The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-12-29
WASHINGTON, Dec. n, ISi5.


the democratic opposition dol
WASHINGTON, Dec. n, ls5.
Miscellaneous Observations the Great Questions
and Men of theDay.
We oespstched you, yesterday, rather elaborate
review of the portentous sgnlfcancy of the Oregon
controversy IN Its present aspects, and in Its mme
date and remote results Five words, to day, from
Mr.. Calhoun, In the Senate, have killed the speech
of Gen. Cas-, and dissipated, well nigh, the cloud
Of war Mr.. Calhoun will stand out, we infer from
these remarks, against all ill-judged irritation Of
old sores-he has no disposition to stop the cotton
trade upon a point of honor already conceded
Upon HIM will rest the responsibility Of bringing us
safely out of this difficulty, honorably out quietly
out and entirely outupon him will rest thisrespon-
sibity, and upon him will rest the after gratitude Of
both nations The line OF 40 will be the line, the
bee line, from the Lake of the Woods to the shores
of the Pacific. Whatever we might have wished,
in respect of every inch OF the SOIL it is too long
since August last, to hope tor 1t.
On another mater. We wish you to understand
the secre, OF Mr.. Levy's motion in the Senate for
au inquiry upon the expedlency of negotiations with
SPAIN tor the cesson OF Cuba 10 the United States.
England has long had her eye upon that little island
OF Cuba, OF seven hundred miles long She has long
had Il hankerlng OF that island and In S4-'5, she
would have, but for protest against the transfer,
sent over to Madrid for the natives. The object OF
Mr.. Levy, is not institute negotiations now nor
soon possible but IT is simply to excite public
ton of the people of Cuba The object is 10 satisfy
them, that when they are ready, we are quite ready
to take them in They will hear of this proposition
of Mr.. Levy, and they will think Of 1t, and thus
sympathies TO the United States. Cuba is the
key of the Gulf, and the seal of the West India
Islands. In the event OF warewth Great Britain,
she would pounce upon it first thing, and as to TAX
bar sho hall hay Miami lad
double cross upon It, 1t is thing easier said than
done. Let u.s. therefore, keep piece with England
a few years longer, and we shall be able to buy
Cuba, the Queen Island OF the gull, for song for
less than the cost Of the Florida war. Let us 20 to
war now, and it may cost US one hundred and fifty
millions TO recapure II, and not few OF the ma
rines See how beautifully all these. things dove
tail together-the peaceable annexation OF Mexico
the cesson OF the Island OF Cuba-the dominion
of the Pacific from the line OF 40 to the neck OF Pa
nama-the carrying trade of China and the Pacific
Islands, Australia, Polynesia, and Japan. Do you
see how the early acquisition OF all these advantages
depend upon the preservation OF peace. Mr. Cal
noun, like your reporter, Is man OF enlarged
views, looking to the great results, and not 10 the
thimble.rgging going on to hasten or Ietard the
ends desired from merely selfish sectional con-
siderations He is not that kind OF man. He
mas no time to play the demagogue, and no DISPOSE
ton to unite in the movements OF such "small deer"
AS an American statesman he will present you at
the proper tIn1e the true American policy upon the
Oregon question, IN a review OF the contingencies
attendant upon peace or war.
Mr. Chapman, Of Michigan, on the great question
OF altering the Messengers and Pages department
of the House, acquitted himself like giant to-day.
1t is upon such supendous questions this that the
genius OF that great statesman OF the Wolverines
shines pre-emlnent He enchanted the attention of
the gaeres-he attracted even the attention OF the
House-the reporters listened with utter derange-
ment at the tremendous consequences as portrayed
by the eloquent orator, that must inevitably result to
this Republic from the election OF a superintendent
of the folding room; and had not Gen. Mcconnell
called the gentleman to order, We satisfied that
his vivid imagination would have carried him from
Plymouth Rock to Kalamazoo, thence to ffiy-four
forty, the Kuby-comb of British assumption The
speech Of Chapman deserves to be printed IN letters
of gold all around on the outside of the dome Of the
capitol, and we hope resolution will be introduced
to that effect.
Mr. Graves, of New York, followed in not quite
so exalted but in quite sensible strain. He
went for retrenchment, and was apparently OF the
belief that his constituents were not opposed to
economy.
In Short excepting upon the passage OF the Texas
BILL the proceedings of the House to-day were a
holiday matter at the expense, 1t Is true, OF two or
three thousand dollars to the people, but they can
stand 1t.
Mr. Calhoun has removed again to his old quar-
tiers at the United States Hotel He could not hardly
be better suited.