Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-04-30
TWENTY.SlXTH CONGRESS-
FIRST SESSION
REMARKS OF Mr.. CLAY ofKy.

""""Hiopsy cohcuicu VI ny the committee aud, iol
one, ne would say that II met his entire approb
lie was glad To hear the Senator from Maine tM,.
Kugges) say that he was himself opposed to war.
lie added, indeed, that the report would DO unae-
ceptabe To persons in Maine no were in favor in
war Sir, tsaid Mr.. Clayff there be any party OF
this country that is desiious of war, except rs last
and only resort 1t is highly criminal. lilo was hap
by TO be able TO express his conviction that nei-
iher OF the Two great parties In this country far
he could Judge here, in favor Of war lie had IA
ken pains 10 ascertain the views this question: OF
the Executive, Of the members of The COMMITTEE on
Foreign Relations, and Of other gentlemen attached
to the Administration, and he bore, with great
pleasure. willing testimony to their pacific intcn-
tons. Those OF his own friends rs far MS he knew
them, were IN perfect accord.
The controversy with Great Britain presented no
case for war 1t would be shocking and scandalous
such dlfeinl calamity grew out OF IL. 1t was a
controversy that ought TO DO settled by amcablo
means. The Senate has dclibetat, ly and unan-
imous'y expressed It's opinion IN favor Of the tori
lorlal tights of Maine. That opinion was the result
OF thorough investigation. And we have right to
suppose that when the enlightened ellis OF Great
Britain are brought seriously to examine the same
question, they will arrive AT the same conclusion
But suppose they should, AFTER full examination,
entertain an opinion AS clearly aud rs unanimous
ly rs We do, opposite TO ours We shall then exbi
bit the spectacle Of two great kindred nations be-
ing directly opposed IN judgment IN regard to their
respective rights TO Territory IN dispute between
them. Is war then inevitable BY no means
The treaty OF Ghent ONES in and provides for that
very contingency. Aud subsisting stipulation in II
meets the case, and requires the parties to submit
the dispute 10 arburaiiun. A subsisting stipula.
aiion Tor the treaty has not yet performed its Of
fee. Tho al btrsl,on Of the King OF the Neither
lands was an abouion--was an Intellectual arb,ira
ton, aud leaves the stipulation In ull force and YET,
to be executed.
But II there were no treaty nj all, and il the
were wholly uuprovd,d Tor, Mr.. &. could not on
terrain the smallest doubt tina, il was perfectly nh
IN the constitutional competency OF the General
Government, IN coOrcrati ou with Great Britain, 10
institute aud arrange arbitration. lie would add.
that IL was no less It's duty than whin its power TO
do so, If other means OF adjustment should fail.
The territorial rights of Name are to be secured
only by negotiation or by war lfby negotiation, the
negotiation should be solely conducted by the De-
lartment OF tins Government To winch the Con
sttulIon has confjed il. lfby war the councils of
the whole Union exclusively ought TO decide when
the war shall be declared lie had grea, confIe
IN the patriotism, Intelligence aud CALAMITY OF
the People OF Maine but he must protest-sol-
EMMY protesi-against any right OF the Siate
Of Maine, slngly, TO make or declare war for
the whole People Of the United Saies.-They
were not represented in the councils Of Maine,
and they would have 10 bear their full share in the
burdens calamites Of war. War Is one Of those
awful events which demands the consideration
Of the united councils aud The united wisdom Of the
whole county II II unhapplly becomes the last
and only means OF indicating the rights Of Maine
the period Of lis declaration should DO left, where
&c Constitution has places Il IN The hands OF the
United States in Congress s,embled, And, IN Judg-
ing Of the Ii re VI lis declaration, other interests
OF the whole country. other interests oil Maine her
self besides that Of the disputed territory, MS well
as the general state Of pieparaon are to be taken
into consideration.
Maine complains Of the delay attending her ac-
QUESTION OF what she believes and What we all be-
lieve, TO be her territorial nghs. Undoubtedly she
has some cause 10 complain. But, ihen u Is not
to be forgotten that great national transactions can
not be performed with the celebrity with which mere
private affairs despatched. II Is not trial Of an
ejeclnent. Nations must move with care, caution.
ard cIrcumspection. multitude OF grave and
weighy affairs constantly occupy iheii attention,
which cannot be Instantly all laid aside, and sin
gle subject allowed to engross their whole tune
Look al Great Britain AT this moment. A
war with China-sefious difficulties IN Turkey en-
gaglng her aiention-great trouble IN Canada not
yet adjused-dscOD:eDt at hOme-a deficit IN her
revenue-and n NJ Inistry holding on TO their places
" itb very irail tenure.
1t is SAID that an answer TO the American propo-
sition ofJuly ought long since TO have been gwen.
il is perhaps no" received by the American Mn
sier at London. And we must not forget thai
Great Britain, acting upon The prudential motives TO
which lie had adyered, sent out last yea, a com
was certainly delay in the operations Of tina,
and lis report, which CO I'd not have
been well ealier made, is assigned as The reason
Tor the delay. We ought also TO bear 10 mind that
Gre Britain was wiling several years ago. 10 have
The hole dispute setiled by the King OF Holland
And II is natural that she should desire, il The
lnes ion is 10 be arbtrated, that there should be
such careful construction Of the arbitration as To
make its decision Definite and 10 prevent another
abortion.
We are told Of vast preparations fur war mad.
and making in the PTovnces. But IS not all thai
perfectly natural! On this continent. Great Britain
is The weaker Powei-shc seeks To slreng hen her
self, Tor the vain purpose OF invading us-ior ho
apprehends an invasion from Canada but TO resist
an invasion of The Provinces from the Unied States
which, in the event of would be likely TO take
place. These preparations give me 20 concern.
Let her multiply Der Notifications, and her bulwaThs,
aud her armies in the Provinces as she please. On
The whole line Of Two thousand n,iles, from the Bay
Of Passamaquoddy 10 its extreme terminus IA the
Northwest, with two or three exceptions, we want
no Qualifications. Our best Notifications are our
numbers, our brave, gallant, free People. ever rea
dy 10 fly 10 the standard of their country. and to
vndicate its rights and its honor.
We are not prepared fer war, IL is said.-Ce'tain.
ly we are not perfectly prepared, and never shall be
fully prepared, whilst free institutions Continue
Liberty and large standing armies are not sale aud
suitable co npanlons. We must always expect some
hard knocks IN the commencement OF i wal; but we
shall take TO return them. and punIsh the
temeiny which has dared 10 inilict them. re
now. al this moment, infinitely better prepared for
war Than we we're al the commencement oithe last
Brush war. With a population more than double,
pressing itself IN dense state upon a large portion
OF the line which separates us from The Brush
"A nav IN