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GEORGIA COURIER.
J. G. SWl’^HOaTER
HENRI? MEALING,
PUBLISHERS.
Term*.—Thin P-ifwr i< pnWi*hc<l evwy Monday and
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rr»j> the “ Urn Ion Sun" of M ,v 2d, received at this Office
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
House, of Commons — Fuesday,May 1.
The Members’ Lobby, and toe steps
leading to it, were much crowded through
out the dav, by persons anxious to get a
glimpse of the political character, regard
ing whom there is so much public interest
at present, Considerable doubts were en
tertained as to the poss.bdity of Mr. Can
ning’s takiiig bis seat tp-day at all, from
an impression which prevailed that he
could not take the oaths after the clock
had struck four ; and it was thought that
the ballot would not admit of attention to
any other business- till some time after
that hour. All misapprehension was*,how-
eve terminated bv die appearance of the
Right Hon. Gentleman, followed bv an
attendant bearing his M -qualifications” for
a seat. IIis entrance nto the lobby was
marked bv a, demonstration of eager curi
osity on the part of the strangers in wait
ing, who by this time formed a body so
dense as to make it n work of extreme dif
ficulty for the High Constable with his
numerous posse of subordinates, to keep a
clear passage for the Members. “There’s
Mr.- Canning !” burst from many lips ns
ihe Right Hon. Gentleman appeared up
on the scene, and began to make his way
through the crowd not without consider
able impediment from the curious, jo the
office appointed for the examination of the
qualifications of Members newly elected.
Similar, although less in degree, was the
feeling of interest excited towards Mr.
Peel.
The gallery was not opened till near
five o’clock, at which time the appearance
of the house, to eyes accustomed to its
ways, and having an acquaintance with the
“ olden stvle,” was highly singular and in
teresting. “ A mighty change” was visi
ble, and it seemed as though some magic
influence had been at work altering the
face of all things. The House of Commons
no longer appeared as a house “ divided a-
gainst itself.” Hostile array there seemed
none, and'conflicting interests and parties
appeared now assembled round the same
cause. In other words, tlie ancient oppo
nents of his Majesty’s Government had
ceased to contend and fairly grounded
their arms before one, destined to attain
m-'Sterv over all his enemies, by the force
of genius, and the wisdom and integrity of
his mind. “ His Majesty’s Opposition
had absolutely fled from the field, and
were to be seen in dense arr.iv behind the
leading Members of his Majesty’s Admin
istration. On the Treasury Bench Avcre
Mr. Calcraft and Mr. Western, seated
beside Mr. Wynn, Mr. Croker, and sub
sequently Mr. Canning, Mr. Huskisson,
&r. On the second Bench sat Mr. Tier
ney, Sir Francis Burdett, Lord Ducan-
non, and others. On-the third Bench, Mr.
Brougham had taken his place, together
with Sir. R. Wilson, Mr. Leicester, Mr
Powel Buxton, Lord Nrtgent, and several
other tnembe st of the Opposition. On
the fourth Bench were to be seen, Lord
Seaftopj Mr. Gordon,'Mr. W. Smith, and
so on up to the sixth Bench from the floor
into the remotest corner ofthe House.—
A more full attendance, indeed, could not
be conceived—nor did it seem possible to
find room for one additional.JYlember in a-
ny part of the building. The side galle
ries were crowded to excess. Many Peers,
amongst whom were Lord Bexley, Lord
Farnham, Lor-d Roden, the Bishops of
Litchfield and Bath and Wells, were ac
commodated with seats in this parr of the
House. The Duke of Norfolk wasalso here,
and appeared to take a deep interest in
the proceedings. But which puzzled the
skill of the most experienced attendants
of the House ,vas to discever who were the
Members in possession of the Opposition
benches. With the exception of Joseph
Hume, Esq.’ who was constant to the pil
lar erected for the support of the side gal
lery, on the third bench, and Lord Milton
in his usual seat, it was impossible, among
the crowd of faces, to recognise any one
accustomed to shine or take any part in the
business of the House.
