Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-08-06
(Erom the Philadelphia Spirit Of The Times, Juy 29)
OUR RELATIONS WITH ENGLAND.

In the course Of last winter gave reflections
under the head of 'our relations with England, which
some OF our readers may possibly remember Among
other TOPICS touched upon the critical state OF the
boundary question, remarkng that ii ought scarcely to
surprise u.s. keeping mind the sudden way IN which
England often made attacks, if some day or other we
clad down peace at night, and awoke 10 war in the
morning This, our dates would show, was before
Sir John Harveys threat 10 Gov. Fairfield, which, in
uct broke in upon the midst of our reflections.
That threat stands record perhaps the most re-
markube incident considering its nature end results,
that public history has presented Let US anagze
il for moment The threat WAS perfectly undisgulsed
and uD,quIvocal Ii repeated not merely, but
twice. The letter that contained il claimed for England
exclusive jurisdiction The disputed territory in the
most peremptoy manner, even going the length OF as
serng that the United States had assented TO it II was
backed by military power II was deliberate, pointed
positive. 1t lett room fer misunderstanding on The
side of Governor Fairfield and looking the face Of it,
for retreat the side Of Sir John Harvey The
latter Major General in the British army, besides
being Governor OF the border Province Of Britain and
he threw away the scabbad unl.s bis terms were CON-
piled with al enlreat your Excellency, said this Bri
fish Iunclonsry writing 10 the Governor of Maine, o
relieve from the necessity OF acting up to The COM
mands OF my sovereign by an immediate recall OF your
fnce and it is proper should acqnalnl you that have
directed strong force If her Macstys troops 10 be in
readiness support her Maes,ys authority in The event
Of my request not being Immediately complied with. =
How mandatory Surely this was like speaking from
authority Had the BRUSH cabinet been at his elbow,
his words could have more official stamp
the impress of resolution more advisedly taken. II
il The governor Of Roman province had spoken
in The OF his mighty masters 10 subordinate
tributary nation, whose frontier he had approached with
the sword upllfIed No wonder The United States were
in fame no wonder all parties united no wonder
Congress few to its duty by prompt and warl,ke legs
la,on; Tor when before had England uttered unmeanne
,hreats' And it likely, was it possible, that this
her representative had spoken without orders in ma,
Ter grave without reading Their, and again TO
avoid The fatal mistake off understanding them:
But what followed? We amazed as we look
back. Governor Fairfield moved not inch. He did
not recall his force He strengthened it, He brought
up fresh iegons; gel all is peace This is the result
Ii will make striking page in our history The whole
event is u Of instruction. 1t flashed before and is
gone, illustrating the potency OF our institutions when
put 10 any thing like serious test; for 10 what has The
result been owing? we proudly the spirit OF
great people reused, directed and controlled by the
eminenlly wise Of government, whose adm.
rabe structure shows itself adequate 10 all emergencies
however critical, the history advances Five
years ago proved itself in pottenous collision with
France and now again With England War seemed to
han: by thread Many booked out fol battle ly every