The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-03-26 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES.

By the Scotland, Captain Robinson, which sailed
from New York on the 6th instant, and arrived here
yesterday, we have received papers to the above date.
We subjoin as many extracts as we have room for.

SENATE, FEBRUARY 28.
Mr. Buckingham, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
made a report on the President's Message and Documents,
and protocol. It set forth, that the committee, after a long,
and patient, and critical investigation, could find no trace of
any agreement between the two powers by which England
was to exercise exclusive jurisdiction ; but, on the contrary,
they had found, that the disputed territory was not to be in
possession of either, except so far as each had held it respec-
tively : that, if New Brunswick had determined to maintain
possession, then the crisis had arrived under the constitution,
when the President could call out the militia : that Maine
had not violated the spirit of the compact in sending a land-
agent to drive off lawless intruders,—it was the right of both
so to do, but the duty of each to retire afterwards : that, if
New Brunswick forbears to execute her threat, then Maine
is to withdraw the troops, and, if she will not do so, then
she is to receive no military aid from the U. S.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEB. 28.
At one o'clock to-day, in the house, Mr. Howard, chair-
man of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, obtained the
unanimous consent of the house to bring in a bill from the
committee relating to the boundary troubles.
The bill makes the following important provisions. The
raising of the following troops :-
10 Regiments of Infantry,
2 Regiments of Artillery,
• 2 Regiments of Riflemen,
1 Regiment of Cavalry.
The troops to be raised, if necessary, and discharged, if
necessary, during the recess of Congress—to enlist for five
years, and to serve for that time, or during the war, if war
there should be.

The President is also authorised to send out a Special
Minister to England, to make pacific proposititions.
A loan, ten millions, to be raised on the credit of the
Government.

The troops are to be a provisionary army, to be employed
by the President of the United States to repel invasion. The
possession of the disputed territory by British soldiers, ac-
cording to the claim and determination set up by Sir John
Harvey, is to he considered an invasion.
After the reading of the bill, the Report of the Committee
was then:read, giving the reasons for the bill.

DEFENCE LAW.
LAW FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE UNITED STATES.

An Act giving to the President of the United States additional
powers for the defence of the United States, in certain cases,
against invasion, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives,
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,—
That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is,
authorised to resist any attempt on the part of Great Britain
to enforce, by arms, her claims to exclusive jurisdiction over
that part of the State of Maine which is in dispute between
the United States and Great Britain ; and, for that pnrpose,
to employ the naval and military forces of the United States,
and such portions of the militia as he may deem it advisable
to call into service. . .

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the militia, when
called into the service of the United States by virtue of this
act, or of the act entitled " An act to provide for calling
forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress
insurrections, repel invasions, and repeal the act now in force
for these purposes," may, if in the opinion of the President
of the United States the public interest require it, be com-
pelled to serve for a term not exceeding six months after their
arrival at their place of rendezvous, in any one year, unless
sooner discharged.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That, in the event of
actual invasion of the territory of the United States by any
foreign power, or if imminent danger of such invasion dis-
covered, in his opinion to exist before Congress can be con-
vened to act upon the subject, the President be, and he is
hereby authorised, if he deem the same expedient, to accept
the services of any number of volunteers, and to raise an
additional regiment of dragoons or mounted riflemen," ap-
proved May 23d, 1836.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That, in the event of
either of the contingences provided for in this act, the Presi-
dent of the United States shall be authorized by law, to com-
plete the public armed vessels now authorized by law, and to
equip, man, and employ, into actual service, all the naval
force of the United States ; and to build, purchase, or char-
ter, arm, equip, and man such vessels and steam-boats on the
northern lakes and rivers, whose waters communicate with
the United States and Great Britain, as he shall deem neces-
sary to protect the United States from invasion from that
quarter.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the sum of ten
millions of dollars is hereby appropriated and placed at his
disposal for the purpose of executing the provisions of this
act ; to provide for which the Secretary of the Treasury is
authorised to borrow money on the credit of the United
States, and to cause to be issued certificates of stock, signed
by the Register of the Treasury, for the sum to be borrowed,
or any part thereof ; and the same to be sold on the best
terms that may be offered after public notice for proposals
for the same : Provided, That no engagement or contract be
entered into which shall preclude the United States from re-
imbursing any sum or sums thus borrowed after the expira-
tion of five years after the Ist of January next; and that the
rate of intergst shall not exceed five per cent., payable semi-
annually.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the sum of eighteen
thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated out
of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated,
for outfit and salary of a special minister to Great Britain :
provided, the President of the United States shall deem it
expedient to appoint the same.
Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That, in the event of
either of the contingencies provided for in the first and third
sections of this act, the President of the United States shall
be authorized to apply a part, not exceeding 1,000,000 dollars,
of the appropriation made in this act to repairing or arming
fortifications along the seaboard and frontier.
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That, whenever militia
or volunteers are called into the service of the United States
they_shall havethe .oreaßization of the rmy ot the 1J nited
visions of this act shall he in force until the end of sixty days
after the meeting of the first session of the next Congress,
and no longer. JAMES K. POLK,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
WM. R. KING,
President pro. tem. of the Senate.
Approved, March 3, 1839.

M. VAN BUREN.

THE ALLEGED MURDER AT HAYES.

A. verdict of " Wilful Murder" having been returned by
the jury, at the coroner's inquest on Monday last, against
Mr. Francis Hastings Medhurst, who stabbed Mr. Joseph
Alsop, his fellow pupil, at the house of the Rev. F. Stunner,
Wood End-green, Mayes. It was expected he would be
committed to Newgate on the coroner's warrant. The ma-
gistrates, however, on examining the warrant issued by the
coroner, finding it only authorised the apprehension of the
party accused, directed the constable who might take him
into custody to " convey him before me the said coroner,
or any of the magistrates justices of the peace, that he may
be dealt with according to law," determined on proceeding
with the investigation, and accordingly issued summonses for
the attendance of the whole of the witnesses.

The examination occupied upwards of six hours ; after
which,
Sir W. Wiseman addressed the prisoner, and said—After
the evidence adduced we can only bring our minds to consider.
it manslaughter ; you therefore stand committed to take your
trial for that offence. It is my duty to inform you that you
also stand committed on the warrant of the coroner for the
crime of murder, a verdict of " wilful murder" having
been returned against you by the jury at the inquest.
The prisoner, who, during the examination, and more
particularly during the address of Mr. Stammers, had fre-
quently shed tears, bowed to the bench.