The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-15
i INSULTS 10 OUR FLAG.

We publish below the brief remarks Of Mr. Barks-.
dale, which he addressed TO the House Of Represent
atives on introducing bill from the Committee on
Foreign Relations, proposing to arm the President
with power to resist and to punish outrages the
American flag. sIstti,f "a
The sentiments Of Mr.. Is. will be echoed through
out all the Union for there ia feeling deeply
planted in the heart Of our people than that which
resents an insult to nationality. Our govern
ent not organized for aggression. and it's powers
are so ealousy limited that it is paralyzed for any
act Of resistance and reprisal the infection Of an
insult upon it's honor But the pride Of our people
is as sensitive to nsolence of any sort their ea
ousy of the powers of their own government is
vere. The one sentiment viii lead them to respond
to the remarks of Mr. Brksdale with the utmost cor
dialty the other sentiment will probably defeat
any such Legislation he proposes and keep affairs
on their old fopting:e 4I gta-eif 4loiaqs n
Hr. BAaKspAIa ask the chairman Of the Committee
Of Ways and Means Mr. JoNas to suspend for moment
The House viii remember that several days since my col
league mr. DAvl offered resolution with reference to
the outSAges which have recently been committed npon
our merchant vessels and in the Gulf of Mex
leo and ports Of Cuba and that the resolution was refer
red TO the Committee ON Foreign Affairs.
The committee Il now ready 70 report bill, and ask
the unanimous consent of the House to do 10 merely
that II may be referred to the Committee Of the Whole
House and printed do not ask action upon It at this
time know too wen that such request would be
fused but desire to say, far ann concerned be-
eve that Congress would fail to discharge the high duty
it owen the people Of this country II Il should adjourn
without aiming the President with full authority and the
amplest means to resent and resist these oua9es On
our own waters within sight Of our shores
sels have been boarded and searched our commerce in
tercopted and Gag insued by che naval oscsn Of
naughty and nsolent power, and we are and ought to
b. disgraccd in the estimation Of all civilized nations il
immediate PREPARATION, full and complete Is not demand
I'd and enforced The asserted right Of visitation and
search the part Of England has been admitted
by this government. On the contrary have ever
equvecally denied It, 1t denied in lBI2 and Great
Britain taught lesson then which she ought
to forget It denied by Mr. Stevenson, minister
to England In his luminous correspondence with that
government 1t denied by Gen Cass when the FIVE
great powers Europe entered into the quintupc treaty.
and invited tho cooperation Of this government and
Mr. Clay in his great speech on the new army bill in
lslS declared that the ooos that Goat from the mast
head should be the credentials Of our scsmen "a
The President with promptneM which conmends it,
seh to the applause and admiration 81 tho country has
ordered squadron to the scene of these outrages to
prevent their repetition, but hs pcwesle % redress
nest of3snccs unless Sustained by Conkrsss, ~,
know that war would be great calamity to this
oouptry, md particularly 70 tho section from which
come but would be greater casmy sim 70 England
with her national debt pahg The energies u her peo
lion raging in india abe Il "A no oondition 70 engage in
. war with this country; but she was, rather thah sub
NIT to these aggypsdons npon our commerce, would
prefsr waz with al its consequences .l,.ga.-,., ~
san net allowed under the rules Of the House, TO
dscuss the bill before has becn reported, but must
bspsmited = say, that holder foreign policy ought 70
be sdoped By this government and that whersvcr an
LAnercan otsen may Co. upon the land upon the
in the prosecution Of lawful enterprises no entitled TO
the protection Of tic government and ought TO have IT,
But am trespassing upon the time of the gentleman
/ from Pennsylvania, and yield the floor