Columbia telescope. (Columbia, S.C.) 1828-1839, March 09, 1839, Image 2
trifcMnjfe fbrtH in iniquity : it has sot be
W its parent***. It is essentia!!? and radi
orrapt . In the language of an English
historian, describing tbe reign of the eighth
Heary. "it h ts attained as near to perfect dc
praciy as tbe infinnaties of human Oature
woul<* permit." Just before an election it
will talk of reform, and deprecate, With holy
horror, the Consequences of its own mis
deeds; but, no sooner is the object accom
plished than it returns to its policy , like a
dog to his vomit.
I have no hope of reform in the party in
power ; roy only hope is* that the People,
coavNioed of their hyfmcrisy and wickedness,
With bilfl them from the high places they
have So long disgraced. That a consumma
tion so devoutly to be wished for may be
obtained, let us unite in exhibiting to the
coo mfcry their true principles; let us fasten
upoo them the responsibility of their actions.
In this patriotic work I trust [ shall find with
me my honorable friend from Sooth Caroli
na, who sits near me, (Mr. Pickk5S.) Often
has he led the fierce assult against these
very corruptions. "Has bis hand waxed
weak, or his his heart waxed eold," that bis
war-cry has not yet tingled in our ears ? ?
Surely the '* horu of Roland" will sound
again; surely in this, his favorite battle, he
adii sHke one more blow lor Christendom
before he renounces the cross and assumes
the turban. Sir, I see by bis flashing eye
his sou! is with as ; the spirit of the past
is rising before him; he recollects that many
ttteoos hate not yet waxed and waued, since
this very party, who now claim him as an
ally* crouched aod howled life? on exorcised
demon beneath the magic of his burning
words. Let him come out from among
theofr-rhe and his friends, for they are not
ofthemi eagles mace not with kites and car
rion crows.
Sir, I should rejoice to see the gallant
geftdeman lesume his original position. I
shook! be proud to win my spurs under so
well-approved and accomplished a leader.
Let me call to his mind? fable, with which
he is doubtless familiar: A gaunt and ra
venous wolf, hastily gorging the spoils of I
Some plundering expedition, was choked
by a bone* and lay at the point of death. A
stork happened to be passing that way, and,
? moped by an ill judged pity, extended her
Jong neck down the woiCs throat, and ex
tracted the bone. Upon modesty suggesting
the propriety of some reward for so gener
ous an act, the stork was told, with a wolfish
scowl, that she oogbt to consider herself for
tunate that her head was not bitten off dur- 1
iug the operation.
Now, I take it that it requires no name
Written beneath this picture, to enable the
- most obtuse to recognise in the ravenous wolf j
the present party io power. The picture
will also call to miad how this party, some
yetes ago, while gorging, with wolfish ap
petite, upoo the Spoils," got a bone in its
throat, aod lay at the point of dissolution. I
Jeate it to the sagacity of the gentlemen from
Sooth Carolina to finish the resemblance;
to- say who acted towards the Administration
^ the part of the benevolent stork ; and to re
flect upon the boon she is likely to receive
for her kindness.
Sir, the immense peculations of Swart
Wout, Price, and ether*, or rather the expo
sure of them, has alarmed the Administra
tion.
Tfcey propose to make up the losses by
retrenchment. And what do yoa suppose
are to be the subjects of this new and sod
4*n economy t what branches of the pub
lic service are to be lopped off on account of
the ftcautioos rapacity of tbe office-holders ?
I fed too indignant to teH you.
Let* into the report of tbe^Secrerary of
r, v - VV frlit
harbors, and
. air* these are recom
<w froper subjects for retrenchment.
First of afl, the scarred veterans of the Revo
' Istni are to be deprived of a portion of the
scanty pittance doled out to them by the cold
ekarity of the country. How many of them
will you k?>e to send forth as beggars upon
the tetj sot! which they wrenched from the
hand et tpranny, to make up the amonot of
even one of these spleodid robberies ? How
ataoy harbors wSI ft take? those improve
meats dedicatedno less to humanity than to
those Bests of commerce, to which
the caavasa-atoaged bird* ef the ocean dock
for safety? Sow many light-houses will it
take ? Hew many of those "bright eyes of
the ocean, > as my Mend from Virginia beau
tifully calls them, are to be pet out? How
wutny of those faithfal sentinels who stand
sloag onr rocky coast, and peering far out
ut Ike darkness, give timely waratng to the
hardy mariner where the lee -shore threatens
?how assay of these, I ask,, are to be dis
charged from their humane service ? ?Vhy,
the proposition is almost impious. I should
as soon wish to pat oat the stars of heaven.