Mr. Peel has taken his place on what is
understood to be the neutral ground on the
M nisterial side of the House,and the iden
tical seat which Mr. Canning used to oc
cupy during, his temporary retirement
from ofliee in 1S22. Mr. Goldbarn sat
beside him.
The gallery was sometimes in a state
of great confusion, from the excessive
crowding of the strangers, but successful
precautions had been taken to secure as
far as possible, the convenience of the
Press.
The House was occupied until tvtthin
twenty minutes to five o’clock in b dieting
of the Ludlow Election Committee.
We found Mr. Western upon his
legs, and repotting to the House, from
tiie Eist Retford Election Commit
tee. We understood the Hon. Mem
ber to say that Committee had decid
ed, that the petition against the return of
the sitting Member wasn’t frivolous or vex
ations—that ttie Sir Robert Duncan was
guilty of treating by his Agent at the last
Election for the said borough—that Wil-
that the electors had been encouraged in . another aspect, lo ^hich, under othet cir
the expectation of such rewards by the sit
ting Member—that the Committee re
quested that the House would order their
report to be printed before the issuing ofa
new Writ of Election for the borough of
East Retford.
The Report was then ordered to be ta
ken into consideration on Thursday the
17tbof May,
Lord W. Russel was understood to
move the addition of three names to the
list of Members appointed to serve .upon
the Committee for the consideration of a
Bill for the better regulations of Private
Election Committees.
Mr. Pointz observed, that the Noble
Lord niOA'ed an addition to the Commit
tee of three names and that on a former
cumstances, he himself had been in the
habit of offering a decided and undeviat
ing resistance. Under these circumstan
ces, the nature of his opposition being
such as not to be constituted of temporary
difficulties, nor having been such that he
could have hope for time to have remov
ed, and that opposition being necessary, as
he conceived, for the maintenance of the
question in favor of the Established
Church, principally in Ireland; be did not
think but that he tvas bound to retire from
public service should his Right Honorable
Friend, the First Lord of his Majesty’s
Treasury, be placed at the head of that
Treasury. He should now state the rea
sons, why he considered that the success-
of the Catholic Question would be pro
night, he had. moved the addition of six j moted by the appointment of his Right
names, most of which belonged to mem- Hon. Friend to the station of Prime xltn-
bers of the same family, and all promo- 1 isier.—(Hear.) He gave his Right Hon.
ters of the Bill. He felt perfectly con- j Friend the fullest credit for the honest
vmced that the Members nambed by the j sincerity of his intentions. He judged ol
Noble Lord avould act in the very purestj him as he wished others to judge ot h»m-
manner, but he objected to the additions self—by his acts—and he could not help
of three names as a breach of the general recollecting the uniform course he had
principle, and wished to take the sense of
the House upon the motion of the Noble
Lord.
Strangers Avere then ordered to with-
draAv, and the House Avas proceeding to
divide, when
Mr. Calcraft rose and moved that the
consideration ofthe Noble Lord’s motion
should be adjourned to Wednesday the 2d
of M;.v.
The Speaker then put the question
from the Chair, and Mr. Calcraft’s motion
was unanimously agreed to.
NEW WRITS.
New writs Avere moved and ordered for
the return ofa member to serve in Parlia
ment for the borough of Peterborough, in
the room of James Scarlett, Esq. Avho had
accepted the office of his Majesty’s Attor
ney-General ; for the return of a member
to serve in Parliamarrt for ihe county ot
Sutherland, in the room of Lord Francis
Levison Gower, who had been appointed
one of the Commissioners of his Majesty’s
Treasury ; for the return ofa member to
serve in parliament for the borough of Lis-
keard, in the room of Lord Elliot, who
had been appointed one of the Lord Com
missioners of his Majesty’s Treasury; and
for the return of a Member to serve in
Parliament for the University of Cam-
bridgej in the room of Lord Lyndhurst,
Avho had been called to the House of
P cers. '
A neAv writ- for the return of a Member
to serve in Parliament for the borough of
Ashburton, in the room of the Right Hon.
