The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-16 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWS.

ARRIVAL OF THE HIBERNIA.
LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY EVENING.
This afternoon, shortly after fire o'clock, the Royal
Mail steam-ship Hibernia, Captain llarrison, announced
her approach by the firing of cannon, having made her
voyage from Boston and Halifax with her usual speed
and punctuality. She sailed from Boston on the Ist,
and Halifax on the 3d inst., and was thus occupied about
thirteen days from the former port, and brings 118 pas-
sengers. We are grieved to find by the New Yurk
papers of the 27th ult., that the splendid packet-ship
Henry Clay, Captain Neye, the best and largest ship
belonging to ..New York, has been wrecked on Squaw
Beach, during a fearful gale. Her value was estimated

at 90,000 dollars.
The political and commercial news is not of impor-
tane,e, the position of all the affairs usually classified
under these heads is still unsettled. Beth the Oregon
and Mexican questions were at the time of the steamer's
departure in an uneasy posture, so much so that all
business was more or less affected by that uneasiness.
The former question was still before the Senate, who
had not concluded their interminable debate upon the
resolutions relating to the notice to quit. It appears that
one of the Senators, Mr. Dayton, had asked for infor-
mation of the President respecting the necessity for an
increase of the naval and military power of the States.
On the 24th of March a special message from the Presi-
dent was sent to the Senate in reply to a call of that
body, made, as already observed, by the motion of Mr-
Dayton. In this message the President commences by
a reference to his message to Congress in December, in
which he recommended the increase of the defences,
and especially the construction of a steam navy. That
opinion he re-asserts, and again urges the expediency of
augmenting the forces of the United States by land
and sea.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.—SENATE.
The speech of Mr. Haywood, of North Carolina, to
which we have adverted in our summaries of news by
previous arrivals, continued to produce a great sensation
in the democratic portion of the Senate for some time. It
has only recently been published, and the publication
bids fair to perpetuate the animosity its delivery engen-
dered. The folly of the executive, his shiftless, reckless
couree' and the miserable contemptible trickery by
which Polk and his supporters seek to compass his and
_their paltry political objects, without caring a brass
farthing for the real merits of the question at issue, are
deserving of nothing but ridicule • and nothing but the
magnitude of the interests involved, to which these
people unfortunately are parties, prevents us from meting
out to them the full measure of their deserts. Mr. Hay-
wood has been regarded as an Administration man, and
his taking his stand in favour of attempting a compro- -
parse upon the 49th degree of latitude was supposed to
indicate a change in the sentiments of the President to
the same effect. This confidential position was not de-
nied by Mr. Haywood verbally, but in his printed speech
the Senator disclaims such authori\ty.
On the 18th Mr. Archer, of Va., addressed the Senate
in, favour of an honourable compromise of the Oregon
question, and adversely to the claim to the whole terri-
tory. He took manly, patriotic, and pacific ground for
the settlement of the" question; confessing that he had not
• nerve enough, to plunge the country into a useless war,
and that he did not abide by the maxim "our country,
right orevrong," unless it was to be applied during war.
When \war came,' all were bound to stand by the country.
The proper line of compromise was forty-nine, and Mr.
Archer thot2ght the question should be settled by adopt-
ing this-line.
Nothing of moment occurred until the 25th, when the
Oregon natice was taken up, and Mr. Sevier, of Ark.,
made a strong speech on the subject, in support of the
American title," and ridiculing the panic which had pre.
veiled in the Senate—he called it a senatorial, stampede.
He took his stand on forty:nine. (What has become
of the.. 54. 40 men?) Mr. Sevier said there was nothing
in the Bahia:lore Convention—and he was a member of
it—that precluded the President from settling the
Oregon question by compromise. But Mr. Sevier thought
it probable there would be a war; and he gave his reasons
for the opihion. The people cf this country would con-
cede nothing south of fortyliine. The British Govern-
ment, he was convinced, would not give up the naviga-
tion of the Columbia river, which, by the way, was un-
navigable, as he believed. Therefore, the two parties
might come to blows. Nations had often quarrelled about
worthless things. He was convinced that if this question
should remain open till the summer and autumn elections
took place, there must be a war. The people of this
country and of Great Britain, too,were beconaing excited
upon this question: " •
It was in this stage of the proceedings (March 24th)
that the message of the President was received in answer
_ to the queries of Mr. Dayton's resolve. We Lave giien
the message at length, and without comment in this
place, as we have remarked upon it, elsewhere. The
message, and the. accompanying debate, is from the
National Intelligencer
:
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
To THE'SENATE Or THE UNITED STATES—
In answer to the inquiry of the Senate, contained in
`their resolution of the 17th instant, whether, in my
" judgment, any circumstances connected with, or grow-
ing out of the foreign relations of this country, require
at this time an increase of our naval or military force,"
