The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-03-06

pelling the resrasscrs by a civil frce, aud
that she was justly cnra:rd at the unwar-
ranted claim to exclusive jurisdiction Of the
disputed territory set up by Governor Har-
vey. Sill. The State of Maine was bat one
OF the confederacy. She had ne power to
declare war for all the rest, nor ought the
general government to uphold her in wag-
ing war Of her own making, no matter
what was the extent of her wrongs. When
she left the association and protection Of
the general government, she should rot ex-
pect that government To assist aud sustain
her. Dir. Clay expressed his earnest hope
that he might never see another war. The
spectacle of two nations so united by Ties
OF kindred and commerce, as our republic
and Great Britain, shedding each others
blood for five or six millions of acres Of land,
would be a spectacle abhorrent 10 humanity
and civilization. But If, after aIl auemps
at negsciation, all appeals to the sense of
justice were exhausted, Great Britain still
persisted in exercising authority whore she
justly had none, Mr.. Clay said he was then
ready Ia resort TO the remedy of war.
Mr.. Calhoun remarked that he saw no
way of avoiding war but by the intcrposit-
ion of the general government The peo-
pie of Maine were ordered TO withdraw
their troops from the territory, under the
threat of being driven off by the military
force Of New Brunswick. IL was imposs-
BILE that Maine should submit to conditions
dictated in this manner, nor was there any
hope that New Brunswick would vountar-
lily recede from the ground it had taken.
A point Of honor hal been raised, aud the
only way BY which it could be compropis-
ed was by the general government stepping
in and allowing both parties to recede with
out any sacrifice Of dignity or reputation.
The question was then taken on the
three first rssolutions-the purport Of which
IS, that there is no agreement OH the part Of
the United States to allow Great Britnia 10
exercise exclusive jurisdictions over the dis
puted ;erritory-thnl The State of Maine
has acted rishtfuIly in sending land agent,
with sufficient force to expel tn. trespas-
Brunswick persists in assuming, by the aid
Of military force, exclusive jurisdiction in
the territory, the United States must repel
the invasion by force. These resolutions
are passed by a vote of Al to /.
The first resolution WAS then amended
by striking out the words which import that
in case New Brunswick should refrain from
a military occupation of the disputed terri
tory, and the State Of Maine should not
exercise u similar forbearsnce the federal
Government would be under no obli sntion
90 sustain her by a military force. The ~
mended resolution reads rs follows:
That sha, ,lo
tiles refrain from attempting a military occu-
patton of the territory in dispute, and from en-
forcing their claim to exclusive jurisdiction
over it by arms, then, in the opinion Of the
Senate. the State of Maine ought, on her part
TO pursue course of similar forbearance, and
leave to the general government the vindica.
ton of her rights.
The amendment was carried by a vote
of24 To 81, after which the resolution was
adopted almost unanimously.
In the House Of Representatives the bill
for clothing the President with power to re-
pei invasion &c. was taken up. Mr.. Bid
die made speech against the bill. He
deprecated all display of warlke spirit in
treating Of this question, and in the meas
ures which Congress might adopt. The
Committee of Foreign affairs had recon-
mended a course of legislation which con-
templated war The occasion he thought
justified no such preparations. The qucs-
ton was not "A question of war, but a ques-
ton of police, n question in regard to the
proper manner of expelling trespss.ers from
tract of Country into which both Maine
md New Brunswick agreed that they had
unlawfully intruded 1t was not an out
rage like those which led to the last war
with Grea, Britain. lie hoped the House
was not disposed to play the braggart in
this quarrel. If we were about to enter in
to a controversy of arms with Great Britain,
we should with all seriousness first exam
ire whether we are in the right, for that
naughty and powerful nation was not to be
trif1ed with, and would readily take up any
challenge that we might throw down. Mr.
Biddle went into an examination Of the
question of the exclusive jurisdiction of
New Brunswick over the disputed territory.
He maintained that our government ought
TO make out clear case before it involved
the nation in a war, and argued that a
plausible case nt least, If not complete
justification Of the claim Of Great Britain
would be made out against us. Great
Britain had for years claimed and exercis-
ed this jurisdiction. Our land agents had
often been seized ana imprisoned and no
reparation had been made for the oa.rage
He thought that the tenor Of the correspon.
dence between the two governments would
lead the British government to the Inference
that the poin, Of exclusive jurisdiction was
concsded.
Mr.. Howard aud Mr.. Evans replied to
Mr.. Biddle. Mr.. Howard said that if there
was no invasion there could be no war
aud showed that the country would be left
in q mos, deplorabe aud defenceless con-
dhion if Congress should adjourn without
passing this bill, and an invasion should
afterwards occur. Mr.. Evans said that the