The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-09 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWS

THIRTEEN DAYS LATER.

We have received, via llavre, New York papers to tke
Bth of March. Their contents are important.

The latest speech in the Senate was that of Mr. Cal-
houn, on the 12th of March. He objected to the un-
c quivocal notice respecting the Oregon question, but was
opposed also to the equivocal resolution of the Senate.
Of the two questions, " compromise" or " war," he ad-
vocated the former. The reasons which he gave for this
conclusion will be found in the abstract of his speech,
given below.

The papers by this arrival are full of accounts of the
disasters and destruction of property caused by the
breaking up of the ice on the river, and the sudden rise
of the waters. Numerous shipwrecks bad also occurred;
the details of some of which will be found amongst our

extracts.
Tue Hibernia steamer had not arrived at New York
on the 18th ult.
The money market was much depressed.
The news from Texas is that the Bill for delivering
the public property to the United States had passed the
Senate without opposition.
From Canada we have accounts to the 9th of March.
The intelligtnce is only of local interest.
For our shipping news by this arrival we refer to the
usual head. The following are our political and com-
mercial ex t racts :
" THE OREGON TERRITORY.
"We understand that negotiations are on foot at
Washington, among the several sections of the demo-
cracy, for the purpose of effecting
.a union on a certain
ine of policyson the Oregon question—and that it is
probable that all negotiation will be suspended—the
policy of masterly inactivity' adopted—and a trial
made of the sense of the country on 49 and 54 40. A
few days will tell the secrets."

IMPORTANT MOVEMENTS AT WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, MARCH 15, 1846.—The Oregon ques-
tion is in as confused and excitable a condition as ever.
What will be the result of the various motions before
the Senate no one seems to be able to tell. Some doubt
whether the " notice" will be given, and whether the
whole matte! may not be laid on the table, by a com-
plete revolution in the attitude of the different sections
in the Senate. Many of the ultra-Oregon men, instead
of being favourable to the notice, have only turned right
round in favour of " masterly inactivity," or no move-
ment at all. , This course of action has been adopted, in
coibequence of the belief in keeping the question open
for future contingency throughout the country. In the
meantime, Mr. Calhoun speaks to-morrow, and crowds
are collecting into this city for the purpose of hearing
that distinguished man on the great question into which
the country is precipitated.
Last evening there was a caucus of the ultra-Oregon
Members, comprising ten Senators, and many Members
from the House. It is said they are against all negotia-
tion—against all compromise, and even against the
notice, if necessary—that they will probably adopt
" masterly inactivity," and lay the whole subject on the
table, bringing forward measures for giving territorial
government to Oregon, within the previsions of a
treaty similar to that passed in 1821 by England.
It is the purpose of the sticklers for the whole of
Oregon to make it the political question of the day, and
withdraw it from all negotiation, and take the chance of
fighting for it, in 10, or 15, or 20 years hence. It is
even believed that Mr. Polk may be induced to adopt
this line of action, and thus be enabled to unite the whole
party on some policy in favour of the whole territory at
a future day, without opening the negotiation now, or
endangering the peace of the country. Such is the con-
fused condition of things that any result may be expected
as to the issue of the debate in the Senate on the nego-
tiation about Oregon.
(From the New York Herald, March 17.)
WASHINGTON, MARCH 17.—The sensation—for it VMS
a sensation—awakened by the rising of Mr. Calhoun in
the Senate, on Thursday last, as the visible sign that ho
would speak to-day, caused the galleries, three hours
before the meeting of the Senate, to be filled.
Mr. Calhoun, with a short and concise preface, ca-
tered into an examination of the expediency f the
notice. From the recommendations of the President, it
was thought, at the beginning of the session, that the
notice would lead to a series of measures resulting
in war. Since that time the phase of affairs had materially
changed. There was no more an idea entertained now of
war than that our title was "clear and unquestionable"
to the whole territory of Oregon. He opposed, not-
withstanding, the unequivocal notice ; he was opposech
also, to the equivocal resolutions of the House ; and, it
he should advocate the notice in any shape, it would be
in the form of the senator from Georgia (Mr. Colquitt),
embracing a recommendation for the settlement of the
controversy by "compromise." There were two alter-
natives of settlement—war, or :a " compromise." 10
every point of view the latter was the preferable mode.
War would involve us in an inextricable national debt--
lead to the re-establishment of a rotten paper systelo
—concentrate all the powers of the States into a federal
government, and terminate in a central military des'
potism. Peace would give momentum to the great work
in progress—it would extend our commerce—it would
increase our internal wealth—it would erect our roads
and canals—it would relieve the States—it would extend,
our borders—it would preserve us Oregon—it would
establish a beneficial fraternity of interest between the,
great nations upon whose exertions the civilisation 01
the world mainly depends—the United States and Great
Britain.

