The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-04
MR.. CALHOUNs SPEECH ON THE
TREATY,

MN ShLI1OOANo "a HcCAA ~
TREATY.
Never, since we have been the conductor Of
political Journal, have we discharged duty 10
our readers with more pleasure TO ourself, in the
publication of a speech, than on the present &C.
casion. The great Senatorial production IN our
columns to-day, gives indubilable evidence in
every paragraph that il is the emanatlon OF
great Statesman, a true Patriot, and CHRIS
TrAN.
We thank Mr. Calhoun with sincerity
which we can find no words TO express, Tor this
great and good speech. We thank him too Tor
publishing it at this juncture Never was
speech better timed. The ultra Wing presses,
combining with the Globe and Mr.. Benton,
have BEEN and are yet, moving heaven and
earth to FORCE tide of opposition against the
Treaty of Washington, merely because II was
consummated under this Administration. This
speech will roll back that tide, and hurl the pet
~ politicians who have opposed the Treaty into
the gulf OF oblivion.
Unlike Mr. Benton's voluminous and, egoiis-
teal speech, which has fallen still-born from
the press, this condensed yet comprehensive
brief, though conclusive and triumphant analy sis
Of the merits of every point involved in the ne
go,ialion, will surely be copied by every Repub-
lican press, and be read with ATTENTION by every
intelligent American.
Nothing human is perfect 1--WE think this
speech is as near perfection any thing that has
fallen under observatory hence there new
er was a treaty that pleased Everybody. Our
Constitution was not heartily approved by some
of the heroes who had contributed to throw of
the foreign yoke. No body Of men can be
unanimous in their opinions on the merits OF a
complicated instrument. Even if treaty were
perfect in all its parts, those called upon 10 de-
eide on its merits mot being perfect Ihemselves)
would necessarily disagree one with another as
TO the propriety Of some of its details But we
presume no treaty of similar magnitude was
ever ratified with greater unanimity than the
recent one.
Mr.. Calhoun took proper view of The subject
a, the onset. He said
1.-THE question, according to his conception, was
not whether it was all could desire, whether il
was liable to this that objection; but whether II
was such a one that, under all the circumstances Of
the case, it would be most advisable to adopt oil
reject"
Such is the course, in all such cases, adopted
by pure and lofty statesmen. Mr.. Calhoun did
no, pause to impute bad motives TO the negota
tors, but calmly and carefully examined theii
work, and, approving it, sdnetionedn. No per
sonal or political considerations were permitted
to control his action. And thus Mr.. c. has act
ed on all the Presidents nominations to tn,
Senate If he was satisfied that the nominc,
was "capable and honest" he did not inquire
what party he belonged to-he voted for hi
confirmation.
II will be seen by this speech (n connexior
with the note appended) that Mr.. Benton, during
the discussion in secret session, committed al
ludcrous blunder as he did subsequently il
charging President Tyler with voting sgans
the award of the King of the Netherlands, do
ring President Jackson's administration. On e1
aiming the Senate journal il was found that Mr.
Benton hims II had voted against the award
while President Tyler had voted for it. So, il
this instance, after parading a French map Il
show that the Secretary Negotiator" had surren
dered our territory to Great Britain, it wa
found, on a close examination of the map, ha
IL proved the very repersel
Mr. Calhoun thus concludes his remarks OF
that portion of the treaty relating to the line o
boundary
"Sueh are the provisions u the treaty IN reftrtnos
this long hn< Of boundary. Our go,n--rtgarded in III
rrosi contracted point Of rs,r, eqpaenfs for III
suur assumed to b. paid by TO Maine and Massach,i
sstf. for heir a~rt TO the sofy-s vastly greater ha,
srAs We havs contracted pay Tax ng the whois boun
Asv qrssrcn toy her and summing up the loss and gair
of fh< rAoi, Including rhaf qf cts Maine and Das,a
eh~ses and he could doubt that regarded merely
s.i-os oxr Rain CRAFTY ercttded oss-ray So com
parsd ,chaf IL Wouid hare been under the arad Of ~
King Of Holland Including the eqprosni nhch our Go
rsrwpssrf wiiing no,r Maine fJr her assent BIZ
pe~id BE- indesd to toke rery contracted riec re-
rsrdu in that light wouid be to overlook the raa i'm
porfancs Of permanently establishing, befcetn such
pc,cer, line Of boundary Of several thousand miles
abo,srdsnq in Disputed points o. much difficulty and long
asnairx The treaty he trust d, ro"Id do much 10 Ia,
IA. foundation ofa solid peace bew,en N, eopniries-a
thing 20 much TO BE- desired"
On the subject Of the right of search, 1t will
be seen that Mr.. Calhoun does not agree with
Mr.. Benton. The latter says that our Govern
ment has yielded to the prepos,erous claim once
Sc, I'D BY Great Britain MIR. Calhoun said:
"He did no, 90 regard IT, On the contrary, he con
.id.r.d IT, under all the encumssncess ssurender OF
that claim on The part Of Great Britain conclusion,