New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-08

10 wade through the difficulty and he sympatnlZeo
with any man who had 10 undergo such an lnfilc-
ton.
This was the state OF the question when General
Harrison came into power. Unfortunately General
Harrison died-a calamity that l never think OF
without grief.
entered on the investigation and negotiation
with full sense of the difficulty. We might be
called upon to cede away from Maine not only terri
tory but jurisdiction but l trusted to the patriot
ism of Maine. and l not disappointed. II is
ridiculous to say that Maine was coerced into the
settlement.
Mr. EyERETI's note Of Dec. 81, 1871, was read
here, stating an interview with L ord Aberdeen, who
stated that Lord Ashburton was appointed 10 come
10 this country.
Mr. ALLEN asked if that letter had been submit
ted to the Senate
Mr.. WEBSTER replied-Why, certainly; / have
lust taken it from the Public Documents. Laughter
Mr. Allen took his seat.
Well, sir, in January we learned that Lord Ash
burton was coming. The first thing to be done was
to get the consent of the States to have the matter
settled on conventional line.
Massachusetts had an interest in the land Maine
had an interest in the land and the whole jurlsdic.
tons letter was addressed to the Legislatures
of these two States.
letter, dated April llth, 1912, was addressed to
them from the State Department, from which an ex-
tract was read.
This was addressed to the Governor of Maine,
now Senator on this floor, who acted prompt ana
patriotic part. He called an extra Session OF the
Legislature which passed the necessary Resolutions
which were read. Here, then, Is the authority oil
Maine under which we acted
Is it not strange that any body,shoud complain
do not say THAT Maine does complain, but those
who wish to take care of Maine better than Maine
can take of herself complain, and it is in their
mouths that Maine coerced into the measure.
Under the Convention line OF boundary 700 miles
no Thad nl,v mr.
been so great if the two parties owned all the land
on both sides; but the United States owned none
OF the land. 1t belonged to Maine, Massachusetts
and New Hampshire.
There are people who complain that Maine was
robbed-and in these statements there is not word
of truth. There are not fifty sensible men in Maine
who complain or who would take back her will
derness and give up the navigation of the st.
John. and other privileges.
The commissioners on the part OF Maine agreed
TO the Treaty and signed document to that effect
am sorry that they fit in The instrument TO state
reasons why they should not sign what they did
sign But so i, is and hence these numerous insin-
uations.
Up to this time the United States Ind done well
to act upon this question, which had been made so
long the play and countcrp play of project and coun
ter project.
There were difficulties in the way which neither
Washin ton, nor Jefferson nor the younger Adams,
nor jackson, nor Van Buren, had been able TO meet
and overcome. 1t is due TO justice and truth that
this much should be stated.
Is there nything up TO this time that was wrong
done: l thank God done successfully?
And what was the loss that Maine sustained, over
which so many miserable crocodile tears have been
shed--what is the territory she lost worth !!
MIR. PHELPS suggested that in some of the valleys
there was usually five feet of beautiful snow
Mr.. w read from the survey of Capt. Tacott, that
nineteen wentieths of the land unfit for use
She got more for the land than she could otherwise
get in fifty years Altogether she got about $780,
600 But not merely cash was given TO her. She
got the navigation of the River ST. John. knew
this w as valuable, but had idea OF its real value
then. The navigation Of the ST John is worth
hundred times the navigation oflhe Columbia, about
which we hear much 1t is respectable river,
longer than the Hudson. Ii has mouth, and the
Senator from Arkansas supposes river worth little
unless j, has mouth 1t is navigabe from the sea.
and has increased the value of the timber lands OF
Maine. Ii leads into the finest part OF Malne-the
Aroostook Valley. l appeal to the Senators from
Maine whether these things are not 3d.
The right of Maine 10 convey timber, cattle, man.
ufactures, &c on equal terms with England, was
granted Some parts of Maine. whose exports go
out directly to sea- produce forty bushels of wheat
TO the acre The value Of the navigation OF the ST.
John is much better and more valuable than that oil
the Columbia.
The Senator from New-York (Mr. DIX had said
that we gave up Military Road Of vital impor
lance.
Mr. DIX explained and denied the statement.
Mr. WEBSTER said it was a military communica-
ton in this copy Of his printed Speech Mr. w. was
not military man, as the Senator, Gen. DIX, was
He would be obliged if the Senator would show the
truth Of the assertion here made
Mr.. DIX read opinions from British Debates that
England got some military advantages and that she
kept America far from Quebec.
4 Manchester said, However the extracts might be
applicable to other cases. il was not applicable TO
this If Mr.. w ebster wished. he might refer 10 Lord
palmerston where he calls it twenty times the Ash
barton capitaiation, and says that England lost
everything.
Mr. Webster described the road, and the only
road between the British Provinces. II would be
miracle if an army should be found herewith
out defle--there was no importance for military
purposes In time of war the road would belong TO
the strongest-it would be ours.
He then referred 10 the Report of Nudge and
Featherstonhaugh. The former was probably good
enough officer but TO the latter he attributed no de
gree Of consequence whatever Below or East OF
Arnod's track there is road but that which hits
the ST. Lawrence far below Quebec. But Nudge
and Feathersonaugh reported hiatus or gap In the
highlands which did not exist and this gave rise TO
the supposton that the line was OF any military use.
would submit TO any man who's military man.
wn'ch party got the greatest military advantages
submit whether the gaining OF Rouse s Point on
military advantages gained By. England.
The predecessors fthe Senators from Ncw-fork
saw the advantage Gov Wright was glad to get
such an advantage to New,York Would it not
have been candid for the Senator to state this ad
van,asel
Military gentlemen told Us the vast amount of
Rouse's Point Vessels must approach the Point
head 10, and be subjected TO a raking fire before
they could bring their broadside TO bear.
Mr.. DIcKlSSoN-Did not the Dutch line give Us
Rouse's Point
Mr.. WEBsTER.-No. Sir. 1 tell ye il gave semi
circle of cannon-shot round Rouses Point but left
il still in British territ DRY. And did not ratfy
the Dutch award Does the Senator from New
York now understand 1T
Mr.. DICKiSsoN.-C'er
Mr.. WEBsTER-I am glad to heari,. (Laughter.)
With the exception Of the Narrows. there is no
point of SO much importance as Rouse's Point TO
New ork which commands Lake Champlain
If this Government should be disrupted, though
trust it will last forever Rouses Point, next the
entrance to the Hudson, would be OF most import
ance TO New-York in defending berself
Mr.. w. then stated the advantages given to Yer
mont also TO- News Hampshire, by the Treaty in
reSaining the old line in place of 45o. The Dutch