Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-04-10
CONG r F. S s,

The Joint Resolution for the adjournment Of
Congress on the 18th May, was called mp, and Mr..
Lumpkin expressed hone that the Senate would
vote upon 1t. His own opinion on the subject,
was unchanged.
Mr. Preston remarked that the Chairman of the
Committee of Foreign Reatons being absent, he
would undertake to say that in the present con-
dition of our foreign relations, Congress could not
adjourn.
Mr.. Norvell suggested that his bill providing for
the meeting of Congress to meet on the second
Monday of November next, and the Joint resolution
for ad ournment, should be referred to the Com
mittee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Buchanan, having come into the chamber
and said his experience had taught hun that little
business could be done until day was fixed for
adjournment. As TO this question of the North
Eastern Boundary, which had been spoken OF, the
President had informed us that the British Govern
ment last July offered a Convention for its ADJUST
ment. This was not satisfactory in its terms, and
counter project was offered by our Government.
He was very glad to learn from the communication
of the British Minister, which was read in this
body on Thursday last, though he did no, like the
temper displayed IN that paper, that an answer
might be shortly expected. When the expected
answer to our counter PROJECT is received, we
shall see day light on this question. We shall
then be informed whether the British Government
accedes to the proposition, and is disposed to settle
it amicably, or whether she refuses and in that
event we shall know what we have to do. He was
not willidg to vote for fixing the 18th day OF May
as the day of adj ournment, but he thought that in
all human probability the reply of the British
Government would he received before the first OF
June. Should that answer he unpropious, which
Heaven forbid, we can postpone 1t until such
measures can be passed as we may deem neces-
! sary for the protection otthe country.
| Mr.. Benton was averse to acting on the meas.
ure at all, and particularly when he considered
| the present posture of our affair with England
| No man desired peace more ardeny than he did,
and peace with all the world; but experience had
proved that the best means OF ensurlng peace was
10 be prepared for war. He thought that the sur
plus which had Eeen given TO the States, and the
money that had been squandered without looking
to a proper national defence, had emboldened a
certain foreign nation TO push US to point He
alluded to resolution introduced by Senator,
calling on the Departments for any information
in their possession III relation to the military works
that had been commenced on our Northern and
Northeastern boundary, which had not yet been
| responded tot was due at least 10 the occasion
to wait for that before they acted preciptately on
the subject Of adjournment. 1t was a well ascer-
ia ned fact that extensive preparations were going
on along the whole line Of our frontier from Lake
Superior to Pa>samaqnody Bay. Not only were
the British erecting permanent fortiicatonS, but
were constructing field work which implied ap-
preaching operations, and under the law ofnation>
we had right to demand their object Look 10
the mouth of Columbia River also! Not only there
bnt in the Bermu,Ias, warlike preparations were
being made. Look, also, TO the Bahamas, and the
increased communication between England and
Hafax-to the concentration of troops in the
Provinces, which gave note as clearly as any
thing could do Of settled purpose to drive us TO
extremity. The miserable system of dividing the
revenue among The States, should be secuted from,
the public councils-the armor of defence was
what the nation should wear, and that nation that
refused to defend itself, invited aggression. He
would not counlenance any measure, looking 10
an adjournment, so long as the question with Eng
land wore its present aspect.
After some remarks from Messrs. Linn and Tall
madge, IN which We're pointed ont many other
subjects demanding the attention OF Congress at
this session, and all of which would be bazarded by
an early adjournment, the Joint Resolution was
LAID on the table-yeas %, nays II.