New-York daily tribune., 1845-12-19
Where nre we Now

excited much talk in the political circles and visiby
increased the anxiety previously felt in view OF the
inspect of our relations with Great Britain affected
by the conflicting claims of the two Governments to
the territory of Oregon. That our readers may an
derstand distinctly villa, has been done we give the
Resolutions as follows:
R,.o,ed Tha, the Committee on Military Affairs be in.
struced to inquire the condition Of the national for
tfcations and OF .heir armanents and whether other
defensive works necessary and into the condition
and quantity Of the military supplies and into the state
of the possessed by the Government Tor the de-
fence of the country.
Rssolred. That the Committee on the Militia be in.
sructed inquire the present condition OF that
great branch OF the public service and into the state OF
the militia laws and that they be farther instructed 10
report such changes in the existing system will give
more experience and efficiency 10 that arm oil defence
and will place II In the best condition for protecting the
country should it be exposed TO foreign invasion.
Res0ictG, That the Committee Naval Affairs be in.
sructed to inquire the condition OF the navy OF the
United States and into the quantity and condition o sup
plies hand and whether increase OF them is
not necessary the efficient operations OF the navy and
its preservation and augmentation and, generally in
is capacity for defending coast and our commerce.
and for service the eXgeDces Oi the country iay
probably require.
These Resolutions are not of themselves OF n very
alarming character, and at any other time than the
present their passage would furnish special
ground of anxiety. The matters thus referred 10
Military and Naval Committees are all within the
sphere of their legitimate duties and may all be
duly attended to without increasing the danger Of
War That their presentation under present cir
cumstances was exceedingly unwise and rash we
cannot doubt. but the speeches of Messrs. Cass and
Allen were far reckless and naiscbievous ap-
peang as they did TO feelings which may but too
easily be famed into a flame that the wisest
heads and the best hearts in the nation cannot
troll The eagerness of Mr.. Cass TO make capital
for himself to be used hereafter in a struggle for the
Presidential chair evidently overmastered all those
restraints which n wiser and better Statesman would
have felt to be imperative The tone of his speech
is warlike in high degree but when we consider
the motive which prompted ii and that after all it
is onlv the voice of an individual for which the
Country is in wise responsible, it is shorn at once
of more than half lis importance. That there is
cause for serious anxiety in the present state of
affairs wewould not deny conceal but let us hope
that beneGccnt Providence may preserve us from
the calamtes and horrors of War.
The Whig members of the Senate appear to have
been united in regretting the introduction Of the
Resolutions. but as they were Objectionable on
account of the terms employed in them but wholly
on account Of eXtraneous circumstances, they deem
ed the wsest to vote in favor of their pas
sage and thus defeat the purpose ofthosewho hoped
by making their adoption party question to give
them the appearance of menace. That they judg-
ed rightly in the matter will we presume. be gene
rally conceded.
We have not room TO publish any considerable
part, much less the whole of the Debate which the
Resolutions called forth In justice, however, 10
Whg Senators and in compliance with what we
70 bo III vu;oI nf
we give the remarks of Mr. Webster as reportedin
the National Inelligencer. They may be supposed
10 exhibit the grounds which he and his political
friends eltthemseves justified in the course which
they unanimously pursued.
Mr. WEBSTER said he did not propose to offer any op
position whatever to the passage OF the resolutions
though he could not perceive that there any very
great necessity for their adoption 1t did not appear 10
him thh, they charged the committees with any especial
new duty Inquiry into the matters here suggested was
The ordinary duty Of the committees, and he did not
think there any extraordinary circumstances
isang which rendered il necessary this occasion 10
instruct them by resolution OF the Senate stimu
ate tnem In the performance OF established duty
nevertheless he regretted the introduction Of these
resolutions combined as they with the remarks
which the Senator from Michigan had thought proper
address to the Senate because he agreed with the
Tor from Kentucky that their introduction in that
ner appeared to give something them of significance
which would create unnecessary alarm. Every mem
Der OF the Senate knew and every OF intelligence
knew That unnecessary alarm and apprehension about
the preservation OF the public peace great evil 1t
disturbed the business OF the country it disturbed the
Calculations of men it derapged the pursuits OF life,
and even to great extent changed the circumstances
o the whole business of the country This truth will be
ic' more especially by every gentleman acquainted
connected with the scsboard. They all knew what an
Immense amount OF property ahoat upon the ocean
carried there by our citizens in tho nrossr % ~ ,h;
maritime pursuits They all knew that rumor of war
OF ,hs, s % OF war would affect the value
have upon insurances They all knew what im,nrnss
amounts OF property on shore would be affected by The
agitation OF pubic opinion upon an ntima,on of
;arbance of the pacific relations existing between This
country and foreign States.
Sir. (said Mr. W. there are two ways in either Of
which Government may proceed-snd when have
stated them think il will be obvious every which
is the wisest We may II We choose. create alarm and
apprehension We may, if we are wiser scause un-
necessary alarm but make quiet thorough, Just polite
sta'esmanlike provisions for the future.
Mr. President am entirely of the opinion of the Scns
tor from Kentucky have been able 20 bring myself
TO believe that war Will grow of this matter certainly
not immediately; and think cannot be mistaken when
say that INSTRUMENTATION which the Chief Msgis
rafe has made to Congress will lead any such
.uih thtnk II is Impossible 10 mistake the meaning OF
tue rresidenl He does not eXpectwsr Looking the
Stale oil things around and what stated by the
danger
sts, abstain cautiously from Offering any remark up,
;,Sp LA posIon oi The Message which refers TO the ne
e eostsin with equal from any remark
upon correspondence which has been published do
Sa 'S ,Ss "nc'her Il does appear from that COY
and en-.
tirely at an end that smcabie di.po;,;pn f H.
non may be looked for hereafter from diplomatic
source IN enough for me, in order 10 accomplish all
the purposes oi these lew remarks to ,sv M wh;l
ncspsb!e of bringing myself to the belief ,hat rho
President apprehends any immediate danger of wa
DC allowed 10 suppose. imagine thar hs tho p.
ident may entertain opinion similar to thar which
has expressed this ornins by senator frou,
Connecticut He may possibly look for propositions to
come from the other side, having communicated the u
tmatum OF this Government, Whether i, be in this
view upon other grounds that the expectation is on
tertsined, II enough for to deprecaie any false
alarm that may arise to disturb the tranquility OF the
country.
The President may feel. as am bound 10 suppose he
does feel. the full weight Of the responsibility which al
taches him in relation to every interest this coan
Try, and the creates, OF all interests the peace OF the
country am bound to suppose he understands the
position In which ne is placed and ths, ne judges wisely
as To the extent TO which he should go in submitting
propositions Congress. Therefore, entirely
regard the present position of affairs as leading 10 any
immedats danger OF war.