3ir, my bUx*d boils at the cold-blooded
atrocity with which this Administrative pro
poses thus to saeri&ce the very family jewels
efthe country to pay for the consequences
of its awn profligacy. If they wish to fe
treash, lot them cut dowa salaries, instead of
light honaes; let them abandon offices, instead
of harbors; let them turnout upon the world
eoaie of their wide- mouthed partisans, in
stead of the soldiers of the Revolution.
Jfs. Chairman, I have done; I had intend
ed to aaCtee other portions of the Message,
bnt-nhaK defer it ; for f have already too far
ttaxed -the patience of the committee. I shall
vote in the House for an investigation*
thowgfc? do net expect much from it. My
hope is in an investigation by a higher author
ity than this Hoase ? by the People. The evil
wf the timee lies not in particular cases, but in
*he principles of the party. Legislation cannot
*each it. It is a radical evil* and the P eo
?ple alone can enre it. That they will do so,
and in tbe only way it can he done, by a
chwtge of rulers^ I have a high and only con
fidence. This Administration has eaten, like
i cancer, so far into the institutions of the
eoaBtry* that, nnless the remedy be soon
"spj&ed, it wiH be too late. I do most cau
?shntiefag? "believe, that if the present dy
tiasty is. eoBtioued in power, constitutional
liberty cannot survive. Already our institu
tions are half corrupted. Already anarchy;
and despotism are leagued together against
the Constitution and the laws. Let him wae
doubts it leok at the proceedings in a neigh
3) Ming State, an f the conduct of the F edenri
Etecntiae in relation thereto.
Let Mr. Van Buren be re-elected ; let him
a?eUnoa [o be gnided by the counsels of j
Tt&i iS itarr%lLct^ and Asroodeus, the two ifami
at his elbow? those lords,
ooe. ?[
wi U aot be long that this mighty Hall will
?efce teike*oi** ^ aB ^mericaa Rep*es?n
^ Th? Capital will have no other uses
enHOsity af the passing
whi ia melancholy idleness, will
apon of these o^ive
Hffirs t cat * Republic .
Convtponde%& ?f the Baltmae Ckromde
THIRD SESSION OF TWENTY-FIFTH CON
GRESS.
proof: edisgs of sa turd a y.
Washington, Ff.b. I6ch, 1839.
IN SENATE. .
When the report of the Senate proceedings
was sent yon yesterday, Mr. Preston had
been speaking but a little while. He con
tinued from that time until a very late hour,
pouring out one continued torrent of elo
quence against the principles contained in Mr.
Wall's report. Mr. P read passages of the
document and* descanted on them as he went
along. The report affirmed that the bill
did uot seek to punish a crime malum in se,
but to constitute a new crime. Weie there
no political offences, asked Mr. P? Did the
attempt to bribe the voter constitute no of
fence ? was it correct to assess salaries of of
fice holders to furnish political tracts, ? was
it right to use official influence for the pur
pose of controlling the public will? Oh no!
? according to the doctrines of the report,
all this was praiseworthy; not only was it an
44 inherent right, but a duty." ? Thils then, the
fatted officer, the hired advocate, who held
his very existence from executive will, was
called 'ou, invited, nay stimulated to come
and throw his weight on the side of his poli
tical patron. It had gone 3 step farther than
he ever expected the coldest politician to
? have advanced ? it had declared in effect that
the power of the office holder ought to come
in conflict with the purity of election ? to
takeaway that power, says the report, would
be to make thsm "mutes" Aye said Mr.
P. that was what constituted the great ob
jection; it would silence their noise at the
polls, and prevent them from elbowing the
people, and pushing them from their stools.
Had we not heard it reiterated until it had
become a trite proverb, that the price of li
berty was eternal vigilance, and were these
on the political watch tower, not to give no
tice like faithful- wardens when they saw the
approach of an insidious foe to liberty, in the
shape of an executive minion? Were they
. to be branded as enemies to the rights of the
people. Did leaders of the retainers of the
President (or as the Senator from Pa. (Mr.
Buchanan) had said on another occasion,
"the enlisted soldiers ") constitute the people?
