Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-04-21

which we here at distance cannot feel, and IT was
with a desire to allay this excitement that he wished
the report to be sent out. lie would not persist IN
the motion if it should be against the pleasure OF
The Senate and he was willing 10 modify it 50
as 70 meet the views Of all But would, at the same
time observe that if there had been document whch
The publc would be anxious 10 see IMAM any other
If there was one which would be likely 10 aiiay the
excitement existing on the subject, II was lhis ne
knew that it was very short, and that the cost OF print.
;na could not be very great he knew, too that not
wi,hstandinp the immense circulation oil Tue he"spa-
pers of the country there were many very many whoh
these newspapers did not reach and that Inc
of a document of this kind coming nneo'a.ey ifo"i
Tho Son,,e would have effect in alaying the appre-
-hensons of our citiZehs, "hoh ' 's
the newspapers would not
Mr. CLAY of Alabama rose TO say on the inlorma-
;on nc the Secretary that ten thousand copies oil all the
documents that had been communicated on ths SUBJECT
dnr;no the present session. had been printed
NJ RITGGLES said he did not rise to object TO
the nrnn of the extra number proposed, nor indeed
to advocate the printing OF so large numoer IL was
very short report and would be read III the newSpa-
pers by every citizen of Maine, and perhaps by every
rzan NJ the country, long before the extra number
would no likely to be furnished to the Senate He had
no wish 10 increase expenditures for printing, yet
he should not oppose any extra number gentlemen
thought proper to recommend
He s,d he certainly felt less anxiety for printing
largo umhor for the belief he entertained that the re-
Gems of the State, he in part represented IN aiordng
them some possible apprehension that the spirit ani-
tested in the late correspondence between the TWO 20
yernments is felt less strongy now than at the time
that correspondence took place lie was well aware mat
there was portion of the people whose minds were
fully prepared for the most prompt and energetic nea-
sures Another portion doubtless contemplated re-
sort to war with serious apprehension IL was not 10 DC
questioned that the expectations mott hopes, OF the
former class would be rcprcssed and dlsapPoned ana
l., cpriD IL
10 their desire for the long continuance OF peace ne
observed that Maine felt strongly and deeply on thus
subect She had entertained hopes that this controver-
sv was now about to be broughtto close She is ex-
pecting strong, decisive and energetic acton on .he par
of this Government lie did not mean to be understood
nc nmating that the and spirit OF the report OF the
committee afforded any sufficient evidence that she
would be disappointed in the character OF te measures
she has been anticipating. Nevertheless, the report ne
believed would by many be looked upon as Pc"ee az
cumca and az calculated relieve the country from all
apprehension of rupture with Great brlta al least
for some time to come. The honorable Senator from
New York mir. Wright appeared to have so uhder-
stood its purpor and effect and assigned That as rea
SON for wishing large number OF the report printed.
He would say again that he should not oppose thc PRINT
mo of any number gentlemen wished but would be
recoccted that the Senate had ordered the printing OF
ten thousand extra copies of correspondence on TINS
subject early in March, which were not furnished TO
the Senate for several weeks afterwards ana not III!
4 recent
was communicated to the Senate. Should there DC as
much delay this occason the extra copies would be
of but little use to the Senate or TO the public
Mr. BUCHANAN observed, that the remarks OF
the Senator from Maine (Nr Rugges) seemed to rem
der it necessary that he should say very few words
on the subject before the Senate those VINO had at
tended to the reading of the report, would perceive
that throughout, it intended for the sole purpose
Of presenting to The Senate the reasons why the com
mcc did not think it necessary, at this time, to make
detailed report on the whole correspondence nat
was the single object OF the report IL IL souia Dc-
come necessary to make report IN regard 10 the
temporary occupation of the disputed territory, the
committee would not shrink from their duty They
were prepared to perform it to the Senate and TO the
country But at this moment, when we have the So
Tenn assurance of the British Minister that IN very
short time we should have an answer from his Go
vernment to the counter proct presented by our Go
yernment; and when he not only expresses the nope,
but "enerains the firm belief, that the "diihcuity
of conducting the negotiation to an amicablc issue VIII
not he found great has been by many persons ap
nrehended" il is wonderful that the Senator from
Maine should denounce this report, made under such
circumstances, in such strong language. lie report,
Mr. b. continued, re-assertcd the rights oil Name IN
the most solemn and il was extraordinary that
any citizen of Maine should expect detailed report or
one different, from that which had been made, unless,
indeed he could believe that the committee ought TO
have assumed hostile POSITION and gone into all the
correspondence that had taken place, and ipto the sub
iect of the preparations that had been made by the
British Government, in the face OF the assurance
that should have answer TO our proposition IN e
course ofthis month the next; which, Judging from the
language ofthe British Minister we had reason TO believe
would prove satisfactory The committee thought was
their duty place before the Senate the precise state OF
the negotiation between the two countries and what Thai
was might be summed up in twenty words \ PROPOSE
ton for exploration and survey OF the disputed terri.
tory had been made By the British Government; and
this Government not decmng satisfactory because IT
did not embrace provision for the tlna settlement vi
the question: had sent to the British Government
counter proict to which no answer has yet been re-
ceved This counter proet was communicated TO The
British Government during the last summer, ana the
British Minister here, several months afterwards, WIN
perfect knowledge of its character assures US that
speedy answer will be given to il, and expresses his
confident belief that if this controversy IS lett TO the
two national Governments, it does not present the
difficulties which had been by many persons ap.
pretended lie also declares that the commission
ers who had been sent out from England TO make
survey Of the disputed territory were preparing Their
report-that tins report would be ready within the month
of Alurc-and that then his Government would trans
nit answer to the proposition we mad submitted tc
them Now in this state of the case, unless you sup.
pose the British Government TO be entirely tatless
which he had no reason to believe, may reasonably
expect, in this the coming month, TO receive an an
swer that may enable to settle this question IN con-
forutv with the stpulaons of the treaty OF l1c and
IN accordance WIN the just rSHts ol 4hdiHc. ohuei
such circumstances how could it be expected that the
committee would make belligerant report: Mr. B
differed with the Senator from Maine in the opinion thai
the people of his State either would could con-
strue this report, to mag that the committee OF
the Senate prepared to surrender any portion OF
their rights. The past conduct Of this body should
shield them from such suspicion, and their future
conduct should it become necessary, would show that
they were ready now as they have been IN former
times, sustain the honor Of the nation as well as the
rights of sovereign member of the Coniederacy-
From the correspondence which had taken place be-
tween the two Governments the committee hoped that
this might never become necessary. Sufficient for the
day was the evil thereof and the committee thought
the subject already sufficiently embarrassing IN 1t
SELF without unnecessarily adding TO it other causes Of
irritation.
Mr. ALLEN wished to ask of the Senator from Maine
two questions. He wished to know, if the gen
temun expected the committee to report to the Senate
an opinion in favor of war, what kind of report he
expected from the committee in the present state OF the
negotiations between the two countries: When the
gentleman should state what kind of report he ex
pected the committee to make, he would then thank
..,I II to IL