Terrence was now almost beside himself with rage.  He vividly recalled the tyranny of Snipes, and remembered that many of his friends were still slaves aboard the man-of-war.  His cheek flamed, and his eye flashed.  Slowly rising, he said: 

“Do yez set up yer riches aginst the poor lads, better than yerself, who are dyin’ by the hundreds in British slavery?  Do ye?  Why, ye spalpeen, ye have no more heart than a stone!”

“I don’t believe your stories in the first place, sir, and I don’t care if they are true in the second.  What is the life or happiness of such a low creature as yourself to the prosperity of Strong, Palmer or Griswold?  I think that impudence has mounted its topmost round, when you dare enter these headquarters.”

“So yer for peace?” cried Terrence, his eyes dancing.

“Yes.”

“Well, I’m for war!” and with this he struck Mr. Crane a blow between his eyes which smashed his glasses, lifted him from the chair and sent him head first into a waste basket.  When Mr. Crane recovered, he was at a loss for awhile to tell whether the house had fallen upon him, or he had been struck with a six pounder.  Terrence disappeared from the Continental House, and on the next day applied at the white house to see the president.

“The president’s engaged,” said the servant.  Next day, the next, and the next, he applied for admission and was always met with the same story that the president was engaged, until Terrence began to believe that the door of the administration was closed to him, while he saw members of congress constantly admitted to the inaccessible man.

At last, a gentleman who had witnessed his frequent calls, suggested that he send his card.  The Irishman wrote: 

“Terrence Malone, Irish American, late impressed seaman on H.B.M. ship Macedonian.”

President Madison read the card and appointed a meeting with Terrence, and at the hour appointed the Irishman was at the white house.  A servant told him he would have to wait a few moments until Mr. Clay and Mr. Calhoun had finished a discussion with the president.  Madison finally decided to have these young members of the house hear the Irishman’s story, and he was sent for.  Terrence found himself in the presence of two of America’s greatest statesmen, Clay and Calhoun.

“Are you the prisident?” he asked of Mr. Madison.

“Yes, sir; these are our friends, Mr. Henry Clay, speaker of the house, and Mr. John C. Calhoun.”

“Are you for war or peace?” asked Terrence.

Mr. Madison, smiling, assured him they would much prefer peace, if it could be obtained honorably, but that Great Britain would have to make amends for some of the wrongs she had committed.  He urged Terrence to give a detailed account of his impressment and captivity.  He did so, omitting nothing from the time he was captured on the schooner bound to Baltimore to his escape.  He was summoned a day or two later before a committee of investigation, and narrated the story in all its horrid details.