Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-22


We publish below the brief remarks Of Nh. Banks
dale, which he addressed to the House Of rsprssen
tatives, on introducing bill from the COMMITTEES on
Foreign Relations, proposing to arm the President
with power to resist and punish outrages on the
American Gag
The sentiments Of Mr.. B. win be echoed through.
cut all the Union; for there IS no feeling more
deeply planted in the heart Of our people than that
which resents an insult to our nationality Our
government is not organized for aggression and its
powers are ealOusly limited that it is paralyzed
for any act Of resistance and reprisal on the inic
ton of sn insult upon its honor But the pride Of
orr people is as sensitive to insOlsnce Of any sort
as their jealousy Of the powers Of their government
is severe The one sentiment will lead them to re-
spOnd TO the remarks Of Mr.. Barksdale with the
utmost cordially; the other sentiment viii prOba-
bly, defeat any such legislation as he proposes and
keep affairs on their old footing:
Mr. BARKsDALE. / ask the chairman Of the
Committee Of Ways and Means Mr.. JOnesl to sus-
pend for q moment. The House will remember that
several days since my colleague Mr. Davis] offered
q resolution with reference to the Outrages which
have recently been committed upon our merchant
vessels and commerce in the Gulf Of Mexico and
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
The committee is now ready TO report bill, and
ask the unanimous consent Of the House TO do 30,
merely that it may be refsrsed to the Commute Of
the Whole House and printed. do not ask action
upon it at this time l know too well that such 3
request would be refused but / desire to say, as
far as l am concerned, believe that Con- ress
would fail discharge the high duty it to the
people Of this country if it should adjourn without
arming the President with full authority aud the
ampest means to resent and resist these Outrages.
On our own waters, within sight Of our own shores,
our vessels have been boarded and searched, our
commerce intercepted, and cur Jag insultsd by the
naval officers Of naughty aud insolent power, and
are and ought be, disgFaced in the estimation
of all eivilised nations if immediate reparation full
and complete, is not demanded and enforced. The
asserted right Of visitation and search on the part
of England has never been admitted by this gov
ernment. On the contrary, We have ever unequiV.
ocaly denied it. 1t was denied in 1872, and Great
Britain was taught lesson then which she Qugh
never to forget. 1t was denied BY Mr. Stevenson
our Minister to England in his luminous cores
| pondence with that government. It was denied By
Gen. Cass when the i've great powers Of Europe en-
tered into the quintuple treaty, aud invited III,
cooperation Of this government and Mr.. Clay, il
his great speech on the new army bill in 1918, de
clared that 81 the colors that float from the mast
head should be the credentials Of our ssamen"
/
mends itself to the applause and admiration of tn
country, has ordered squadron to the scene o
these Ourages to prevent their repetition, but he il
powerless to redress past Offences unless sustained
/ by Congress.
/ l know that war would be great calamity Il
this country, and particularly to the section iron
/ which come, out it would be a greater ealamit.
still TO England. With her national debt palsyinl
/ the energies of her people, her difficulties wit
| France and China, snd rebellion raging in Inda
she is in no condition to engage in var With thi
| country; bgt if she was, rather than submit t
these aggressiOns upon our commerce, would pre-
/ fer war with ell its consequences.
1 am not allowed, under the rules Of the House
to discuss the bill before it has been reported but
must be permitted to say, that holder foreign pol
| icy ought to be adopted by this government; an
! that wherever an American citizen may 20, upol
the land OF upon the see, in the prosecution Of law
full enterprises, he is entitled to the protection
| the government and ought to have it. But an
trespassing upon the time Of the gentleman froI
| Pennsylvania, and yieId the floor.