The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-03-05

ps,ysseutaf.res Of tls " s., March 2, 1889.
~ c..RMAn:-I participate Of the anxiety which
tnow 10 be common with the members OF Inc COM
millee. and especially with the representatives Of
Maine mon this hoor that this bill shall pass, ana
mass Al the earliest moment practicable.
Far one sir feel but little concern as 10 The par
,;enlar shane which the bill shall assume In becom-
ins law Ii so Il be- that sufficient OF the snews OF
war-of money and OF arms-shaii De pun oy ~ a.
The command OF the Executive OF the country, TO
maintan the rights and protect the honor OF the cit
n !, shall be the pleasure OF the committee and
House 10 put al the command Of the Executive only
he militia OF the country, until Congress shall again
Convene. superadded TO the regular army now pro-
yided by law, | am contenledi Ii II shall be the
preference of the committee and House 10 give him
larger number OF select troops than now constitute
the regular force of the United States, instead OF the
militia alone so much The better. But repeat, my
great anxiety is that enough of the or the other
Of these forces shall be granted TO maintain the rights
OF the State of Maine, and that enough OF the reve
nues Of the Government shall be al the control OF
the Executive TO sustain those forces under all
emergencies that may occur Beyond this, looking
70 The mere details OF The BILL feel Indifferent to
what may be the preference OF the House.
Sir have listened to the debates Of the commit
tee upon this great subject with intense interest," and
determined to do so In silence on my part until per-
suaded that one view and believe the true view Of
the position in which Maine is now placed, has been
in measure overlooked wish to call the atten-
tion of the committee to few simple and well sub
stantiated facts, which win illustrate 10 ALL not only
the rights Of that State but the actual position in
which she now stands before the country and the
world in the defence OF her rights am rejoiced
at the unanimity with which several leading and
fundamental points in her case have been under
stood and conceded throughout the debates upon
this floor. Il is agreed, sir, on all sides, that Maine
iseearly rightin her claim absolute title aud proper
tyto The achOLe territory ia dsYHfcyour own records
the records Of this well as OF the other branch Of
Congress places this fact high above dspuation, on
the part OF the Federal Government And your
records not only prove the claim Of Maine 10 be
right in the abstract but they prove also, the unal-
te9able conviction of this Government thai IL is not
iapolred in mystery-that it is legble upon the face
of the country in dispute. Allow to read to the
committee one of the two resolutions passed by this
same Congress- at the last session, within this Hail.
and passed unanimously, as your journal shows:
GResoLred, That after careful examination and
deliberate consideration OF the whole controversy
between the United States and Great Britain, rela-
tive to the Northeastern boundary OF The former, the
House Of Representatives do not entertain doubt
of the entire praeticd5y running and making that
boundary n strict conformity with the stipulatons
of the de6nitive treaty OF peace OF seventeen hun
bred and eghty-three; and entertain perfect con-
yiclon of he Justice and raiidity Of the title of the
United States 10 the full ertet of all the country in
dispute bet,ceen the tico parties"
II is further agreed and conceded on all sides, and
il is a fact alike beyond dispute upon your own Jour
nal, with that to which have Just adyerted, that
Maine has been delayed in her claim thus admitted
to be right and Just all Sides for years and years.
by the Federal Government. The second resolution
of this branch of Congress- passed upon the subject
at The late session. and passed. too unanimously thus
establishes this great cause OF complaint on the part
OF Maine
"Resolred, That, considering that more than half
a century has elapsed since the conclusion Of that
treaty (of 1882 considering the extraordinary de-
lay phich has hitherto marked the negotiations and
proceedings of the tlro countries IN their endearOr
amcably TO settle the controversy; and considering
the danger of mutual irritation and collisions upon
the border of kindred and friendly nations from
further procrastinaion this House cannot forbear to
express an earnest desire that the pending negotia-
ton should be brought to close and the final deci
sion of the dispute be mad early practicable"
Sir, | do not desire to go behind these proofs, to
ask where, or upon whom falls most largely, the
blame of thus delaying Maine in The realization and
enjoyment Of her acknowledged rights, foryears and
years. am content to have il brought home to the
sense of this committee and Of the country, at this
juncure that Maine plants herself at the onset, in
demanding the strong arm OF this great Republic for
her support, upon two indisputable facts:
lst. Tha, her claim is righteous one and Of no
difficult entertainment.
2dly. That she has been uniusty DELAYED for years
and years, by the Federal Government as well as by
Great Britain, in the adjustment and enjoyment Of it.
lproceed now, sir, to call the attention OF the COM
mittee, aud Of the country, to the position which
Maine has taken in reference to her territory and
with arms in hand is determined to maintain, and
the authority which she has from this Government
for that position Hertru relations 10 this Govern
ment now.put forth in her present position, APP
pear to have BEEN to considerable extent over
looked in this debate. And wish to be understood
distinctly for one, that vote for the bill now before
you in reference TO the position which Maine occu-
pies, in fact at his moment and which she has the
undoubted authority Of this Government for occu-
pying and that do not vote for it with view of Sc
curing TO the State the support Of the Federal Go
vernmen in reference to any position which has
been marked out for her By others In word, sir, if
the bill is 10 be executed when passed into law,
only to sustain Maine in her rights, the extent of
the recent protocol or arrangement made for her by
the Executive of the General Government through
the Secretary OF State, with the British Minister
then, sir lido not hesitate to say that am opposed to
it, and would never give my vote for it, would
resist il as violation Of the rights of Maine clearly
expressed and defined upon the records OF ms 10
vernment; would treat 1t as an abandonment oil
Maine 10 shame and dishonor in the hour Of her
peril and conflict with foreign power. If the bill
is TO be thus construed, II forces Maine from the
righteous stand she has taken, or leaves her to main
tain herself by her own arms alone. claim to have
that State protected and defended through this bill
TO the full extent Of her present position ard under
taking; and on the ground that in nothing has she
acted beyond the express warrant of the only under
standing which had been entered into between the
United States and the British Government on the
subject oil the dlspuleu terrery, ana 10 govern the
parties, Immediately interested, during the pending
of the dispute. OF that only understanding, hold
the recent arrangement Of the President, through
the Secretary of State, with the present British Mi
mister, 10 be palpabe violation, and act of in
Justice TO Maine. And here repeat, that if this
bill be avowed as having for its purpose only the
supp TT Gf Maine to the extent OF this recent ar
rangement, | would never consent to vote for the
bill, much as desire to see.Maine protected by the
broad shield Of the Federal Government l ask the
,,ttsa Far xnf plor
standing between the two Governments OF the Uni
ted States and Great Britain has heretofore been,
and what position Maine had right to take and has
taken, as | understand both her Governor and her
Legislature in the documents they have sent here.
The whole is composed in the compass OF very
few lines which will here read.
In 1882, July 81, in consequence Of some border
disturbances, EDWARD LIVINGSTON then Secretary of
State OF the United States, wrote, The subject of
this disputed boundary as follows in behalf of this