and if so, " what those circumstances are," I have to ex-
press the opinion that a wise precaution demands such
increase.
In my annual message of the 2d December last, I re-
commended to the favourable consideration of Congress
an increase of our naval force, especially of our steam
navy, and the raising o: an adequate military force to
guard and protect such of our citizens as might think
proper to emigrate to Oregon. Since that period, I have
seen- no'cause to recall or modify these recommenda-
tions. .0n the contrary, reasons exist which, in my judg-
ment, render it proper not only that they should be
promptly carried into effect, but that additional pro
vision should be made for the public defence.
The consideration of such additional provision was
brought before appropriate Committees of the two
Houses of Congress, in answer to calls made by them in
reports prepared, with my sanction, by the Secretary of
War and the-Secretary of the Nuvy, on the 29th'Decem-
bar and the Bth January last; a mode of communication
with Congress not unusual, and under existing circum-
stances believed to be most eligible. Subsequent events
have confirmed me in the opinion that these recom-
mendations were proper and precautionary measures.
It was a wise maxim of the father of his country,
that " to be prepared for war, is one of the most effi-
cient means of preserving peace ;" and that, " avoiding
occasion of expense by cultivating peace," we should
" remember, also, that timely disbursements to prepare
for danger frequently prevent much greater disborse-
menta to. repel it." The general obligation to psrform
this duty is greatly strengthened by facts known to the
whole world. A controversy respecting the Oregon
territory now exists between the United States, and
Great Britain ; and while, as far as we know, the rela-
tions of the latter with all European nations are of the
most pacific character, she is making unusual and ex-
traordinary armaments and warlike preparations, naval
and military, both at home and in her North American
possessions.
It cannot be denied that, however sincere may be the
desire of peace, in the eveut of a rupture those instru-
ments and preparations would be used against obrcountry.
Whatever may have been the original purpose of these
orepartitions, the fact is undoubted that they are now
proceectng, in part at least, with a view to the con-
tingent possibility of a war with the United States.
The general policy of making additional warlikeeh
fprorem-
parations was distinctly announced, in the s p
the Throne, as late as January last, and has since been
reiterated by the Ministers of the Crown in both
Houses of Parliament. Under this aspect of our rela-
tioni with Great Britain, I cannot doubt the propriety
of increasing our means of defence, both by land and
sea. Teviheei
as
should
hecoat
uhnledgdifato•
nel
gd
eGrorteloraf t
aarßritainmrus pitnu
rs nee
security
causei of offence,
f,ty,onantdh the
at last
nortrar yi7
be sudipnly involved in hostilities for the maintenance
bf ourb just -rights, without any adequate preparation,
our responsibility to the country would be of the
gravest character. Should collision between the two
countries be avoided, as I sincerely trust it may be, the
additional charge upon the treasury, in making tie ne
cessary preparations, will not be lost; while, in the event
of such a collision, they would be indispensablenaonal
hnofoortui.he.
,maintenance of our national rights and national
I have seen no reason to change or modify the recom-
mendations of my annual message in regard to the
Thean al
,Oregon question.notice to abrogate the treaty of
the 6th of August, 1827, is authorised by the treaty it-
self, and cannot
:I cannot withhold rsdtreoduagseaonwviaertlioiknetmhaet it shouldasure; and
be
m regarded
be promptly given. The other recommendations are in
conformity with the existing treaty, and would afford
•to American citizens in Oregon no more than the same
measure. of protection which has long since been ex-
tended to British subjects in that territory.
The state of our relations with Mexico is still in an un-
settled condition. Since the meeting of Congress another
revolution has taken place in that country, by which the
Government has passed into the hands of new rulers.
This event has procrastinated, and may possibly defeat,
the settlement of the differences between the United
States and that country. The Minister of the United
States to Mexico, at the date bf the last advices, had not
been received by the existing authorities. Demonstra-
tions of a character hostile to the United States continue
to be made in Mexico, which has rendered it proper, in
my judgment, to keep nearly two-thirds of our army on
our south-western frontier. In doing this, many of
the regular military posts have been reduced to a small
force, inadequate to their defence, should an emergency
arise.
In view of these "'circumstances," it is my "judg-
ment" that ".an increase of our naval and military force
is at this time required," to place the country in a suit-
able state of defence. At the same time it is my settled
purpose to pursue such a course of policy as may be best
calculated to preserve, both with Great Britain and
Mexico, an. honourable peace ; which nothing will so
effectually promote, as unanimity in our councils, and a
firm maintenance of all our just rights.
JAMES K. POLK.
Washington, March 24, 1846.
The clerk having read the message,
• Mr. Webster rose for the purpose of inquiring into a
matter referred to in it, without intending to make any
commentary or any remarks whatever. It would be per-
ceived, from
.the reading of the message, that'it was the
judgment of the President that an increase of oar means
pf defence, both military and naval, had become faeces-
. _

