Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-12-23
DEBArEsIN TiiE u. =. SENATE.


The country. lie hoped there would not
IL would inquire oi the Senator irom Virgin
IN whether he understood him as alleging that
lac (Mr. A. imputed any mpatriotic senti-
ineuts to ANY gentlemen in thlj SOdy.
Mr.. Archer said he made no such imputa-
ton. For himself hc thought it absurd 10
maze professions OF patriotism, or TO make
professions OF personal honor. lie hoped.
therefore. he would hear NJ more professions.
; lie merely wanted 10 call the attention of the
Senator from Michigan, Tor whose character
Ia entertuineda profound regarj. and who he
believed would b. the last man ON that floor
or in the country who would express disbe-
lief ia The patriotism of any Senator here
! Mr.. Cas- disClaimed thc expression of any
such sentiment
Nd. Archer said ne had no objection 10 the
passage of the resolutions. lie would give
his vote iii their favor; but, with Difference To
the better Judgment ot the Senator he would
give some reasons why he ought not to- press
their adoption at this time. And first what
were the resolutions The proposed inqui-
rles by certain committees of the Senate.
while not a single committee had been formed
Was this course consistent with the objects
and usages of the Scnatcl They were all rea-
dy 20 maintain the honor of the country
against its adversarics. But was ii consistent
with their dignity To show such tender SEN
slblUty, that they could not even organize
committees before gentlemen rose up and
proclaimed th,ir subimated patrio,ism.-
Would the duties of patriotism be more inn
perfectly discharged if they would permit the
ordinary committees, already delayed two
weeks. TO b. appointed, ami then 10 suffer
them to make their inquiries? Was this the
way they were going to produce powerful
impression upon that great supposed dreaded
enemy OF Guns, Great Britain, that they could
not even wait the ordinary usagcs of the SEN
ate, without rising III their seats and making
a kind of spluttcr-
NJ. Mangum here called Mr.. Archer TO
, order.
MIR. Archer proceeded He was not speak
lug in reference To the Senator from North
Carolina in particular. He was speaking of
) what concerned them all; that is, as To whe .
ther the course they are pursuing was justified
by the usagcs OF that body. He would take
occasion here To express his appreciation of
, the course which the Executive had taken on
the Oregon question. That course claimed
MS respect, and, although there was nothing
intrinslcally Objectionable iii the resolutions,
yet he could not give his concurrence to this
nasty mode OF proceeding, because it implied
That they could not concede TO the Executive
80 much as TO await a recommendation from
aim, but must rush al once into the adoption
b OF measure which Indicated the absence of
Z 4 proper confidence in the Executive What
Nsaklt but saying TO the Executive, You lave
not done your duty with that rromptitude
which You ought TO have used, and therefore
we Will take the matter into our own hands,
and pass this implied censurc upon you.
To pass a set of resolutions instructing your
committee, which committee YOU are hereaf-
ter to create, is assuming an unwarrantable
practice, and ! wash my hands of it, / do
q not indulge in distrust of the gentlemen on
the other side. i believe they will be found
p to do their duty to.the country. At any rate,
| will have the dccency not TO intimate by any
speech or vote OF mine here that they will be
found wanting III their duty to the country,
{ miil they have, b. some act OF omission, sub
NJccted themselves 10 the impu,ation. Does
. Gly one suppose that it is in the contempla-
: tion>ot any Senator on this floor that the pas.
g sage ot>thess resolutions is going to give an
impulse to DOR patriotic feelings? MOI at all.
! No one INDUCES in amy such arrogant suppo-
sltion. Well, then, ask what is the Office
illat is going to b. performed by the passage
! OF the resolutions. Is 1t desired to hold up
= certain Senators as pre-eminent in patriotismI
= But there is another view of the question
!, suppose the result of this debate should be &c
. impress the idea that war is inevitable, what
= would be the effect on the public iundsl vii
=, you not impair the fortunes OF thousands at
q single blow? This debate will be waited tt
: the remotest bounds OF the country. Can an,
y one imagine the horror that will prevail i'm tht
- bosoms OF thousands at the superstition, for
small strip OF territory, almost absolutely
: worthless and barren, two civilized nations
!" are to be plunged into The miSeries of warfare
: is II not astounding that for an object so in
y considerable two great nations should rush i'm
to AN act OF such criminality? What will b.
sad, when this debate goes forth, of the gen
~ tlemen OF the dominant party, who could no
: wait the recommendation from the prone
y quarter, and then make tn, required appropri
- auon; but who, in the absence of such recon
v mcmddtion, and before the committees are or
ganz"d, precipitate themselves into a warlik
y attitude, Tor this Is the inevitable result of tn
e proceeding?
p Whatever may be the consequences. thi
. very discussion, even at this stage, is fraugh
% with InCdlculable mischief. We shall hav
' cominumcatedanXiety aud horror to thousands
" ana all this that we may exhibit our patriot
! Ism Sir, If the resolutions are pressed shall
G vote Tor them; because, II we are To- have WA
= with the greatest Power on which the sun
q ever shone, tits necessary that we should b.
y III state OF complete preparation. When
= AIN satisfied that the necessity of the case de
mauds it, will not hesitate to make any am,
every sacrifice. My constituents live, for tn
most part. on the Atlantic seaboard Wha
8 Will be their destiny Sir, we heard last yea
u That Great Britain had one hu Idrcd and sixt
d steam vessels of war. There is not a river
bay or creek but may be pcioated by thos,
r. vessels, In that part of the Southern country
y Mr.. a. further said that he believed in hi
e conscience that if negotiations Were left TO b.
e carried on between the two Governments ,ther
u would be 10 danger to be apprehcnded as Il
q the result. lie thought the gentlemen on tn
other side ought, at all events. to be willing {,
~ coniide in the Executive. lie himself. though
y he had come here oppressed with leadcn lo5,
= OF anxiety, pv9s now thoroughly satisfied IL
= approved oi the ton. OF Tia Message to Con
y grcss, and he was glad to have De opportunit
p Ol distinctly eE pres,iug Li, approval of IL; am
" he hoped tine Senate aud ths country woul
' he oDsrr,dnt of thc fact that thoy were con
ID tcnt with the language ol tha Executive. au
~ TIE only opposition ord-tru,t cmIuated lron
" iho gentlemen of the other side
~ NJ o.. No.. hon. b., ....i., 81. 81