The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-17 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWF.

THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
OREGON ANT) TEXAS.
SENATE, Dec. 18.
ALLEN, Chairman on Foreign Relations, wive
not Of a joint rt-solution giving the twelve months'
notice to Great Britain, as required by the stipulation
tolifetilion
eietonventions of 1816 and 1827, tor the dissolving
occupancy of the Oregon territory.
The VICE-PRESIDENT announced the unfinished busi-
ness to he the resolutions of inquiry proposed by Mr.
it'llasßtsrs,,,usel,,e,tieldieetith,o2.lre as follows :
That the committee on naval affairs be
creasy navy- inquire into the condition of the navy of
e -United State,, and into the quantity and condition
supplies now on hand ; and whether an in-
of them is not necessary to the efficient operations
loindthe 11"Y' and to its p reservation and augmentation ;
and
generally, into the capacity for defending our coast
.the Countryjeommmaervce, and for any service the exigencies of
probably require.
Resolved,—That the committee on military affairs be
instructed to inquire into the condition of the national
fprtifications and their armaments, and whether other
Ilefensive works are necessary ; and into the condition
and quantity of the military supplies ; and into the state
2f the means possessed by the Government for the de-
fence of the country.
Resolved,—That the committee on the militia be in-
structed to inquire into the present condition of that
reF branch of the public service, and into the state of
a laws, and that they be further instructed to
r:rrt such changes in the existing system as will give
re experience and efficiency to that arm of defence,
and wi
is 11 place it in the best condition for protecting the
country, should it be exposed to foreign invasion.
Mr. NILES said he would go for the resolutions. After
all that had been done by the Executive for the settle-
ppoeat of this controversy by negotiations, the matter had
elength passed from his hands, and it was now thrown
co the legislative department. The negotiations had
wme 4ppeodi.nt—to a stand.; they were broken off—they
our ri hts We eanne,t recede—we must stand up for
tom g • In regard of territory, the President has re-
claims mended all proper measures for the support of our
i,e consistent with treaty obligations. Mr. Niles
inoU adverted to the fact of the English Government
(I)ng eXlended its judicial jurisdiction over its citizens
bar re,gon.
We were called upon to do the same in be-
2of our citizens. The provisions of joint occupation
tree
not adapted to a settled and civilized country, nor
tided to be. It was necessary to have but one Govern-
Tpre'nwt over the same people. In reviewing the relative
toss of England and the United States, the learned
atalttor thought if theEnilishwere a bold, brave,
.and
%era
be f geous nation, it was fair to conclude that we might
front so in an equal degree, descended as we were
iterated the same stock, &c. Mr. Niles, in conclusion,
t his determination to vote for the resolutions.
CnITTENDEN next followed in the discussion. He
rn the resolutions themselves nothing objectionable,
ed he should vote for them. The remarks of the Hon.
to
illla ver, however, who had introduced these resolutions,
sewe to them peculiar significancy. Mr. Crittenden then
we must the remarks of General Cass of yesterday, that
laitA,111!18t give the twelve months' notice, and that if Great
aairn then Persists in her claim, war is inevitable ; and
0111.4 T :it if this were so, we had better, at once, employ
from es to Put on the whole harness of war. He read
xi the reported speech of General Cass the passage
it;118 this point, and asked of the distinguished Senator,
II vas to be understood as his solemn opinion ?
tbete. erei Cass,
I his after some general explanation, said,
able. own private opinion war was almost went
