Litchfield enquirer., 1840-04-23


N Mace troops in Canada with view of ma
king war upon the people OF the U. States.
Mr.. Ruggles, of Maine, said that this doc
ument, upon the face of it, appeared peace
document. Heretofore we had been favor
cd with war documents. There were some
who desired the settlement Of the question in
controversy at the expense OF a war. His
own constituents felt deep interest in the
subject and he did not believe that the Re-
port would be as satisfactory to them as the
recent correspondence between the Secreta-
nv of State and the British Minister. That
correspondence led many OF them to hope
that the Government would take strong mea-
sures, and do something that would lead to a
settlement of the vexed question. There
was one question which Maine regarded
more than peace or war, and that question
was national honor and the maintenance Of
the rights of the State.
Mr.. Ruggles said he could have wished
for fuller Report-for more bold opinion
for something more decisive: In conclu-
sion, Mr.. r. said that ne was lndlherent to
the question of the number OF Reports print
ed. The documents ordered IN the early
part of the session were not supplied until
the third set were ordered to be printed
The last came first, and the tlrst last. If
similar delay was 10 ldh0 PA"S0' I"0A0 WOuAu
be no value in the Report.
Mr.. Buchanan said that the remarks of the
Senator from Maine rendered it necessary
that he should say word or two in reply
The Report had been denounced by the
Senator, and he did not believe that the citi-
zeps of Maine would sustain him in that de-
nunciation. The Report reasserted the right
of Maine to the territory in dispute. 1t con-
templated no abandonment of those rights,
but in view of the news from England and
the peculiar state of things it contemplated
postponement of action until an answer was
received to the recent correspondence and
the proposition of the Government sent out
in July last.
Mr.. Ruggles said that he was at loss to
know for what reason the Senator from
Pennsylvania had said that he had denoun-
ced the Report. For aught he knew the Re-
port was the best which could have been
made under all the circumstances.
In continuing his remarks, Mr.. R. said,
have never at any time believed that a war
would come, or was necessary. have new
err apprehended any collision, and ! have
founded this opinion upon the justice of the
cause of Maine-upon her right to the terri
tory in dispute. believe that we are to
avoid war by preparing to meet war.
believe moreover, that Great Britain in such
a case as this, and with the opinion of the
world against her, will not willingly engage
in war.
Mr.. Clay said he was very happy to hear
the Senator from Maine say that he was not
for war; If there was a war party it was
criminal one. He was pleased to believe
the dominant party were opposed to war;
The opinion of the country was against war,
and no party but criminal party could be
found to defend war.
There were but two ways of settling this
question, continued Mr.. Clay. By war or
negotiation. The Senate and the country
were interested in this question, and though
not as much interested as Maine, it was
question for the Government alone to settle.
While, said Mr.. Clay, I believe the people
of Maine as patriotic and as wise and as
brave as the citizens of any other section of
the country, cannot consent that Maine
should take this question from the General
Government. If by negotiation the question
is to be settled, the Executive and the Senate
must settle it. If by war, this Government
alone is to declare war. can feel, do feel
for the position of Maine, but l cannot con-
sent that she should take any power from the
General Government into her own hands.
There are two securities, said Mr.. Clay,
against the opinion of war. Great Britain
cannot, when the right is with us, be willing
to make the question war question ; and ne
believed, he added, that she would come TO
this conclusion upon an examination OF the
question. But supposing, added Mr.. Z. that
upon an investigation, she should think that
the right was with her-Were we then to
make the question one of war ? No two ma
tons speaking the same language would go
TO war upon this question until all other meth
DDS fail. BY the Treaty of Client there is
said to be subsisting provision which makes
it necessary to refer this matter to arbitra-
ton. The reference to the King OF the
Netherlands was an abortion-a failure-so
considered and so regarded by all parties.-
The treaty Of '93 then remains as it was, and
the provision for arbitration is still in force.
In regard to the forces in Canada, it gave
him no uneasiness, although alluded to by
the Senator from New-York and by others.
Great Britain was the weaker party on this
continent. Canada was not to invade us, but
in war we were to invade Canada. She was
preparing for defence, not for attack. We
were 100000 strong-not as we'll prepar-
ed to meet aggression as we could wish, nut
much better prepared than we were in the
war OF l9l2-better prepared upon the sea
and upon the lakes-upon the border and in
the interior. He was not alarmed at the force
in Canada, nor would he be alarmed if the
force was much larger than it is~ A prepa-
ration was natural.
Mr.. Clay again repeated that the question
must be one which the government must set
tie, and not any one member of the union
The government had right to submit to ar
and ought to do so before going to
war.
Mr.. Clay's speech, which was unexpected
to him and the Senate, had great effect. I
have never heard the Senator so eloquent, or
an audience as attentive. The position of
the dominant party was complimented-the
conduct of the executive in the negotiation
approved of and the Report fully concur