?Such doctrines were thrown forth in the
report to lull us into fatal security. Let us
awake, said Mr. P. ere we are bound and
manacled and when shorn of our strength,
they tell us 44 the Philistine be upon thee, Samp
son
The celebrated document, with all its cry
about "democracy, and democratic principle''
"was the emanation of federal heads and
hearts ? its author and its advocate, (Messrs
Wall and Buchanan,) who were federalists
in their younger years, are not likely to be
come republicans in their maturer years,
when the blood waited upon the judgment?
federalism still clung to them like the accent
of the ' mother tongue in distant climes;
they could not get rid of it. Youth was the
time, whether io politics or love, to show the
natural bent ? a federalist in youth would al
ways be one ? and when he saw the old fede
ral politicians patting on suddenly the frol
icking,' garaboliog contortions of youthful,
democracy, he distrusted their principles. ?
They who in younger years scorned the
principles of '98, should not now school him
into the opinion that* those principles laid
down the doctrine that office-holders consti
tuted the people.- He bad no desire to re
flect on the old federal party ? he believed it
to have been a high-minded and noble one,
and was said to have had for its head, that
great name that had shed one broad bright
blaaeof glorious light around this western
horizon ? with all the veneration he had for
E&fe proud name of Washington, he still held
^federal principles to be wrong.
44Office holders the people."* When,
where, how, asked Mr. P. did they become
so? Were they appointed by the people or
the executive? Nay, had they not in many
instances been brought into office against the
manifest wishes of the people, and in some
cases in contempt of this very body? the peo
ple were flouted, scouted at, and yet forsooth
"they are the officers of people.*' It was in
relation to this very subject that a feeling of
alarm was gotten op that ran like a blaze of
fire around the land-chasing down the second
administration; but now it is discovered that
no further danger exists, that since Andrew
Jackson and Martin Vau Buren came into
power, the office holders are the people, and
of right and uuty ought to coutrolthe pub
lic will. This report, said Mr. P., flew
directly in the face of all the political sages
of free governments ?n earth, ? it was direct
ly at variance with the doctrines of that great
apostle of human liberty which gentlemen
seemed so much to praise.
From the Lynchburg Virginian.
DEMOCRACY AND ARISTOCRACY
ILLUSTRATED! .
Bennett, of the New York Herald, hits
off most admirably, in one of his letters
from Washington, the characters of Martin
Van Buren and Henry Clay, by one of
those little incidents, which though to the
eye of a casual observer, they present no
theme for speculation, to the reflecting stu
dent of mankind constitute texts of pregnant
import and rich instruction.
Bennett tells us that, ou a certain Sab
bath he and the President attended church
and, after two or three hits at the preacher,
he describes the departure of the congrega
tion at the close of the services. - "In a short
time his Excellency (Mr. Van Buren made
his apppearance; with a lady on his arm. ?
Over his shoulders hung a very splendid
blue Spanish Cloak ? and around bis face
the same mingled expression of conceit and
nothingness which envelope ambition made
great by accident* On his appearance up
drove a very splendid carriage, drawn by two
beautiful horses," &c. "The carriage was
the most superb thing I have yet seen. It
was of a dark olive hue, with ornaments ele
gantly disposed, shining as bright as burnish
ed gold. When I was iu Paris, I saw Louis
PhUippe frequently drive out to Neuilly, and
back to the Tuilleries? >When I was in Lon
don I saw the Queen as frequently drive
from Buckingham Palace around Hyde
Park" ? "yet I must say that the carriage
and horses, the ordinary equipage of the
chief Democrat of this land ofLoco-Foco
equality, is far more superb and splendid,
than that of either of the otber great and roy
al personages.
This is the picture of a Democrat ? Look
now at that of an Aristocrat ! Bennett con
tinues : -1 passed the Treasury buildings,
turned down the Avenue, and again reached
the hotel. As I turned round from the bar,
I met a tall, plaau-looking man, past the me
rediaa ofltfe, with a somewhat large mouth,
a calm, yet keen, piercing, brilliant eye, and
one ot those foneheads of such ample dimen
sions as indicate the breadth of the soul within.
Be went up to the bar, took a pinch of snuflf,
nodded to one or two persons as ho passed.
tod then walked quietly to the door.?That
person is Henry vlay. He biu jjost. walked
from church, and is cow walking to his
!odgia$$ aeyou^r I would do without ?
blue Spanish cloak; and gold carriage, blood
horsss or livery servants. He is the most
fearful and dangerous Aristocrat that this
country ever produced. He walks on his
own legs, and goes to cburoh as soon as the
bell ceases ringing." *
Whereupon, Bennett thus apostrophizes :
uOh Virtue;" said the younger Brutus,
"what a phantom art thou ?" ? "Oh Liber
ty said th? Beautiful Madame Roland, "what
deeds have been done in thy name ? ? -Oh
Honor?" said fat Sir John Fallstaff, "what
mere wind art thou!'! ? 440h Democracy?"
say f,' "what a greater bubble art thou than
Roman virtue, French liberty, or English
honor!"