mg of kr 0
e Senate
, nITTENDEN desired a more explicit understand -
the tnis
branch of the Senator's remarks, delivered in
Geneal n
kontk ,r %Ass replied, that if we gave the twelve
periods notice, and that if, at the expiration of that
of the' Great Britain persisted in her clait.n to the whole
territory. war was inevitable.
Of Mr. CHII-reienEls commented upon the contingencies
tatioitar' %cod said, that he had much preferred the expla-
llp th °` to day to the remalles of yesterday. built
pro, e contingency of war upon so many conditions and
trittGeaifts, that it almost dissipated it entirely. Mr.
Aai tenden had but one object in his remarks, and that
yeate°4s'-iften the Edema which the Senator's remarks of
te„sel rtl4l might hx.ve excited. Ho should vote for the
fsnottliw-„"n,s,' h,°weNer, as he feared not that their adop-
;;ritt aaeten the contingency of the war. Mr.
**o years, kg affording time for reflection, suggested
kiaeW .eotiee instead of one.
toms 7eesTER here rose and said—Although these
!Pith ,t,i'ns did not charge the committees referred to
introci-Y.axtraordinary inquiries, yet he regretted their
kiehiuctlon
a„ now, and the remarks of the Senator from
tvee,F„-- as calculated to produce unnecessary alarm.
pek; .noecessary alarm about the state of the public
bashii,was great evil, and was severely felt upon the.
Gove" of the country. There were two ways in which
:Oa %
:Toe might proceed—we might excite a great
1 that Without any preparation, and we might proceed
Zsol;d:teuucribetinagnd efficient way of inquiry upon the
.na-
net d• "'flees which would attain the end desired, with-
the public tranquillity. Mr... Websterar
"-Abu Opinion that the President did not anticipate w
appr the tone of his Message did not exhibit that he
tloueerth,ed any se' s danger to the peace of the
Vfould 'l:e- Mr. Webster recurred to the losses which
With itgen, t our commerce and our seaboard from a war
dreadd, and was far from believing that any such
br"er.ftig,Zigeney was seriously. to be apprehended.
tet/tightf,a was astonished that nothing could be
,0,-eat it
Th -Nerd upon this floor in regard to Oregon but
.Ite rep' di invariably the opposition of the other side.
moieeer,laiated all the chop-logic about silence, and
ikeer "4,0 thing quietly, &c. But if we made a move-
'reel) .°Z, Mere inquiry about Oregon, we were told to
GreeLul, or there would be war; that the steamers of
attar tritain would ravage our coast, and their crews
hit, qur sucking pigs; while the Senator from Massa-
stetts talked of danger to commerce, and all about a
t?,f barren country on the coast of the Pacific. This
to G," very well. It was, perhaps, a small business to
right War about a few boxes of tea, or in defence of the
4_ of a few scores of ragamuffins of sailors. But
matter was not disposed to act so stealthily in this
lacy bullrr cower away to the bullying of Great Britain.
1337 I;l,Ying was the whole secret of her power—it was
andp-klYing' that she had got the nations of Europe
hatli; Leer
thumb. Just like some of our Court-house
felio2 in the West—they contrived to lick some. poor
then,"i"d then every fellow in the country considered
bullies, and not to be treated with contempt. But
atitlytenator from Massachusetts advised us to lay lowb
lol:dtseel\d'illr-" (Mr. Webster here explained what e
Petaelio-te iqr. Sevier" pursued his argument in a tone
reel b ic defiance to the end, and was disposed, so far
thee „emig silent, to talk to Great Britain a little louder
41nblg Yoody else.RIN respectfully dissented,. as one of the re-
„E the ves of the people on this floor, from the remarks
`Likt thsenator from Arkansas. Mr. Berrien regret:e.d
ted eregillr order of proceedings had been antici-
-4,4s iacot_h'se resolutions. He assumed that negotia-
tbr net at an end, from the evidence furnished in
tect;otht that final letter to Mr. Pakenhten. He
