Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-04-15

suggestion of another member, Mr.. Fillmore
modified the reference TO the Committee 10
correction to make inquiry, &c; but that me-
the representative ola constituency on the WITH
ern frontier of New York, should make such
motion after denouncing the report OF the Com
mittee on FOREIGN Affairs, indicates how strong
the hostile feeling towards England is along the
Canadian frontier
| 1t is easv TO show that the report of the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs s weak IN point OF logic
and bad in point of taste-a silly, vaporing, I'M
statesmanke document ltassesrts an lndepeh-
dence of action in the several otaleS OF me Cn-
ion, which other nations cannot concede to the
Central Government of the Union, If that Gov
eminent is TO be recognised and negotiated with
in the same way as other Governments.
1t would be prcsumptious to decide, with the
information at present possessed by the pubic,
whether in these disputes the United States or
Great Britain is most wrong; but lhe doctrines
advanced IN the American report are clearly UNI
tenable
We are in imminent danger Of plunging into
war with the nation of all the world which is
most nearly match for us. The English ana
Americans are of the same race, and combine
what is called epluck and bottom to greater
amount than any other two nations. Our wealth
and our technical skill are greater: we possess
/
more compact; their economical condition is
more healthy; they can suffer more rude shocks
with impuuity than we can. 1t Is not possible
that either can subdue the other; but they can
mutually mlct an infinite deal of suffering,
which only be terminated by arrangements
not materially differing from what might be made
now. This consideration ought to impress upon
Great Britain the necessity of wary dealing and
the more the Americans are provoking and I'M
reasonable, the greater ought this wariness to be.
If we seek TO follow up these reflections ny
turning our attention to our relations with the
United States, we find that we not in con-
dition TO form a Judgment upon them. We have
been kept in utter Ignorance of the state OF these
relations the quarrel has taken us by surprise :;
and even of it we know merely its existence-of
its merits we are not in acondon to judge. For
example, in the case of Mr. M'Leod- the son-
ton of this delicate question depends upon wheth-
er the American Government is aware that the
British Ministry has taken upon 1t the RESPONSE
bilitY of the destruction of the Caroline. Lord
Palmerston declares that years ago, he gave the
American Minister to understand that he and his
colleagues took upon them the responsibility of
the act. But little reliance can be placed upon
such declaration from Lord Palmerston. On
the 9Th February last, the Foreign Secretary de-
clared in the House of Commons, that he had
sent instructions to our Minister at Washington
regarding the case of Mr. NJ Leod and on the
YIN, ne cOnIPSS'u liIt uisllhttphS hth 'iN
been sent off that day. With this sample of Lord
Paltnerstons assertions fresh in memory, we
place little confidence in his declaration that he
has intmated to the American Government
that his Cabinet adopts the responsibility Tor the
destruction of the Caroline, i'll the face of the
fact that this important argument Is not so much
as alluded to in the report OF the COMMITTEE oi
the American House Of Representatives, on For
egn Affairs.
The first step that, under such circumstances,
would be taken by our Representatives. we
had Representatives deserving the name-Wonld
be to extort from Ministers a full and honest eN-
PLANTATION of the state of relations with
America Once in possession of this lndispensa-
bic information, they would be able to Judge
what grounds Of complaint America has against
this country, and what grounds of complaint this
country has against America Great Britain is
strong enough TO volunteer an equitable arrange
ment Of all differences, without fear OF having
her motives misapprphended, OF her generosity
perverted to her disadvantage. There IS reason
to believe that the new Administration OF the
United States will be found ready TO settle the
Boundary dispute, and the questions arising out
OF the buccanecr warfare Of the Canadian from
tier upon equitable terms. The difficulty IN the
arrangement Of the boundary-ine, arising from
the treaty regarding ii proceeding upon hypothe-
tica views Of the geography Of an uneXplored
country, can only be settled by compromise; and
the rregularity the British side n4 sCIZng the
Caroline in the American waters, may fairly pair
off against the irrernllmiy on The American side
Of allowing the Government stores 10 be used by
the aSympathizefs." Time would thus be gained
for laying the foundations OF lasting good
understanding between the two countries; one
Of the first and most important steps to which
desirable end, would be the free admission into
this country of the agricultural produce Of the
Northern States Of the Union,