, 1840-05-02

hear the Senator from Maine say that he was
not Tor war. II there was a war party it was
q criminal one. He was pleased to believe that
the dornlnant party were opposed to war.
The opinion OF the country Was against war.
and no party but Il criminal party could be
found 10 deieud wal.
There were but two ways of settling this
question, continued Nr. Clay. BY war or
hy nego,iatl IN. The Senate and the country
were interested in this question. and though
not rs much interested rs Maine, ii was a
question for the Government alore to settle.
While. $ Id Mr.. Clay. | believe the people
oil Maine as Patr:utic and as wise and as
brave us the citizens OF any other section of
the country, cannot Consent that Maine
should 4; he this question from the General
Government. II by negotiation the question
is To be settled, The Executive and the Senate
must settle it. Il by war. this Government
alone is To declare war. | can ierI. | do feel
for the position of Name. but ! cannot con-
sent that she should take any p"wer tom
the General Government Int" her ~ hands.
There are two sscuIirIrS. sad Mr.. c..
against the opinion al war. Great Britain
cannot. when The right Is with us. lie Will
IN Ia make The GucsIion = Wal question; and
lie believed, he added that she would come
Ia tlIs conclusion upon an examination OF
the question. But supposing, added Mr.. T.,
that upon IN Investigation size should tfInk
that tie right was with her-weIe we tlcn
TO make The question one Of wnrl No two
nations. speaking lie s:n:e language. would
20 10 war upon this cue stIon. No, SAID
Mr.. CLAY. not until all other methods iuI.
BY the Treaty al Client there is said 10 tie
a SulEsiSiing provision which makes II neces-
snry 10 refer thus matter To Arbitration. The
reference Ia the King al tie Netherlands
was an aboriion-a idIlure-so considered
and 50 regarded by all parties. The treaty
If 'GS then remains rs II WAS, and The pro-
vision Tor arbitration is still in inrce.
In regard To tie force IN Canada it gave
him no uneasIness. although alluded To by
the Senator from \. York and by others.
Great Britain WAS tie weiker party on
this continent. Canada WAS not 10 invade
us. but in war We were 10 invade Canada
She was preparing for defence. not ioI
attack. We are 100000 sir"ng--not as
well prepared To meet drcressI"n as We
could wish, tut much better prepared than
we were IN the war of ~i3i2-beIier prepar
ed upon tie Sea and upon the l.akes--upor
the border and IN the interior. He was no
alarmed at the force in Canada, nor woulc
he be alarmed i. tie iJrce were much larger
than il is. a preparation was natural.
Mr.. Clly again repeated inat tie qucs
ton must be one which the Government
must settle. and not any one member oi the
Union. The Government had a right &c
submit to arbi,ratIun, and ought TO do Sc
before gong 10 wal.
Mr.. Rupg!es SAID n few words in eSplana'
iinn which concluded the discussion. Mr.
Clay had misunderstood me OF his emarSs
in regard to war. He was not against wal
nor for it. His opinion depended altogether
upon contingencies. He preferred peace
and was a peace man, unless circumstance
should make war necessary. Again. Mr.. X.
said lie differed from the Senator from Ken.
lucky upon the subject of arbitration. The
Government conlt not again refer this 'ques.
ton 10 n third power without the consent o.
Maine.
Mr.. Clay differed from the Senator.
The motion was then put TO the Senate
upon printing, and ten thousand extra copies
were ordered.