The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-14

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was again the dispute about the northeastern
frontier, OF which there seemed TO be. at last, a
chance OF settlement, The excitement which
grew out of the territorial controversy between
the United States and Great Britain having
in q great measure subsided. II Ia hoped
that a favorable period is approaching for
its final settlement. Both Governments
must now be convinced Of tho dangers
with which the question Ia fraught, and
II must be their desire. as II is their interest,
that this perpetual cause of Irritation should DO
removed rs speedily as practicable. In my last
annual message you wsre informed that tho
proposition for . commission Of OK ploration and
survey promised by Great Britain had been re-
ceived. and that = counter project. including
also q provision for the certain and final adjust
ment Of the limits In dispute. WAS then before
the British Government for It's consideration.
The answcr OF that Government. accompanied
by additional propositions Of its own. was re-
ceived through its Minister hero since your
separation. These were promptly considereds
such as we're deemed correct In principle and
consistent with q due, regard to the just
rights of tho United States and OF the State
Of Maine were concurred In: and the reasons for
dissenting from the residue. with an additional
suggestion on our part, were communicated by
the Secretary OF State to Mr.. Fox. That Minister.
not feeling himself suficisntly instructed upon
some of the points raised in the discussion, felt
It to DO his duty to refer the matter to his own
Government for Its further decision. Having
now been for some time under Its adviscment.
q speedy answer may be confidently expected.
From the character Of tho points still In differ
epce and the undoubtcd disposition Of both
parties to bring the matter to an
early conclusion. l look with entire con-
fdence to q prompt and satisfactory ter
mination OF tho negotiation. Thrco Commission
ers we're appointed shortly after the adjourn
ment Of Congress under the act OF tho last
session providing for the exploration and survey
Of the line which separates the States of Maine
and New Hampshire from the British provinces.
They have boon actively employed until their
progress was interrupted by the inclenency Of
tho season. and will resume their labors as soon
as practicable in tho ensuing year. II 10 under
stood that their respective examinations will
throw new light upon tho subject In contro-
vcrsy and serve to remove any erroneous i'm
pressions which may have been made elsew hero
prejudicial to tho rights of tho United States"
It will be remembered that at the preceding
Presidential election. In November. 1910, Van
Buren,. who was tho Democratic candidate for q
second term. had been overwhelmingly defeated
by his Wing opponent, William Henry Har-
rison. Van Buren, believed that no had
boen ~unjustiy held responsible for the
consequences OF the crisis of 1887. and
that when the hour Of sober Judgment came
In 1874 the Democracy would regain control OF
the Federal Government, as, In point OF fact,
It did. Tho finest passage in his fourth ana
last annual message is that In which he under
tax es tho defence of his administrator against
the charge that the Government had failed to use
Its power to relieve tho financial distress OF the
community. Not deeming It within the con-
afitutional poyera of tho paneral Gnvernment
to repair private losses sustained by reverses In
business having no connection with the public
service. either by direct appropriation from tho
Treasury or bv special legislation designed to
secure exclusive privileges and immunities to
individuals or classes In preference to or at the
expense Of tho great majority necessarily do
barred from any participation In them. no at
tompt to do so has been either made, recon-
mended or encouraged by the present Executive.
1t 10 believed. however. that the great purposes
for the attainment OF which the Federal Gov
eminent was Instituted have not been lost sight
OF. Intrusted only with certain limited pow
ers. cautiously enumerated. distinctly specified.
aud defined with q precision and ciearness
which would seem to defy misconstruction. II
has been my constant aim to conHne myself
within the limits 90 clearly marked out and SO
carefully guarded. Having always been of
opinion that the best preservative OF the union
OF tho States 10 to be found In a total abstinence
from tho exercise OF all doubtful powers on tho
part OF tho Federal Government rather than In
attempts to assume them by = loose construc-
ton Of the Constitution or an ingenious per-
version OF It's words. l have sndeAvored to
avoid recommending any measure which l had
reason TO apprehend would, In tho opirion o:
. considerable minority of my fellow citizens.
be regarded as trenching on the rights Of the
States or the provisions Of tho hallowed instru-
ment OF our Union. Viewing tho aggregate
powers OF the Federal Government rs a volun-
tary concession Of the States. II seemed to me
that such only should DO exercised as were at
the timc intended TO be given. / have been
strengthened too. in the p~ropriety OF this course
by the conviction that all efforts to go beyond
this tend only to produce dissatisfaction and
distrust. to excite jealousies. and to provoke
resistance. Instead of adding strength to the
Federal Government, even when successful.
they must ever provo q source OF incurable
weakness by alternating a portion Of those whose
adhesion 10 indispensable to tho great aggregate
OF united strength. and whose voluntary At
tachment 10. In my estimation, far more essen
tial to tho efficiency of q Government strong In
tho bost Of oil possible strength. tho confidence
and attachment of all those who mako up Its
constituent elements. Thus believing. Il has
been my purpose to secure to tho whole people,
and to every member OF the Confederacy. by
general s~alutsry and equal laws alone. the bene-
1T OF those republican institutions which 1t
WAS tho end and aim OF tho Constitution to
establish. and tho impartial influence Of which
ia. In my judgment, Indispensable to their pres
e%rvation. I cannot bring myself to believe that
tho lasting happiness of the people. the prosper
ity OF the StAtos. or tho permanenoy Ut their
union can DO maintained by giving preference
or priority TO any class of citizens In tho distri-