Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-04-24

IN SENATE-.- tuesday,, AprN 4.
Mn. BUCHANAN from the Committee on Foreign
Relations, submitted the following Report:
The Committee on Foreign Relations, to which
was referred the several messages OF the President
of the United States, communicating TO Congress
at It's present session, certain official corrc>pon-
dence in relation to the territory in dispute with
Great Britain on our North Eastern frontier, and
also certain resolutions of Maine on the same
subject,
REPORT:
That they have had the same under consideration,
and now deem it eXpcdient to communicate to the
Senate their views for not making, at the present
moment, general report upon the whole subject.
They feel that they will best perform this duty, by
placing clearly and distinctly before the Senate the
existing state and condition of the pending nego-
tiation tetwcen the two governments.
The Pres ident of the United States in his annual
message Of December last, informed Congress that
"for the settlement Of orr North Eastern Boundary
the proposition promised by Great Britain for
commission of exploration and survey, has been
received, and a counter project, including also
provision for the certain and final ad u>tment ofthe
limits in dispute, is now before the British Govern
| ment for consideration" The President has not
thought it advisable 10 communicate this counter
project to Congress; yet we have his assurance On
which the most confident reliance may lie placed,
that it is of such character as will, should it be
accepted, finally settle the question. This propo-
>ton was officially communicated TO that govern
ment dnrng the last summer.
Mr.. Fox, the British Minister, in his note Of the
24th January last doubtless with perfect know
ledge of the nature ofthe project which had been
submitted BY the American Government to that Of
Great Britain, assures Mr.. Forsyth, "that he not
only preserves the hope, but he enerialns the firm
belief, that fthc duty of negotiating the Boundary
question be left in the hands of the two National
Governments, to whom alone by right il belongs,
the difficulty Of conducting the negotiation to an
| amicable issue, will not tie found so great has
been by many persons apprehendel" And in his
subsequent note Of March 10, $780, he states that
he has heen instructed to declare, shat Her Ma
je>ty'> Government are only waiting for the de-
tailed report of the British Commissioners recently
employed to survey the Disputed Territory, which
report, il was believed, would lie completed and
delivered TO Her Malr>ly's Government by the end
of the present month, (March) in order 10 trans
NIT to the Government of the United State reply
TO their last proposal upon the subject Of the Bonn
| dairy negotiation" Thus we may reasonably eX
pect that this reply will be received by the Prc>-
dent during the present month, (April,) or early
| in May.
Whilst such is the condition of the principal ne
sociaon, the Committee have deemed it nexpe-
dent, at this time, to report upon the subordinate
| though important question in relation TO the tenn
porary occupation Of the Disputed Territory. They
trust that the answer Of the British Government
may lie of such a character as to render report
upon this latter subject unnecessary. In any
event, they have every reason to believe that the
state of suspense will lie of but brief Duration
The Committee, ever since this emharras >ng
and exciting questions has been first presented for
their consideration, have been anxious that the
| Government OF the United States should constantly
preserve itself in the right and hitherto the desire
has been fully accomplished. The territorial rights
of Maine have been uniformly asserted, and a firm
determination TO maintain them has been invaria-
| bly, evlnced though this has Teen done in an
amcabc spirit. So far as the Committee can ex-
ercse any influence over the subject, they are re-
solved that if war should he the result, which they
confidently hope may not be the case, this war
shall be inevitable, by the conduct of the British
Government. They have believed thus to be the
surest mode OF uniting every American heart and
every American arm in defence of the lust rights of
| the country.
1t is but justice TO remark, that the Executive
branch of the Government has, from the beginning
been uniformly guided by the same spirit, and has
thus far pursued firm, consstent,& prudent course
| throughout the whole negotiation with Great
Britain
| Whilst the Committee can perceive no adequate
J cause, at the present moment for anticipating hos
! iies betwnen the two countries, they would not
be understood as expressing the opinion that the
country should not be prepared to meet any emer-
gency The question OF peace or war may, in a
great degree, depend upon the answer of the British
Government, now speedily expected.
| BRITISH WHIGs-This is title which the Tories,
in the impoency of their wrath at the inevitable
down fall that awaits them, have bestowed upon
the great Reform party in this country. And this
circumstances alone were Others wanting, would
be sufficient to show how utterly desperate they
deem their condition. Formerly, when feeling
secure in their ill-got,en power, it was glory
enough TO spell Wing without an h. But now,
when they feel the sceptre fast gliding from their
grasp, they must prefix the term "Brllsh," as a
last resort. Thus puny and contemplate are the
weapons TO which the once powerful party Of Van
Buren, are reduced, in order to make al least a
show of fighting, long after their courage has
evaporated-Iroy Vhig.
Slide of Earth in Canada.-On the morning
OF the 4th inst. large tract of land of several
hundred acres, near Three Rivers, Lower Canada,
slid oil into the river. There were upon it two
houses, several barns, 40 horses, cows, and other
domestic animals, and 500 fine sugar maple trees.
The land went OF gradually, and the inhabits Tin
GLIDING the men employed in making sugar, who
took the alarm as soon as they saw the trees
movins,) nasls ther tvoapa