i:tine ~;",t if we should leave this matter of twelve-
di-.°"ne alone, Great Britain herself would give
to "4 Of
solve accordingly the joint occupancy of the
Ihtb r'.
goil, which he thought would be preferable
fee foe !g. the notice. The dispute, which had ex. -
t tei
the 'At dish„ rtY years, upon this question, was. not,. in
te for the territory, but fer the navigation of
Byte
D. 3 a„., and if two nations so intimatelyb asso-
hen-4 e united States and Great Britain sfitristldeexro-
tls-ted ell sa small an object, without having
-14114 the Ine!sils of an amicable adjustment, they would
Ala...2,!crations of all posterity, &c.
eilecittneenz! with almost unwonteclrergy, opposed the
solic‘icail9ris from the other side, to go on quietly,
theatieoli
oil in the inquiries proposed thronueghdethf.e,ndreed-
ell iLesolutioTstile senator from Michigan.
Idir Part "' and the speech of the mover upon thermornin.
ots Ittt:rieallotwithst.anding the objections and
p„.f•J. NCe.Z. against it to-day.
N 4: deeenee'eLaa•Topt took up the subject of the Atlantic
of '3P3.at 3' The neglect of Congtrs, for. 15 or 20
theffieien t° Put our seaboard fortifications in any state.
1414 bide Y was notorious. He concluded by saying,
4 ether
triadently of any opinion on the subject, and
r
fkesolltt,r'' would be peace or war, he should vote
„At ,oes.
Lerii(3rtegotniteß advocated the resolutions, and insisted
Ist, ekese.iii_iso far from being the barren desert
.it had
tate; Woce, "`-‘l, WaS a delightful and prolific region.
401? or c'afttiacE, in view of the propriety in any
f 'ting up our defences, especially along our
Them otiers, said he would vote for the resolutions.
*lr. result
aS,—Ayes 42, noes none.
taw ALLEN;,lligiol this morning introduced, on leave, the fol-
resolution, viz.:— t11;11•9 by the Renate and House of Representatives
htablett,!_ilted States of America, in Congress as-
ho
h, lhat the President of the United States
the'ee to 6, ia hereby advised to give, forthwith,
tate I,
Viet„Qover, Government of Great Britain. that.
()fie of th,,naent of the United States will, in
o:ngust, 'A sego
article of the convention of the 6th
13r:4t tritar.u. 827, between the United States and
elo`goe te .4 relative to the joint occupancy of the
Leeerltit44 frerroilt°l3', and after the expiration of twelve
komireceieedtuke day on which such notice shall have
aAiatia abreoY the Government of Great Britain,
IN 3Was r gate that convention."
tiged h:ti the first time, and a second reading
nir• Allen, but objected to.
13 Ni oi'd4bs •-•"
`e?rtnet 'NI) BRADFORD RAILWAY DIRECT.—An
04. ron,btaleeeting was held on Tuesday last, at Pudsoy,
rod
in the chair, many influential mill-
the tveur oi.'"unolders being present, when resolutions to lee is the above line were adopted. It appears
set7shipA ouf.Tinplated to pass through the important
tactwithout t',cl,3eY, Armly, and other places at pre-
ado Of loc l'ailwaY accommodation. The gradients
114,1)t the
atelornotive it is contemplated to
°sphericprinciple, with the latest improve-
tieegt • The
voice. meeting separated with scarcely a dissen-
-4°"qta
Ineecleath 1.7 Tne MRTROPOLIS.—The table of
Netcoateecias :,gliatered in the metropolis during the week end-
eton4 as 'January 10, 1846, exhibits a considerable
dimi-
g jaZaPlited with the week preceding. In the week
I,lencr, ~,,sn'ar,7 3, the total number of deaths, except from
coffin The i;,_;•061; in the week ending January 10 it was
'4' number of deaths registered in the week
o,larY 10, including have 'the lun deaths from violence, was 972.
beea lungs and other organs of respiration appear
during the last week, 308 deaths
tltitn,,berlitotulAadiprr-thaarsaf't:nllader
anyin other,
tail which is a larger
tattier ree,, esidente.
r of tiloiltails at
trrespondent of the
.John
itte poet Jon
titli;reilat w'll ob%O. Orkney, in
all rAti°ll of • here reached
I 1 Kirkwall,
Rtaell7l
Newyorkteh( eauteas :rrol?;211

