The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-16

rnent shall have been made known Whethcr IL pc
in that view or other groundsi that The expec'a-
ton Is entertained II is enough for me TO deprecate
any false alarm or apprehension calculated % d's-
turb the country.
IL seems impossible TO me that the President:
placed at the head of our goyernment-feellng, as
am disposed to believe he does feel, the full weight
of that re.golsifjlityr-equelly attached as ! am
trurt 70 bslieTe he is attached to every interest OF
the country and to that almost greatest OF all inter-
ests the peace Of the country-attached, say, TO
the substantial interests of the country and uphold
ing high on the list the peace Of the county, am
bound to suppose that he understands the position
in which he is placed; that he is fully aware OF ms
responsibility, and that he ludges wisely and prop
erly oc the extent to which he should submit rec.
concentrations to Congress growing out OF the state
of our foreign relations. Therefore, upon the whole
/ infer the opinion, which have expressed that the
President casnot regard the country as IN any I'M
mediate danger of rupture with England. Enter
tanning this feeling oil the regret that experience
at the Introduction of these resolutions is, as have
said that occasioned by the remarks which fell from
the honorable senator from Michigan when he called
them up yesterday, and which were calculated, VI
my opinion, to produce an unnecessary aiarm-an
unnecessary apprehension--an agitation ana shock
which deranges mems pursuits affects their
means of living, and produces infinite mischief
and evil in community like oure. hope
that every senator on this floor will consider
how vastly important it is to suppress all I'M
necessary-all false alarm; and yet, so far us am
concerned, if the sbmnstration-if the gentlemen
in confidential relations with it in this House, think
the time has come that efecual preparations for the
public defence should be provided, whether by forth
cations, or by augmentations of the army or navy,
II say let it be done. But resume my seat, express
Sing kind ofnvocation that, while they do all that
is necessary for the protection honor, and integrity
of the country, they abstain far as possible from
creating in this active, BUSINESS community, any un-
necessary apprehension or alarm
Mr.. SEWER then rose and said: Mr. Presi.
dent it strikes with no little surprise that no in
qury-no reference to the subject of Oregon can be
made on this floor, without encountering opposition
Whenever any such inquiries or references are
made, the cry is Immediately raised-"Beware -
''take care lest you provoke war;" We are add
monished in the most pathetic terms to be extreme
ly cautious in our specific be wary OF our utter.
ances-to be careful lest we disturb the business
pursuits of this country. Even when il is admitted
on all hands that preparations ought to be made for
the purpose of putting the country in proper pos
ture of defence-still we are told that we must do
it with padocks on our lips-we must 90 about the
discharge of our duty by stealth l have had occa.
sion heretofore to comment on this strange feature
in our proceedings, as comment now. and really
can hardly find words to express the astonshment
with which | have listened TO admonitions. and ap-
peals and solemn invocatons, all put forth on the
ground that we cannot undertake any measures for
the defence of our country--that we cannot do
what as American citizens we may think
the interests of the country demand for fear of
producing panc-for fear of exciting apprehen-
sion-for fear of provoking the hostility of an op-
posing foreign power. Every effort for the secur-
ty of the country, which patriotic devotion to
the maintenance OF the national honor may prompt
appears to be met In some quarters with the cry
"Oh the British the British! will blockade our
Atlantic coast, and destroy all our commerce"
My friend from Michigan has been pretty well
catechized this morning-he has been questioned
with great deal of perseverance for the purpose of
ascertaning whether he supposes that war is likely
to ensue between US and Great Britain. wonder
full degree OF nervous anxiety appears to have been
excited relative to this probability Of such a war.
Well, now, in my humble opinion, war will come
Why? | think SO for two reasons one is that
Great Britain has never receded from any position
till forced to recede. And it has been her bull
lying that has secured for her the respect OF all
Europe. Now, she must be forced to recede.
And like any Of our western DULLES who, when
once conquered can be kicked by everybody from
one end Of the country to the other, England will,
in case she do not peacefully recede with the best
grace she can from her position this question:
receive once more that salItary lesson which we
have ON more than one occasion already taught her
OH but we are admonished to think Of the peace of
Great Britain. The gentleman knows very little Of
the people represent, and amongst whom was
born and amongst whom have lived, ifhe supposes
that they will ever hesitate in the path of devo-
peace of Great Britain, or any other country.
should like very much indeed to hear any one get
on the stump in my part Of the country sir, and un-
derake to tell us that the President had established
our claims to Oregon, and made il as plain the
avenue leading to the White House; but, inasmuch
as there is great danger that Great Britain may cap
ture our ships, and burn cities and towns II is
very improper for to give notice that we will in
sist on our claim, and make every preparation for
ITS maintenance, If necessary, by force need
hardly say that such one if he could be found
would be summnrlly treated as traitor to his coun-
" But 1t is said that this is "smal natter" that
the bone of controversy is not worth fighting about
Why, sr,a few pounds of tea IN Boston harbor was
small matter And, during the last war, when a
few hundred ragged sailors were borne across the
Atlantic, taken from ship on the high seas, many
thought that these poor ragamuffins were not
worthy OF the attention of the nation lest we might
get into controversy with that great power. And
now we have again that cry-this is a small
matter. What! gentlemen exclaim is it possible
that you will go to war about this small territory
on the Pacific, barren, and frozen and all thatonly
five or six atitudes Is it possible they ask us, with
well-afected anxiety, is il possible you will, for
such miserable spot, go to war with the mammoth
power OF the European world Mr.. President,
will not waste the time of the Senate in repyne to
such arguments as these. But my friend from Mas.
sachusetts is liberal. He says you may make these
preparations for war; but he adds very significant
"; keep dark; oh! be sure you keep dark! If you
don't keep dark, the British will come and destroy
u.s.
Mr.. WEBSTER. The honorable gentleman
msrepresents, unintentonally, what said said
that 1t appeared to it would be better, were we to
go on steadily, quietly, effectively making prepare
tons, rather than excite alarm without making ade-
quate preparations. But said nothing about keep
ing dark; and If the gentleman thinks did, he must
have very dark understanding.
Mr.. SEWER. All I! then the gentleman means
that we are to go on very quietly and very cectual-
We'll, sir, can only say that would talk little
louder to Great Britain than to any other power
Here several sentences entirely lost by the re-
porter, in consequence of interruption by two OF
three persons in the gallery, behind the reporters
table, conversing in loud tone-a gross breach OF
decorum which too often occurs. MIR. S. concluded
as follows
consider that the President acted wisely--very
wisely in keeping the case in its present position,
m mr. in Ufu VIM I,f,. e.