Wm. Sturges Bourne, who had accepted
the office of one of his Majesty’s principal
Secretaries of State, having been moved
for,
Mr. Peel rose amidst loud cheers, and
expressed himself to ihe following effect:
As this motion was immediately connected
with the office Avhich he held, he trusted
the House would not think that he pre
ferred an unreasonable request when he
entreated them to alloAv him to take the
opportunity of explaining the grounds on
which he retired from the service of his
Majesty. He knew hoAV much personal
matter must be involved in a step of this
kind, yet he had so frequently met with
the kind indulgence of the House on for
mer occasions, that he should be disap
pointed indeed, if on the present occasion,
lie found he had entertained a vain expec
tation that they would allow him the op
portunity he now solicited. In this ex
pectation, he had abstained from resorting
to any other mode of explaining his mo
tives. Three Aveeks had hoav elapsed
since he had virtually resigned the office
of Secretary of State for the Home De
partment. During that interval his si
lence might have subjected his conduct to
much doubt, but be bad waited patiently,
supported by the confidence that he had
acted on public grounds; that he had ta
ken a course consistent Avith the mainten
ance of his own character, that he had
been acting Avith a view to the character
of that class to Avhich he belonged, he
meant that of public men, and supported
bv the hope, that on this day, and in that
place, he should have the opportunity in
thefaceof that House, whose confidence
and good opinion he was chiefly anxious
to possess, and, if he might say so, to
maintain—(hear, hear)—supported by the
hope too, that he should be able to vindi
cate him r olf from any misconstruction of
his conduct, he had rested till the present
moment, he said, to vindicate the course
he had taken, because he did not con
ceive that a public man having embaaked
in public service, was entitled on light
and trivial grounds to sevre the connection
that subsisted between him and the pub
lic, and to withdraw himself from those
whose confidence he had possessed. If
be bad acted from feelings of inconsisten
cy—if he had acted from levity or vanity—
if he had acted from any private pique or
personal violence, he should consider him
self though not constitutionally, yet mo
rally, most unjustifiable, and unAvorthy of
the confidence his Majesty had reposed
in him. The grounds on which he had
retired were shortly these—from his first
entrance into public life, he had enter
tained an opinion, and taken an active
part in a great constitutional question, to
Avhich he was most firmly attached.—
(Loud cheers.)—For eighteen years he
had persisted in aD undeviating course,
offering an uncompromising opinion, and
which he considered a constitutional re
sistance to the motion brought forAvard.—
During fourteen of those esghteen years
he bad held office, for eleven he had been
closely connected with the Administration
of Irish Affairs, end he had still to this
bam Wrightson, Esq. Avas also guilty of j moment retained the opinions he had ori-
treating, by bis agent, at the last Election
—that it appeared from the evidence giv
en before the committee, that the corrupt
state of the Borough demanded the most
serious attention from the Iloase—that it
was the General practice in that borough,
for the electors to recetve the sum of forty
guineas for their exorcise of elective fran
chise—that it did not appear, however,
ginullv entertained ; but above all, having
taken such an active part for some time
past, if a single Minister entertaining sen
timents in opposition to those he had
cherished came into office, he did not
consider that he could, consistent with his
honor, and as a public man, remain in of
fice, if the situation of that Minister was
calculated to maintain that question under
taken in favor of the Roman Catholics.—
Judging from the Right Hon. Gentle
man’s previous conduct, in his (Mr. Peel’s)
opinion, duty as well as inclination would
oblige him to promote, if not the immedi
ate, the ultimate concession of those
Claims—(Hear, hear,)—and therefore, he
considered it as his duty to retire from
office. The change Avas not so much be
cause his Right Hon. Friend differed from
the Earl of Lh’erpool in his opinion on
the Catholic Question, but because his
Right Honorable Friend’s attaining the
station of Prime Minister, a change must
take place in the direction of that influ
ence which belonged and properly be
longed to the First Minister of the Ciowd.