Wec8rtainly do not mean to be under
stood as condemning all who ride to church
in splendid carriages, and Wear tine cloaks, as
Aristocrats; but we think it a fair set-off oc
casionally to show up to the people, partic
ularly to the poorer classes, those who pre
tend to so much sympathy for their hard
ships, and who are always talking about En
qual Privileges as well as Equal Rights ! ?
As long as these men can obtain the votes of
the hard-fisted laborers, they will of course
deem themselves bound to extol and flatter
the "dear people," and to denounce those
Aristocrats who live in idleness and luxary
upon the fruits of others' labors ! Yet, how
seldom do their professions harmonize with
their practice! We do not blame Mr. Van
Buren for adopting a style of living in all
respects befiting the dignity of his station;
but we do object to the attempt to im
pose on certain classes the belief that he is,
in manners, as well as in name, the "chief
Democrat of the country;" ? when, be his
principles what they may, there is no ranker
Aristocrat in practice.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25.
ARRIVAL OF THE LIVERPOOL.
NINE DAYS LATER FROM ENG
LAND.
The steam packet Liverpool, Capt. Fayrer,
arrived at 7 o'clock this morning, from Liv
erpool. Capt. F. left Liverpool at half past
3 o'clock on the afternoon of the 6th ; con
sequently she has made her passage in eigh
teen and a half days. We have our regular
files of London papers to the evening of the
5th of February, and Liverpool to the 6th,
both inclusive. We are also indebted to
Capt. Fayrer for files of the latest date.
GREAT BRITAIN.
We hasten to lay before our readers the
royal speech at the opening of Parliament.
As usual it affords little positive indication of
of the course iotendrd to be puisued. and is
in fact remarkable rather for the thing omit
ted than of the things introduced. We refer
to the subject of the corn-laws, some allu
sion to which was confidently expected. We
presume that by the omission we are to un
derstand that Lord Melborue, the head of
the cabinet, is opposed to any new legisla
tion on the subject. Lord John Russell, it
is said, will introduce a hill, proposing a fix
ed duty ; and so th?re seems to be a prospect
of that difference in the cabinet, of which we
stated our anticipation, several week ago.
The Royal William arrived out at Liver
pool on the 3d of February.
[ From the London Standard , of the evening
of Feb. 5]
The business of the second session of Par
liament during the reign of her present Ma
jesty was opened to-day by a speech from the
throne. t
The Queen arrived at the House of Lords
about two o'clock, which was announced by
the discharge of cannon. Shortly afterward
her Majesty, attended by the great officers
of state, entered the house, and took her seat
on the throne. Tbe foreign ambassadors
wore the full costumes of the countries they
represented.
Her Majesty having directed their lord
ships to be sented.
The Loid Chancellor directed the Usher
of tbe Black Rod to summon the Commons
to hear her Majesty's speech on the opening
of Parliament.
In a few minutes the Commons appeared
at jbe bar, headed by the Speaker. The
space, below the bar was crowded with mem
bers. After silence had been obtained her
Majesty in a clear and audible voice, read the
following most gracious speech.
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.
%4 My Lord's and Gentletnen ,
44 1 rejoice to meet you again in parliament
I am particularly desirous of recurring to
your advice and assistance at a period when
many matters of great importance demand
your serious and deliberate attention.
44 1 continue to receive from foreign powers
gratifying assurances of their desire to main
tain with me the most friendly relations.
1 have concluded with the Emperor of
Austria a treaty of Commerce, which I trust
will extend and improve the intercourse be
tween my subjects and those of tbe Empe
ror.
I have also concluded a treaty of the same
kind with the Sultan, calculated to place the
commercial relations between ray dominions
and the Turkish empire upon a better and
more secure footing.
I have directed copies of the treaties to
be laid before you.
I have been engaged, in concert with Aus
tria, France, Prussia and Russia, in negoci
ations, with a view to a final settlement of
tbe differences between Holland and Belgi
um.
A definitive treaty of peace, founded upon
anterior arrangements which have been ac
ceded to by both parties, has in consequence
beea proposed to the Dutch and Belgian
Governments. I have the satisfaction to inT
form you that the Dutch Government has
already signified 1 6 the Conference its ac
ceptance of that treaty, and I trust that a
J similar announcemet from the Belgian Gov
ernment will put an end to that disquietude
which the present unsettled state of these af
i ffairs has necessarily produced. The unani
mity of the five allied powers afford a satisfac
tory security for the preservation of peace.
