Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-12-16

lhls pohcy Whlie IL gave ACTIVITY and eN-
tent to our commerce, exposed it in the
same proportion to injuries from the bel
ligerent nations. Hence have arisen
claims ofindemnity for those injuries
England, France, Spain, Holland,
Sweden, Denmark, Naples, and lately
Portugal, had all in a greater or less de-
gree iniringed our neutral rights. De-
mands for PREPARATION were made upon
all. They have had in all, and contin-
ue to have in some cases, leading in
fiuence on the nature of our relations
with the powers on whom they were
made.
Of the claims upon England it is I'M
necessary to speak, further than to say,
that the state of things to which their
prosecution and denial gave rise has
been succeeded by arrangements, pro-
ductive of mutual good feeling and ami
cable relations between the two coun-
tries, which it is hoped will not be in
terrupted. One of these arrangements
is that relating to the colonial trade,
which was communicated to Congress at
the last session and although the short
period during which it has been in force
will not enable me to form an accurate
Judgment of its operation, there is ev-
cry reason to believe that it will prove
highly beneficial. The trade thereby
authorized has employed, to the Both
September last, upwards Of 30. 900 tons
of American, and Is, 600 tons of foreign
shipping in the outward voyages: and,
in the inv ard, nearly an equal amount
of American, and 20, 600 only of foreign
tonnage. Advantages, too, have result
cd to our agricultural interests from the
state of the trade between Canada and
our Territories and the States bordering
on the st. Lawrence and the Lakes
which may prove more than equivalent
to the loss sustained by the discrimina-
ton made to favor the trade of the
Northern colonies with the West Indies.
After our transition from the state of
colonies to that ofan independent nation,
many points were found necessary to be
settled between us and Great Britain
Among them was the demarcation of
boundaries, not described with sufficient
precision in the Treaty of Peace
Some of the lines that divide the States
and Territories Of the United States from
the British Provinces, have been defni-
lively fixed. That, however. which
separates us from the Provinces of Can
ada and New Brunswick to the North
%"d tho Fast. was still in dispute when
came into office. But | found arrange
ments made for its settlement, over which
had no control. The commissioners
who had been appointed under the pro-
visions of the Treaty of Client, having
been unable to agree, a convention was
made with Great Britain by my immedi-
ate predecessor in office, with the adj
vice and consent ofthe Senate, by which
it was agreed 'that the points of differ
ence which have arisen in the settle
ment ofthe boundary line between the
American and British dominions, as de-
scribed in the 9TH Article of the Treaty
of Client, shall be referred as therein
provided, to some friendly sovereign or
state, who shall beinvited to investigate.
and make decision upon such points OF
difference :" and the King of the Neither
lands having by the late President O. his
Is. Majesty been designateda ssuch friend.
y sovereign, it became my duty to car
ry, with good faith, the agreement so
made into full effect. To this end I
caused all the measures to be taken
which were necessary to a full exposi-
ton ofour case to the Sovereign Arbi.
ter; and nominated as Minister Pleni-
potentiary to his court, distinguished
citizen of the State most interested in
the question, and who had been one of
the agents previously employed for set
ting the controversy. On the 10Th dav
of January last, His Majesty the King
of the Netherlands delivered to the
Plenipotentiaries Of the United States
and of Great Britain, his written opin-
ion on the case referred to him. The
papers in relation to the subject will be
communicated, by special message, TO
the proper branch of the Government
with the perfect confidence that its wis
dom will adopt such measures as Will
secure an amicable settlement of the con-
troversy. without infringing any consfi-
tutional right of the States Immediately
interested.
1t affords me satisfaction to inform Won
that suggestions, made by my direction
to the Charge dAhaires of His Britain.
mic Majesty, to this Government, have
had their desired effect in producing the
release ofcertain American citizens. who
were imprisoned for setting up the au-
thority of the State Of Maine, at place
in the disputed Territory under the ar