PORTUGAL.
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

LISBON, JAN. 2.—Tile annual session of the Cortes was
opened this day by Donna Maria, with the following
speech from the throne:—
" Noble Peers of the Realm—Gentlemen Deputies of the
Portuguese Nation,—
" I again behold with great pleasure the representatives of
the nation assembled in this place.
" In the interval which has occurred since the last session
no grave event has disturbed peace and public order—they
continue unchanged.
" Our relations with foreign Powers are preserved in per-
fect harmony, corresponding to the care with which I have
endeavoured to draw closer the ties of friendship, and to pro-
mote the development of our mutual commercial interests.
" The dispositions of the treaty of commerce and naviga-
tion which was lately celebrates with Prussia have been ex-
tended in those points which were applicable to the greater
part of the states constituting the Germanic League of Cus-
tom-houses.

" A consular convention has been concluded with Spain
for the regulation of the powers of the respective consuls.
" The firmness with which I have caused to be carried
into effect the decree of the 10th of December, 1836, and
the treaty which binds this kingdom with Great Britain in
er.deavours to effect the suppression of the traffic of slavery,
have produced the happiest results.
"The good faith with which the Governinent bas con-
tinued to discharge its liabilities, both at home and abroac,
is producing the most satisfactory consequences in all that
has reference to the re-establishment and consolidation of
public credit,.
"By the budget for the approaching economical year,
with which you will be presented, in conformity with the
fundamental law of the monarchy, you will learn what are
the charges and obligations of the state in the said year and
the means and resources from which the same must be liqui-
dated.

"I feel assured you will lend the most serious attention to
the examination of the estimates, and the projects of law by
which they will be accompanied, to the end that the Govern-
ment may be empowered to proceed in the faithful discharge
of the duties which are imposed on it in this most important
department of the public administration.
"In determining the sea and land forces you will keep in
view what the public safety and the dignity of the nation
require.

"Regarding the various branches of public service which
call for legislative measures, my Ministers will lay before you
such proposals as may be deemed fitting, and experience re-
commend.

"I confide in the Chambers affording to my Government
that efficacious and enlightened ce-operation, without which
it is impossible to reap the advantages of a representative
Government.

"The session is opened."
At half-past one o'clock the cersmony was concluded, and
the assembly dispersed.

LORD METCALFE.

A meeting of gentlemen connected with the North
American Colonies was held on Thursday, in the Committee-
room of the North American Association, Leadenhall-street,
for the purpose of agreeing upon an address to be presented
to Lord Metcalfe upon the occasion of his Lordship's return
from Canada to this country. The chair was taken at one
o'clock, by Mr. Robert Gillespie, who was supported by a
numerous assemblage of gentlemen connected with our
American colonies.

The CHAIRMAN, having stated the nature and object of
the meeting, and also pronounced an eloquent eulogium on
the Noble Lord to whom it was intended to pay the tribute
of a public address, begged attention to that which would be
read by the Secretary.
The SECRETARY read it as follows :
" TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD METCALFE, G.C.8., &C.
"My Lord,—'We, the undersigned merchants and others
connected with the British North American provinces, beg
most respectfully to express to your Lordship our heartfelt
thankfulness for your safe return to this country, and our
sincere and earnest hope that your valuable life may be
prolonged, to your own comfort, and for the service of your
country.

" Aware of the high reputation your Lordship had acquired
as a statesman of consummate skill, firmness, and justice in
the Governments which you held in India and Jamaica, we
hailed with the greatest satisfaction your appointment as
Governor-General of the North American colonies at a period
when the inhabitants of Canada were in a distracted state,
and the Government surrounded by difficulties of no ordinary
character.

"By the exercise of firmness, combined with patient for-
bearance, and with a singleness of purpose to render equal
justice to all, you have succeeded, my Lord, in upholding
the prerogatives of the Crown, in promoting the prosperity
of the people, in softening in some measure the asperities of
party hostility, and in establishing a form of government
which, if carried out in the spirit in which it has been con-
ceived by your Lordship, will be of the utmost advantage to
all classes of the inhabitants of Canada.

" While we deeply regret the painful malady which has
made it necessary for your Lordship, in accordance with the
considerate permission of her most Gracious Majesty, to ter-
minate your connexion with the North American colonies,
we are desirous of according our admiration and gratitude
for the devoted attention which, in the midst of personal
suff rings of a most aggravated nature, you continued to
apply to the affairs of the colony committed to your charge
so long as you were enabled to remain there.—We have the
honour to remain, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient
humble servants. (The signatures follow here.)
" London, Jan. 15, 1846."
It was then moved and seconded, and unanimously adopted,
that the address be engrossed, preparatory to lying for sig-
natures at the office of the Association, and should eventually
be presented by a deputation consisting of the chairman, and
the movers and seconders of the several resolutions. The
meeting then broke up.

THE TEN HOURS BILL.

LORD MORPETH AND THE YORKSHIRE CENTRAL
SHORT-TIME COMMITTEE.

AN APPEAL TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD VISCOUNT MORPETH,
EV THE CENTRAL SHORT-TIME COMMITTEE OF THE