North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-02-05

- hbIa4hE tlF ttl uR over iHC HirltS'hH "i''tV
b ~ To the State Of Name. Mr.. A. ARDENT
o " desired tast this unaBmiIy might be dis
= tarhed 5y nothing even doubtful ~ aun-
I bguous, and II this resolution were doubt
D ful in lis character, he thought It ought Ia
be SO modiEed as To remove all amhIgul-
. ".
81 "Mr. Buchanan said he would cautious
? ~ avoid, on this occasion, any debate on
The general subject. His opinions were
sufficiently we'll known Ia render this I'M
necessary. There were three resolutions
, before the Senate for consideration, two oi
them which he thought entirely proper,
called on The President for all the CORES
. pondeHce between ihr British Minister and
the Governor OF Maine, the sBritish Gov
eminent and our own Government, on The
subject OF The Northeastern boundary,
which have heretofore been commnnica-
ted, provided lis publication may not be
deemed Incompatible with the public inter
est. We have just heard, almost this in
slant, that British troops have occupied
portion of the disputed territory. The
Senator from Maine Mr.. Williams, ever
true 10 his trust, offers resolution, calling
upon the President lor all the information
ia his possession, the publication OF which
he might not deem improper. All this
was very proper but what did the resoIn-
ton of the other Senator Mr.. Ruggles1
propose! Way, that reads the resolu
ton.
Now, sir what is The character OF This
resolution :? And, mark me sir, do not
| oppose lis passage, but ] will make sin
gle remark. Suppose the President had
est ablished military posts in the disputed |
territory, as this resolution in.imatcs he
ought In have done, would ii not have
been direct violation Of the. agreement
concluded between General Scott and Sir
John Harvey, Had the President acted
in this manner, he would have violated the
spirit as the British, il our late intorma-
ton should prove to be correct, had done
both the letier and spirit Of this agreement.
The agreement had procured us peace on
the border, and, in my opinion, should not
have been lightly disturbed. The Presi-
dent is asked what he has done under the
act Of March, 1880, when the President
has expressly Informed us that he has done
nothing, because the contingency eonteu-
plated in that act had not occurred at the
date of his message. The negotiation was
then proceeding amicaby, as The President
had informed US, and he hoped il might
progress in the same spirit until it reached
a peaceful termination.
Mr. Clay, of Kentucky, said it always
gave him great pleasure 10 concur, when
he could in the view of the chairman Of
The committee on Foreign Relations. -
But he must now differ from him So far as }
TO think that there was not the slightest !
imputaiion on HE President in his resolp-
iion and the Senator himself seemed TO v
admit as much when he said he should :
make no objection to its adoption. And :
further. the mover Of the resolution had !,
himself declared that he had no purpose
OF censure.. That Senator was
ieepIy interested in this matter, and was !,
even Isudably DESTROYS TO know al! that y
Gould be known about it consistent with c
he public interest. On this subject he
Jaw no occasion TO censnre the President.
,uI God knows he is sufficiently anenable
o censure without going out of the wav z
q find it. Sir, think there is no imputa- y
ion IN the resolution, aud hope il will be !, :,
lowed TO be passed L
Mr.. Buchanan said that he felt so mncb :,
onlidenee in the senator's ability TO con- =,
true the meaning Of languages correctly. ::
nd was SD much pleased with the appro- "
aiion he had expressed OF the Presidents ::
onduct in regard 10 the Main boundary :"
that he was willing To torego u,
IS own opinion Of the character of this .,
esolution. 1t was true that this approba- -
on had been accompanied by protesta- =.
on that The President was sufficiently ~
pnsnrabe on other questions. As 70 the az
God knows &c. when he brings Al
'rward the bill Of particulars, Mr. B. trus. al
ID that the friends Of the President wopId q, q,
2 able TO defend him triumphantly. AT "
resent Mr. b. was content with The adj. %
sslon in favor Of the Presidents conduct
spectlng the Maine controversy, and he 20 -
ould now vote with more cheer(ulness -,
= the resolution. IA
Mr. Davis said he had lsienrd Yesterday Vi
Id to-day 10 the idea that this resolution :"
'plied eensure on the President: but il &c
ID never entered his mind at oil; and as WI
adopting the resolution, or an eouiya- ;"
II, there could be no doubt. The SEMI. Sc
ent throughout Congress and the conn. Ml
' was unanimous in favor of the ripbt nj n''
aine and what The President in his late IN
'ssage had said was. we all felt deeplv IN gu,
true, that the controversy had confin-
d TOD long. Ii was full time Tor il 10 he co.
AuUlf N ctR.a nj -. L ! tIlt