Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1842-12-21

The u. S. Payment lGriae and NassaehsettS.
The extraordinary feature OF the Treaty of Washington
by which it was stipulated the u. States should
pay Massachusetts and Maine three hundred thousand |
dollars the surrender OF portion of Territory Great
Britain is unique in the history of Diplomacy.
Its guaranteed by England. Lord Ashbu
ton declared the contrary at should have bind
ing effect his Government and OF course II may be dis
regarded by the L. States without afordng England the
slightest ground of complaint, much less of demanding
dress. Indeed English resentment produced by the |
boundary dispute directed principally towards the Peo
pIe of Name we may fairly presume tat Great Britain
would feel satisfaction in the annulment of this
cle by Congress. If the L. States refuse pay the
money England il under obligation, legal honorary,
TO satisfy Maine and Massachusetts, That British nego.
tator should sign Treaty material article of which,
his is avowedy party is Unprecedented
novelty AS there be least parties every
Treaty and here far this article is concerned there
il undeniaby but II seems irresistible logical de-
ducton that touching this article there Treaty
ALL and of that the Government of the U. States is
under no treaty obligation 10 fulfil it,
What then, is the OF this article Of the Treaty Of
Washineton-its import validity and obligation Nothing
that we but hisMr. Webster, negoaor, for
public private, both, fl TO interpoae into
the Treaty subject which had business there and TO
which Lord Ashhur,on consented because II had inju
effect present remote, upon his Government oes,
ing, however, that it was not to De Considered as binding
because " Is u &c pumed they wished TO bring the
uai 10 speedy and pacific close, and were willing TO
AVE il 10 the House OF Representatives TO vote or withhold
the appropriation upon their Representative discretion
we think was somewhat Liberal view OF the matter,
and hn the Senate should have required tho removal Of
article which was domestic and of place III Treaty with
ENGLAND They should have shackled the freedom and
responsibility Of the House by indirect recognition Of the
claim of the two States naturalization, for the Senate
was then acting part Of the Executive, not as part Of
the Legislature Nor there be much doubt that Great
Britain would have paid the money had it been made sine
oa non by our negoatowho has Teoped such large hon
ora for doing 30 little another Of them did for accomplish
inc what LAFAYETTE and the last French Revolution
pished for him England, with her distant wars in Chine
and Central Asia and with millions Of starving operatives de
pending for bread upon commercial intercourse with the
tates would never sked for 10 her. the bdgd
feiie of 100000
Whatever equitable claim Maine and Massachusetts, may
have upon the Government from the territorial adusncnt
of the Treaty. it plain they derive legal claim from Tho
Treaty itself and this decision do doubt the House
will come TO. An appropriation may be voted TO satisfy
them but not because pleased Mr. Webster thrust thoi
preteson sidewise into the Treaty, and thus by
get them acknowledged 10y the Executive advance the
action Of Congress. We little whether. the House
makes the appropriation not but we hope to the pre-
cedont thus introduced severely scanned and disavowed
Mr.. Bcnons resolutions will open the F6bjoct and VIC
look forward 10 the debate with interest