islands, or forced to put into
their ports by stress Of weather to save themselves
tos,,y The vessel into port. Their fate the sa
The slaves were liberated under circumstances OF more %
less violence and indignity by the local authority The
great The frs occurred early the year 1890 and all
under the adm nistration OF General Jackson MrVan
Buren,, except the Creole Application made to the
Executive by the owners, for redress. After feeble and
tame negotiation Of many years, the British Government
agreed compensate the in the OF the Comet
and Encomum, but refused to make any that Of the En-
tepze, the ground that the two first occurred before
her act Of abolng slavery had gone into operation, and
the other after had The Administration Mr. Van Bu-
rens accepted the compensation and acquesced the
fsa in the OF the Enterprise without remonstrance
protest, and thus waived right and admitted the
absurd and dangerous principle on which the refusal was
| placed.
What the Administration sfamefully omitted to do
resolved to do through the Senate, if possible; and with
that view, and in order to pepetuate claim of right
movedin the Senate in l940 the three following resou-
TONS and succeeded in passing them by unanimous vote
with some light amendment Col Benton voting for them,
but not standing by as he says for he uttered
word in their support
"Resolred, hat ship vessel on the high seas in
time OF peace, engaged in lawful voyage, is, az ling
to the laws OF nation under the excl &c Jurisdiction Of
the State which her flag belongs as much so as if con-
shutting part OF its own domain
ResoUed, That ifsuch ship vessel should be forced
by stress OF weather. or other unavoidable cause into the
port OF friendly power, she would, under the
laws lose none OF the rights appertanng her the high
seas but the contrary she and her cargo and persons
board, with their property, and all the rights belonging
their personal relations, established By the laws Of
the State to winch they belong, would be placed under
The protection which 81 nations eztei the
"Resolped, That the brig Enterprise, which forced
| ly w ut int p,
| Bermuda Island, while on lawful voyage the high
from part of the Union to another comes within
the principle embraced IN the foregoing resoutions and
that the seizure and detention OF the negroes board
the local authority of the Island, was act in viz 8
of the laws OF nations and highly unjust our owfWti-
| zens to whom they belong"
Such the condition which the administration of
Nh Van Buren, LEFT these outrageous cases They
were brought to the notice OF the public and the principle
by Great Britain in the the Enterprise acquiesced
and, ofcouree all claims OF compensation the part
Of the owners rendered hopeless The following Admi-
nsration had nothing to stand on but my resolutions
and the vote otthe Senate in their favor IT. then "the
Inflated owners were sacrificed, twas notify Their
rendered hopeless by the preceding Admnistra
| ton with which M Benton was intimately associated
and in which he acqussced for he raised his voice
in their favor IN the long period OF ten years. during all
which time his voice might have been potential I turn
now to explain what done in reference this subject
by the negotiation which ended in the Ashburon treaty,
and how much the South which he accuses me as having
abandoned, has gained by it. For that purpose insert
| an extract from my speech on the treaty
Such the state Of the facts when the negotiations
commenced in reference to these cases; and it
now to be shown in what state it has left them In the
first place. the broad principles OF the lazy Of nations on
which placed right, in my resolutions, have been
clearly stated and concsvey indicated in the yery able
letter the Secretary Of State, which has strengthened
our not little, as well from its intrinsic merit as
the quarter from which it comes. In the next place we
have an explicit recognition OF the principles for which
we contend, in the answer Of Lord Ashbuon, who ex
preasy says that On the great general principles affect
ing this case he Creole they do differ and that
followed by an engagement that instructions shall be
given to the Governors OF Her Majesys Colonies on the
Southern borders of the United States to execute their
own laws with careful attention the wishes Of their 90
to maintain good neighborhood and that there
shall be ofieious Interference with American vessels
driven by accident violence into their ports The laws
and duties of hospitality shall be executed This pledge
accepted by our Executive, accompanied by the ex-
press declaration OF the President through the Secretary
of State that he places his reliance those principles Of
public lazy, which had been stated the note of the Sc
| cretary OF State"
Herewe have positive acknowledgment of the prin-
ciple which the administration of MIR. Van Buren, had
abandoned, and pledge that necessary measures would
be taken prevent similar occurrences in future and the
laws and duties OF hospitality be executed Now when
add that all this, thus far has been faithfully executed
may assert with TRUTH that you gain much far more than
hoped, considering the state in which the subjece had
been left by the preceding administration So much for
the charge that had abandoned you the OCCASION and
the assertion OF Col Benton, that he had stood by the ill
| tated owners
Ihave now repealed all the charges intended to shake
your confidence in my fidelity to you in reference the
most vital of all subjects to the South have shown
that they all either statements that are utterly false
or conclusions that are entirely nconcusive
have also shown, that Col Benton has involved himself
at every step in false statements contradictions nconss
ency and absurdies | will not say that he made his
charges knowing them to be alse for that would brand
him base calumnator and slanderer; but will say he
ought to have known they 1t may be, however
that he was too much blinded by and prejudice
or lacked the discrimination to perceive they were.
have passed all that directed against me per-
sonally, and not intended mpeach my fidelity to you
and cause, because did not fall within the reasons
which induced notice him at all have also passed
the torrent Of abuse he has poured against me- not
only for the reason but because deem il beneath
mynotce He doubtless thinks differently, and regards it
sthe finest portion OF his speech for he has used express
sions which pretty clearly indicate that he anticipates
for indignant Pronunciation. He mistakes his fate He
will be Fortunate should he escape sinking the level of
Ihersites He seems not to apprehend that the difference
is wide between the indignant eloquence of patriotism and