The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-30

"hfeH ico ONcfs
Resoigsd, That the Committee Military Affairs he in
.ructed to inquire into the expedency Of providing
adequate deiences Of the port and harbor Of Mobile.
OREGON.
Mr. HANNEGAN called up the following reso
lutions, submitted by him yesterday viz:
Rsspiysd That the country included within the parallel
ana o. degrees minutes north latitude and extending
from the Rocky mountains to the Pacific ocean known
me territory Oregon is the property and part and parce
Resorsd That there exists power this government
70 transfer ITS soil ard the allegiance Of its citizens tn,
aonon authority control and subsection OF amy foregl
hssofred That the abandonment or surrender OF any
Of the honor the character and the hest interests
the American people.
Mr.. Fl. said that his object in calling up these re-
solutions was, to move to make them the order Of
the day for next week, or the week after. He
would name Monday week.
MIR. ARCHER moved to the Senator from Indi.
ana, that as these resolutions involved questions oil
the greatest possible Importance too much time
could not be given for consideration before they
were required to act on them and the country also
to which country they ought to go before action
here-should have time to duly consider them He
hoped that the Senator would that the resolu-
ions be printed; and that the third Monday in Jan-
uary be named as the day for discussion.
Mr.. HANNEGAN acquesccd in the suggestion.
Mr.. CALHOUN did not rise to oppose the mo-
ton but to make request that il be withdrawn for
remarks previously to submitting an amendment.
He was, although he could not give his support TO
the resolutions, much gratfed that they onanaie ed
from The Senator from Indiana. Whatever were
ms objections to them, they he'd the merit of being
direct, open, and manly. They denied. in direct
terms, the authority of this government TO make d
treaty with regard to the Oregon territory and de-
nounced, as he understood by implications the pro.
position already made by our government 10 set
Tie by the forty-ninth degree Of latitude If the
Senate should support the resolutions, il was
clear that the question could only be settled by
force; and that no peace, should war result, could
ever take place between the two countries, bu,
by our dictation, and at the lannon's mouth
The vote on these resolutions would draw broad
line, which could not be misunderstood, between
those who were in favor Of settlement Of this cues
ton by an appeal to arms, and those who were ia
vorabe to more pacific course. He was in favo,
OF pacific course-if possible, by negotiation; and
under this impression he mad prepared a series o.
resolutions asserting opposite principles from those
of the senator from Indiana, which he proposed to
move as an amendment, and that they be printed
for the use of the Senate He took the occasion tc
avow the course which he should pursue. He was
for peace if it could be honoraby preserved. He
was IN favor of adjustment by negotiation if il
could be settled by negotiation. lit could not be
adjusted by negotiation, he was in favor of such a
course as shall throw the onus of war from our
shoulders to those OF Great Britain. He approved
of the course of the administration in offering to add
just the question on the parallel of forty-nine de-
grees, under all the circumstances; and il should be
his wish to cooperate with the Executive on this
question, as he believed the Executives desire to
De for peace if peace can be honoraby preserved II
peace cannot be honorably preserved and il we are
to have war, he would never be found antayonistic
to our country. Even if an improper course should
produce war, when different one would preserve
peace, still he would take part with his country.
The war would be one of no ordinary character and
sItII e he fo H.. =
those responsible who rashly rushed us into it, He
hoped, whatever opinions may have been heretofore
entertained, that the question would be discussed in
the calmest manner, when fully understood II war
could he averted, it should be done; but if war
should ensue, he trusted we would be united aa ono
man. He accordingly offered the following resolu-
tions which were read, viz
Strike out all after the word resolved, and in
sert:
That the President the United States has the po.r bv
and with the advice and consent Of the Senate make
treaties provided twotbs OF tho senate present concur
Resolped That the power Of making treaties enhance
that Of settling and fixing boundaries between the terrific
powers in cases Of conflicting claims them in ref
Rsoieed That however clear their claims may be- in their
opinion to the country included within the parallels Of AZ
degrees and 81 degrees 10 minutes north latitude and es
tending from the Rocky mountains the Pacific
known the Territory Of Oregon there now exists And
have long existed conflicting Claims 10 the posessn Of
Of which has been frequently the subject Of neroation h
tween the respective governments.
Resottsd h.rstere That the President of the United
states has rghuy the power under the constitution by
and with the advice and the Senate provided
BY treaty the claims of the countries 10 the said
ritory by fixing boundary between their respective
sessions r.
Rsolrd That the President of the United States in re-
newng the offer In the spirit Of peace and compromise
the two counires 10 the said territory did not abandon
is honor me character Or the best interests OF the
constitution to make tteatby.
Mr. HANNEGAN said that the first two prop.
ositions OF the senator from South Carolina would
not be contested by any one. All that is stated in
the first resolution was correct, and to which he
could have no objection. The residue of these res
ouons, however, presented matter for serious con-
sideration, at least for him, for they came in con-
ilct with the principles which he, in his resolutions,
laid down. He wished, at present, to make few
remarks in reply TO the distinguished senator from
South Carolina. The senator said the resolutions
winch ne Mr. I'D had introduced, by implication,
at any rate, conveyed censure on the President of
the United States: He had no such intention.
Mr. CALHOUN explained. He did not accuse
the senator OF censuring the President but Stated
that such would be the effect of the resolutions.
MIR. HANNEGAN resumed. He so understood
the senator. But the senator would not deny that
the whole aspect of the question had changed since
the proposition Of the President, and since the be
remPtory and almost contemptuous refusal of The
British minister. If it were not so, he was free
man az well as the President of the United States;
and, although his political friend, and ever expected
to be, yet if the President on any occasion or
sions assumed position which he could not endorse.
he had the right, and would maintain it, as well
here as at home TO express his sentiments without
desiring or wishing to convey any censure. He
represented the sahe Ftope mat the President did
lie was free, and as Fireman spoke and acted
He repeated, that he meant convey no censure on
the President. The senator said that the resolu-
tlons were plain and direct coming Mt once IN the
point, and that the adop.ion of them, if he under
stood them, necessarily involved war; Now,
II the adoption of the resolutions, which contained
immutable principles Of truth, should bring war on
us, let war come What American was there, for
fear of war; who would hesitate TO declare the truth
in this chamber He was for peace, too; he shrunk
back from the thought of war rs much as could the
senator from South Carolina. He loved peace; but
M were only to be maintained on degrading and
dlshonorable terms, war, even of determination,
would be far preferable. The senator spoke of war
ensuing by the adoption of the resolutions which
could only be settled by the arbitration at the cam
mons mouth. He (Mr. HANsEGAN) proclaimed, il
war with Great Britain should arise, he, for one,