The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-03

g., any PROMISES at all find. sir, upon examining
thai letter that the Secretary OF State very properly as
sured Lady Franklin Of the great sympathy her appeal
yiction that the whole people OF the United States would
respond 10 il with like sympathy Then. what promises
ddhe make He said that the government OF the United
States would take measures to spread all information lar
and wide which could aid the navgaors, and partieu-
lary the whaers oil the United States, in discovering the
missing ships, relieving their crews, and restoring them
ment OF the United States could effect in the discharge Of
their constitutional powers they would do and would call
upon the skill enterprise and courage OF American nayi
promises and there is no other promise TO be found in
any letter which has passed between the executive OF
the United States and Lady Franklin, which has been
made known 10 the public in any other form II true,
sir that understand from other sources, that the Pres
dent did Immediately after this letter, direct board OF
naval officers consider whether there were in the navy
petition Of this kind; but those officers reported that
there such ships; and the President was salts
fed that Congress had made no appropriation to pro-
cure suitable ships he could not expend any money for
this purpose II may be that Lady Franklin was not
sufficiently acquainted with our forms OF government TO
understand precisely the amount OF power vested in the
the Executive were large the powers of the Crown
in Great Britain She might not have been aware that
the Executives dependant for pecuniay means upon the
Congress OF the United States and that the Congress was
not then in session.
It was very cautious promise merely TO do that which
he had II in his power to do under the constitution He
ascertained what in his power and acted according
ly II he had undertaken to buy and equip vessels, to
man them, and send them out, he would have been de-
nounced having transcribed his constitutional powers
Well, sir, what was the President next TO do! When
Congress met, and almost II was organized
he made communication 10 which is now upon our
tables bearing the date Of January 4h in which he sent
the letters Of Lady Franklin, the reply of the Secre
tary of State. and the correspondence with Mr. Camp
ten. The appeal made directly to Congress; and ii
there anything dscreditable to the government Of the
hax al ard
for the relief Of those unfortunate Mariners that dsced
belongs to the Congress OF the United States, and in it
the senator from Mississippi must participate. under.
stood him to ask why the senator from New Jersey did
not move in this matter two years ago Why, sir two
years ago there call upon any government for this
purpose Sir John Fanklns absence had not then been
true that now no extraordinary exertlons have been
made, but just promptly as the attention OF Congress
could be called TO the subject it called TO it by the
President OF the United States and if we have failed TO
correspond to that sympathy which elected by the
letter Of Lady Franklin, the discredit is with 4 was
not in the power OF the President to carry out his liberal
and benevolent desire-not scheme, sir, because no
scheme was ever entertained by him The failure was
ours, and hope the senator will not ascrbe il TO the
President of the United States
Mr.. YULEE obtained the floor, but gave way TO
Mr.. FOOTE Mr.. President, thought had been ey-
tremely crcumspect in my remarks this mornings and
certainly had disposition say anything offensive to
the President, anybody else; but, somehow other,
unfortunate not TO be able TO say anything that
is not Inexperienced by some member OF this body.
OF dscourtesy towards the President The mem
bers of this body and the country at large they have
done the honor TO look at my poor dongs here are
perfectly aware of the fact that have at time mani
tested disposition to present what may be called fac
tous opposition to the administration From the day OF
the Inauguration Of President Taylor, have never used
language in relation TO him either disespectful
kind have been otherwise than courteous and for
bearing towards the members OF his cabinet When
speaking OF their acts have felt bound to employ none
but proper and parliamentary language have used
other language this OCCASION / did not
have been understood saying by the honorable senator
from Maryland-at least certainly did not intend to
dsgraceful character Had employed harsh term.
should have used language at variance with those sent
mens OF personal esteem which have ever desired to
language which Ideemed both parliamentary and proper
thaihe njudcious in which the whole affair had
heaRs nRb,fean ~ nbne briess ol National dlscredt
il. indeed used language such as designed to employ
did not call in question either the motives, PATRIOTISM
capacity Of the President; and the harshest observa
bs Sayng Welded oo much 70 nv e
the moment and been thus nvegled into promising more
than he was really able to accomplish; and that this,
though quite amable in ITSELF and not to be harshly
sured yet unfortunate for the country and not
acy in harmony with the principles OF stern and solid
craftsmanship This is the extent of my reprehensons
If, indeed, have used terms OF apprehension at all
How under the circumstances existing could say less
than | did, am not able to understand Enter
tanning decided opinion that the particular act oil
nate and not we'll considered before il resolved
upon. | am not able to discover how could have
declared this opinion in language less exceptional
BILE, or which would have been more agreeable TO
the tastes OF honorable gentlemen here III gentlemen
wish TO praise the President and his cabinet for
doing that which hold il not proper TO do; il they
demand that should commend the Execntve.lor what
conceive 10 be one OF the unfortunate acts OF this
administrat (and all administrations must commit
some unfortunate acts y II they wish TO say, as said
in the first place, that il was gratifying thing 10 me-
il certainly was, 10 the letter addressed by the
Secretary TO Lady Franklin, and published in the
newspapers OF the country, and then, in the next
breath, TO say that IL equally gratifying to me
10 find that the promises clearly minated in that
letter were, after all, not to be realized IL they
wish TO say that approved OF the original deter.
ton Of this scheme, and that, Notwithstanding, equally
approved afterwards OF year being suffered to elapse
without employing the necessary means OF carrying this
generous design into execution-they ask more al my
hands than am willing to perform, to their
approbation because, sir should, by pursuing such
zigzag and inconsistent course involve myself contra
dicons and absurdites which would be profoundly dis.
rotation But the senator says that such promises
those 10 which have referred made by the Execu
tive beg leave to say that in this he is clearly mis-
taken. Distinct promises made, and they
derstood to be promises BY the whole civilized world
What is the language OF Lady Franklin in her letter 10
the President, inviting his attention to the unfortunate
condition OF her husbanai will read extract or two
from her letter. in order to ascertain the real meaning OF
the answer to that letter. prepared and published under
the official signature Of the Secretary OF State II will
not do TO tear single letter. the honorable senator
from Maryland has done from the correspondence with
which II stands connected in order 10 determine its prop
er Interpretation. We must have the whole correspond