Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-20
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
MONDAY. DEcEmsER l5, ls45.


The following resolutions submitted by Mr. CAss on
former day, were then taken up for confederation
RssoDed That the COMMITTEES Military Affairs bs IN
sructed 70 inquire into the condition Of e netCns
tions and OF their and whether otnsr
works necessary and into the oopnuon anu 4uAny -
the military supplies and into he sste q s
Rcsosd Thai he COMMITTEES the Militia be instructed
to inquire into the condition q that branch o. e
they Be further inuced report sash changes u the exist
ing system will give more M sea sMsen'y 70 .na'
sas and yin Is sspossd . Ser" ,as
RssoDsd That Comttee on Naval Affairs be i9str'ct-
ed to inquire hs coeditioe q oihe United States
and whether Al ncfase Of them necessary the efficient
Operations navy, and 70 i preservation and augmenta
ton and generally into its capacity for defending
and our and for any service the exgences Of the
country may probably require
The resolutions having been read
Mr. CLASS rose and addressed the Senate Is it possible
said he TO read the Message the President OF the United
States to Congress- and to witness the indications Of public
opinion which disclosed about US, without being
that crss rapidly approaches that the present state Of the
intercourse between this country and Great Britain demands
serious consideration and may demand cordial cooperation
in action on the part Congress and the whole nation The
President has told that the negotiations have arrived at If
close all events, position which about
close The claims Of the two nations he finds utterly
reconcleae and renquishment Of claims TO extent
on the part Of both Countries the intervention OF
medatng power, be the only alternatives which
can avert that most disastrous event. state Of war -
This Government already 70 HuDmt
ter to arbitration yas which might with propety
be adopted by independent under equal
but unfortunately, in controversy with England those
equal circumstances did not exist Il was obvious that an
umpire would be taken from of the associated
marches Of Europe and might well hesitate leave the
decision in such hands, II would, he thought be better to
hold fast rights than by sbmittng them 70 doubtful ar
braton 70 risk their lozs War was greatcalay, and
should IL possible be avoided but there were calames
more be dreaded than war and among those calamtes
national dsono He did not rise for the purpose Of discus
sing our right to Oregon that subject which would
come up its proper place, and at proper time He
aware great diversity of opinion existed to the extent
Of our claims and himself he would embrace this oppor
tuny expressing his cordial and entire adhesion 70 the views
expressed by the President in his message Congress in
lation to this matter. 5-.r
It must be pretty evident all who examine the subject
that the pretensions Of nations utterly econce
able The liberal offer yet made by England fell
far below moderate claim and under these crcum
Stances said Mr. c., what we to do Shall we recede
No. reccdng, is thing not to be thought Of for
moment 1t thing which alude only denounce
it.; and in this enunciaton that shall be joined
by every trueheaed American Nothing is 70 be gained by
paslanimity. Ts A. la
He who.xould be content attain present temporary adj
vantage at the expense of future dshonor and disgrace but
the whirlwind and reaps the storm will continued
Mr. c. here repeat maxim which cannot be too deeply
pressed upon minds viz that is better to 6ghor the
first inch than for afterwards better to fight for the
door-s than for the hearth stone; TO maintain national
character unbemshed Of greater consequence than the
possesses moral influence the hour Of danger which is
beyond all price. repeat it. upon this question
recede. Our destiny is onward You might well attempt
to chain the the Pacific as TO arrest the progress Of
this hation There is tide Of emigration finding its
waymang for itself channel through the barriers of the
Rocky Mountains which must nundate every portion of the
vast territory lying beyond them vigorous and hardy po
puaton spreading themselves abroad in that REGION
and they demand the protection of this Government Shall
they have il Shall they not have the benefit Of
laws and institutions extended them Only last week me-
MORALS laid upon your table asking for your protection
and do you think that if their application sdegarded they
will long continue seek your favor conciate your
gard No. sir, the POSSESSIONS they have acquired they
will hold by the bayone They will not tamey sit still and
await your tary The great principles of mutu-
al projection and allegiance if adhered by you in ia
of that adventurous people, portion of your cit
you dsheaen Them and they become prey to foreign
diplomatic chicanery What inspires the hearts Of those
who have found home in that distant region the pros
pect of enjoying the blessings of civil and religious liberty
under the fostering Of this Government 1t is impossible
that this state Of things should continues for to
utterly impossible that community having the same interests
and occupying the territory hold advided allegiance
and be governed by distinct and separate soveregnes
Are their claims upon this Government be degarded by
us altogether Have they not rights to be enforced, and
wrongs be redressed How is either the the other
to be done amid conflicting authorities constituted within the
same limits Possessory titles to lands might be held to be
good favor Of the party last getting possession How can
justice be obtained by going into court composed Of the
party from whom redress restitution sought An En-
gshnan in the midst Of American settlement in Oregon,
or an American the midst Of English settlement bears
a charmed life. He may do what he will and as he will
but he is beyond the reach Of restraint and almost Of pun
ishment He nvuncrabe and the of justice
not pierce his heel The nearest magistrate who hiss urs
dction him may be hundreds Of miles removed and
he nearer his national sympathes might naturally be
excited in favor of his countymen. Touch but the rights
Of England (said Mr. CO. in the mnutest particular and
her national sympathes and preudices aroused and
she is prepared the Shall be less
tenacious Of our rights We warned by the infrmes
of human nature trust to but ourselves
then cannot with due regard to national honor,
trace steps, and England has placed herself in our
path, what IL before have hesitation in say
ing if England sdhes to her last proposition, and refuses to
relinqush it. II 10 tantamount tn declaration OF war;
hope nay say rather, wish that Engsnd would awaken
Of her injustice and yield when she yield honor
ably But will she tits safest TO believe she will not; and
this dictate Of caution is fortified by the whole tenor Of her
conduct When did she renquish hold that she had
gained The taken by the two great leaders OF
her Administration may be regarded pretty sure index OF
what may be expected from her policy.
Mr.. CAss here quoted from the London Morning Chroni
Commons April s. Is45 in relation the proposed
ton Of Texas 10 the United States
Here (said Mr. CD is the leader Of the great Wing party
in the British ouse Of Commons denouncng the annexation
of Texas to this country because II tends territorial ag-
grandizement and all this about Britain moderation
and philanthropy Is believed in by the creduIous and
the infatuated but LET them not suPpose il believed by
us The timely and wholesome rebuke administered 20
England The moderation Of England Such n colossal
H. he -