That influence which lay Avith the most
able and poAverful opponent of the Catho
lic Claims was nciAV transferred to the
most poAverful and most able advocate of
those claims. With reference to the Ca
tholics, he Avas prepared to act as he bad
acted from the first dictates of his feelings,
which usually pointed out the most hono
rable course to pursue. Subsequently,
however, he had frequent opportunities
from mature deliberation, and the persua
sion of every hour confirmed him ;n the
first suggestion of his feelings. Could he
have acted otherwise, when he beheld
his Right Hon. Friend, Avhen the period
■to which the restrictions Avere removed
from his present Majesty up to the time
Avhen the Hon. Member tor Westminster
had brought forward his last motion in
favor of the Catholic Claims, earnestly,
consistently, and perseveringly, adA'ocat-
ing those claims, and acting as earnestly
in support of them as he (Mr. Peel) had
acted in opposition to them! Then Avhat
Avould prevent his Right Hon. Friend from
doing in 1827 Avhat he had previously
done for a course of years. There was
no Constitutional ground to prevent him
from adopting the same course. No
pledge had been offered to him (Mr. Peel)
that his Right Honorable Friend would
not adopt that course. He had not asked
for such a pledge; but if he did, he was
sure he would be refused it. Had he ac
cepted office under his Right Honorable
Friend, the possibility, nay, the probabi
lity Avould have been, that this very Ses
sion he would have been* compelled to re
tire.—(Hear, hear.)—Because it wa* im
possible for him to acquiesce in any mo
tion pledging the House to take into con
sideration the Claims of the Catholics in
the next session of Parliament. From
1812 to 182T, whenever the Catholic
question had been brought forward, His
Right Hon. Friend had been its most de
cided, its most powerful, its most effective,
advocate. When it had been brought
forAvard by others, the Right Hod. Gent,
had given it decided support, and he him
self had brought forAvard the claims of the
Catholics at different periods. In 1822,
his Right Hon. Friend originated a mo
tion for admitting Peers of the Catholic
persuation to seats in the House of Lords ;
he (Mr. Peel) opposed that motion ; and
noAV suppose his Right Hon. Friend, in
vested with the authority of Prime Minis
ter, should bring forward that motion,
could he (Mr. P.) acquiesce in that, Avhich
five years ago he had opposed ? He did
not mean to complain of the conduct or
opinions of his Right Hon. Friend iu the
remotest degree, but he thought it due to
himself that he should state the grounds of
his retirement, and essential that he should
state the whole truth, and explain the
principles upon Avhich he had acted.—
Then what security had he that his Right
Hon. Friend would notbring foru ard mea
sures similar to those which he had brought
forward in 1812? The language of his
Right Honorable Friend then Avas, “ I
solemnly declare that I AA’ould not have
brought forward the present measure of
reparation, if I Avas not convinced that in
the name of policy it was expedient, that
in the name of humanity it was charitable,
and, in the name of God, it Avas just.—
(Cheers.)—Then if it was expedient in
the name of policy, if it was charitable in
the name of humanity, and if it was in the
name of God just; with my confidence in the
sincerity of my Right Hon. Friend, could
I doubt that now, when placed in the si
tuation of Prime Minister, that I must ac
quiesce in those measures of concession,
or withdraw myself from the Administra
tion? Partial success, my Right Hon
ourable Friend admitted, would lead to
greater concessions, and it was not in nay
power to acquiesce in the introduction of
any' measures of concession. Then he
(Mr. Peel) should only have held his
place by sufferance, and have been com
pelled to resign his office at a week’s no
tice, when his retirement would have been
more inconvenient.—Ahvays considering
the prominent part he had taken in the
opposition to the Catholic Claims, he
could not doubt that it was his duty, as
well as a man as a Minister, to pursue the
course Avhich he had taken. He (Mr.
