Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-21


involvement Of any constitutional or legal question That
is the position in which the resolutions before the
House yet gentlemen get up here and advocate them as
making the Government responsible for the which
IS proposed to approve and it must necessarily be advo
Gated upon that ground that must be the effect Of their
adoption Now If the Government is responsible for the
act we must stand upon principle in reference to it.
We say that is because the principle upon which the
act of Capt. Ingraham rested is American principle
that we desire the American Government to be held
sponsibe yet refuse to declare what that principle
s 1t is for this that say the proposition before
us Is unworthy the consideration OF the House Capt
lngrahams conduct to be justified upon the ground OF
American citizenship why not declare it in the reso-
lutions?
Mr.. SMITH, Of Alabama. ! expect to vote against
these resolutions in all shapes and FORMS and desire 10
say only few words in justification Of position
From the enthusiasm of certain gentlemen who advocate
the passage Of these similar resolutions and from
what my colleague from Alabama Mr.. PHILLlPs takes
to be the great in the American heart take
It for granted that shall be in very small minority
remember, sir that former occasion in this House
was in minority of ''one" upon question wilder,
more frantic, and enthusiastic than this 1.-THE Kos
suh welcome) therefore do not dread minortes, as
you may know 1t that the friends Of these resolu
ons cannot be satisfied with any form Of resolution
The gentleman from New York MIR. SMITH is salts
fed with the Administration, with the letter Of the
Secretary of State They have not gone far enough for
him.
My colleague from Alabama (Mr. PHILLIrs) complains
that the original resolution has been emascuated and that
these resolutions worthless Well, sir, hope that
these, any other resolutions of similar character,
worthless not as they be- may not pass this House
now or any other occasion. .,.
Sir what do you propose to do You propose to thank
man. in this extraordinary manner, for doing simply
his duty .|- *#
1t all surprising that pe should manifest
CONSERVATION and surprise when any man doing
his duty Any of two hundred and thirty men
who would deliberately waste fifteen days of the public
time in the first month of their session ought TO be
rised that any should do his duty under any crcum
Hprou fof fhapl cnm.
mander in your navy for simply doing his duty and
thing further And do say, that however gallant per-
sonaly, however honorable to his chivary and spirit
however noble the act may have been in him man,
yet, national act, do question its propriey and
design future occasion, to show that there
reasons for questioning this act take the liberty Of
saying further that the letter Of the Secretary of State
however elaborated and however ngenious devised and
worded may be- is fuller Of faaces generally and false
positions than any document of its character that has
been published under the sanction OF the Government in
this country for the last twenty-five years desire that
these resolutions shall be passed now in order that
we may discuss them more thoroughly and on some
other occasion shall take the liberty of denying the
doctrines asserted in that paper and perhaps may be
able to induce the House at last pause to consider its
consequences 1.. y.
Sir, / would advise nay honorable and distinguished
friend from Alabama AIr PHILLPs not to be governed
by the heart He says that are but responding to
great movement in the American heart WE'LL sir, states
had better be governed by his head than his heart
The head is better than the heart here Statesmen who
have been governed by the heart may be found in such
Percles the feet of Aspasia and Samson in the
lap Of Deah Let us follow Judgment and not feeling
on great national questions as this unquesonably is
Let give heads to the State and hearts to the
women. remember, sir that two years ago this whole
country wild with enthusiasm about kossuth, and
now 1t seems to be going wild about koszta parallel
cases
But let go back this proposition. You propose
to reward naval commander for the simple performance
of his duty Some of the very gentlemen who to-day
earnestly advocating this refused yesterday
and perhaps many times before give to gallant ge
neral compliment-the title Of lieutenant general
to General Scott. ... ..s...
Mr.. Speaker, let us be consistent. There are many
in the history of navy of this character When
Capt Long, of the frgate Mississippi, off Marseles, by
his judicious and gallant conduct prevented rupture
between France and the United States by keeping down
that insubordinate and rebeious agtator, Kossuth,
thereby indicating his great courage great hrmness, and
great nuitye sagacty, he denounced from end
Of this Union to the other by the which were PAN
derng to the public heart the favorite phrase
my colleague (Mr PHILLIPs and to the agitation got
up by disracting foreigner Capt. Long was man Of
great distinction great capacity, and great character
and yet this House absolutely refused to print his letter
OF vindcanon by voting down motion which submitted
to that effect Yet public opinion has long since vind
Gated Capt Long. There is another instance of like
kind in our naval history. When Lieut. Hunter took
Alvarado by himself his own hook he denounced
tried by martial and dismissed in disgrace from
the service of his country. Yes sir that gallant young
lieutenant for doing than duty and taking town
from the service for the simple act- the fleet doing
as much during the whole war. Is that the way you
would In your wisdom, reward merit Is this the way
for great Government and great People to be con-
sistent?
Sir this House is too frequently led away by what may
be considered to be popular applause and popular senti
ment think that it is time for these things to cease
am of opinion that Capt Ingraham, man, deserves
credit and applause for the gallant and chyarous i'm
pulse by which he governed and prompted in acting
as he did and such applaud and should be proud
to do him honor But do wish to commit the Gov
ernment to act upon which look Of question
able proprety in national view. These resolutions do
not only commit the Government to the act of Capt In
graham but also to the message of the President of the
United States and to the letter Of the Secretary of State
They commit it to all by endorsing the act of the COM
mander in the most solemn manner, and in rewarding
not by sword, but by medd-which is higher honor
than that intimated by sword-the act itself.
When rose, Mr. Speaker, had no idea of speaking
half long q have. desired briefly to give
two why intended oppose these resolutions to
the very end Trusting and believing, from the indca
tons which around me- that is the sense of the
House to let these resolutions lie for further discus
sion, will say that it is my intention hereafter to
examine with great deal of and elaboration the
letter Of the Secretary Of State well the message of
sound In order that the House may have the better op
porunity discuss this thing fully and thoroughly
connected with the Presidents message and the letter Of
the Secretaro State that the resolutions be
erred to the Committee Of the Whole the state OF the
Union, and ordered to be printed hope shall stay
here until the resolutions better understood and until
they be defeated in way other.
| Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee. Mr.. Speaker, like the
gentleman from Alabama shall state, in the outset of
my remarks, that intend to be exceedingly brief
consider the intended to be attained by these reso
lutions very just and very important one 1t is
| c.l.n l..... At. rlz