394 APPENDIX. 



II.— DECLARATIONS OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES, RE- 

 SOLUTIONS OF CONGRESSES, AND CLAUSES IN 

 TREATIES. 



THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. 



In 1789, Mr. Adams sent a letter of instructions to the delegates 

 in Congress at Washington, on behalf of the State of Massachusetts, 

 and though no legislative action resulted, yet it is an indication of 

 the opinion of an influential party in the United States, prominent 

 amongst whom were Noah Worcester, William Ladd, William EUery 

 Channing, in favour of the substitution of Arbitration for war : — 

 " You are, therefore, hereby instructed and urged to move the United States, 

 in Congress assembled, to take into their deep and most earnest con- 

 sideration, whether any measures can by them be used, through their 

 influence with such of the nations in Europe with whom they are united 

 by treaties of amity or commerce, that national differences may be 

 settled and determined without the necessity of war, in which the world 

 has too long been deluged, to the destruction of human happiness and the 

 disgrace of human reason and government." 



LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



In 1835, a petition was presented to the Legislature of the State 

 of Massachusetts, praying for an expression of opinion on the subject 

 of a Congress of Nations. A special committee of the Senate made 

 a report favourable to the petition, and the following resolutions 

 were passed : 



" Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Legislature, some mode should be 

 established for the amicable and final adjustment of all international 

 disputes, instead of resort to arms. 

 " Resolved, That the Governor of the Commonwealth be requested to com- 

 municate a copy of the above report, and of the resolutions annexed, to the 

 Executive of each of the States, to be laid before the Legislature thereof, 

 inviting a co-operation for the advancement of the object in view." 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



In 1838, Mr. Legard, a member of the American House of 

 Representatives, brought up a report from the Committee on 

 Foreign Affairs in the following terms : — 

 "That the Foreign Affairs Committee of this House recommends the reference 

 to a third Power of all such controversies as can safely be confided to any 

 tribunal unknown to the constitution of our country. 

 " Such a practice will be followed by other Powers, and will soon grow up into 

 the customary law of civilised nations." 