Mr. Calhoun regretted the impatience of the senators
of the west, but he felt assured that they themselves
were, perhaps, beginning to think that our title to the
whole territory was not so clear and unquestionable es
they had at first imagined, and that war was not the
pastime of an hour. He earnestly desired a speedy ad-
justment by compromise, because, among other mew
sures, the settlement of our controversy with Alexlee
depended upon the adjustment or non-adjustment of the
conflicting claims to Oregon between us and Gret4
Britain. In the event of a war upon this questioef
Mexico would at once act upon the offensive, and 14
Mexico on the south, under the discipline of British
officers, and by British steamers along the sea-board'
the Canadians on the north, a British fleet upon tb°
lakes, and the Indians on the west, we should be en
fi'
laded on every side.

THE QUESTION OF THE DAY.
(From the New York Herald, March 15.) I,
The debate on the Oregon question continues vvit
unabated interest in the United States Senate, while to'
agitation spreads throughout the country. The polo°
in dispute may appear small—being a difference beteve°ll
49 deg. and 54 deg. 40 min.—but on this very difference
the awful result of " peace" or " war" hangs. This
tQ
the contingency which gives edge—force—interest, to t""
debate in the Senate. The last accounts show that MT;
Evans, of Maine, has finished a speech of two days '4l'
length. He went through the usual topics connect
with the title ; but, as far as regarded his vote on tbt
various propositions before that body, he seemed to 01
in a state of bewilderment and confusion. "I do 1,10,
know," says Mr. Evans, " as to whether I shall vote WI
notice, or no notice—l can't tell if it be peaceful, or 0°
peaceful—l do not understand the motive of the Press.
dent. Here is the great difficulty—the deep emburriiss;
no nt—the awful mystery—which hangs over the Oregfa,
question, involving, in its consequence, the foreign relni
toms
of the country, to the most unexampled extent, s-
ail the alternatives of peace or war."
While this state of agitation is increasing—wideni°,/
from its centre in Washington—it is not possible for the
people of this great metropolis to look calmly and etang
iTdhly upon it, e
PresidentnadndtoCotankgerensos appearintre to st in
such a
surroundedqu esritiol:t ,1
be
embarrassment and doubt. They seem not to lc°
what to do in the present crisis. They are anxious.:
ascertain the sentiments of the people, and from the !,‘",
dications presenting themselves every day, we have 14
strongest reasons for believing that the people, from
time forward, will take this question in their own iitip
and give forth their views and purposes in every 0011101
election.
question, commencing
nthoenanmaetnunrianlgprwoigthretshs
eofEtxheiscugtriveeataannddcaognit:rt;
and radiating gradually through the whole country,
the whole masses of the population become feeesente
and agitated.temomentous
The
issues
pa
therefore,eneand ivDis
It presents holds ie it
handsh
to the people of this metropolis a .1
more important topic of discussion and decisi."„
than mere local reforms, or local questiong, 11,
volved, usually, in our charter elections. It is '3
virus that the interests hanging upon this question, 0
connected with this metropolis, are mightier and deeply,
and broader, than the mere corporate interests of tiii
city. Such being the case, it is very natural Icirs o
minds of our citizens to take the earliest opportunity
ti
presenting this question to the people at the POll%O
order to furnish some light as to their purposes citj
views, as soon as possible. The distribution of 0,
offices, or the value of a few local reforms, or the 'le
cendancy of any political sect of politicians, all dvetigi
into insignificance when compared with the vast fov;be
commerce of this large and populous city, which leo
ginning already to be affected by the portentous esPeoo
things at Washington, by the embarrassed positlatio
our fl reign relations, by the mysteries of the exec
mansion, and by the agitations of the capitol.
si
In this broad aspect of the present position "reig
Government and the people, connected with our 1° yes
relations, we should not he at all surprised to °chief
new and important issue involved in our apPr°sieips
election; neither should we be surprised tosee "1011,11sse
reform"—the ascendancy of this clique or that 00's
the strength of this party or that party, °°°l3:tifil
all to give way to this new division, this distrioe'
controversy on the subject of the foreign relyf frce!
of the country. A new and important question is.le se'
upon this community by the action of the Executive its,
the Congress—a question in which is involved tPI34
prosperity of this city for years to come, be4oo tly
value of twenty corporations, and the existence 0'49 deb
t
parties heretofore in being. Are the people for of
o
or 54 dig. 40 min. ? Will they give up five degs7;thei,
the Pacific for the sake of permanent peace ? 11_060!
in favour of peace or war ? These are the (leulectiol:
most likely to be presented at the approaching coed .
and all other questions will have to be po.s."Pihe cod
s.
some more convenient time. We cannot rest
tagion—the cholera of Washington.

NEW DIVISION OF PARTIES ,
(From the .New Vor/: Herald, March 17.) iiticA
The great issues which have been cast in the 11% )00
cauldron during the past few years bid fair to act 1i!
some chemical agent, and precipitate to the bott°rngreii
which has heretofore predominated. In 1844 nti fot'e'
mass of the men who, in 1840, supported fiarr''°"'