I lament the continuance of the civil war
in Spain, wh:cn engages my anxious and un
diminished attention.
Differences which have arisen have occa
sioned the retirement of my minister from
the Court of Teheran. I iudulge, however,
the hope oflearning that a satisfactory adjust
ment of these differences will allow of the re
establishment of my relations with Persia
upon their former tooting ot friendship.
Events connected with the same differen
ces have induced the Governor General of
India to take measures for protecting British
interests in that quarter of the world, and lo
enter into engagements, the fulfilment of
which may render military operation neces
sary. For this purpose such preperations
. have been made as may be sufficient to re
sist aggression from any quarter, and to
maintain the integrity of my eastern domm- 1
ions.
The reform and amendment of the muni
cipal Corporations of Ireland are essential to
the invests of that part of our dominions.
* It is also urgent that you should apply
yoorselves to the prosecution and comple
tion of those maxims whnh have been re
commended by the ecclesiastical commission
ers of England, for the purpose of increas
ing the efficiency of the established church,
and of confirming its hold upon the affections
of the people.
The better enforcement of the law and the
more speedy and certain administration of
justice, are of the first importance to the wel
[ fare of this community, and I feel assured
that you will be anxious to devote yourselves
to the examination of the measures which
will be submited to you for the purpose of
attaining these beneficial results.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons ,
I have directed the annual estimates to be
prepared and laid before you.
Adhering; to the principles of economy,
which it is my desire to enforce in every de
partment of the State, I feel it my duty to j
recommend that adequate provision be made j
for the exigencies of the public service. I j
fully rely on yonr patriotism to maintain the j
efficiency of those establishments which are
essential to the strength and security of the
country.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
It is with great satisfaction that T am ena
bled to inform you that throughout the
whole of my West Tndian possessi ns the
period fixed by law for the final and complete
emancipation of the negroes has been antici
pated by acts of the colonial legislature, and
that the transition from the temporary system
of appre ticeship to entire freedom has taken
place without any disturbance of public or
der and tranquility. Any measures which
may be necessary in order to give full effect
to this great and beneficial change will, I
have no doubt, receive your careful atten
tion.
I have to acquaint you, with deep concern,
that the province of Lower Canada has again
been distuibed by insurrection, and that hos
tile incursions have been made into Upper
Canada by certain lawless inhabitants of the
United Slates of North Amer ca. These
violations of the public peace have been
promptly suppressed by the valor of my for
ces, and the lovalty of my Canadian subjects.
The President of the United States has cal
led upon the citizens of the Union to abstain
from proceedings incompatible with ^ the
friendly relations which subsist between Great
Britain and the Un ted States.
I have directed full information upon all
these matters to be laid before you, and I
recommend the present state of these pro
vinces to your serious consideration. ^ I rely
upon you to support my first determination
to maintain the authority of my crown, and I
trust that your wisdom will adopt such
measures as will secure to those parts of my
empire the benefit of internal tranquility, and
the full advantages of their own great nation
al resources.
I have observed with pain the persevering
efforts which have been made in some parts
?of the country to excite my subjects to diso
bedience and resistance to the law, and to
recommend dangerous and illegal practices.
For the counteraction of all such designs I
depend upon the efficacy of the law, which
it will be my duty to enforce, upon the good
sense and right disposition of my people, up
on their attachment to the principles of jus
tice, and their abhorrence of violence and
disorder.
I confidently commit all these great inter
ests to your wisdom, and I implore Almighty
God to assist and prosper your counsels.
The city of Bath was thrown into conster
nation on the 25th of January, by the ti
dings, which proved too true, that Mrs. Tug
weli, the wife of th- senior partner in the
Bath Bank, had killed herself and her two
children, in a moment ofinsanity. She was
but 31 years of age, amiable, accomplished,
and universally beloved. The details are
painfully interesting.
On Thursday she came from her residence.
No. 1 Whit-comb-crescent, with her hus
band and children into Bath, where, after pro
ceeding to make purchases at various shops,
she was seen walking along the bank of thp
canal, accompanied by her children as late
as 3 o'clock in the afternoon; she then, it
appears, returned home, and desiring the
butler to give her a decanter of sherry, took
her children into a small suul^^l' house in
the garden saying she was going to give them
a treat. Having proceeded there she mixed
some prussic acid with the wine, which she
administered to the whole of the three chil
dren and then took some herself. Fortu
nately the eldest bov 10 years of age did
not like the taste of "the wine, and drank on
ly a small portion, which, as he says caused
him to sleep, and upon awaking he found his
mother sitting apparently asleep, with his
two brothers, who were twins of 8 years ot
age, one lying at her feet and the other a
cross het breast.