sary by the circumstances of the country. The amount
or extent of that necessary increasewas not stated in the
message, but the President had stated that estimates,
showing the extent of the necessary increase of our
means of military and naval defence, had been cora-
municated from the at propriate departments of the
Executive Government to the appropriate Com-
mittees in that and the other House of Congress
for their advisement and consideration. He would
not complain at all of this mode of communi-
cating to the Members of Congress the judgment of
the Executive on such highly important subjects ; he
would not complain of it, because, as the President had
said, it was not unusual. -Recently, it was not unusual ;
but the practice was of recent origin, and, in his judg-
ment, it was one not to be encouraged. He did not know
whether the Hon. Members of the Senate who were re-
spectively at the head of the different Committees had
communicated these estimates hi any way to the body to
which they belonged. And he rose to inquire, there-
fore, beginning with the Hon. Senator from Missouri,
who was at the head of the Committee on Military Af-
fairs, what that communication was, and whether he
could not suggest some mode of bringing it to the know-
ledge of the whole body of the Senate, because it was
said in the message that the communication was 'made
with the sanction of the President himself.
Mr. Benton rose and observed, that a proper intro-
duction to an answer to the Hon. Senator's inquiry
would be to say that the information had been commu-
nicated to the Committees by the heads of departments,
in conformity with applications made by the Committees,
which applications were in obedience to resolutions
passed at the commencement of the session, instructing
the Committees to inquire and report what increase, it
any, was necessary to be made in the military and naval
defences of the country. The Committees were prompted,
as a matter of course, to make the inquiries of the proper
departments of the Government ; and the military Com-
mittee having made application to the St cretary of War,
that functionary returned an answer, which answer was
in the bands of the Committee. There was much of it
which it might be very proper, perhaps, to make public,
but there were other parts which the Committee thought
it would not be proper to make public. The informa-
tion was all in the hands of the Committee, however (he
spoke of the military Committee alone), and they had
not deemed it necessary to take action upon it.
Mr. Fairfield said, in answer to the Hon. Senator from
Massachusetts,_as_ far as. related to the Committee on
naval aff.tin, that, subsequently to the passage of the
resolution of the Hon. Senator from Michigan (Mr. Cass),
instructing the Committee to inquire what measure, it
any, were necessary to be taken for the defence of the
country, letters were written by direction of the Com-
mittee, to the Secretary of the Navy, requesting infor-
mation and estimates ; and in reply a communication
had been received, and had been read to the Senate and
published ; and, in conformity with it, a Bill had been.
reported, and was now upon the calendar.
Mr. J. M. Clayton inquired whether the Naval Com-
mittee had reported all the information which they had
received from the department.
Mr. Fairfield said the communication was accompanied
by reports from the heads of the various naval bureaus.
_ These, reports were made by the heads of the bureaus
to the Secretary of the Navy, and by him transmitted to
the Committ-e, with the understanding that they were to
be returned to him again. They were transmitted to
the Committee merely for the purpose of enabling them
to make the proper estimates. These reports were vo-
lumniohs, and were not Communicated to the Senate.
Mr, Webster said he had intended only to make the
inquiry, but he desired now to follow it by a single re-
mark. After what had fallen from the chairman of the
Committee on Naval Affairs, he wished to ask two things.
First, whether the Secretary of the Navy, in communi-
cating the estimates, inforted the Committee that he had
the sanction of the. President to those estimates 2 And,
secondly, whether the communication which the Senator
stated had'bebn made t 6 the Senate, contained the same
information, to wit, the estimates prepared for the
Committee, under the sanction and direction of the
President'?

