The Madisonian., 1840-01-21
IN SENATE,
FRlpAy, January IT..
TnE MAINE BOUNDARY.

~ oLANa
FRlpAy, January II.
rue NAME BOUNDARY.
On motion Of Mr. BUCHANAN, the Senate took
up the resolutions offered by Mr. Wllliams calling on
the President OF the United States for the correspon-
deDce not already communicated, With the Bmish Co
gernmcn OH the subject OF the Maine Boundary, aud
with The British Minister aud the Governor Of Name
relative to the invasion Of the State OF Maine and the
exercise Of jurisdiction IN the disputed territory.
The question being the following additional rcso.
luton, oiieredb by Mr. Ruggcs
Rcsoired further, That the President be requested to
communicate 10 the Senate, so far may be lncom-
patiblc with the public interest, whether any, and If
any what measures have been taken under the act Of
March, 1889, or otherwise, TO cause the removal
pulson OF the British troops which have taken posses
sion Of portion Of The territory OF Name, claimed by
Great Britain; and especially whether since the last
session any military posts have been established IN
Maine, or any other military measures adopted, pre-
paraory TO just vGdicaiion OF Tie honor and rights
Of the nation aud Of Maine connected with the per-
se,efng claim made by Great Britain TO portion oil the
territory Of that State.
Mr. BUCHANAN said he scarcely knew what 10
say on the subject uf this resolution II would
TO contain an implied censurc upon the President which
was wholly uniounded. II call ID upon hun com
municate the Senate whether any and what measures
have been taken under the act OF March, 1882
otherwise, 10 expel the British troops from the dspa,cd
territory aud whether since the last session. any mill
lary posts have been established in Maine preparatory
10 just vlndcation Of the nations honor Now said
Mr.. b. every Senator knows perfectly well the ouly
answer which the President give TO these inteuoga
Indeed. this answer has been substantially given
| in advance. In his Annual Message dated on the I'd
of December last, he has informed that he has
touched dollar OF the s 900 900 confded him by
the act OF March, 1889 aud he then surrendered up
the trust which had been conhded to him by Congress-
And why did he pursue this course Simply because
the contingency had rot happened upon which he could
have applied this money. There had been invasion
OF our territory. any imminent danger Of such in
,asion. There had been no attempt on the part Of
Great Britain to enforce by her claim exclusive
jurisdiction the disputed territory SO far from it,
that solemn agreement had been entered into with the
british authorities for the express purpose OF preventing
any such attempt from being made by either nation Il
was not until about the first Of January ha, the Pres
dent could possibly have heard that companies of
British troops had been stationed at the Temscouata
lake. because the letter OF Governor Fairfield conmu-
nicaiing this information not dated until the 23d
| OF December Ald yet the Senate grasey called
upon TO adopt resolution asking the President whether
he has taken any measures, under the act Of March,
1881, TO exjel these troopsin the very face Of his
Message OF the ID December last declaring that he had
not found II necessary TO use any Of the powers con-
ierred upon him by this act Nay. more, IT the Pre-
sdent had established military posts in the disputed
territory, his conduct would have been Justly censura
bic, aud would have afforded the British Government
the Of offence they have afforded to US,
unless il should he satisfactorily explained, in recently
sa'ionirg troops at the Temiscouata lake The Pre-
sden,s answer 10 these inquiries, all know, must
be in the negative; and il would therefore, that
the object was to cast an implied though very unjust
censure upon HIM for having done nothing.
Mr. Is said he did no, know what the Presl-
dent had pursued since the receipt of Governor Fair
fields letter He presumed, however, that matter
of course he had protested against this military
patton Of the disputed territory by the British authorities
Lass n nj nd of ,ho
rights Of Maine, and had asked explanation from tho
British Minister. Before>he attempted to expel these
troops by force, he call upon Congress to furnish
INN the means Indeed, we as yet know nothing OF
the particular circumstances attending this military
cupaon except what Is contained in the letter Of CO.
vernon Fairfield He should, therefore, be glad if the
Senator from Maine would withdraw his resolution
but il he did not Mr. B would object its passage.
All the information which II was in the Presidents pow
to communicate would be elected If il could this
time be properly communicated, by the two resolutions
OF the Senator'S colleague, Cdr. Wlliams)
Mr. b said that, on the question Of the Northeastern
boundary the conduct Of the Presiden, had hitherto
been so fortunate as to satisfy even his political oppo-
nen,s. 1t had combined prudence with frnness. aud
had received the appreciation of almost every rejecting
man IN the country. The negotiation this inpor.
,ant question was, # he might he permitted to tho
expression. now at its very crisis and the President
had deemed It inexpedient TO communicate TO Congress
any OF the spondenco which had taken place be-
tne Governments since the close oil the last
session, doubtless because he deemed that il might
have injurious effect upon the negotiation Judging
by the past (said Mr., surely ought have suiii-
cent confidence IN the President to for a short pc
Rod, and not be calling upon him for communications
which may be injurious TO the public interest and which,
II So ought to be withheld The ina result Of the
gotlalon Will probably be known aud will then
as matter OF course be submitted Congress, with
all the correspondence
Allow me, said Mr.. B to make one general remark
before take my seat ! am very apprehcnsve that we
may have serious difficulties with the British auhori-
ties before the close of this controversy NV earnest
desire is, therefore, that proceedings may be marked
with such justice, modcra,iun and rnness Justify
us IN the eyes Of all mankind. A contest must be
avoided if this he possible consistently with the ma
tlons honor and then. if ii should be forced upon u.s.
shall be a united People.
Mr.. RUGGLt;S said he concurrcd fully in The
resolutions OF his colleague, asking for copies of
correspond nee But Mr.. RS amendment went
further, aud asked information as to what had been
done--no merely What had been said, but what had
been done by the President; and Mr. r. would be
glad to know what had been done under the act of
1889, or by any other authority. He had no, been
aware that his amendment could be construed into
any disre >pec of the President certainly
II was not intended II a simple inquiry and
il the President had not done what he ought Mr. r.
would leave that matter 10 be decided by the State
wh ch he represented. Mr.. r. also believed that the
President might have done something since the 2d
Oh December, under some authority, which he had
not yet made known, aud which il was worth while
to know. lie at least might have taken some pre-
cautionaIJ measures, such at eist as making sur
veys, for il was TO b. presumed that the President
had his eye on what was known to the public espc-
clally as he could not but have apprehended the risk
OF difficulty as well as the Senator from Pennsy'va-
mia, and Mr.. n. himself
They had learned from the President himself that
commissioners had been appointed to make sur
yey oil The country and report not to this, but the
RFI 4 ,L.t ~
sion done 2 They had gone up the ST. Johns river,
crossing the line on their way 10 The Mesi in lhe