Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-24

from the Executive Department as TO the allegation
that the British Government had made grants IN the
territory, and which information he expected would BE-
laid before the Senate TO morrow morning, ne would
move that the bill be passed over informally as "
would be extremely desirable in the further discussion
Of the subject, that there should be some knowledge OF
the grounds which the allegation often alluded
to, had to rest
Mr.. BENTON said that, before the question was
pu the postponemen,, he would ask the indulgence
OF the Senator for few remarks which he deemed It
necessary TO make in answer to the Senator from Mas
sachuset,s Mr. Choate] whospoke yesterday. il was
chiefly in reference to the Northwestern boundary line
agreed upon in the late treaty good deal had been
sad about the Northeastern boundary line, without the
subject being at all exhausted; and il was time
say something about the Northwestern boundary line of
that treaty.
Mr. b then produced large map of the territory
through which the Northwest boundary line passes
and pointed out the trading route called the portage
route from the Pigeon river the Lake ofthe Woods,
and the route called the water communication, lying
considerably TO the north of the portage route What
he contended was that the treaty Of 1888 designated
the wafer communication that intended for the
boundary line, and that it was the true bounda
~ line of the United States. He further contend.
ed, that so Convinced were the British themselves
Of this fact, that 1909, they broke up the depot Of
their Northwest Fur Company at Grand Portage, and
removed il fifty miles north, for the purpose Of getting
off the territory Of the United States and evading the
duty to which their goods were liable to the United
States. The portage route then exclusively ours
and We had, by the treaty of 1885, joint right to the
use OF the Northern watercourse forming the intended
boundary line. By the treaty Of le42, our American
negotiator had surrendered up what admitted by
the British TO be in 1872 had given them the
elusive right to the northern water communications
and had brought them back 10 the joint occupancy Of
the portage route; from which, like The Jews, they
were forty years wandering in the wilderness. Their
hearts yearned after the flesh pots Of Egypt and thi,
modern Joshua had led them through the wilderness to
their land of promise And not content with giving
them every thing they crayed, he made The President
say, in his message things calculated to make the Anne
rcan people believe that every thing Of theirs which
he had given away, instead Of proving loss, proved
an acquisition of four millions of of valuable mi
neral lands.
Mr.. CHOATE replied, and entered upon proof. from
what he considered concurrent testimony, that the
ter communication meant by the treaty Of 1888 the
portage route-partly water and partly portage; be.
cause, from the begnning of the world TO that day,
other route communication known from the
Pigeon river TO The Lake Of The Woods. What be con
tended for was, that the words Of the treaty of 1883
could not literally be applied TO any one line Of com
muncaon-no watercourse from The river 10 the lake
being continnous-they must be taken in The geogra
phcal sense, and could apply to nothing else but the
known and established route travelled by the French,
when they owned Canada, before 1860, and by the
English, who succeeded them, down to the lime Of the
treaty of 1888.
This explains the point Of controversy between the
two Senator's far as it be rendered Ineligible
without the aid Of maps. They alternately addressed
the Senate several 70 documents maps
treaties and evidence derived from statements made by
both Engshmen and Americans
The question was then put passing over the bill
informally, and agreed TO.
On motion Of Mr. SMITH Of indiana
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
ARMED OCCUPATION OF FLORIDA.
Mr.. GlDDlNGS asked leave 10 otfera resolution di.
recting the Committee Military Affairs 10 inquire
into the expedency of reporting bill TO repeal The act
Of the last session OF Congress entitled "An proyid-
ing for the armed occupation Of Florida.
Objections being made by several,
Mr., GlDDINGS moved suspension OF the rules;
but the motion was rejected without division.
Mr.. CUSHING, from the Committee on Foreign
Affairs 10 which was referred much Of The message
Of The President Of the United States communicated
the treaty with England, reported bill for carrying
said treaty into effect; which being read,
Mr.. CUSHING observed, that the House would per-
ceive that the bill just reported for executing what
was called the AshburiOn treaty. The Committee on
Foreign Affairs had charge of the general subject, Ivy
the reference TO them of portion of the President
message al The commencement OF the session, and par.
,icuary the reference of the message communicating
the treaty The committee had therefore, reported this
bill for The purpose of carrying into effect those prov
sons of The treaty which required the legislation Of
Congress. The sixth article follows:
sit is Furthermore understood and agreed that for
the purpose Of running and tracing those parts OF the
line between the source Of The ST. Crox and The ST.
Lawrence rivers, which will require TO be run and as.
cerained and for marking The residue of said line by
proper monuments on the land, two commissioners
shall be appointed-one by the President Of The United
States, by and with the advice and consent OF the Sc
nate thereof and one by her Britannia Majesty; and
the said commissioners shall meet at Bangor, in the
of ali his LAT DIN nj q
therein ter IS may be, and shall proceed 10 mark the
line above described from the Of the ST Crolx to
the river ST. John and shall trace proper maps the
dividing line along said river, and along the river ST
Francis 10 the outlet CT Lake Pohenagamook and
from The outlet of the said lake, they shall ascertain,
tx, and mark. by proper ond durable monuments upon
the land the line described in the first article Of this
Treaty and the said commissioners shall make TO each
Of their respective Governments joint report or de.
claration, under their hands aad seals, designating
such line Of boundary; and shall accompany said
port declaration with maps, certified by them 10 be
true maps Of the new boundary.
In looking at The Treaty. it found that not only
the 9Th article, but others, required appropriations to
carry them into effect but for of the other articles,
the Committee Of Ways and Means had already
reported an appropriation Of 100000 in the general
appropriation BILL viz 10 pay and satisfy the States
Of Maine and Massachusetts for the expenses incurred
by them in projecting and surveying the disputed terri
tory 1t found, however, by reference to The rules
OF the HOUSE, mat the Confnitlee Of ways aBd means
were prohibited from including in the general Appro
pria,on bills any appropriations for carrying treaties
into effect Therefore, there were two appropriations
10 be made under that article and il would be found
referring to the rules of the House. that there was
rule providing that appropriation for carrying GU,
Treaty, shall not be included in the general Appro
priation bill. The rule is in these words
"ln preparing bills Of appropriation for other Objects
the Committee of Ways and Means shall not include
appropriations for carrying out treaties made by the
s; and here appropriation bill shall be referred 10
them for their consideration, which contains apPopr'a-
,ons for carrying treaty into effect and for other
objects, they shall propose such amendments as shall
prevent appropriations for carrying treaty into effect
being included in The bill with appropriations for
other objects.
Thus il became necessary that all appropriations for
carrying oul treaties should be made in separate bills;
and in this it deemed udicious to DO il IN the
bill providing for the appointment of commls''oner-
The Committee had also further, n the execution OF the
treaty. thought il proper TO insert the 9Th section for
the provision of squadron for the coast OF Africa
That section is in these WORDS
Sec .sad be il further enartfd, That il shall be
the duty Of the President Of the U s., in The execution
Of the provisions Of the 9th article Of said lTeny pap
H., oc otinns be