Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-03-21
Washington, February rs, 1889.

The Message # thr President OF the
United States. transmitting the copy of
the agreement between the Secretary of
State, and the British Minister having
been read, and Mr.. Williams, of Maine,
having made some remarks thereon.-
Mr. Preston said that he would not al
low himselfo 10 participate in the despon-
dency with which The Senator (Mr. WI-
liams) regarded the condition Of affairs on
Ihr Maine frontier, or to believe that the
recommeudatory suggestions iu the memo
randum signed by Mr.. Forsyth and Mr..
Fox, would be :neificacious in suspending
the hostile proceedings in the disputed
territory. We have heen suddenly, AMI
Unexpectedly hurried into an attitude
menacine The most serious results. and
placing us at once, without any previous
action Of this Government, upon the very
edge of war. Indeed, nothing could have
been more unexpected to Ihh6fJ n1rtee51
Or to the cnnsliluleQu eQus startling events
which have astonished us for the last few
days. We may well Judge from our own
excitement, how much more intensel ly agi-
lated are the feelings Of those who are III
the immediate presence of those events,
aud partiripators in them. 1t is, there
fore. most desirable that there should he a
momenf Of pause allowed for our own
deliberations, and some time given to the
angry parties on the frontier, to consider OF
their position. and TO right themselves, if,
in a moment of heat, either has fallen into
error. This most desirable end the me-
morandum Of Messrs. Forsyth and Fox
seems 10 have in view, and if received by
the Governors of Maine. and New Bruins
wick, in corresponding spirit, will leave
the adjustment oftheir differences TO the
dispassionare discussion Of the Govern
menls Of the United States, and Great
Britain, to whom properly and exclusively
belongs the decision Of the great question
of war or peace.
Nothing could he more improper in
every point Of views more 10 be deplored,
than that foreign war should be superln-
durrd. by prrcipitate collision of confer
minous authorities, ,supersedns The cautious
deliberations Of the great nations whose
destiny will be so deeply implicated in the
contest.
The question of foreign war belongs to
this Government; and beg leave to as
sure the honorable Senator that, whenever
the interest or honor Of his Slale shall, IN
the opinion of this Government. make an
appeal to arms, necessary iOr their vlndi
cation, |. and believe the State o. South
Carolina, will as freely take them up in
her defence, as If the affront or injury had
been suffered by ourselves. | know. sir.
that the State of Name has heen subjected
To much, justly calculated 10 agsreve and
excite her. and l cannot forhear 10 add
that. in my judgment. The negotiations for
her relief, have not been urged with sutfi-
cient earnestness, or her rights insisted OIL
in a tone, az peremptory as their uneqiVo-
cal character fully justified. Her title to
the disputed territory is unluesllonabie.
and obtained, at The last session. the unan-
inous sanction Of this body, after most
careful examination. This would have au.
thorized the most decisive demands from
our Government on that Of Great Britain;
and, if they have not been urged. Maine
NAV have cause ofcomplaint But as her
claims were the subject of actual negotia.
tion, and her territory, in regard to which
that negoliatiou was pending, was subject
to provisional arrangement by an under.
standing between the governments, is
certainly due to this Government that ii
be consulted, if possible, upon any matters.
affecting these relations; or, if this was
not deemed proper, | could have wished,
| a, all events, that il had been thought ad :
visable by that State 10 have notified the
British authorities Of the rrespass Of which
she complains. and s.f the mode in which
she intended to correct it. This might
have produced .mut%al explanations, and
perhaps. cooperation in the correction Of
the evil; or, if not, The British authorities
by their countenance of the maraullers,
would have been Aasrantly in the wrong
That this was possible, may in some de-
gree be inferred from ,hePrompt aud hfgt