The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-03-05

at the G lad lidings OF result so fortunate
and so desirable. And will venture tn
prediction that, if the present Adminis,ra
lion should ultimately settle this question
upon that line of division, they who nov
most confident y assert our title to be clea
and indlspulabe 10 the parallel Of 54 de
grees 40 minutes, and who now mos! 70
ciferously declare that one inch of the ter
ritory shorlloflhatline can noble surrender
ed without dishouor and disgrace, will a
least be silent, il not the first 10 commcn(
the act.
entertain the opinion, Mr. Chairman
that if wise and considerale counsels pre-
vail on both sides, this controversy may
yet be brought 10 an early, an amicabI"
Pand satisfactory arrangement The lette:
OF the Secretary of State, Withdrawing The
proposition which he had made, concludes
by expressing The hope that such an ad.
justmen, may still be effected, and peace
and harmony bet the two Govern
ments still be maintained. We are bound
10 believe that this expression was made
honestly, sincerely, and in good faith. 1t
was made, Too, officially, and under The
immediate direction and authority of the
President of the United States. We are
bound TO believe, also, that the proposition
itself was made in good faith, and with a
desire 10 bring this controversy TO on early
and an honorable termination. TO asser,
or TO suppose otherwise, would be TO i'm
pute to the President and Secretary the
lowest and grossest species Of Discrimination
and hypocrisy. ] make no such charge.
| intend no such charge. II the PROPOSE,
ton was made with the knowledge, the
expectation, or the hope that it would be
rejected, as was intimated by the genIe>
man from New York, (MR KINe,) will
leave ii 10 tina, gentleman TO reconcile the
act with any principle Of PROPHECY, of
good faith, or Of honorable conduct. Small
as my confidence may be in the present
Administration, my estimate of them is MOI
yet quite so low as to believe them capable
of conduct so unworthy, so base, and hvp-
ocrltical. And, when they give assurance
OF their desire that the pending controyer,
sy between this Government and Great
Britain may be amtabIy settled, and the
peace and harmony now so happily SUBJ
sisting between them may be maintained,
| will believe it 10 BE- something more sig
nlficant than the mere empty forms of di-
pIomalic civiliiy. What, then, are we 10
infer from the language of the correspond
ence 10 which have refrrred2 Why,
mos, certainly, that the President and Sec
relay do not regard the rejection and with.
drawa Of the offer made by them rs pre-
seniing any insuperable barrier to further
negotiation, or as prec|uding all hope of
but, on the contrary, that
they still entertain the hope and expec,a-
ton OF yet ffecting an amicabe and salts
factory result. In short, tina, they consid-
cr, and are willing TO treat the question,
as sill open for negotiation aud comproo
mise. And VENTURE to affirm, Mr. Chair
man, that If there be any one act or rcc>
of this new Administration
Which, more than any other, commends
itself to the approval Of the American peo.
pie, it is the offer made, and the disp posi-.
ion thereby manifested, in reference to
his very question. l, ofcourse, am TO be
understood as drawing my inierences. in
regard 10 the views aud disposition OF the
Administrator upon this, as upon other
questions of national concern, from The re-
cord, from their public acts and commune.
cations. lam not in the fortunate position
which, perhaps, some other gentlemen
may occupy, 10 be in the receipt OF any of
heir private or confidential communica.
ions. Blu, am not al liberty 10 presume
hat they entertain any private views or
opinions, upon any Of the great questions
9f public interest, Inconsistent with those
promulg gated. If l am not de
'elved, then, as to The views and DISPOSE
ion of The Administration upon this sub,
cct, il do not msinterpret their language,
u misunderstood its import, [ submit,
whether we shall not best discharge our
luty by leaving the question, with its re-
possibilities, where it properly belongs,
With the administrative department, unem.
'arrassed and unencumbered by any leg
slative direction or control. They mus,
better than we can, the state
VI the question in all the stages Of its pro.
yress. We are, indeed, informed lha, ne.
yoialions have been resumed, ard may
low be going on, between the authorized
'rgans of the Two Governments. We
lnow nothing therefore, Of the present
condition Of the question. We have CALI
d upon The President 10 communicate to
Is any correspondence which may have
AIKEN place" since the annual message, up
N this subject. He has not yet respond
d 10 call. We are left 10 grope 10 The
ark. Hence, | repeat, what have be-
ore said, that this question is premn!ureIy,
nd inconsderately, and, will add, most
lnwiseIy, forced upon the consideration
4 this House. And, bllndfoIded as we
re, You have said that we shall vote Up.