Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 2 (of 16)United States. Congress
History
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 2 (of 16)
United States. Congress
Law -- United States; United States -- Politics and government
Practices so unnatural and iniquitous, as those you state,
of our own citizens, converting their property and personal
exertions into the means of annoying our trade, and
injuring their fellow-citizens, deserve legal severity
commensurate with their turpitude.
Although the Senate believe that the prosperity and
happiness of our country does not depend on general and
extensive political connections with European nations, yet
we can never lose sight of the propriety as well as
necessity of enabling the Executive, by sufficient and
liberal supplies, to maintain, and even extend, our foreign
intercourse, as exigencies may require, reposing full
confidence in the Executive, in whom the constitution has
placed the powers of negotiation.
We learn, with sincere concern, that attempts are in
operation to alienate the affections of our fellow-citizens
from their Government. Attempts so wicked, wherever they
exist, cannot fail to excite our utmost abhorrence. A
Government chosen by the people for their own safety and
happiness, and calculated to secure both, cannot lose their
affections, so long as its administration pursues the
principle upon which it was erected. And your resolution to
observe a conduct just and impartial to all nations, a
sacred regard to our national engagements, and not to
impair, the rights of our Government, contains principles
which cannot fail to secure to your administration the
support of the National Legislature, to render abortive
every attempt to excite dangerous jealousies among us, and
to convince the world that our Government, and your
administration of it, cannot be separated from the
affectionate support of every good citizen. And the Senate
cannot suffer the present occasion to pass, without thus
publicly and solemnly expressing their attachment to the
constitution and Government of their country; and as they
hold themselves responsible to their constituents, their
consciences, and their God, it is their determination, by
all their exertions, to repel every attempt to alienate the
affections of the people from the Government, so highly
injurious to the honor, safety, and independence of the
United States.
We are happy, since our sentiments on the subject are in
perfect unison with yours, in this public manner to
declare, that we believe the conduct of the Government has
been just and impartial to foreign nations, and that those
internal regulations which have been established for the
preservation of peace, are in their nature proper, and have
been fairly executed.
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