The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-02-25

out the least shadow ofright whatever. The rights
und character and dignity of the people Of Maine
and Of the whole United States, have been asSail
ed aud trampled under foot by this naughty and
overbearng nation. No people but the Americans
whose hearts are filled with pence and christian
forbearance, would have submitted so long to the
British insults and Outrages committed on this Dor
der. The time has now arrived when forbearance
in my opinion, on this subject, will not be a virtue,
and no longer will the people OF Maine, or The u
niled States, hope, remain qu;et insensible under
these expressions.
This same British nation, acting under these
same principles, which are the worst and meanes
passions of the human heart, have, without the
least shadow of right, taken possession of our ter
rlory on The Columbia river, and have garrisoned
the country with their soldiers. They have conf
milled this acl of usnrpaiion and injustice to u.s.
with the knowledge Of the facts of our right and
title to the same, they have seated themselves
there with as much defiance and contempt to the
people and Government of the United States, as if
They were in possession OF their own island.
| But still, Mr. Speaker, they have done worse,
and tarnshed more, with mpunily, the honor and
character of the American people, The occupa-
ton of soil and territory can be adjusted The
ri,hllnl owner may, in the end, obtain his rights;
but it is not so in the case Of citizens being muir
dered and their personal property destroyed,
Persons and property destroyed, cannot be iden-
licay reins,atej,
BY order of the Government, band of British
soldiers came into the territory ofthe uniled States
in the dead hour of night, found our citizens I'M
armed and asleep in boat, and in cold blood muir
dered them, and destroyed the boat.
| Although this act was perpetrated against ma
lional law, and all the preceps Of religion and
honesty, yet the Federal Government were base
enough to acknowledge the fact, when one Of her
murderers was taken, and was ab nj, to be brought
to justice for the crime. This knowledge was not
made to effect any reputation Of the United States;
but the Government was wicked enough to solicit
the liberation of II murderer from justice. This
depreciation and crime took place four years ago,
and the British Government have allowed the
same 10 remain ever since, without any answer or
aonenent for it whatever.
IN The whole Catalogue of national injuries and
offences committed against the laws of nations none
Is more offensive TO the Americans than the right
claimed and pIacllsed by the British, Of the search
Of our vessels vt sea, or the ysitai ion of them,
which is the same thing. This wicked Govern.
men! does not only claim the right to visit our ships
on the main ocean, but does, against law, right,
and justice, perpelrnie the crime, These are prin-
cip'es assumed by the British Government, and
practices carried out under thcm,to which the peo-
pie Of the United States, in my judgement, will
never consent let the consequences be what they
may. but will forever resist it, with all the energy
aud force of a nation Of ireemen
What Is the difference between n man sailing in
his own ship on the main ocean, and man living
in his own house on the land Every citizen has
the same RICH, to occupy the ocean in legal cou-
merce us the farmer has to cultivate his own plan,
luOn.
Suppose British officer, with armed men, were
to enter mans house without any right, and
without the consent of the owner: need not say
what would be the resu, in resisting this unlawful
entry. The oil, Ger and his men
"Woud never live TO fight again.
And ought not the sailor to protect his ship in the
same manner lfhc he not able, his &, verEmeni
is bound 10 do i, for him.
What Is the difference in the searches In one
you search for slaves. and in the other you search
for the nationality of the vessel The latter seems
10 be the more important and delicate of the two.
No nation that has the least respect for its own
honor or character will ever submit, to such dis
graceful humiliation. We have had II war already
FOR one, aud will have another, if they persist 10
these practices.
One other class Of causes I will mention, and
none seems to strike more directly ut the national
honor and property Of the people, than il does,
Vessels sailing from one part OF the Union 10
another, having on board slaves. were driven into
the American colonies Of Great Britain, aud the
slaves liberated against the will and consent Of the
owners, Soldiers with the British uniform no, came
by force on one Of the vessels, and, by kind of
decision Of their courts, the slaves were set at lib
ety. These are the facts stated in the public rec
ords, and believed by every body. The slaves are
property, by the laws of the States and the Union
And in utter contempt of the laws of nations aud
all other obligations, this Government, that seems
determined 10 force the United States into war,
liberated these slaves, aud thereby deprived The
citizens Of The Union of great amount Of properly.
Mr. Speaker, ! am satisfied that these relations
ms they now eXis, between the United States and |
Great Britain cannot long continue. Under all
these repeated acts Of hostility TO the American
people, and dcprcdaons committed against the
persons and property Of the citizens, the people
will not remain quiet and submissive. The people
are suffering under these outrages and indignilies
offered 10 their Government, and no reparalon
has yet been made. More than four years have
elapsed since the murder Of our citizens and the |
destruction Of the Caroline steamboat were perpe-
traled, and no atoncmen, or PREPARATION made. All
these crimes and indignilies offered 20 our nation
and our flag on the ocean, are placed in negolm- |
ton, and there they will, perhaps, sleep the sleep
of death.
# would he easier to raise the dead than 10 bring
these negotiations to close. How lung have the |
people Of Maine been imposed on by negotiations
and the British Government The cry has been
almost ever since my earliest recollection "Soon!
soon next year! and next YEAR this matter Of the
boundary will be adjusted; and all mis- long time the
people Of Maine are kept out of their rights. Why
not they themselves take possession Of the territory
which appertnins TO them, in like manner as any
citizen would take his own property They know
their rights, and have courage TODD themselves JUS
lice. But this is their business, not mine.
Would il not be the same, Mr. Speaker. If
British cruiser were TO take n ship load Of slaves
from the Southern States and enancipate them, as
to iberate them when the vessel was forced on
their shores by stress of weather or otherwise 1t
is in principle the same. This crime and Outrage
against our Government, will, like The others, !
suppose, be thrown into the bOtiomless pit ofne- |
gotiaon. Ifso, sc long farewell TO all our great
ness"
When France was about to thmper with our
rights and nalionol honor, in refusing 10 pay her