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


thSnlselves perceive nothing Objectionable. shall
vote for them. The preparations which they indi-
cate may be necessary, and may be properly made
| in time Of peace and with still greater propriety may
they be made under the remotest chance-.a nroba-
bility Of war. AS have just said shall vote for
the resolutions. The remarks, however, which have
been made by the mover Of the resolutions give 10
them peculiar Significance and a peculiar conse-
! quence in The circumstances IN which at this
t.oment placed They are in effect, as understand
an assurance from very high authority IN this
country, that We may look upon war Is almost i''
evitable. In fact as Gar ,as tn. hciGsa5,e senator
could do SO, Il 10 declaration OF war-not present
| lyS but certainly coming. Remarks Of such char
acer sir, are calculated deeply To interest the peo-
pie of the country and disturb the business OF the
country. feel assured therefore, that the senator
| from Michigan has not unadvlsedly, nor without
proper deberalion, made these remarks As fof
our government receding from the proposition j, has
made for the settlement of the Oregon boundary, the
| gentleman says he mentioned it only for the pur-
pose of denouncng it, Our policy therefore, is tx
ed, and unless Great Britain recedes, according to
him, we must have war. And, sir when did Great
Britain recedei But more than that, are inform.
ed that the President, in his message, has recon-
ended to us that notice shall be given for the
miDation of the joint occupancy Of that territory
and he proceeds to say, that if that notice be given
war is inevitable. We are, indeed, then, according
to the authority of that distinguished senator, stand
1
Of his opinion instead of merely nstithtne
inquiries into the present condition of the nationa
defences, we should at once employ ourselves in
making all sorts of preparations and putting on the
whole armour of war at once. The remarks Of
/ Mr.. CASS | did not state that war was newt
able; but did state that if England persisted in
her claim, after the years notice was given, wal
| would follow.
Mr.. CRlTTENDEN. There is very little diff
ference.
j Mr.cAss. If the gentleman asks my opinion
give it. believe that war is almost inevitable
But stated yesterday what now state, not that
war is absolutely inevitable, but that, if, after the
years. notice had been given, Great Britain persist
ed, then war would be inevitable.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN. read from the gentle,
mans remarks yesterday:
"Under these imposing circumstances, may well ash
of the wachman what Of the nghtl we may well inquire
what oughtto do take it for granted we shall give
not we shall leave the people Oregon without govern
men or with an impracticsbe on and In either event
twelve months without an abandonment Of large portion
4 England"
MIR. CASS. The gentleman will recollect that
added, that if England persisted, as | beloved she
would, in practical assertion of her claims on the
whole of Oregon, war was inevitable.
/ Mr. CRlTTENDEN. take that remark in
connection, and think fully appreciate it. may
have misunderstood the general tone of the gentle
mans remarks; but take it that he intented to APP
prise the country that war was almost inevitable.
shall be glad to obtain any explanation, however
which can, in any degree, relieve the country of the
apprehension excited by the remarks of the gentle
man. Those remarks, to which have just alluded
are certainly of so serious character, that without
i any qualification or abatement Of their meaning
they are calculated, am sure to produce great APP
prehension in this country, and particularly wher
coupled with other remarks of the honorable senator
of similar nature After, for instance, telling US
that it was utterly impossible for US recede an inch
and that Great Britain was not in the habit of
4 ceding, and that must come out Of these ire
conciable differences, and that the two countries
could not settle the controversy amlcably he repud
ates altogether the idea of arbitration. What, then
is the conclusion to which the country or anybody
must come from the gentleman's remarksl If Crea
Britain will not recede and we cannot without dis
grace recede, we directly in the attitude of enc
mics.
i Mr.. CASS. Will the gentleman pardon me if
again interrupt him for the purpose of setting hin
right
Mr.. CASS. Well, then, repeat my statement
and sorry the gentleman renders it necessary fol
me so often to reterate my explanation. Let me
them once more tell him, that | distinctly stated
that if, after the years notice, Great Britain still per
sisted in her claim to exclusive jurisdiction ove
4 Oregon, war was in my opinion, inevitable. Does
the gentleman now understand mei
| Mr.. CRITTENDEN. | do not hear the gentle
man very distinctly at this side Of the house bu
does he mean to say that if Great Britain continues
to insist the whole of the territory, we mus, hav,
war;
j Mr.. CASS Precisely.
I Mr.. CRITTENDEN. Then think the coun
try will be at once astonished and grati6ed to int
that the gentleman has made substantial retrac
ton Of the remarks he made yesterday.
u Mr. CASS The gentleman is little too fast
! What said yesterday have again and again re
ed to-d aIp WI for wnrd I do re
Mr. CRiTTENDEN. Well now am total,
at loss, Mr.. President. May ask thu
gentleman a question: Does he mean to say, q
reported here, that if we give notce--and he Think
we ought to give notice--that war will follow, pro
vided certain state of things presents tself' Doe
he believe all things will happen to render tina
prediction of his certain
, Mr. CASS. If the gentleman asks me whethe
| believe that will follow, if Great Britain per
siss in her claims after the years notice, answe
most decidedly in the affirmative. But tits, o
course, impossible for me to say whether Grea
Britain will take such course
Mr.. CRlTTENDEN. Well, then, prefer tn
explanation to the statements in the speech. In
stead of announcing that is inevitable appear
that he regards that consequence as certain only il
case of other premises that may or may not occur
Not only must years notice, but other premise
necessary to the conclusion must be formed befor
the conclusion to follow be presented that is
' there must be hostile acts on the part OF Grea
Britain; that Isl that she will insist on her claim
taking actual possession of the territory in dis
pute. do think myself that it would be fai
inference that such consent on the part of Grea
Britain would produce war. Certainly it would
? In that way the gentleman may make out sron,
case of war, as by supposing the result if the Eng
sh were to land our shores, and take possession
of Charleston, or Norfolk, or Baltimore. In tina
case, say myself that war would certainly fol
I low. Does the gentleman mean-but / will no
ask any more questions. 1t means simply, tina
unless certain state of facts happen to exist, w
will not have war. But, sir, the declaration
made yesterday of so ominous a character, tina
found they would produce false alarm, PERM
cious agitation seriously affecting the business
the country. And that inference, thought, wou'
be more likely to be drawn, because Of the yer,
eminent character of the honorable senator VIII,
made the remarks. Not only from his own hgl
character and intrinsic authority, did | apprehent
T such result, but also account of the con6denta
! relations which he was supposed to bear to tn