The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-08-29

mission might come with the greater ei
tect, as being the on ly means of main
aiming peace, it was necessary to th'
success Of her duplicity that the Min
!Ster should, at the outset Of the nego
ION, profess TO have full powers to set
'e all the outstanding questions of dis
2ute, between the two countries. Thi,
profession was necessary, as the mis-
ION was declared to be mission o
aeace; and because, if part only OF
ne questions were settled, equally y dan.
serous causes of war might remain in
ne balance. Lord Ashburton did.
therefore, in his first note to Mr.. Web.
ster, dated at Washington, June l3.
sac, make this profession of full pow
afs, in the following clear and emphatic
,anguage:
The very friendly and cordial reception given
~ you sir, as well as by all the authorities of your
Government, to the assurance that my mission here,
ny my sovereign, has been determined by an un-
igned desire to Stttie this, and all othtr ques.
Ions OF difference, between US on principles of
toncation and justice, forbid me to anticipate the
rsssibiity cfMeJ failure of our endeavors, applied
18th sincerity to this purpose"
These uHpouerS, thus pro(essed by
...e British Ministry, were fully recog-
Used by MI. Webster, in his frs, note
responslve to that Minister, dated at
Washington, June II, 1912, and which
opens with the following words:
Lord Ashburton having been charged by the
}ueen's Government with fullpo,oers to negoti-
..te and settle all matters in discussion between
..e United States and England, SC.
And here, sir, let it again be remem-
cred, that the "questions Of differ
nc" these ":natters in discussion"
,yere five in number: the Maine boun-
.ary," the "Oregon," the "CreoIe,' >
ne Caroline" and the impressment
nd right Of search;" the second Of
which presented no less dangerous
1ause of quarrel than the first, and the
!ast one of all being the very same
question, out Of which the former war
between the two countries had grown.
Well, sir, Lord Ashburton had come
Ivowedly on a mission of peace, and
t was 10 secure that great object, by
he adjustment Of all these questions,
hat he, at the outset of the negotia-
lions, professcd TO have the ampIest
lowers. Were these all settled? No,
sir. Bu', on the contrary, e,e'y ques-
ion was evaded and thrown out OF the
negotiation, except the single question
Of the Maine boundary; and that, too.
whilst another matter-the African
:quadron-a matter wholly alien TO the
rrofessed business Of his mission, and
bout which there never had been, nor
-ver could be any dispute, was made
oart Of the treaty, at the instance OF
he British Minister. Why was this!
Why was it, that this minister Of peace,
with full powers 10 settle all. left unset.
led, four Of the five questicns--two
1ually pregnant with causes of war?
Mas ii because Our Government was
unwilling TO settle everything, and thus
o dispel every cloud that overhung the
uture! No, sir. For in the cores
:rendence, it appears that Mr.. Webster
DrofesSed his readiness to settle all, be-
,;ause he knew that the American peo-
ale were fully aware that their interests
demanded that all, or none, OF those dll-
icullies should lie settled at the same
ime. This was secret known also
~ England, and therefore Lord Ash
,urton, in accordance with the pertidi-
us policy Of his Government, resol-
vcd that, in the end, but one question
should be settled, whilst PROCESSING, in
the beginning, the power and readiness
to settle all. When, therefore, he had
obtained of Nr. Wcbstera surrender
OF as much of the State of Maine as
England thought proper TO demand, and
an agreement that large part Of our
navy should be withdrawn from the
protection of our own shores, and, at
the cost OF half 4 million Of dollars an
nualy to our people, sent 10 rot upon
the coast OF Africa, he suddenly stop
ped, laid down his pen, threw himself
back in his chair,and said, 81 am done"
Done, my lord9 | am done. My
lord, the "CrcoIe?' o, in regard to
that, on reflection, we will let that stand
over. But, my lord, the Caroline"
True, true, yes, well, SO, suppose we
just let that pass. The "impressmcnt
and right Of search" my lord. Indeed,
that is complicated. My lord, the Or
egon territory. All! in regard to all
hese things. | have no powers. No pow
rrs, my lord! None.
Such, Mr.. President, VIC may ina
gine, from the correspondence, 10 have
been the scene of this negotiation; such
was the beginning, progress, and end
of this miserable iarce--ths great mis-
sion Of humanity and peace--a mission,
whose pro(essed object was. to remove
all causes Of that terrible war, which
we were assured would otherwise
break upon the world, and put to haz.