The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-09 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWS.

THE OREGON QUESTION.
THE NOTICE.

We have received, via Havre, most important advices from
Washington, to the 16th ult. inclusive. They brirg the re-
sult of the debate in the Senate upon the Oregon questit.n.
WASHINGTON CITY (UNITED STATES),
MONDAY, APraL 13, 1846.

In the Senate this morning there was a conversational de-
bate between Mr. Aller, Mr. CI ittenden, Mr. Morehead, Mr.
Clayton, and others, which resulted in an understanding (in-
formally) that the vote on the resolutions respecting the
twelve months' notice to terminate the joint convention rela-
tive to the Oregon territory should be taken on Thursday.
Mr. lluntington, of Connecticut, addressed the Senate
to-day at length in favour of a settlement of the Oregon
controversy by a compromise on the 49th degree.
A message was also received from the President, in reply
to Mr. Clayton's resolution of inquiry, which stated that
no furtinr correspondence on the subject of Oregon had
passed between the Governments of the United States and
Great Britain since the 4th of February (the arbitration
correspondence). . .

TUESDAY, ,Aran. 14.

Mr. Westcott, of Florida, addressed the Senate in support
of the title of the United States up to 54 deg. 40 min., but
in opposition to notice, which, he believed, if it did not
bring on a war immediately, would at the expiration of
twelve months; and as the United States were not prepared
for war, he should vote against the notice in all its shapes
and forms.

Mr. M'Duffie, of South Carolina, said a few words by
way of addenda to Mr. Westcott's speech, as that gentle-
man had attempted by appealing to " Hansard" to show
that Great Britain had admitted the ti le of Spain to the
territory in dispute. Mr. M'Duffie showed, by quotations
from the following page of the same volume froni—wirgr
Mr. Westcett has been quoting, that Great Britain had al-
ways denied the righ:, of Spain to exclusive jurisdiction in
Oregon.
WED*ESDAY, APRIL 15.—Mr. Samuel Houston, of Texas,
addressed the Senate today in a speech in favour of the
American title to 54 degrees 40, and advocating the "naked
notice" as it is called, or a simple resolution giving the no-
tice without preamble or qualification cf any kind. Ile in
in the course of his speech, however, that a treaty
which settled the matter on the 49th degree would receive
his vote.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16.—The Senate Chamber and gal-
leries were very much crowded this morning by persons
anxious to see and hear the closing scenes of this long pro-
tracted debate, which has extended over nine weeks, and
also to see to what results it would lead.
Mr. Ciittendcu, of Kentucky, led off in a very able and
elequent speech, in support of the preamble and resolutions
which he had offered, authorising the President to give the
notice at his discretion.
Mr. Reverdy Johnson, of Maryland, moved the adoption,
as a substitute, of the following preamble and resolution,
which is the same as that offered by Mr. Crittenden, with
the insertion of the word " amicable' before the word " set-
tlement" at the conclusion of the preamble, and the omission
of the following proviso at the end of the resolution :—" Pro-
vided, however, that in order to afford ampler time and op-
portunity for the amicable settlement and adjustment of all
their differences and disputes in respect to the said territory,
said notice ought not to be, given until after the close of the
present session of Congress."
"'W hereas, by the convention concluded the 20th day of
October, 1818, between the United States of America and
the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire-
land, fur the period of ten years, and afterwards indefinitely
extended and continued in force by another convention of
the same parties concluded the 6th day of August, in the
year of our Lord 1827, it was agreed that any country that
may be claimed by either party on the north-west coast of
America westward of the Stony or Rocky Mountains, now
commonly called the Oregon territory, should, together with
its harbours, bays, and creeks, and the navigation of all ri-
vers within the same, be 'free and open' to the vessels, citi-
zens, and subjects of the two powers, but without prejudice
to
clairn which either of the parties might have to any
part oyf
the said country ; and with this further provision, in
an
the second article of the said convention of the 6th of August,
1827, that either party might abrogate and annul said con-
vention on giving due notice of twelve months to the other
contracting party.
" And whereas it has now become desirable that the re-
spective claims of the United States and Great Britain should
be definitely settled, and that said territory may no longer
than need be remain subject to the evil consequences of the
divided allegiance of its American and British population,
and of the confusion and conflict of national jurisdictions,
dangerous to the cherished peace and good understanding of
the two countries:
." With a view, therefore, that steps be taken for the abro-
gation of the said convention of the 6th of August, 1827, in
the mode prescribed m its second article, and that the at-
tention of the Governments of both countries may be the
more earnestly and immediately directed to renewed efforts
for the amicable settlement of their differences and disputes
in respect to the said territory;
"1. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby
authorised; at his discretion, to give to the British Govern-
ment the notice required by its said article for the abrogation
of the 6th of August, 1827."
Mr. Allen moved to amend this substitute by striking out
the second and third paragraphs of the preamble, and in-
serting an extract from the President's Message, commencing
"And whereas it has now become the duty of Congress," &cc.
Mr. of Virginia, then rose, and spoke at
some l nYePngenthibnacekxeprianation of his reason for opposing the
substitute.
The question being taken on the amendment proposed by
Mr. Allen, it was decided in the negative by a vote of—
yeas '42, noes 32.
Mr. Allen moved to lay the resolution reported by the
Senate Committee on foreign affairs on the table, iu order
that the resolutions adopted by the House of Representatives
might be taken up and and a fled upon, which was agreed to.

Mr. Breese, of Illinois, then moved to amend the

Lute by striking out the Words " at his discretion" in the
resolution. The question being taken, the motion was de-
cided in the negative by a vote of—yeas 22, noes 32.
The question was thea taken on the adoption of the sub-
stitute, and decidedin the affirmative by a vote of—yeas 30,
noes 24.
Mr. Allen then spoke at some length in opposition to the
rc solution as thus modified, declaring his intention to vote
against it even if he voted alone.
Mr. Crittenden replied to Mr. Allen. who rejoined, and Mr.
Crittenden sur-rejoined in a strain of great severity towards
Mr. Allen.

The Committee of the whole having reported the amend.
ment to the Senate, it was concurred in.

The question the: recurred on ordering the joint resolution
to be engros3ed and read a third time, which was decided in
the affirmative by a vote of—yeas 40, noes 14.
So the Senate agreed by a majority of 26 out of 54 votes
to adopt the resolution as amended, which will now have
to be seat back to the House of Representatives fir its con
currence.

WASIIINGToN, ApMI. 116,

Mr. Slidell has returned from his mission to Mexico with-
out having accomplished anything whatever, Paretes posi-
tively refusing to receive hint as a Minister Plenipotentiary,
though, it is said, they are wiiling to receive a special com-
missioner to settle pending difficuli ies.
Simultaneous as it would appear with the orders for Mr.
Slidell to return to the United States, General Taylor re•
ceived orders to march the troops under his command from
Corpus Christie to the Rio Grande, and they are now oppo-
site the city of Matamoras, having put the Mexicans into a
tremendous fright, so that the Government official there set
fire to the Custom-house, and ran off as fast as he could.
It is said that the Senate will not act upon any measures
of importance sent to it by the House until that body has
acted definitely upon the resolutions of notice, whidb. the
Senate passed yesterday.
The Tariff Bill, which has been reported by the Committee
of Ways and Means, is hardly expected to pass Congress this
session, nor perhaps the next either.