Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-04-14

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gentleman from Virginia, (ir. Wise) He thought
that there was not the slightest danger at this moment
Of war with Great Britain, nor for years TO come
He AIr Az said not for years to come, and he hoped
this statement would be reported to his constituents,
and to those next to his distrct--he people OF the
CITY of Boston-who probably as deeply interested
in The preservation of peace with Great Britain any
portion of the people of the United States
Mr. RHETT rose to inquire of the Speaker whether
the demand for the previous question was or was not
withdrawn:
drawn it.
from South Carolina (r RhetD was unwilling to hear
that there was no danger of war with Great Britain
The previous question had been withdrawn, and he
hoped he would not be again interrupted.
Mr. RHETT. The gentleman from New YORK (Nir.
HANDY says he has not withafa"h Tue ue"aio ioi ue
previous question.
Mr., HAND said he had not withdrawn it, but would
do SO on the promise of the gentleman from hlassa-
chuse,ts (AIr Adams) to renew IT.
After some confusion, cries 10 order, &c
Mr. ADAMS proceeded to make some remarks, of
which the substance may be found below.
He stated for the benefit of his constituents and of
the immediate neghborhood OF his constituents, and OF
the neopc of the whole country, that he did not appre-
bend IN The SLIGHTEST degree, that there any imme
diote DANCER of war with Great Britain, for years
to come And he founded this opinion on two things:
In the first place he founded it the Message of the
President Of the United States at the commencement
there WINS not single word Of recommendation TO the
neople to prepare themselves for that great and terrible
conflict which must ensue whenever we came IN con-
aict with Great Britain From the day he saw that
Message he concluded in his own mind that there was
NO dancer Of a war with Great Britain. And why
Because he was that if the President of the Uni
ted States himself had the slightest apprehension OF
DANCER of an immediate or early COLLISION, 1t would
have been wrong i'll HIM not 10 nave recommended very
strong and extensive preparations for that event
i When after that Message delivered, he (Mr Al
saw weeks upon weeks pass away under an apPrehcn-
sion on the part of the citizens OF the untea STATES
and Of MANY of the members OF tins House mat lhere
was dancer Of war; when he saw the correspondence
| which had taken place land which had from time to
| time been communicated to Congress) between the
Secretary of State and the British Minister here-he
confessed he had waited TO see on what ground IL was
that the President of the United States had concluded
that there not the slightest danger OF collision
with Great Britain at present
! When the last correspondence was communicated 10
tho Senate-and when gentleman, the chairman OF
the Committee Foreign Affairs in this House, (Mr.
Pickcns) sounded the aarm-an alarm which had per-
vaded the whole countrv-he (lr. A. felt degree OF
concern and apprehension himself, not then having
seen the correspondence. But the very next morning
he saw it, and in the last letter from the Secretary OF
State to the British Minister, he saw the grounds upon
which the President had come to such conclusion,
and very safely come it. That correspondence, US
all must have observed had been of an irritating cha
racter. There anger, passion, feeling upon both
sides; and the community and many members OF Con-
rress seeing these expressions OF irritation probably,
came to the conclusion, unnecessarily as he thought,
that there was danger of an immediate COLLISION
He so soon as he the last letter ofhe Secretary OF
State became satisfied that there was no such danger
for the very heat and tempest OF the passion me Se
cretarv of State broke off, and said that from the day or
which the President Of the T. States entered upon the
duties Of his station he had determined that in the even
of the two parties being able to come to an under
standing by oftheir negotiations he would pro
nose reference ofthe great question al ISSUE for the
cond time to third party. To this the very natural re
NV of the British Minister was that this was new pro
nos,on rhich he could only communicate to his Go
vernment, as he woud Immediately do And that wa!
the position in which the matte: now STOOD ohe OF tWe
thinps must be: either there was proposition already
on the part Of Great Britain TO accept proposLtio
heretofore made on the part of the Government OF the
United States-and that OF course, would necessarily
prevent collision,-or the Government OF Great br
tain must determine whether IT would accept oil u
proposition for reference. Now ne sa'u tpa' tn'
C;overnment Of Great Britain could not refuse th
proposition and when the question was referred to
third Power, we should have no war IRON that time
forward until any rate the arbitra,ors had come !"
decision which would take years
There was one other possibility winch might ndnc'
collision; which was, that, while these negotiation
were Going on the British Government might coh'iho
10 encroach on the territory of the United States
they doing, and had been dong ever since w.
, between the two countries. This was poss,be-nay
, probable On the other hand, We had, on Tho part
the People of Maine, manifestations OF spirit not
submit for any great length of time to these continue
encroachments- denied-partally 50 SPEAK
prevarica,cd away in the correspondence between IN
British Minister and the Secretary of State; but ST.
going in tho disputed territory, IN whlcn ,he brs
antberi,;aa might continue 10 advance untl they ia
= all they claimed, and probably great deal more
! remained for the People Of Maine to decide whethe
J, they would submit 10 1T or not. lie believed the
! would submit these entertainments, and that Their
be O act on he n Government
q tain or support them if they did not submit lie CAV
! warning to the Representatives from Maine and Ma:
7 sachusetts in this House that the People OF Main
would submit long as it pleased the Government
Great Britain 10 pursue them under this course OF he
Q COLLATION. 10 re resumed by second reference. II
presumed, however, that many OF the Representative
of the State Of Maine understood the feelings of thei
:. People better than he did.
= Mr. a. then alluded TO the course Of the Governmer
Of Maine during the last spring-aganst which, MI
A. said he would not AT the time consent to the adop
ton of anv proposition which even by impuatlo
could cast upon the Governor for his conduct
7 But more recently, lie (Mr AZ had seen evidences
! an exceedingly cool and tame spirit coming from th
/ State Of Maine. He did not mean 10 say this was nc
very proper under the circumstances of the tines bu
he had satisfied himself that there sort of dan
/ ger to be apprehended from a.y act of the people
that State The Legislature of Maine declared al tina
time that if the Government of the United States d
take the matter up, they would do justice to them
selves Now they declared that if the British went
# encroachng there and prevacatng here as they ha
If done and doing, they would call on the Govern
: ment Of the United States TO protect them.
$ ISome conversation passed between Mr.. Smith c
c Maine and Mr.. Adams; after which,
Mr. A. said ali he intended to say was, that he d
t not think any member from Maine would contradict
that in the event of second reference TO third Pow
II er, the People Of Maine would not commence wa
with Great Britain if any did contradict it: let tn
d two statements be put side by side.
# Mr. a. SMITH said il not his feeling, nor the feel
ngs Of the People of Maine that this question shout
be again submitted reference in the manner or
r all under the terms upon which it was submitted by
former Administration.
a Mr.. ADAMs said the gentleman very caution
in his declaration that the people would not submit
i another reference. He (hir Az declared they woul
snb,it and he enid that they ought SUBMIT tn
j in case the event should and one of his chic
motives in addressing the House at this time I
say that he approved entirely Of this determination
i the part of the President of the United States. II
y thought the Chief Executive of this country was au
tLo IN Snch nd he