Finding himself very ill, and having in
vain tried to awaken them, he rushed to the
door, which he found locked, but at length
succeeded in alarming the house when the
servants found their mistress and the children
dead. No cause can be assigned for this
melancholy act, but the lady must have
been for some considerable time meditating
upon it, as she had procured several bottles
of prussic acid, and taken the precaution to
destroy the labels; a portion of one of the
labels remained, which from its dirty state,
indicated that it had been sonte time in tne
k?The Murderer of Lord Norbury had not
yet been discovered. A number of persons
had been arrested on suspicion, but they were
all discharged.
! LIVERPOOL, FEB. 5.? The inquiry
I Tor Cotton continues moderate and princi
pally from the trade, who, from the depress
ed state of the trade at Manchester, have no
inducement to purchase beyond their im
mediate wants and holders being firm and
unwilling to submit to any decline, the mar
ket is quiet at former prices.
Correspondence of the Journal of Commerce.
LIVERPOOL, FEB. 6 ?Our Cotton
market is very heavy, and about I-8d per
lb lower, than on the 29th ult. the date of
our last circular per Great Western. The
state of trade in the manufacturing districts
is still discouraging, and the consumers con
tinue to confine their purchases to the supply
of their immediate wants, have taken since
the first of the year only at the rate of about
14 500 bales per week. The decided ac
counts of the great deficency in the crop
of the U. S., the limited supplies into their
ports at the last accounts, and the light
import here continue to give firmness to
holders pretty generally, so that there has
beenno large quantity pressing on the war
ket.
MESSAGE FROM THE PREMDEIfT.
To the Senafe of the United States:
I lay before Congress several despatches
from bis Excellency the Governor of Maioe,
with enclosures, communicating certain pro
ceedings of the Legislature of that State,
and a copy of the reply of the Secretary of
State, made by my direction, together with
a no e from H. S. Fox, Esq. Envoy Extra
ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of
Great Britain, with the answer of the Secre
' State to the same:
numerous bands of lawless and desperate
men, chiefly from the adjoining British Pro
vinces, but without the sanction of the Pro
vincial Government, had trespassed upon
that portion of the territory in dispute be
tween the United States and Great Britain,
which is watered by the river Aroostook,
and claimed to belong to the State of Maine ;
and that they had committed extensive de
predations there by cutting and destroying a
very large quantity of timber. It will further
appear that the Governor of Maine, having
been officially apprised of the circumstances,
had communicated it to the Legislature, with
a recommendation of such provisions, in ad
dition to those already existing by law, as
would enable him to arrest theconrse of said
depradatious, disperse the trespassers and
secure the timber which they were about
carrying away ; that in compliance with a
resolve of the Legislature, passed in pursu
ance of his recommendation his Excellency
had despatched. the land agent of the State,
with a force deemed adequate to that purpose,
to the scene of the alledged depredations,
who after accomplishing a part of his duty
was seized by a band of the trespassers, at a
house claimed to be within the jurisdiction
of Maine, whither he had repaired for the
purpose of meeting and consulting with the
land agent of the Province of New Bruns
wick, and conveyed as a prisoner to F rede
rickton in that Province, together with two
other citizens of the State, who were assist
ing him in the discharge ofhit^luty.
It will also appear that the Governor and
Legislature of Maine, satisfied that the tres
passers had acted in defiance of the laws of
both countries, learning that they were in
possession ofarins, and anticipating (correct
ly, as the result has proved) that persons of
their reckless and desperate character would
set at naught the authority of the magistrates,
without the aid of a strong force, had author
ized the sheriff, and the officer nppointed in
the place of the land agent, to employ, at the
expense of the State and artned posse,- who
had proceeded to the scene of these depre
dations, with a view to the entire dispersion
or arrest of the trespassers and the proteciion
of the public property.
In the correspondence between the Gover
nor of Maine and Sir John Harvey, Lieu
tenant Governor of the Province of New
Burnswick, which has grown out of these
occurrences, and is likewise herewith com
municated, the fonner is requested to recall
the armed party advanced in the disputed
territory fot the arrest of trespassers, and is
informed that a strong body of British troops
is to be held in readiness as to support and
protect the authority and subjects of Great
Britain in said territory. It) answer to that
request the Provincial Governor is informed
of the determination of the State of Maine
to support 'he land agent and his party,
in the performance cf their duty, and the
same determination, for the execution of
which provision is made by a resolution of
the State Legislature is communicated by
the Governor to the General Government.
