The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-15


marks, altogether Unexpectedly, more with lse de-
sign of expressing the feelings OF my constituents,
than anything else. | speak for no other gentle
man this floor, but for myself, say, that never,
while either public man or private ci'izen, sha'
suffer myself TO be placed in the position where
my American feelings shall be questioned, go Tor
the Union | 90 for every part OF the Unions and
on that ground, whatever our domestic difficulties,
1 stand 6y the side Of the Executive. But stand
there DESTROYS see that position maintained with
moderation, with calmness, with justice, with a
proper respect and Difference upon both sides.
Ii would seem TO me monstrous that, in this adj
vanced state of ciyizaton--that now, in the 18th
century-when the world has laid aside for many
years the sword, converting Il into ploughsheres
and pruning hooks, or most ingenious mechanism
for HE promotion of the comfort and happiness Of
man--in such circumstances, say, It does, indeed,
appear INDUSTRIOUS TO me, that country almost al
the ends of the EARTH the title to which is disputed
on both Sides should form the subject OF war
that must inevitably nfict upon both countries stu
pendous evils do hope that this controversy can
be adjusted without war. II do come, repeat,
it will be the signal for the great final conflict be.
tween European systems of government, and OF
those great principles OF democratic liberty when
have made this republic such great ana powerful
nation.
do hope these resolutions will lie over. We
have been flooded with petitions and memorials,
and the committees whose province 1t VIII De 10 act
upon them, have not yet been constructed. Inc
very committee to which these resolutions must De
referred, has not yet been formed. My only oblec-
ton is to give that publicity this movement which
the adoption Of the resolutions would necessarily
involves and thus additional evaporation be pro.
duced--an evaporation which ii is the duty OF all
to check, not to aggravate Everything said anu
done here will be scrutnzed with the utmost rgidi-
ty ON the other side of the water surely, then, ev
cry consideration should teach us the wisdom OF
care and caution, l think.
am quite willing that we should follow our citi-
zens in Oregon with our protective shield. ] am
willing TO see the President extend his favor to them
indvidualy--not terrtorally, pending the adj
justmcnt Of the differences between the two
countries. But | am opposed to anything be-
| ing done in contravention of the treaty OF
1926 and sincerely hope that the President may not
be stimulated to any rash and sudden action Lead
ing to q contravention of that treaty. so long as
there is the slightest ground to anticipate an ami
cable settlement of the negotiation. Again, am Will
ling to provide any military forceany Dragon force
ANY military posts necessary for the protecuon ana
defence of the emigrants to Oregon, always pro-
vided that the execution of these measures be not IN
compatible, in any way, with the treaty OF 1870.
1t has been the subject of speculation both here and
in Europe, that Oregon may become an independent
government The thing is impossible. When the
American emgrants look back to the graves and
recall the heroic deeds of their fathers in the cause
of liberty and America they will never dream OF
alternating themselves from the land where they
first drew the breath of freedom. Thus 1t is al
ways. Within forty miles of the most distant part
Of our frontier the most isolated pioneer VIII ever
be found true to America. The man covered
in skins the produce of the chase, and whose
only property is his ammunition and his rife,
carries with him the love of the glorious achieve
ments of his fathers in this republic; and, what is
more he bears with him also that bounding hope Of
the future which forms the highest characteristics OF
the freeman The Englishman looks back with
pride on the annals Of his country. The American
revcrses the telescope and looks forward to that flu
ture era when his beloved country will be the most
powerful on the face of the globe, and when free
institutions will be universally established.
| hope, Mr.. President, the honorable senator will
consent let the resolutions lie II move that
their further consideration be postponed till omor-
row. -s
The question was then put, and ncgatived
A message in writing was here announced from
the PRESIDENT
Mr. ALLEN then rose and spoke as follows
Mr.. President hope the resolutions will pass
pass without the obstruction Of a solitary vote
They are resolutions which address grave subjects
of inquiry to the attention Of those committees
which, by the standing rules Of the body the Senate
institute with view Of taking cognzance OF these
subjects. Now that these resolutions are intro
duced--now that they have been brought for
ward for the action of the Senate and the nation
| by being upon the journal OF the body, their re-
lection by the Senate would do more to paralize the
energies of this country, than any one act that IS
within the power of the Senate to perform. These
resolutions are predicated upon the idea that the
state Of home defences in the present aspect OF
foreign affairs is such as TO require that the at
ention Of Congress should be turned to the ma
tonal defences. The rejection of these resolutions
win not change those foreign relations; but will be
virtually declaration upon the part Of the Senate,
! that they will not prepare for any emergency
that may arise out Of our foreign relations
| Them let me ask what would be the position of the
| United States? Great Britain is power whose
i olicv MS urII
throughout the entire civilized world and needs not
to be defined Great Britain is power, who conducts
her negotiations with fleet upon the coast of the
| power with whom she negotiates ever ready TO set
lie questions which cannot he settled by words, by
rcsorting in practice to the ancient Gallo maxim of
casting sabe into the scale: The United States
as has been very wisely observed by the able and
greatly experienced senator from Michigan, is, by
the very circumstances arising out OF our institu-
tons, always unprepared for the terrible emergency
of war. We have standing army, in the Eu-
ropean Of that term. We have, however,
a standing militia-a nation with military organ.
TRITON.
The wise object Of these resolutions is to insti-
TUE inquiry into the existing organization OF the
martial force Of the country in its three great divi-
sions-of the militia, the army, and the navy. This
has been regarded on the other side almost equiv.
aent to declaration ofwar. Why, sir if these res
ouions had been offered, in any state Of this nego-
tiation, they would have been perfectly innocent,
and constituted not the slightest ground of offence
on the part of Great Britain.
Suppose we were in no danger, either in the pres
ent or the future, Of with Great Britain, or
any other country; suppose we enjoyed the most
uninterrupted peace for the present, and the most
substantial guarantee OF peace for the future would
there be any IMPROPERLY in insttuing an inquiry
into the naval material in our dockyarls and naval
stores Would there be any improperly in inquir-
ing into the efficiency nefciency of the organiza-
ton of the militia Of the countryi Would there be
lapu hmm fu ttIrinn nth fba M
the army of the United Staies' None, l presume
Why then is it deemed so exceedingly unwise to
institute such inquiries now' Is it meant to be in
simulated that we afraid TO prepare for our own
Defence because happen to be engaged in contro-
versy with power who boasts of stretching its gi-
gantic arms over the whole habtable gobe' Are
we not to be permitted even TO ask ourselves if we
are ready TO receive column of British bayonets in