The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-12

ticed by the Committee ON Foreign Relations That
report was tissue Of sophsty from first 10 last which
might be easily exposed but 20 far as his information
extended il had never been officially recognised by
the British Government In this state of the he
dl moi believe il ought 10 be made the subject Of any
report from the Committee Foreign Relations, and
therefore he had called the attention ofth
mi,ice it, Besides, il was well understood that ne
gotiaons pending, and were nearly brought
10 happy conclusion, for referring the final decision
Of this question 10 commissioners mutually chosen by
the two Governments with such an ultimate provi-
sion, in Of their disagreement must settle the
question Under these circumstances, he though u
would be improper for the Senate TO interfere.
Mr. ALLEN said he was opposed TO the adoption
Of this resolution. What was its object pro-
cure testimony in support Of our claim TO the territory
embraced by the limits OF Maine. He was opposed To
this. So long we debated, so long as we gave op
portunity for cavil on this subject, 40 long would
Great Britain protract its settlement There IL point
al which this matter must stop where we must put
foot and say this admits Of no further discussion
The British government have just ms much night To
lay claim 10 the District Of Columbia an any spot
claimed by the United States. Suppose that cavern
should lay claim To this territory upon when we
are now holding our deliberations, and we should I'M
dertake 10 argue the matter, and to hunt mp doc'-
mentary testimony 10 establish our clam, and we
should pursue this for series OF years why,
we should soon be as much al we are al pre-
sent In regard 10 the Northeastern boundary line
The great fault in this matter was in permitting Il 10
be subject of controversy. We should have placed
ourselves ON the line as called io by the treaty Of
1863, and we should have said 10 Great Britain you
cannot be serious OF honest IN attempting To make II
subject of discussion. Moot this question Oft little, and
90 IN quest of evidence TO support t. and you postpone
its settlement indefinitely. So long you keep the
question open Grea, Britain will use the argument
that she is To this territory that are at least
her effective power, which she Is constantly ncreas
ing, is MIR. A. said he considered this qucs
ton setled 80 far ms this body concerned. II
was settled by unanimous vote Of the Senate, who,
though rent by the dversities of political feeling OK
cited by contest which had ragged through tho course
of twelve years, yet this subject they had gone
shoulder TO shoulder, and, by a unanimous vote had
said this question, far as we are concerned ~ SET
tied and determined and there he was disposcd to
leave it. Mr. A. said there were troubles ahead. IL
was evident from the conduct Of her minister a
recent OCCASION that Great Britain far from wish
to have this affair promptly and amcaby settled, was
endeayorng To get up other questions OF embodiment
lie hoped the Senate would not again open this sub
ject of the Northeastern boundary We had already
decided, by a unanimous vote, that our claim was
right and we WILL II necessary, support IT,
Mr.. CLAY of Kentucky said the motion 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 condition of the boundary question Is the
subject of negotiation The dplomatists are now act
ing on il, and acting on it, he was informed, IN
spirit worthy OF the enlightened Government interest
ed in the question and the liberal and benevolent sp
nit of the age in which live. Why then should
interfere Ii the dpomatsts want these papers TO
enlighten them the subject of their deliberations
they undoubtedly have TO them in the lldra
ries of this country of Europe He would say, with
out Intending TO cast reflections any where, that since
1918, the Executive action of the Government on this
question had been much impaired by extraneous
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
country, (Mr. Gallatin,) whose inf rmaiion on this
subject was unsurpassed, if equalled, by any ono on
this continent Mr.. Z. 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 such should
not have been used without instructions from his Go
vernment. He understood that the whole correspon-
dence on the part of that Minister without in
structons and he was not going TO put himself in a
passion on account of language used by Minister
under such circumstances. The affair OF the Caroline
was of much delicacy; and 1t remains to be
whether the order by the British authorities to cap
the vessel was not intended to be limited to the
waters which they had jurisdiction which might
have been justablc, but her capture and destruction
at Fort Schlosser on own shore was another and
very different batter He wished this question to
rest at present where the Constitution had placed it,
in the hands Of the Executive. Should it fail TO be
settled by negotiation and brought before us for
our action, that course would be pursued which was
dictated alike by the honor and interest OF our coun
t-y And if collision should unfortunately ensue, he
would not be hindmost in the defence of American
rights who beorebat collision comes sthe most COOL
and most open 10 He concluded by expressing
his opinion that the idea of the probability OF arupture
with Great Britain was entirely unfounded
Mr.. WALKER said, whatever opinions others
might entertain in regard this boundary controversy,
there was in which he had hoped that all would
concur and that was thai fwar must come should
have done all in our power to demonstrate both to
friends and foes that the right Of the was with us,
and not with Great Britain. Mr.. w said that be-
Tor, ans conflict arose he in favor of dcmonstra
ting those rights not by bold assertion or decamaton;
not by aning menace, in advance, perhaps, of
any real necessity but BY the Publication Of mpor-
tant documents, authentic form containing the
undeniabe proof of the justice of all our claims, as
conceded al 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
il should be in the hands of all his constituents that
when f ever) they should be called upon to exp end
their blood and 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. MIR. w said he
was also DESTROYS that this important debate might be
published in an 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 was dcn
ed there throughout both Provinces, and that much
deusion prevailed which might, in part be dissipated
by this publication, As, however, il was now late,
Mr.. w, would move for the present to lay the
luton on the table.
The resolution was accordingly laid on the table
And the Senate adjourned until Monday next.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SATURDAY, Jan. 2, lS4l