The Lieutenant Governor of New Bruns
wick, in calling upon the Government ol
Hhbne.Vor the recall of the laod agent and bis
party from the disputed territory, and the
British Minister in making a similar deiwand
upon the Government of the United StateSr
proceeciupon the assumption that an Hgifeen
ment exists between the two na:ions con
ceding to Great Britain, until the fiual settier
ment of the boundary question, exclusive
possession of, and jurisdiction over, the-ier-?
ritory in dispute. The important hearing
which such an agreement, if it existed, woo fd
have upon that condition and interests ofthe
parties, and the influence it might have upon
the adjustment of the dispute, are too ob^rir
ous to allow the error upon which this ai*
sumption seems to rest to pass for a moment
without correction. The answer of the
Secretary of State to Mr. Fox's note, Will
show the ground taken by the Government
of the United States upon this poibt It
is believed that all the correspondence which
has passed between the two Goverumerfts
upon this subject, has alieady been c iftifau
nicated to Congess, and is now on their files.
An Abstract of it, however, hastily prepared
accompanies this communication. It is pos
sible that in thus abridging a voluminous
correspondence, commencing in 1825 and
continuing to a very recent period, a portion
may hate been accidentally overlooked, tifut
it is believed that nothing has taken place
which would materially change the aspect of
the question as therein presented.
Instead ofsustaining the assumption ofthe
British functionaries' that correspondence
disproves the existence of any such agree
ment. It shows that the two Governments
have differed not only in regard to the main
question of title to the territory in dispute,
but with reference also to the right of juris
diction, anil the fact of the actual exercise
of it in different portions thereof. Always
aiming at an amicable adjustment of the dis
pute. both parties have entertained and re
peatedly urged upon each other a desire, that
each should exercise its rights, whatever it
considered them to be, in such a manner as to
avoid collision, and allay, to the greatest
practicable extent, the exchement likely to
grow out of the controversy. It was in pur
suance of such an understanding that Maine
and Massachusetts, upon the remonstrance
of G. ^Britain, desisted from making sales of
lands, and the General Government from the
construction of a projected military road iu <.
portion ofthe territory of which they claim
ed to have enjoyed the exclusive possession ;
and that Great Britain, on her part, in defer
ence to a similar remonstrance from the U.
Slates, suspended the issue of licenses to cot
timber in the territory in controversy, arid
also the survey and location of a rail road
through a section of country over which she
also claimed to have exercised exclusive ju
risdiction.
The State of Maine had a right to arrest
the depredations complained of; it belonged
to her to judge of the exigency of the occa
sion calling for her interference, aod it* ia
presumed that had the Lieutenant Gover
nor of New Brunswick been correctly advised
of the nature of the proceedings of the State
of Maine, he would not have regarded the
transactions as requiring, on his part, arfy
resort to force. Each party claiming a right
to the territory, and hence to'the exclusive
jurisdiction over it. it is manifest that* to
prevent the destruction of the timber by
trespassers, acting against the authority of
i both, aod at the same time avoid forcible
appear from those documents that
collision between the contiguous Govern-*
ments during the pendency of negotiations
concerning tne title, resort must be had to the
rautaal exercise of jurisdiction in such ex
treme cases, or to an -unicable and tempora
ry arrangement as to the limits within which
it should be exercised by each party. The
understanding supposed to exist between the
United States and Great Britain has been
found heretofore sufficient for that purpose,
and I believe will prove so hereafter, if the
parties on the frontier, directly interested in
the qnestioo, are respectively governed by a
just spirit of conciliation and forbearance. If
it shall be found, as there is now reason to
apprehend, that there is, io the modes of
construing that understanding by the two
Governments, a difference not to be recon
ciled, I shall not hesitate to propose to her
Britannic Majesry's Government a distinct
arrangement for tbe temporary (and mutual
exercise of jurisdiction, by means of which
similar difficulties may io future be prevent
ed.
