The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-30
REVIEW OF MR.. BENTON'S oPPo
SITION TO THE TREATY.

resolutions offered by the Hon. Senator from
Missouri, his votes, and his speeches--we do
not intend 10 indulge in the rancorous and ma
lignant expressions of personal hostility so Oh
ten applied by the ultra press 10 the Hon. Sena-
tor-expres sions, which, if they had any elfec'
at all, have been a benefit rather Than
an injury 10 him bu, mildly, and dispas SION
ately, to express our decided conviction oil
the error of lis conduct as politician
and PARROT. In doing this, we feel assured
that the Hon. Srna'or himself will not CEN
sure u.s. To scrutinze the conduct OF or DIS
tinguished public men, is the legitimate duty Oh
the political press, and we are right well assured
that the Hon. Senator from Missouri Too wei
appreciates the prerogatves OF the Journalist 10
deprecate wel-tempered criticism, even when
he is made the subject Of II.
Before, however, proceeding to the sub
iect we propose discussing, Qor which we
shall appropriate sufficient time and space) we
would ask the Hon. Senator 10 do an act OF JUS
tce to the President and the Secretary OF State,
in relation TO another matter. The Hon
Senator, in his letter written few weeks
since 10 certain citizens of Missouri, was pleased
70 assert that the ExchequeT was concocted by
the President and Cabinet in CONJUNCTION with
Mr.. Biddle, whom the newspapers declared
TO have been in Washington at the time The
plan of finance was supposed to be discussed
in Cabinet council We regret that the
Hon. Senator saw ht to credit the statements OF
the papers. The Hon. Senator knows that
no one more than himself has just cause to de-
precate The vile statements OF the papers
statements which, if true, would seriously al
feet the Hon Senator's character. We
will take it for granted that the Hon. Sena
Tor believed what he asserted to be true; ana
knowing the extent Of the odium attached chow
Justly we know mott 10 Mr.. Biddle in conse-
quence of his connexion with that mostunpopular
insti,ulion-lhe u S. Bank-he naturally sup
posed that the Exchequer, if the handiwork OF
the late Bank President, would meet but little
favor with the Republican party. This is the
ony motive we can attribute 10 The Hon. Sena-
tor in formulating the supposed TACT OF MI
Biddle's participation in the authorship OF the
Exchequer notwithstanding it would seem 10 be
inconsistent with his other declaration, VIZ; that
II killed the Exchcquer with one speech" But
enough Of this. We declared Shy authority
immediately after peruslng The Hon. Senator
letter, that neither The President nor any OF his
Cabinet had ever, directly or indirectly, con
suited Mr.. Biddle on the subject Of The Exche-
Quer. The &C, of justice we ask, is that The
Hon Senal or will correct his statement.
We viii proceed to the Treaty. We assume
the ground, that in opposing the Treaty, The
Hon. Senator found 10 other measure OF the
Administration which he could, with preence
Of pausi5ility, oppose, (he Exchequer having
been killed,) and that be was. as politician,
Predetermined to oppose the Administrations.
We find (according to the proceeding IN Sc
crit session, published in to-day's paper,) that
on the 30,h August the Hon. Senator NOV
ed TO strike GU, of the frs, article the greater
portion of the boundary as defined 10 the Trea-
", leaving nothing but fragmenary, mlsshap'
en-, unde6nable line Of separation between the
two countries! This was blow, which, Ike
wise, would have killed tie Treaty most e.
fectuay-but most fortunately, the motion was
rejected by vote of 80 to IL.
The Hon. Senator next submitted resolu-
ton instructng a committee 10 amend the
Treaty in such manner as to insure lis defeat.
This, too, failed by decisive vote.
Nothing daunt,d, the Hon. Senator then sub
mitted the following resolution:
Rcsolred That the Treaty and documents now
under consideration be recommitted to the Com
Eorepn ReatiOns. with instructions to
report resolution directing the President OF the
United States to take immediate possession OF the
disputed territory up 10 the line designated by The
King of the Netherlands, and to maintain the
State Of Maine in possession OF the territory south
of that line.
This resolution, had ii been adopted, was no
thing less than a DECLARATION OF WAR, orTather
a bio,o before the lpord, and that, too, while
the two accredited Ministers of Great Brl-
tain were walking our streets without even
entertaining the slightest suspicion OF danger to
their persons and properly. Would the Hon.
Senator deal in this manner with foreign
Powers if he were President Of the United
States A special mission had been sent 10 our
county TO settle dispute OF long standing
when an amcable settlement had been agreed
upon by the parties to the negotiation, their
agreement was submitted TO The Senate tor ITS
ratification, and while 1t was pending IN that
body. eren before a role 'ods taken on ITS ran
fcafioa, the above resolution was proposed
What will The chivalrous, high-mInded Amerl-
can People think Of the Hon. Senator from
Missouri, when they learn that he submitted the
resolution we have quoted An order in secret
session 10 seize BY force of arm, upon terri
tory in dispute between two naiions' after the
LEGAL agents of both nations had agreed upon
amicabieierms Of settlement, and before The Be-
nate had made known its acceptance or rejection