Mr. Fairfield replied that the communication to him
of the fact that the estimates had received the sanction.
of the President was a verbal communication from the
Secretary of the Navy, who, had transmitted them.
Mr. Webster said he understood the Senator to say,
then, that the only authority upon which he.based 'his.
knowledge of the estimates having been made out under ,
the sanction, of the President. Was a,verbal communica-
tion, and that not even that was communicated tO' the
Senate by him, on introducing the Bill for the augnsenta-":
tion of the navy.'.' He had 'only ffirther to sarthat,- as'.
soon as might be convenient to the Hon. Senator who"_:
was chairman of-the Committee on-Military. Affairs, who,.
ha presumed, had received information in the same way
of the estimates having received the sanction and been
prepared under the direction of the President7.-he hoped
that as Soon as it might 'be- found convenient by the
Hon. Senator (it was altogether in the Senator's own.
discretion, of course), he would communicate, as.far as
was-proper to be•communieated,• and no further, to the
Senate the information which the committee had received:.
He was quite content to„lea'ie' it .to the discretion of the
Senator from Missouri as to what..portions of thol,in-
formation-were proper for publication, and to form the
tojicS"Of public discusiion. •
Mr. Benton observed that, as chairman of the Com--
mittee on Military Affairs, he deemed himself .only the
organ of that Committee, and as soon as he had the
sanction of the Committee lie would have great satisfac-
tion in communicating to the Senate the information .
which the Hon. Senator desired. .

Mr. Webster was understood to say (from his seat)
the Senator is an organ that I have more confidence in
than I have in some other organs.
Mr. Benton (also from his seat) remarked that he re-
garded the secretaries.of the departments as being the
organs of the President. _ _

'kr. Cass requested the reading of that part of the
message which referred to the increase of the army and.
navy. He remarked, that if he understood it correctly
the President now recommends a greater armament than
was recommended by him at the early part of the
session.

The passage having been read by the Secretary,
Mr. Casa said he would merely remark, that notwith-
standing every effort of his in the Senate and out of it,
this matter had been allowed to sleep for many weeks,
and he was glad to find that it was now pressed upon.
their attention by the executive message, and not by
British cannon.

Mr. J. M. Clayton inqnired if the chairman of the
Committee on Naval Affairs how many ships of war were
recommended in the communication of the Secretary ?
Mr. Fairfield replied that he did not at that moment.:
recollect the number.

On the 26th, Mr. Allen, of Ohio, endeavoured to have,
some day fixed for the closing of the Oregon debate, but
Without success. [ft is not improbable that another
attempt will be made for the same purpose; the result
may be found in the latest Congress proceedings.]
Mr. J. M. Clayton's resolution, calling on the Presi-
dent for any further correspondence that may have taken
place between the United States and Great Britain, about.
Oregon, so that the Senate might act advisedly on the
question of notice, was taken up.
A spirited debate took place, but no decision was
reached; when, on motion,
The ,Oregon resalutions were taken up, and Mr..
Miller, of New Jersey, addressed the Senate.
The Senate spent an hour in Executive Session this.
evening, ratifying the commercial treaty with Belgium,.
by a very large vote, and afterwards adjourning to Mon-
day next, against the remonstrance of several Senators.
Mr. Serruys, the charge d'affaircs to Belgium, will
take the treaty home with him.
Besides the Senators whose speeches have been no-
ticed above somewhat at length, Messrs. Benton, Dix,
Niles, and others, have spoken. Allen and Hanuegatt
have also been heard very frequently, but the 54.40 party
is defunct—an omnibus would hold them.