The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-12
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,,
THURSDAY, August 8, 1850.

Of the House to introduce the following resolu-
ton: which was read for information:
Resolved, That the President of the United
States be requested to communicate (if not i'm
compatible with the public interest) the amount
of the several claims Of the United States against
Portugal; the nature Of those claims the cor
respondence upon the subject, both at Wash
ington and Lisbon, between the two Govern
ments also, the amount and nature of claims
preferred by Portugal against the United States,
and all the correspondence between the two
Governments"
Mr.. HOLMES said, that the subject was one
OF two much importance, involving as it did in
ternationa affairs, and perhaps the peace Of this
country with highly respectable, though COM
paratvely small power OF Europe, for him 20
have introduced this resolution Without much
and seriously reflection. The State which he
represented had direct Interest In the matter.
as affecting the rice trade and the Madeira i'm
ports, and he felt II his duty, as membcr of
that branch Of the Government invested the
function OF declaring war, to demand of the Gov
ernment all the information in respect TO pro-
ceedings which might involve US In difficulties
with foreign powers. This House had ON former
occasions been guilty Of negligence In suffering
the Executive branch Of the Government 10 pro-
ceed so far as to make it point of honor 8 that
we should declare war" II we were intrnsted
ny the Constitution with the power Of making
war, we were expected by the people, whose
rights and interests, and honors were involved
to watch all the proceedings Of the Executive
which might by possibility lead to that war
On the present occasion, demand is made upon
Portugal for indemnity, arising from the capture
OF the General Armstrong, an American priva
teer, by British fleet, in the year 1914. Al
that time we were at war with Great Britain.
Portugal was neutral power. The General
Armstrong was laying in the port Of Fayal,
under the guns of fort, and was captured by
British fleet. The fort was manned by eight
men and had two old guns.
The owners of the privateer General Arm
strong claimed, through this Government in
demnlty from Portugal, as a neutral power suf.
lering capture in her waters.
To this demand Portugal replies her inability,
with her small force, to have protected. and de.
mands redress from the British Government.
The British Government agree to indemnify
the families Of those persons who were killed
in Fayal, but refuses indemnity for the destruc-
ton OF the General Armstrong, on the ground
that the privateer fired the first gun. Our Gov
eminent, apparently satisfied with the answer,
suffers the matter to drop. In the last few
years, however, the owners of the priyateer
again urge upon the Government their claim,
for Indemnity. Two successive Administrations
refuse, through their Secretaries of State, 10
revive the claim. The last Administration, how
ever through Mr.. Clayton, Secretary of State,
think proper to revive it, and to make peremp-
tory demand of the Portuguese Government :
nay, even refuse to submit the matter to arbj-
tration, on the ground that it is private claim,
las II all Government claims are not on private
account, except where injury has been deS, to
national property; as if the claims between
Great Britain and ourselves, submitted to arbi.
tration at the treaty Of Client for indemnity for
negroes carried away were not private; as If we
did not submit our private claims against Mex.
leo to the arbitration of Prussia. But, under
this fiimsy, untenable pretext, arbitration being
refused, our "charge at Lisbon is ordered to
make final demand, and an American feet
makes its appearance off Lisbon. Europe be-
comes startled at the intelligence members of
the British, Parliament justify their threatened
reprisals against Greece from the attitude as
sumcd by US in Portugal. Now, it is true That
we knew the fleet could not have been autbo
rized to enforce the indemnity; but the question
arises, how came so large fleet in the Tapus
1t may have been without authority it MIGHT
havc been pleasure excursion But whatever
may have been the cause, it behooves us to
know that cause.
| There can, therefore, be no impropriety in
making Of the Execute the request for the
correspondence in question. And it is surely
becoming In this House, intrusted with such
great interests rs war and peace, to inquire into
these startling events: and to see that the power
OF the Executive, which has so long been on the
increase, do not absorb all the other powers of
the Government. 1t is the policy of this Gov
ernment to remain, as far az possible, neutral !;
and 1t does not become us to set al, example of
onerous exactions for other neutrals when we
happen to be belligerent hesitate not to
say that it will best comport with the honor
and dignity OF this nation, to contest with n
weaker power, upon mere question of indem-
nifty for property taken or DESTROYED, to submit
the matter to arbtration. And il the facts be
as stated, trust that this House will lepislate
upon the matter, and paas an act to submit to
arbitration, ! must, therefore, insist upon my
resolution.
The SLAVERY QUEsTIoN--ln the course of
some remarks made in the House of Represen-
tatives, on Monday last, on the all absorbing
question of the day, by Mr. Seldom, a Democra.
tic member from Virginia, he said 1--WE have
already had Mr.. Chairman, sad experience of the
mischief arising from the use Of ambiguous phra-
SEES, and the adoption Of platforms Of doubtful
construction. believe the present anti-slavery
agitation owes much of its extent and intensity
to the mistaken policy of adopting delusive phr,,-
SEES and positions, susceptible of double construc-
ton, with the vain purpoae of uniting in party
action the opposing sections of the Union. In
the last Presidential canvass, instead of having ii
fair, just conception of the views Of the two
sections, each was deceived by such delusive con-
structions, and ambiguous phrases, into the be-
lief that they were acting on common principles
when the most radical difference in purpose and
views in fact prevaiied.-Such was certainly the
ease, to a considerable extent, with the Demo-
cratic party"
/, Mr.. FoorE AND South CAROLINA CHrvALRY
IL is seldom that we can find anything to approve
in the speeches Of Mr.. Foote While differing
from him on nearly every point of public policy,
and believing him to be noisy, quarrelsome,
aid tedious pest to the Senate Of the United
States, yet we cannot withhold from him due
need of praise for his recent praiseworthy de-