The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-16

Law claim 10 the District Of Columbia az any spot
claimed by the United States Suppose that Govern
ment should lay claim TO this territory upon which we
now holding our delIbeiations ana we should UNI
dertake to argue the matter, and TO hunt up docu-
mentary testimony TO establish our claim and we
should pursue this course for series of years, why
we should soon be much at sea as we are at pre-
sent in regard to the Northeastern boundary line
The great fault in this matter in permitting 1t to
be subject of controversy we should nave p!aceu
ourselves on the line as called for by the treaty OF
1863, and we should have said to Great Britain, you
cannot be serious or honest in attempting to make II
subject of discussion Moot this question oftte and
90 In quest of evidence to support IT, and you postpone
is settlement indefinitely. SO long as you keep the
ouestion omen. Great Britain will use the argument
that she is nearer to this territory that are at least
her effective power, which she is constantly increas-
inc Is nearer Mr. A. said he considered this ques-
ton as settled so far this body was concerned IL
was settled by unanimous vote OF the Senate, VINO,
though rent by the dversties of political feeling ex-
cited by contest which had raged tnrougn the couIse
Of twelve years yet ON this subject they had gone
shoulder to shoulder, and, by unanimous vote had
said this question SO far are concerned IS set
tied and determined; and there he was disposed 70
leave it. Mr.. A. said there were troubles ahead IL
was evident, from tho conduct OF her minister on .
recent OCCASION that Great Britain far from wish
to have this affair promptly and amicaby settled was
to get up other questions OF embodiment
He hoped the Senate would not again open this sub
iect of the Northeastern boundary We had already
decided by unanimous vote, that our claim was
right, and we will, if necessary, support IT,
Mr.. CLAY Of Kentucky said the motion was to
adopt resolution to print certain debates of the Brit
sh Parliament in relation TO the boundary between
the States and the British provinces What was the
pie resent condition of the boundary question It's the
subject of negotiation The dipomatsts are now act
ing on it, and acting on il, as hewas informed In q
spirit worthy Of the enlightened Government interest
ed in the question and the liberal and benevolent sp
rit of the age in which we live. Why then should
we interfere the dpomatists want these papers to
enliphten them on the subject of their deliberations
they undoubtedly have access to them in the dra-
ries of this country of Europe He would say, with
out intending to cast reflections any where, thar SINCE
1875 the Executive action Of the Government on this
question had been much impaired by extraneous ac-
ton. He referred to the report recently made by
Messrs Nudge and Featherstonhaugh not having
been adopted by the British Government; and said
that it had been ably answered by gentleman OF this
subject was unsurpassed if equalled, by any ono on
this continent Mr.. O. referred to the recent cores
pondence between the Secretary of State and the
British Minister, in reference to Mcleod, and said
that the language used by Mr. Fox was such as should
not have been used without instructions from his Co.
vernment He understood that the whole correspon-
dence on the part of that Minister was without in
structions, and he not going to put himself IN
passion on account oflanguage used by Minister
under such circumstances The affair OF the Caroline
was one of much delicacy and it remains to be seen
whether the order by the British authorities TO cap
ture the vessel was intended to be limited to the
waters over which they had jurisdiction, which might
have been ustiable but her capture and destruction
at Fort Schlosser on shore, was another and
very different matter. He wished this question tc
rest at present where the Constitution had placed IT.
in the hands Of the Executive Should it fail to be
4 .,.rhf hafnr In
our action, that course would be pursued which was
dictated alike by the honor and interest OF our coun-
ty And if collision should unfortunately ensue, ne
would not be hindmost in the defence OF American
rights who beforeIthat collision comes, is the most cool
and most open TO reason He concluded by expressing
his opinion that the idea of the probability OF arupure
with Great Britain entirely unfounded.
" Mr. WALKER said, whatever opinions others
MIGHT entertain in regard to this boundary controversy
there was one in which he had hoped that all would
concur and that was that ifwar must come, we should
have done all in our power to demonstrate, both to
friends and foes that the right Of the case was with
and net with Great Britain. Mr.. w. said that be-
fore any conflict arose. he in favor Of demonstra-
ting those rights not by bold assertion defamation;
not by unmeaning menace, in advance, perhaps, OF
ny real necessity but by the Publication Of impor-
tant documents in an authentic form, containing the
undenable proof of the Justice of all claims
conceded at one time by our opponents This was a
document that ought to be known to every citizen OF
the Union, and Mr.. w was especially DESTROYS that
it should be in the hands of all his constituents, that
when f ever they should be called upon to exp end
their blood and reasurein maintaining the just claims
Of sister State they might know that those claims
had been acknowledged by both parties and both houses
ofthe British Parliament in 1888. Mr.. w. said he
also DESTROYS that this important debate might be
published in official FORM in which it might reach
the people of Canada for he (Mr. w knew, from
travelling through Upper and Lower Canada last
summer that the authenticity of this debate deni
ed there throughout both Provinces, and that much
delusion prevailed which might, in part, be dssipated
by this publication. As, however, it now late,
Mr.. W. would move for the present to lay the reso-
luton on the table.
The resolution was accordingly laid on the table.
And the Senate adjourned until Monday next