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

therefore, that her clam to Oregon was
first brought forth-then it was that
as at Client, she had caused her then
ne,D claim on the line of Maine to be
set down on the face of the treaty, 70:
after arrangement, so here again, she
caused this get neaCer claim to Oregon.
to be fixed upon the face Of the conven.
ton, likewise, for after adjustment
T,vo questions, therefore, remained TO
be settled when the convention was
signed the mew one, Of the Maine line.
first started at Ghent, and since settled
by the Ashburlon treaty; and the still
aewcr one of Oregon, started in this last
negotiation, and perpetuated to this
hour, by the convention Of the 9Th OF
August, 1897.
In the order of time, the next nego-
tiation, is that which terminated in the
Ashburton treaty. And to this, the
most important of all, | desire the es-
pecial attention of the Senate. | de-
sire it, because in this transaction. more
than in all others, the policy OF Great
Britain-that policy which has resulted
so proftably to her, so disastrousIy TO
our interests displayed, not merely
in the results, but in every feature up
on the face of the correspondence
And here, in the first place, let it be
remembered, that when this negotiation
began, not only did the t,o0 questions
Of boundary that of Maine and that
of Oregon-stand open for adjustment,
but other questions, also of the greatest
moment. These were, the question of
the " "Creole," involving the safety of
a large interest peculiar to the States
of the South; the question of the "Car-
oline," involving the integrity of our
soil, and the violated honor Of our coun-
try; the question of "impressment and
the right of search" involving the
freedom of the seas, the independence
of our flag, and the security Of our
commerce throughout the world
These were the questions, every one Of
which, as well as the two questions of
boundary, had been discussed between
the two Governments, but remained
still open when Lord Ashburton arri-
we'd. He came, IN what character?
That Of 'Plenipotentiary of her Bri-
tanic Majesty on an extraordinary and
special mission to the United States"
He came, with what object? With an
desire to settle this (the
Maine boundary and all other questions
Of difference between us, (the two Gov
on principles of Cancellation
and justice" ....
Such was the Minister, such the OBJ
jects of his mission, as expressly y de-
clared by himself, in that part Of the
with which the nego-
ton began. And who was the man
thus commissioned by England to dis
charge these important duties in her
behalf? The very man, above all 9TH
ers, best suited TO the work his Govern
nent desired to be done. England
knew full we'll the circumstances in
which our Government was placed
She knew the interests she had at stake.
She knew the auspicious hour had ar
rived to secure those interests. She
knew how 10 select an agent best fit
led to the exigencies of the case. Lord
A Ashburton had acquired the distinction
Of being the first merchant and banker
IN the world. He had been in the Uni
ted States. Circumstances, peculiarly
interesting to himself, had attracted his
special attention to American affairs,
md to the men who managed them
His habits and manners had been form
I'd by a Lille Of business, and were
therefore asslmilated to those Of the
business people of America. Never
was a Minister more wisely selected.
For, nothing but plain, blunt busi-
ne SIS man, as he seemed to be, he was
nevertheless, fresh from a school, where
al the mysterious means by which di-
plomacy is rendered successful, had
ong been, and still are taught by men,
who, by these means, have carried the
avs Of England.around the circle Of
The earth. Lord Ashburton understood
lis mission. All the elements, by which
lis success was TO be rendered certain,
had been put in requisltlon before his
departure from home. The British
Cabinet had already prepared the way,
which was to lead to the consumma-
ion of his object. They had sent a
gar panic to the United States, in ad-
,ance of his advent. They had no
rouble to do this. 1t was thing they
lad often done before; and will do
lgan, as often as war-panic is found
he cheapest means, of extorting con-
sessions from us. How easy was the
process? Twill imagine the scene.
will imagine the British Minister, for
Foreign Affairs, to have invited to his