The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-06-17
fco,r,.rrp FROM rrRsr rAor.


tereourse. hsd produced feeling on the part
Of fhe Government and people Of Mexico so
embittered, as seemingly 10 render hoslilites
almost inevitable. In the midst OF these diff
culties, attended, as they were, by the wide
spread domestic emba.rassments which dis
ordered currency had produced, the dsturban
ces in Canada occurred, TO awaken the atten-
lion Of our people, and try the hrmness of the
Executive. 4 civil war ragged in neighbor-
ing country the population on each side Of
the boundary, was dangerously excited angry
collisions, CO instantly anticipated. and more than
once occurring. were readily imputed TO want
OF good faith. or settled purposes OF hostility ;
and rare union Of prudence and frmness, for
searsnce and resolution. was required 10 pre-
vent those consequences which, in every
peet, threatened a fierce and prolonged war
While yet this storm Of passions on the North
ern frontier remained unsubdued, the occurren-
ces on the boundary Of Maine suddenly al ose,
and seemed te.render the policy Of the Admin
istration still more difficult and TO destroy
every hope Of preserving unbroken tranquility.
Let the history of the dangers thus springin2
up from the moment Mr.. Van Bursn entered
upon The Executive ofice--ihe measures which,
tor three years, he had adopted in regard TO
them-the able correspondence in which he
has maintained with unhnchng firmness, the
rights and honor of the United States-let
these speak the merit of his administration of
our foreign affairs. The wearied patience Of
the honest claimants against Mexico is at
length rewarded by the appointment OF just
tribunal for the settlement Of their claims. and
n stipulated mode of paying them The Cana
dian border is once more the scene of active
and peaceful industry; passion has been sub
dued by reason and reflection; and every thing
assures us. that however strong our syepathies
may be with the progress Of social and political
improvement, they will not be INDUCED at the
expense Of international rights. Maine, whose
long-suffering patience properly demanded the
prompt decision OF the pending question, re-
poses with confidence in the General Admins
iraion TO obtain that end, and feels satisfied
that IL will sustain with unc hanging resolution,
her territorial claims
Who of the opponents Of Mr. Van Buron,
will venture 10 assert that, in producing these
remarkable results, he has for Que moment for
gotten the rights or interests OF ms country;
that its good faith has been in the sg ghtest par
ticular impaired or that breath OF suspicion
has o6scured its honor Ia all his proceedings,
amid the varying aspects OF these threatening
incidents, there has been, throughout every
section Of our common country, uniformity
and consistency of sentiment, certainly without
parallel in the history of our political parties.
tInder no adminisi ration--lhat of Washington
himself not exceptcd-has there been so gener
al an appreciation expressed both AT home aud
abroad, OF the manner in which our foreign re
latons have been conducted. The legislative
leaders of our political opponents have given
their sanction in the most imposing Of all forms,
10 the wisdom. patriotism and honor by which
II has been distinguished. Almost without
discussion on dissent from any quarter, the
Legislature entrusted TO his discretion The
power OF peace and war; the purse and the'I
sword were deliberately placed in his hands by
those who have been, and yet occasionally are,
accusing him Of desire unconstltutionally to |
snatch them from Legislative control. In the |
reckessness aud IN ustice OF their party strug-
c!es, they aSsail the character and impeach the !
motives of Mr.. Van Buren,; in the hour of
peril, when the truth must CONTROL they evince
an unbounded confidence equally in his wisdom
land his integrity. How that confidence has
been justified, let tho event declare. Not
larthng of the appropriated treasure has been
expended (; not an atom Of the power so lavish
ly granted has been welded; without resort to
either. all the brilliant results TO which we have
alluded have been successfully attained.
Nor let Us forget that while these great and
absorbin. questions Of foreign policy were de-
pending, all the other duties connected with
our foreign intercourse were successfully per
formed lndennties have been obtained by
Britain. and Holland advantageous CONNER
cial treaties have been completed with the Peru
Bolivian Confederation. and With Holland,
Sr!l eece, aud Sardinia and have been agreed
upon with Ecuador and Belgium; and our ma /
ilonal character. and the principles OF maratime
law, which we have always maintained, have
been recognized and respected by France IN
her recent contest with Mexico, aud in that
which she yet maintains with the Argentine
Republic. -..
AT tue commencement of his administration
IN 1887. Mr.. Van Buren found the country ex-
cited by the redundancy of paper money, which
had produced mania OF speculation and over
trading aud a consequent deluslye show of pros
pertv. which had no other basis than system
,.l credit ,giihou, bounds or limitations. The
United States Bank had, during the yeats 1884
and '35. thrown wide open the Hood gates OF
expansion aud either aIlured cocrced the
State banks 10 follow lis example. Under pre-
ience of administering to the immediate pros
perty of the country, ii scattered the seeds Of
future embarrassment and ruin. The country
suddenly became bloated with an unwholesome
aud sckiy expansion. and all men not infected
with the madaess of the times predicted that
tbs unnatural growth was but the ioreunnrr OF
iucurabc weakness and premature decay.
The tnlflment followed close ON the heels Of
the prediction. That iuvariable aud imperative
lawsoi nature which decrecs that all violent ex-
.iie,ncuts, all oyer-wrousht efforts whether OF
body oi mind, shall be speedily followed by
sudden prostration. produced its inevitable con
sequ-nces. Within less than three months
from the commencement Of Mr.. Van Burens
administration. aud before he had advised or
,arriedinio operation single measure that
could, in the slightest degree, operate to pro-
duce the catastrophe. more than seven hundred
banks, as if by one impulse. violated thsIr char
tiers by suspendins specie payments, and by that
means locked up III their vaults, and withheld
from public uses in a legal currency, more than
,vppiy-seyeu millions of accumulated revenue