The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Fourth Congress, First Session Page: 19
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19
HISTORY OF CONGRESS.
20
Senate.]
Address to the President.
[DF.(!E5IBKK, 1T&5.
ing a silent vote, and, as many of his constituents
â– were adverse to the instrument to which he had
given his assent, he thought this a fit opportunity
to say something on the subject.
Ge'ntlemen ou the other side had spoken of their
feelings; did they suppose, he asked, that those
who were in the majority had not feeling-*? Also,
gentlemen declared they would not recede from
their former determinations; did they expect that
the majority would recede':
He had, iie said, taken the question of the Ireaty
in all its aspects, and considered it maturely, and
though he lamented that he differed in opinion on
that "subject with his colleague, and a portion of
the people of his State, lie nevertheless remained
convinced that the ratification of it was advisable:
It rescued the country from war and its desolating
horrors.
After reading that part of the President s Speech
to which the clauses objected to were an echo, he
asked, whether any one cor.ld say, under the con-
viction that the measures of Government had pre-
vented a war, that out view of foreign relations was
not consolatory? On all hands, he observed, the
idea of a war was deprecated; both sides of the
House wished to avoid it; then is it not a consola-
tory reflection to all that i:s horrors have been
averted ? Is' there a man who docs not believe
that, had the, Treaty not been ratified, we should
have had war? If the country had been plunged
into a war, would it be as flourishing as it is ?
The trilling vexations our commerce has sustained
are not to be compared to the evils of hostility.
What good end could have been answered by a
war? The Address, in the part under discussion,
says no more than that we rejoice at the prospect
that the blessings of peace will be preserved; and
does not this expectation exist?
Great Britain, in the plenitude of her power, had
availed herself of the right she had, under the Law
of Nations, of seizing enemy's goods in neutral
vessels; but has allowed compensation to some
Americans, and a system of mild measures on our
part is the best security for further.
He adverted to (hat part of Mr. Butler's ob-
servations which related to the probable fall of
provisions at the peace. We ought not to be
grieved if Europe was rid ot the calamities of war
at that price. But he contended that, from the
measures of the Administration, permanent advan-
tages were secured to this country. The value, of
our soil has been enhanced; wealth has poured in
from various parts of the globe, and many perma-
nent advantages secured.
There had been one assertion made, which, by
repetition, had by some almost been taken for
granted, but which required proof to induce him
to believe it, and that was, (hat a majority of the
citizens of the United States are opposed to the
Treaty. In the part of the country he came from,
he owned there might be a majority of that opin-
ion, but he believed the contrary of the United
States at large; he expressed a conviction that,
when his constituents earns to consider the mea
sure maturely, they would change thoir opinions,
and, indeed, he understood that the false impres-
sions by which they were at first actuated, were al-
ready wearing off.
But the Senate and President are the Constitu-
tional Treaty-making powers. If mistaken in iheir
decisions, they cannot be accused of having been
misled by sudden and immatured impression.--. He
should conceive himself unfit to fill a chair in the
Senate, if lie suffered himself to be canicd away
by such impressions. The people could not, in
their town meetings, deprived of proper information,
possibly form an opinion that deserved weight, and
it was the duty of the Executive not to be shaken
in their determination by tumultuous proceedings
from without. Upon this ground he much approv-
ed the P.'iESiDKXTs conduct, and thought it entitled
to the epithet firm.
In local questions, affecting none but the inter-
ests of his constituents, he should attend to their
voice, but on great national points, he did not con-
sider himself as a Representative from South Ca-
rolina, but as a Senator for the Union. In ques-
tions of this last kind, even if the wishes of his
constituents were unequivocally made known to
him, he should not conceive himself hound to sacri-
fice his opinions to theirs. lie viewed the Presi-
dent as htanding in this situation, and though he
might hear the opinions of the people from every
part of the United States, he should not sacrifice to
them his own conviction; in this line of conduct
he has shown his firmness, and deserves to be
complimented for it by the Senate.
The Address reported, he said, contained no-
thing that could wound the feelings of mn mem-
ber. The Senate would not, in bis opinion, act
improperly if they expressed opinions coincident
with their act in the June session. The feelings of
the majority should be as much consulted as those
of the minority. The minority are not asked to
retract; but there is u propriety in the Senate's
going as far in their Address as the Speech went,
though it should be styled a vote of self-approba-
tion, lie hoped the clauses would not be struck
out.
Mr. Ellsworth was opposed to striking out.
The clause records a fact, and if struck out the
Senate deny it. The President asserts it. in the
Address reported, the Senate assent, a motion is
made to strike out, is it because the truth of it
is doubted? It cannot be called an unimportant
fact, therefore its omission will not be imputed to
oversight. The latter part of the clause, expresses
our gratitude to Almighty God. Will the Senate
refuse to make an acknowledgment oi' that kind?
Do they not admit that He is the source of all
Good, and can they refuse to acknowledge it?
And if so, is it, possible that, in admitting the fact
and expressing the sentiment, which so naturally
flows from it, the Senate should wound the feelings
of any friend to his country- ?
The truth of the fact is as clear as that the sun
now shines; the sentiment is unexceptionable:
he, therefore, recommended to his friend the mover,
not to insist upon striking out merely, but, that
ho should varv the motion, and propose a sub-
stitute.
To bring the mind to the point with precision,
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Gales, Joseph, 1761-1841. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Fourth Congress, First Session, book, 1855; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29469/m1/8/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.