Peel)was placed on the present day, in
circumstances very nearly similar to those
in which his Right Hon. Friend was
placed in 1812, when he refused to be
come part of a Cabinet, the Prime Minis
ter of which was not pledged to the Ca
tholic Question.—When the proposition
to join that cabinet was made to his Right
Hon. Friend, he, in a speech delivered
within those walls, stated the grounds on
which he rejected that proposition. His
Right Hon. Friend had at that time stated,
what would be the situation ofa Minister
thus opposed to the Premier.—(Hear,
hear.) He could not avoid adverting to
the example which was then set by his
Right Hon. Friend, nor the construction
which was then put on the proposition,
bv the A'ery Minister who now possessed
the highest situation in the Ministry.—
(Hear, hear.) He certainly felt that the
doctrines laid down in the speech deln'er-
ed by his Right Honourable Friend on
that occasion, might have been quoted
against him (Mr. Peel,) if he had submit
ted to continue in the situation of Secreta
ry of State for the Home Department un
der his Right Honourable Friend, the
whole of whose influence Avould he exert
ed in the support of a measure of which he
(Mr. Peel) so entirely disapproved.—
(Hear)—When, on the 21st of May, 1812
Mr. Stuart Wortley (now Lord Wharn-
cliffe) moved an address to his present
Majesty, then Prince Regent, praying
him to take measures for forming a strong
and efficient Administration, it Avas under
stood that the Catholic Question Avas to
be left an open question amongst the
members of that Administration, At least,
lie knew that his Noble Friend, the Secre
tary at War, and some other members of
the Administration voted for it. That
motion was carried by a majority of 129.
He (Mr. Peel) voted in the minority,
which was a very small one ; for the Pro
testant cause tt'as not then supported by
such large numbers as now uphold it. He
mentioned this circumstance to show that
his conduct with respect to this question
had always been consistent, Avliether lie
Avas in a majority or a minority. On the
21st of May, 1812, his right Hon. Friend,
in his speech on Mr. S. Wortley’s motion
for a strong and efficient Administration,
assigned the grounds on which he declin
ed taking office; and those grounds so
nearly resembled those on which he (Mr.
Peel) deemed it necessary to retire, that
instead of explaining them himself, he
begeed leave to make use of the much
clearer and more emphatic tvords of his
Right Hon. Friend, which were as fol
low ;—“ I have been asked whether sup
posing I had accepted the offer that Avas
made to me, I should not have felt myself
at perfect liberty to act as my OAvn opin
ion should dictate upon-the great question
Avhich constitutes the main bar of separa
tion ? I reply, that as a Minister I know
I should have been at liberty :—I do not
mean to assert that if I had joined the pre
sent Administration to fight against my
own principles, under the banners of the
Noble Lord, I should not have had the
power of making my solitary speech, and
of giving mv solitary vote, in support of
opinions I had previously maintained. I
will not even say that there may not be
honorable minds who Avould be satisfied
With such a distinction; and it maybe
my misfortune or my fault that mine
is not a mind of that construction—
If wh°n out of office I haA-e lent to any
cause that I deemed just my influence and
authority, I never can consent to accept
office under the condition, that I shall in
stantly divest myself of that influence and
authority which ought still to be my com
panions, and to leave them on one great
vital question in open and wilful abeyance.”
Those were the sentiments which his
Right Hon. Friend gave utterance to in
1812. He(Mr. P.) admitted them. He
gave his Right Hon. Friend credit for sin
cerity. He was satisfied that lie would
use the influence of his new situation for
the purpose of carrying, when in office,
the measure which out of office he had
declared to be just. He would read an
other extract from his Right Hon. Friend’s
speech, every Avord of Avhich applied
strongly to his (Mr. Peel’s) situation—
“ Personal objections (continued his Right
Hon. Friend) to the Noble Lord, I de
clare I have none;” nor (said Mr. Peel)
had he any personal objection to his Right
Honourable Friend. From the bottom of
his heart he declared it. “ I am actuated
by no feeling of rivalry,” said his Right
Hon. Friend; neither was he (Mr. Peel.)
