Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-21
CONGR ESS.
IN SENATE.


in their seats.
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi presented the memorial of
officers Of The army who served al .ids-decamp to Major
Generals asking that the law Of 1916 may be so construed
as to allow them the additional ration provided for subaerns
Of the army which was referred to the Committee on Mill
.ary Affairs.
PEACEFUL ARBITRAMENT OF NATIONS
Mr.. WINTHROP. / have been entrusted with memo
rial from the American Peace Society, in the following terms
To the honorable the Senate of The United States
The undersigned behalf Of the American Peace Society,"
beg leave respectfully to call the attention of your honorable
body 70 the means Of avsrng from our count, future the
caames OF war; and Of rendering the example of this great
Republic conducive to the peace areadys the civil
and religious liberty Of the civilized world.
We will respas the time of your honorable body by
dwelling the wekRown and acknowledged evils Of war;
the irrational and precarous arb of the sword
in adjusting international controversies. ttl
Among the many cheering indications the progress made
at the day in advancing the cause Of human happiness
of the most important general soliciude felt both
Europe and America devise substitutes for thus
destroy of the dre courges that has afflicted man
Kind.
NATIONS embracing convention Of diplomatic dele
from different countries to frame code OF international
which should be binding the parties to it. and inter-
national tribunal empowered to adjudicate on all differences
isng among hem which could not otherwise be aicaby
adjusted f1t. t.g3 EtGi 1sl.t Aa..a ISL ~
But we would call your attention especially another sub
ute Immediately feasible, that Of INTERNATIONAL
TREATIES binding the contracting parties to refer to arbitra
or by themselves. such may hereafter
Ind three hundred thousand the last year pettoned
parliamentary expression in favor OF such treaties The
wishes the petitioners embodied in notion made by
that distinguished friend of human progress Mr. CoBDES
calling the Queen to invite through the Secretary Of Foo
reign Affairs e foreign Powers to concur with her in rea
ties STIMULATING the respective parties in the of tu
Misunderstanding that could not be arranged amicable
negotiation, shall refer the matter in dispute to the decision Of
might have seen expected that proposition tending
such radical chnge in the foreign policy of powerful and
waike nation would have excited only rdicule but Bit
opposition. The voice of the people, however, loudly
expressed favor of the heard within the
walls of the House Of Commons, where so many members
and their connexions personally interested in maintain
ing the naval and military establishments of the King
DOM The motion most respectfully received by the House
less than members recorded their votes in its favor
In interview previously granted to special depuaton from
the Peace Congress- held at Brussels the close Of S4S
the Premier Lord John RUSSELL expressed the readiness Of
the British Government to entertain with favor proposition
from Government for the adjustment of all future diff
heues between them by reference in the last resort to UNI
pres mutually chosen
Thus way opening the adoption Of stipulated ab
ton permanent substitute tor and in reform so
incosing the copous Of human misery, is
dey to be desired that the glory and happiness of commence
ins the blessed work belong to our own country Your
petitioners therefore, respectfully pray that your honorable
body will refer this petition to select committee with in
strctons report especially the b and expe-
behalf the American Peace Society," and by order its
executive committee. .. WILLIAM JAY,
President of the American Peace Society.
CHARLES BROOKS
.....'.. Chairman Of Executive Committee.
GEORGE C. BECKWITH,
WIN. c. BRoWH,
Recording Secretary.
BosTos, NOVEMBER, 1850. .@ 2rt."- r.
The memorial was accompanied by letter requesting my
personal attention to it. and expressing the hope that Con-
gress would find both opportunity and disposition, in the
existing u Of party and sectional ste to take subjects like
this into calm and favorable consideration. w"
take great pleasure in presenting this memorial and in
having such occasion for expressing my cordial concur
in its general purposes and views have always be-
eved that arbitration presented the best substitute for war
though there be perhaps where might not
be easily satisfactorily applied yenured to express this
opinion during the tendency of the Oregon controversy i've
six In series OF resolutions offered IN the other
House, one Of which as follows:
"Resoiued That if other mode for the amicable adjust
Of this question remains it is due to the principles OF
civilization and Christianity that's resort to arbitration should
be had and that this Government relieve itself from
all responsibility which may follow the failure to settle the
controversy while this resort is still untried."
And il is somewhat striking and encouraging circum
that although the administration of President Polk
resoluy refused the overures for arbitration upon this ques
tion which after made to them by the British
Government the Administration incorporated into the
late treaty Of peace with Mexico the precise idea which this
memorial suggests. f
The 2lst article of the treaty of Guadalupe Hdago con-
tans this noble declarations
"ARTIcLE XXI. If unhappiy any disagreement should
hereafter arise between the Governments Of two republics
whether with respect to the Interpretation OF stipulation
this treaty. with respect to other particular concern
ing the political commercial relations Of the two nations
the said GOVERNMENTS the of those nations do pro-
mise each other that they will endeavor, in the most sin
and to settle the differences arising
and the state of peace and friendship which the
countries placing themselves, usng for this
end mutual representations and pacific negotiations And il
by these means, they should not be enabled to an
agreement shall not this account, be had to
pras aggression hostility of any kind by the repub
lie against the other, until the Government OF that which
deems itself aggreved shall have maurey considered in the
spirit of peace and good neghborshp, whether would not
ton Of commissioners appointed each side that of
friendly nation And should such be proposed by
either party shall be acceded by the other unless deem
ed altogether incompatible with the nature OF the differ
snce or the circumstances OF the case" .U ts
The evils Of the Mexican will not be considered
without compensation if they shall have had the effect
to engrat such provision permanently upon foreign
policy. f.
may be also permitted to mention, suspicious cir
cumsance in the connexion that the present Secretary
OF State (M Webse has recently given the saiisac
tory evidence of his views upon this subject by proposing
arbitration for the settlement Of ongvexed question be-
tween the United States and Portugal is well understood
that the Of the General Armstrong, which seemed like
y few nths ago disturb the amcshe relations of the
two countries has been referred the decision Of the Pes
dent of the republic Of France.
The memorial concludes with request that this subject
may be referred to select committee, and in conformity
with that request that il be referred beg leave
at the same time to say, that have disposition
to myself any lead upon the subject and that the very pre-
carous character Of the tenure by which bold my seat here
would render quite unfit that should entrusted with
questions which may require much investigation or consd
Grafton. ,..
Mr. BADGER. have no disposition, If the Senator from
Massachusetts, feels any particular in having this sub
ect referred to select committee 10 interfere with HE sish.s