Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-10

At that time we were at war with Britain Portugal was
neutral Power The General Armstrong lying in the
port Fsya under the guns Of FORT and was captured by
British feet The fort was manned by eight and had
two old guns.
The owners Of the pvateer General Armstrong claimed
through this Government indemnify from Portugal as neu-
trail Power suffering capture in her waters To this de-
mand Portugal replies that her small force unable 10 pro-
cct the vessel and demands redress from the British Govern
ment The British Government agree to indemnify the
miles Of those persons who killed in Fsys but refuses
indemnity for the destruction Of the Gen. Armstrong on the
ground that the pvateer fred the first gun Our Go yern-
ment apparently satisfied with the answer suffers the matter
70 drop In the last few years, however, the Of the
ny Two successive Administrations refuse through their
Of State revive the claim The last Admins
ation' through Mr. Clayton Secretary Of State, think pro-
Pe = lsvlve ~ and to make peremptoy demand of the
usuoso governments nay, even refuse to submit the
mater 20 aoiraon, the ground that is private claim
as all Government claims not on private account ex
cept when o1uy has been done national property as
the claims between Great Britain and ourselves submitted to
arbitration at the treaty of Ghent for indemnity for negroes
carried away were not private and we did not submit our
private claims against Mexico the arbitration Of P,,.ssn
But under TINS hmsy untenabe preext arbitration being
refused charge Lisbon ordered 10 make nal de-
mand, and American feet makes its appearance or Lis
bon. Europe becomes startled at the intelligence members
of the British Parliament justify their threatened repsas
against Greece from the attitude assumed by in Portugal
Now il Is true that know the feet could not have been
authorized to enforce the indemnity. But the question arises
How large feet in :he Tagus 1t may have been
without authority it might have been pleasure excursion
but may havebeen the cause, behooves know
that cause.
There cam therefore, be improperly in making Of the
Executive the request for the correspondence in question
And il is surely becoming in this House, entrusted with such
great interests as war and peace 10 inquire into these start
ling events and to that the powers of the Executive
which have long been the increase do absorb all the
other powers Of the Government It is the policy Of this
Government to remain, far possible, neutral and
does not become to set example of exacons
from other neutras when happened be beigerent
Mr. H. hesaed not say that would best comport with
the honor and dignity Of this nation in contest with weak
Power upon mere question fademniy for property taken
facts be stated he trusted that this House would egslae
upon the matter, and pass to submit arbitration
He must, therefore, insist upon his resolution.
MI. ASHMUN said that whatever Of doubt hesitation
he might at first have had the propety Of introducing
the expedeny of adopting the resolution Of the gentleman
from South Carolina, be then could have none.
The remarks (said Mr. Az which have Just fallen from
that gentleman are Of such character to demand mo-
mens notice. and require that the resolution should receive
unanimous support, not account Of the merits Of tho
resolution itself, but in order that Misrepresentation
nor Misrepresentation should be permitted take hold Of
the popular mind. That gentleman has, by implication,
at least, said that the Executive has, in the
adopted for the enforcement Of the payment Of the claims
against Portugal exercised powers conferred upon him
BY the constitution by Congress in other words that he
has without the previous authority of Congress- presumed
exercise the war power. Now sir any such thing has
been done proposed to be done, for one, desire to
know it and to denounce it and to call upon this House to
condemn it. as, in former instance it emphaticay did, The
gentleman alluded to the Of the unauthorized exercise Of
the power by Mr. Polk in ordering the army the Rio
Grande, by which the Mexican precated upon us
and seemed to express fear that similar act about
to produce similar results Sir have fear that the late
Presidents (Gen. Taylor the present one (Mr Fill
more will be guilty Of any such usupaion. If they
should will be Of the first and the loudest in the de-
nunciatons which such an act would deserve; and am
that every gentleman this side Of the House will
they did in the of Mr. Polk cheely give which
should fix upon the Journals Of the House its emphatic
sure. And now that the gentleman from South Carolina
(r HoLMEs) has thrown out inmaons that possibly
similar act had been done desire that there should be the
fullest ees and deepest search by any resolution be may
bring in Let the Executive Departments be probed to the
bottom and my word for it preence for any such init
nation or suspicion car be found
When this resolution first read, confess that 1t did
to be premature The condition Of relations
with Portugal just Of the delicate nature and
indeed from the reports which have to-day reached by ee
graph, quite clear that the Administration cannot have
received yet official information Of the state Of the negota
tions which have been in progress in Portugal No satsac
tory therefore be given call upon the Execu
tive The gentleman says that Europe alarmed and that
this matter has been spoken Of in the British Parliament
Sir do not think there any danger for ALARM
either here n Europe at all events the language Of the
gentleman will hardly contribute to allay any existing appre
henson The very expressions which ne has now used
calculated to do harm in this respect than any
thing else and means Of preventing any such harm,
shall be compelled to vote for his resolution in order that
may be shown, by the which it will draw FORTH hk
there none, the slightest foundation for any suggestion
any quarter that the Administration has, by the
power done any thing which endanges the peace the
country, or the world
Mr. HlLLIARD concurred in the remarks Of Tie gentle
who had just taken his seat and remarked tnat tho
Administration had been distinguished for any thing spoka
Of the pas was for scrupulous obearars 70 usurp any
authority whatever which would involve tbs country 10
collision with Others Therefore he earney hoped that the
resolution Of the gentleman would not only DO adopted but
properly responded to- The IL the newspapers was
wholly unounded in regard to the Administration; and
him great pleasure to bear his humble tribute 70 the
high honorable and statesmanke manner m which the d.
plomac affairs Of the country had been conducted he did
not think that there was the slightest danger Of the present
Executive usurping y such power The constitutional adj
wiser (Mr WEBsrBR stood at the head OF the Adminsra-
on next the President and he sufficient guaranty,
with his large experience staesmanke views and conserva
character that such thing was likely to occur The
gentleman from South Carolina remarked that this subject
was under discussion before the British Parliament and that
our course towards Portugal had been criticized He Mr.
H. trusted that Government would be Influenced
by such motives these which induced England to attempt
TO coerce Greece pay indemnity British subjects
Mr. STANTON Of Tennessee, inquired whether the gen.
eman referred to the statesmanke views Of Mr.. Webster
being contained in the letter Of the Secretary Of State to
the Governor of Texas and which was communicated to
the House Yesterday
Mr. billiard replied that he would discuss that ques-
ton when should up, and the proper time The
Secretary Of State amply able to vndcate himself all
lament England should review her the Greek
question, which brought from the Liberal party the
condemnation He expressed the hope that this Government
would ALWAYS on example of moderation toerance and