American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper., 1845-12-23

controversy. 1t contrasts finely with the I'M
petuous and hot-headed course of others. We
make the following cxtrac is from his speech de-
livered in the Senate on the 10th inst, with
the assurance, that they will be gratifying to
every rejecting man in the country. He said;
"Mr. President, the people of the United
States are looking with intense anxiety to the
action of Congress, and more especially OF
this branch of the National Legislature, on
this exciting subject. Representing portion
of that people who are peculiarly exposed TO
the caamties of war, desire to say that in
the utmost effort of my Imagination | cannot
discern the possibility of such result to this
controversy. National honor! Why, nation
al honor consists in the ful6lment of all the
high duties which belong TO an associated peo-
pie. National rights-nltional interests
Why, what are tho multiplied, diversified
rights and interests of twenty millions of peo
pie which must be eoparded in such contest!
And then this war, unless it be one OF exter-
mnation, must at last be terminated by trea-
y.
The Senator from Michigan tells us that a
territory extending over seven degrees of lati-
tude IS at stake. God of mercy! and what is
to DO placed in the opposite scale, if we are TO
enter into contest like this? But is it a con-
test for such an extent of territory? Will any
one read attentvely the voluminous cores
pondence Of the various negotiations, and fail
to perceive, whatever may have been the ycr-
bal strife, that the real bone of contention is
the outlet to the Pacfc-the navigation Of
the Columbia river? Is this question which,
in this age Of civilization, in this Christian
age, ought to embroil Two nations in war; Ay,
huttu bov 81 pr pninla n IA n a We H.
not yield to foreign nation the right of navi-
eating a river which flows through our territo-
ry. And Great Britain has principle to
maintain. She will not agree that her subjects
shall be cut off from their communication with
tho Pacific. Does the fact exist which ia to
call these conflicting principles into exerclse'
Is the Columbia navigable from the point
where the 49th parallel strikes It's northern
branch! do not SO understand it; do not
hear any Senator assert that it is. What,
then, is it for this phantom Of the imagina-
ton; this right which cannot be exercised;
which does not exist; which cannot therefore
be granted, and cannot be refused-is it for
such chmera that these two nations are to
draw the swordl Is it for this that the people
of the United States and of Great Britain, liv-
ing in peace and harmony, in the constant in
terchange of mutual benefits, bound to each
other by thousand ties, mutually dependant
on each other for many of the comforts and
conveniences of life; springing from common
ancestry; speaking the same language; wor-
shipping the same God; acknowledging the
same Christian duty, is it for this that such a
people are to be involved in all the horrors of
war?
Sir, do not believe it. The Senate does
not believe it. The country will not believe
it. 1t cannot be, unless the vengeance..of an
offended Deity shall first rnadden those whom
in the counsols of his providence he has DOOM
cd to destruction. Mr.. President, this contro-
versy may be iemented. The people of two
great nations may be wrought up to madness
by mutual denunciations, such as we have
heard and read, aided as they will be by the
violence and the virulence Of the press; but
he be he Englishman or American, who shall
incur the fearful responsibility of involving
these two nations in war in L controversy like
this, without having first exhausted every
means at his command for lis peaceful ad ust-
ment, may gain to himself immortality, but it
will be that species of Immortality which waits
upon the memory Of Erostratus."