Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1845-12-23
q ~ entg-N intb Congress.


eember Is,
Mr. Case called fr the reading of the following reso-
Iutons, presented By him the 9h instant:
Resoired, That the Committee Naval Affairs he in
s,ructcd inquire into the condition of the Navy of The
United States into the quantity and condition vi the
naval supplies hand aud whether an Increase of
them necessary the efficient operations "f the
navy aud 10 its preservation and augmenian ""d gem
orally capacity for defending our coast ana our
and for service the eagencies o Inc eoun-
Try may probably require.
Resoirti, That the Committee on Military Affairs De
instructed enquire h. condition oil the naon"i
Qualifications and their ornaments, and whether "er ae-
fnsve works necessary and into the c"ni'''"n an
quantity of the military supplies and t" me star" "'
the Possessed ~ the government Tor The defence
of the country
R<sofced That the Committee on the Militia be in
srred 10 inquire into the present condition at that great
br-nch o the public aud into he state q" the
militia laws and that they I've further instructed To re.
prt such changes in the existing sysem as will give
experience and ETH, ency ~ that arm ct de''n nee
aud will place ia the best condios for protecting the
country, should ii be exposed to reign Invasion.
Mr Cass, in support u the resolutions, then rose and
said:
Ma PsIsIpxyr II is m7ossie TO peruse the Presi-
dents message and 10 observe the progress of public
opinion Ia England h il indicated in the declarations
at her Parliament and IN her daily journals
without b. ing aware, that crisis ~ Est apps oarns IN
the between that country and o"'-' hh de-
maud. IIla serious considerations aud may require Tue cor
disi md cooper,fon Of the whole American Peo-
pie President ha- told that the negotiations re-
speeding Oregon. if they have not reached close nave,
at any reaahed position almost eqn..a'.nl I" IL.
The claims OF the nations arc utterly irrec""-
rilable aud compromise by voluntary sactihce o
portion III their 10y one pariy or by boi or
subns-iop Of tile whole matter 4" controversy I" some
foreign power. seems the only alternatives by which
tie preserved.
Our government has already declined 10 submit our
nights To foreign arbitration. That IS process which,
under equal circumstances may well he adopted by IN
dependent to- terminate disputes which would
otherwise seek The abitrament Of war II preserves the
honor of both parties and ougn 10 the Just IN
Of both II substitutes for force. and Is there
fe suited To the advancing opinions o the age aud To
the daes and feelings of Christian communities But
these equai circumstances do present DIS
pute with England. There obyons considerations,
which need not enter here growing out of the fe-
Iave of that and of with those
powers of Europe from VIII arbitrator would almost
necessarily he ssered and Of the influence she
their counsels. and, may add growing out
of the of institutions, AM the little Favor these
enjoy at present upon the eastern continent which may
we'll have made the government hcsitate Ia submit im-
porant interests NJ this particular lunciure 10 such m
buna IL may well have thought IL better tn hold on to
right. and TO hold also remedy rather than
commit both to royal arbitrator War IL great cai'n
iiv anil ought To- b. avoided by 81" proper but
there calsmtes greater than and among these IS
national dishobcr
q IN part The question of night 10 Oregon That
subject will come up It's t;'e There may be
difference OF opinion, we'll III Congress ~ III The
naiInn respecting the territorial extent al i'at Hgn'
though take this opportunity "f expressing eniIre
and hearty the claim adj, anced by ne
President But am there great party and
trust few individuals this country, who
prepared even IN an extreme spirit OF compromise To
acce pt the liberal off. England has made.
Tier pretensons and widely separated, that
there seems no MIDDLE ground which To meet. Our
most moderate claim aud her most liberal offer, leaves
the parties nnder by degrees OF latitude, and by
lars. portion of the territory in question. WHAT then,
condIons IAN We reCede !, IAN we stand sun !,
Or advance ,
rccedins IL is neither 20 he discussed nor thought
of refer to II, but 10 denounce lt-a denuncIalion
which will find n response every American bosom
Nothing is gained by national pusilian'm''y Ana
the country which seeks to purchase temporary security
by welding unjust prcfensons buys present
the expense OF permanent homer and safety IL sows the
wind 10 reap the wh'rIwnd have said elsewhere what
will repeat here that better TO fight for the first
inch national territory than r the last - better TO
defend the door SILL than the hearth stone-the porch
than the altar National character Is "her treasure
than gold silver and exercises moral Influence. III
the Of danger, which, IL power ITSELF - Ms
est ally. Thus tar unarnishsd, and let us all
join separated BY party oby space, to
II.
If we cannot recede, stand still No, MIR.
President in this IN all the other elements OF nation
al mower aud greatness, duty and destiny on
wards. We might we'll attempt te stay the waves ct
the Pacific, stay the tide Of emigration, winch -
sen. towards shores IL this government had the
disposition. has not tic power to arrest tins human cur
rent But has meherheitier the power nor the DIS
position to do There questions Of public right,
which may IN abe which are not called into
daily exercise and need be asserted only when required
But such IS the right by which We hold Oregon We
n,aintan II, abandon IT. vigorous ana enter
prsIos peope increasing there who VIII possess
the country by the best Of all cs-that OF Occupation
and Improvement and we do not provide them go
vernment, they will provide Tor themselves Al
ready necessity compelled them organize their CIV
IL society and make those arrangements for the pres
err alton order out which CIVILIZED community
can exist. II i only few DAYS since they made known
10 Won, by ndcIons aud we'll written memorial, their
condition and their and asked your interpretation
10 remove the serious difficulties with which they tnd
themselves env roned And think that If their prayer
unheard, and their grievances unredressed and IT he
present state OF thugs continue that ysu will lind DIS
tant colony PATIENTLY awaiting your tary movements,
and ready admit lurIsdction, when YOU may be
r.ady To exercise Mo- they will feel thenIse,e 80
elected off, left their resources tho victims
OF diplomatic chcaney of national pn-llanmiy and
they will seek their security their power
That great truth applicable alone rrpnbi gov
erniens, but al, and wh, Ia, al the onn
daon OF revolution, that protection and allie
glance reciprocal, wi soon he heard upon the banks
o. Tie COlnmbia and will inspire the councils of the
haroy oncers who, while they have sought horne
in dsia,f country, have carried with them he senti-
mens Of ir.'e ber. the regions be, ond the Rock
mountains.
Iii. clearly IMPOSSIBLE that the present state Of things
shouId continue nor. must confess, do see how II Is
possible that community, nhabiins The same region
and nossessins tie right part of II,
hold divided allie auce and be governed al the same
time by two distinct and distant sovereisnrs. When
present anomalous provision was "sde the country
was nsetiled for the lew hunters who Toamed over u
could hardly fled with the name % settlers ard
II probably never occurred 10 the nesotii"rs nor To the
veroments that this arrangement would ouive the
then existing of things aud would come To operate
upon a civilized, stationary, aud rapidly increasing
community
But what kind Of order can double headed govern
meot preserve, How are departments legislative
executive aud judicial, Ice administered: How are
rights I've conferred wrongs 10 he prevented OF pun
ished, Two ,shhors living within srins oil each
other responsible different tribunals, anh governed
by different codes Of laws. An American killing an
Ensshmsn must he tried by an American court ana by
American laws But how English witnesses 10 be
summoned or English disturbers at the proceedings oil
the court To he removed punished Posessory rights
hs iud,ed by the courts Of the paIiy last getting