But between aneffott on the part of Maine
to preserve the property in dispute from dee-,
iruction by intruders, and a military occupa~
tion by that State of the territoiy, with a view
to hold it by force, while the setttanent is 9
subject negotiation between the two Govern"
ments, there is an essential difference, aw
well in respect to the position ofithe Stater
as to the duties of the General Governments
In a letter addressed by tne Secretary of
State to tbe Governor of Maine, on the 1st
of Marc last, giving a detailed statement of
the steps which had been taken by the Fed
eral Government to bring %the controversy to
a termination, and designed to .apprise the
Governor of the views of the Federal Execu
tive, in respect to the future- it was stated,
that while * th^ obligations of the Federal
Government to do ail in its power to effect
the settlement of the boundary question were
fully recognized, it had, in the event of bfe
ing unable to do so specifically, by mutual
consent no other oieana to accomplish that
object amicably, than by another arbitration,
or by a commission with an umpire in the
nature of an arbitration; and tfaAt in the
event of all other measures failing, jhe Pre
sident would feel it bis duty to submit ano
ther proposition to the Government of Great
Britain, to refer the decistoo of the question
to a third power. These are still my views
npon the subject, and nntil this step shall
have been taken* I cannot think it proper to
invoke the attention of Congress to other
than amicable meads for tbe settlement,^
the controversy, or to cause the military
power of the Federal Government to be
brought in aid of the State of Maine, in any
attempt to effect that object by a resort to
force. '
On the other hand, if tbe authorities of
New Brnnswick should attempt to enforce
the c'aim of exclusive jurisdiction set np by
them, by means of a military occupstioo on
their part of the disputed territory, I shall
feel myself bouod to C9nsider tbe contingen
cy provided by tl.e Constitution as having
occurred, on the happening of which a State
has the right to ral for the aid of the Feder*
al Government to repel invasion. ; ? ' 4v"
I have expresred to the British Minister
near this Government a confident 'ex
pectation that the agents of jhe State of
Maine who have been at rested under .sn ob
vious misapprehension of the object of their
mission will be promptly released; and to.
the Governor of Maine that a similar coutse
will be pursued in regard to the agents of
the Provioce of New Brunswick. I have
also recommended that any militia thai: .any
have been brought together by the State of
Maine, from an apprehension of* collision
with the Government or*people of the British
Province, will be Voluntarily and peaceably
disbanded.
I cannot allow myself to doubt that die
results anticipated from these representations
will be seasonably realised. The parties
more immediately interested cannot but per
ceive that ao appeal to arms, under existing
circumstances, will not only prove fatal to ,
their present interests, but woulfi poftpone,
if not defeat, the attainment of ihe main ob
jects which they have ftt viesif. The veit
incidents which have recently eccifarecl will''
necessarily awaken the Governrosipis-to tbe
iraporunceof promptly adjusting sdis$iite?hy
which it is now made manifest 'that the peace
of the two nation* is daily and imminently
endangered. This expectation;' is! further
? warranted by the general forbearance Which
has hitHorto characterized the conduct of
the Government and people oo l oth siderof
tbe line. In the uniform patriotism of Msine,
her attachment of the Union, her respect for
the wishes of the people of her sister States*
of 'whose interest in her welfare ghe cannot
be unconscious, and. in the solicitude felt
tfy tbe couutry at large for the preservation
of peace with our neighbors, we have a strong
guarantee that she will not disregard the r^
quest that hafc been madfe of her. y
As however, the. session of Coflgvefetis
about to terminate, and the agency of the
Executive may become necessary during the
recess, it is important that the attention of
the Legislature should be drawn: to tbe con
sideration of such measures as may be enl^i
culated to obviate the Dcccssity ^ of a call for
a u extra session. With that view* I have
thought it my duty to lay the whole matter
before yon, and to invite such^ction thereon
as you may think the occasion requires.
M.VANBUltEN;
Washington, 26th February, 1839.
Washington, Feb. 27, 1839.' >
To the House of Representatives of ike United
Slates:
I transmit to Congress copies of various,
other documents received ffrom the Governor
of Maine, relating to tbe dispute between
that State and the province of New Bruns*
wick, which formed tbe subjeet of my Me*u
sage on the 29th inst. and alg> a copy of ?
memorandum signed by the Secietary o(*
State of the Uoited States and her Britsnnife
Majesry's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary near the United State#,' of"
the terms upon which it is beliSved aU colli
sion can be avoided oo the frontiers consis
tently with, and respecting the claims, on ei*
therside. As theJSruiah Minister acts witht
out specific authority from his Government*
it will be observed that this memorandum has.
but the force of* recommendation on the
provincial authorities and on the government
of the State,
M. VAN BUREN.
MEMORANDUM.
Her Majesty's authorises consider it to
have been understood and agreed upon by
the two Governments that the territory in
dispute between Great Britain and the United
States, on the Northeastern front-era, should
..remain exclusively under British jurisdic
tion until the final settlement the bounda
ry question. "
The United States Government havens
understood the above agreement io the ssn}