When his Right Honorable Friend was
about to proceed to India, he (Mr. Peel)
declared that he would feel no objection
to continue in office, if it was thought that
the services of his Right Honorable F riend
would be advantageous to the iuterests of
his country. After quoting several passa
ges from the speech of Mr. Canning, the
Right Hon. Gent, entered into a defence
of his conduct with respect to the three
great questions Avhich applies immediately
to the state of Ireland. He said that
when those questions were in agitation, he
AA'aited on the Noble Lord then at the head
of Government, and expressed his wish to
retire from office. Many Avere the consi
derations that influenced him; but most of
all he was urged on by the circumstance
of seeing his colleague actively engaged
with his political opponents—(Loud
cheers.)—If such Avas his feeling when
his noble Friend was at the head of the
Government, h&Av much more cogent
must these considerations uow be, when
his Right Hon Friend was the Prime Min
ister. It must be known that the Prime
Ministar possessed all the patronage and
appointed to nearly all the offices, whilst
on the other hand it was the peculiar duty
of the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, charged as he was with the
administration of the domestic affairs, to
affix his signature and to give validity to
to every measure orginating with, or
proceeding from persons selected for,
and acting on principles diametrically op
posite to his own. Throughout all the
recent changes he declared most solemnly
that he had-not acted in concert with any
man or set of men. His first communica
tion was made to his Right Honorable
Friend himself^ and he put it to the can
dour of itis Right Hoh. Friend to say,
whether his conduct had not been open
and explicit.—(Hear, hear, from Mr.
Canning)—His next communication was
to the highest authority in the State; at
the same time he did not in either of these
communications disguise his wish to con
tinue in office, provided the Government
was conducted orf the same principles
which formerly guided it. I have stated,
said the Right Hon Gentleman, that I did
not act in concert with any other persons;
but Avhile I state this, I must also declare
able advocate and supporter of the A.
ican system. Indeed, sir, I would
what great measure has been adopt?
which he has not shone conspiciously
And yet, he has not been greedy or an.,
ious for office. Mr. Madison offered hiin
him a place in his Cabinet. Mr. Monroe,
when he came into office, tendered him
one in his Cabinet; he declined both.
James Barbour is the Secretary o;
War—a man Avithont fear and without re
proach; a man of high order of talents, a
pure heart and the strictest integrity; a
in the teeth ofthe foul imputation cast on i man on Avhom his native State has show,
me, namely, that I despise or disapprove | ered all its honors. I have had the plea-
ofthe feelings by which they were actu
ated, that I think their motives as pure as
mv own. And equally false is it charge
these high individuals with having formed
a cabal—(Cheers)—Upon my honour,
continued the Right Honourable Gentle
man, I neAer had any communication di
rect or indirect with the late Lord Chancel
lor until the day after he had resigned his
office. The Right Hon. Gentleman then
proceeded to p onounce a high encomium
on the splendid military talents of the
Duke of Wallington. I notv (said Mr.
Peel,) retire from office with regret, but
still with the conviction that no other
course remained open for me Whilst in
that office I believe I may appeal with
confidence to the House for the truth of; James
mv assertion, I did not neglect the op- —He
sure of knowing this distinguished mat)
from early life. He was a native of Vj r .
ginia. As soon as he was eligible, lie was
elected, a member ofthe House of Dele
gates, and it happened to be in the session
of 1798 when the Virginia resolutions *
against the Alien and Sedition law were
passed. Upon that occasion, he made a i
speech, as young as he Avas, against the j
Alien and sedition law, of such merit, that
it was preserved by Mr. Jefferson and
may now be found in the Library of Con
gress. In the next year, 17S9, when
Mr. Madison was pressed by men from all
parts of Virginia, as Avell as in his own
country, he declared it a condition upon
which he would serve that this same
Barbour should be his colleague.
Avas elected Speaker of the
portunity and the facilities Avhich it afford- j House of Delegates many years. He war
ed me of rendering myself useful to my, then elested Governor of the State, and
couutrv by effecting those reforms in its i it fell to his lot to serve as the Executive
laws, and in the Administration, which I of the State during the war—a period full
had recently the honour of bringing under | of peril, of labour, and difficulty. The
the consideration of Parliament. And I j People of Virginia are Avitnesses to the en-
do most solemnly declare, that the only; ergv'and promptitude of his conduct, of
distinction and the sole honour Avhich I j the decided and important services he
hoped or expected, from the exercises of rendered; it tvas at a time, too, as we all
9
any poor abilities, was, that it might be
hereafter said of me, that I had thus ren
dered myself useful to my country,—
(Cheers—in Avhich Mr. Brougham loudly
joined.) He had the satisfaction of re
flecting that office Avas conducted by him
in such a manner as called forth the thanks
and gratitude of the country. He might
in some respect have been illiberal and
partial, but all must allow, that the duties
of his situation imposed a very high and
unusual responsibility upon him. lie
had also the pleasure of reflecting, that
there was no laAv in the Statute Book in his
name, but had for its object the mitigation
of the seA'eritv of the law - , and impartiality
in the administration of justice.—(Hear.)
During the severest trials Avhich the man
ufacturing districts of this country had
ever experienced, he meant those of the
winters of the tivo last years, during which
he had the Administration of the Home
Office, he hoped they had no cause to
attribute any inattention on bis part. He
considered it his duty to maintain all the
institutions of this kingdom, to which he
Avas by early associations attached; and
since some of them could without danger,
admit of some temperate reformation, he
would still exert himself for that purpose,
the same as ho had endeavoured to do
heretofore, & concluded by thanking the
House, amidst loud cheers, which lasted
for several minutes.
THE ADMINISTRATION.
Extract from the speech of Mr. F.
Johnson, of Kentucky, delivered the lGtli
of February', on the floor of Congress, on
the subject of designating the change?
Avhich have been made, and the causes of
each change, in the publishing of the
LaAvs, directed to be published in 1827.
At the head of the Administration, is
John Quincy Adams, President ofthe U.
States—a man who is alike distinguished
for his eminent talents, and long public
services, at home and abroad. His name
is connected with most ofthe great events
of our country for the last thirty years;
who, as a statesman, has no rival; as a
patriot, no superior; a man Avho loves his
country, and glories in its free institutions,
and devotes his time and attention to pro
moting and securing its best, its dearest,
and its greatest interests ; a mail approach
ing to the age of sixty, and growing grey
in the service of his country'. He di
vides aud employs his time with all the
economy of Franklin ; his morality has all
the austerity of the patriot, Samuel Ad
ams; he possesses the purity aud self-de
nial of Madison; and I do verily believe
he is the plainest man that ever Avas Presi
dent oi the United States. He is seldom
seen out of his house except on foot, min
gling with his fellow citizens and is then
only to be distinguished by the humility of
his deportment.
The next is Henry Clay, Secretary
of State. Need I speak of him in this
Hall, the theatre of his noblest efforts?
Shall I speak of him to the People of this
nation? They are witnesses of his pub
lic life for the last twenty years. His
character requires not my eulogy; it is as
far above my panegyrick, as it has proven
to be beyond the reach of detraction, the
assaults of malice, or the power of party.
We have seen personal dislike and party
violence, and disappointed ambition, in- Southard attracted the attention of his na-
know, Avhen the country was depressed,
and without money to carry on the war.
He obtained money for the uses of his
country, upon his own responsibility.—
His ample fortune and himself were
pledged to raise A200,000 for his country \
defence. Nearly tAvo millions passed
through his hands, as Agent for the Go
vernment, yet he was never a defaulter
He has not asked, as others have dene,
remuneration for his services, or indemnity
for his responsibilities. His only aim ami
his only desire Avas to be seniceable to
his country, and, if I am not mistaken lie
originated the School Fund Bill in 1809,
which promises such benefits and renown
to that ancient and respectable State.—
From Governor of Virginia, he was elec
ted to the Senate; and from there lie cam;*
to the Head of the Department, over
which he now so usefully and ably pre
sides. Through all the conflicts of av;*i
and of party violence, through which lie
has had to pass, he mn\'ed an onward
course, reiving upon the purity of hi>
motives, and the poAver of his mind, and
none have yet dared assail his reputation
He always had the confidence and friend
ship of Jefferson and Madison.
Richard Rush is the Secretary of d:e
Treasury'. He, too, is a man a In get her
without reproach. Wherever lie has been
known, he has been loved and respected.
He has had long experience in public af
fairs, which, added to his fine talents emi
nently qualities h',m for t re-wflTice tic* now
so eminently fills. lie is the son ol ;
Revolutionary Patriot, avIio Avas not less
distinguished for his republican course,
than he Avas celebrated for his great ac
quirements in the medical art. Mr. Rush,
early in life, bad the confidence of that
good and excellent Governor, Simon
Snyder. Mr. Rush was Attorney Gene
ral in Madison’s Administration. He was
the close friend of Mr. Madison. The
Democratic party of his native State,
Pennsylvania, in looking around its nu
merous and highly qualified and respecta
ble sons, to present the nation one for pre
ferment and promotion, singled out this
man as the favorite, and he Avas unani
mously' nominated by the Democratic
Convention of that State, to be run again
V. President, with Mr. Monroe, the la5 r
of the Revolutionary Patriots. He Avas
many years our Minister in London. In
all the public stations be has filled, he has
acquitted himself with credit and ability,
and such is the purity of his private and
public life, of his devotion to public prin
ciples, and the love of his country, that
the most malignant breath of slander has
not been able to touch his reputation, or
reproach him with a single act, even of in
discretion.
Samuel L. Southard is the Secretary
of the NaA-y. He, too, is the son of a
Revolutionary patriot, who carried his
musket during the Revolutionary war, ami
was one of that invincible and much cel
ebrated corps, called the Jersey Blues, so
well known, anil so eminently distinguish
ed during the Revolution. That old pa
triot has always been a true Republican.
I had the honor of meeting him on this
floor, where I heard him raise his voice in
favor of Missouri; may he live long and
enjoy the fruit of a well spent life. His
son has inherited his virtues and Demo
cratic principles. At an early age, Mr.
f)
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fluence, ability, &zeal, united to effect his
destruction, We have seen a Jbmerous
party, with a press at command,-Snd with
great talent, marshalling their united for
ces to break down a single man. *He was
not unconscious of the danger, nor insen
sible to the assault. He looked fearlesly
on the storm that raged around him. But
he stood unmoved, unhurt. A reliance on
the justice of his countrymen; a belief
that truth and reason will prevail over vi
olence and faction, has armed him with a
moral courage, that puts malignity at de
fiance. He first entered the Senate ofthe
United States in 1807; subsequently, he
came to this House, over which he presi
ded as Speaker the whole time he Avas
here, except a part of one session. He
wasselected by Mr. Madison to go upon
the important mission of peace. He has
been foremost in all the great measures of
the country; he was the supporter of the
war, and the minister of peace. He was
the advocate of State Rights, and set
tler of the Missouri question. He was the
tive State of New Jersey ; he was placed
on the Bench of her Supreme Court, as
its Chief Justice ; from thence he was %
transferred to the Senate of the U. States,
and from thence he was placed by Mr.
Monroe, at the head of the Department
over which he presides. In every sta
tion in which he has bedh placed, he bas
proved himself worthy of the confidence
and trust, and h is ably discharged the ^
ties incident to every office he has held. '
There is scarcely another instance in our *4
country of so young a man having filled Jj
so many important offices. His character f|
and deportment in public and private life fj
are without reproach. -
William Wirt, Attorney GenerJ— fg
last by no means least. He, too, is a De
mocrat of the Jefferson school; early in
life he was a distinguished advocate of
those who were prosecuted under the Se
dition Law. Virginia was the theatre ol
his active life—there he built up for him
self a high reputation, he filled several
important offices, bo was Judge of the