The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-03-07

20 say, ~ disregard commerce OH u pucsuou
of the national honor" So do !, when that
is the question. Ifthe honor ofmy country
is attacked, will say, in the memorable Ian
guage once used by member of the other
| House, "Perish commercew But these are
interests not TO be trihed with. Those great
! interests ofthis country, in which are InVolv-
ed the daily bread of thousands and millions
ofmen, are not TO be put III jeopardy for OBJ
iects not connected in reality either with the
| honor or the substantial interests ofthe coun-
try. wish therefore, so soon as IL IL prac-
ticable, to obtain an expression of the opin-
ion ofthe Senate. Fit shall be the opinion
of this body that il IL best to give the naked
notice recommended in the Executive mes
sage, that will throw the responsibility upon
the Executive 10 the fullest extent. am for
getting question either on the naked notice
or on notice in some modified form, such as
shall express what believe 10 be the ludS-
ment both of the Senate and of the country.
Mr. Breese replied briefly, and Mr. Allen
| then wished To know lift was Mr. Colquitps
object, by his second resolution, to ascertain
the opinion ofthe Senate as to whether the
Oregon dispute was proper matter for COM
promise. Mr. Colquitt said it was, and this
led TO some unimportant remarks from both
sides, when
Mr. Calhoun rose aud said, il is very obvi-
matter is this: Can the controversy between
us and Great Brita in be settled by negotiation
and compromise? or is il 10 be settled by an
assertion of our right TO the entire territory,
and an appeal to armsf Whatever doubts
have heretofore existed upon this point, there
can be none after the declaration of to day,
that this is the real question involved. a
question of greater moment never has been
presented in Congress, from the days of the
Revolution TO the present. II is necessary TO
know the sense ofthis body, to guide our
future legislation. five Maintain our title
by force ofarms, let us begin; let us lay aside
all other things and let me say, ifgentlemcn
do not begin with the necessary measures be-
fore n war, you are most likely to be discom-
flied; and foremost among those important
measures are those relating To your finances.
Sir, ! hold il to be desirable to guide the bus
mess men of the country. They know not
what to do, nor have they known for the last
three months. The property of thousands
has been perilled, and millions upon millions
have been lost. Sir there ought TO be an end
TO this state of excitement. With due defer
ence to the Executive, aud without intending
the slightest disrespect, must say l greatly
regret that il has been left in the state of I'M
certainty il has.
After some further remarks from different
gentlemen, in the course ofwhich Mr. Hanne-
gan spoke in the most ardent terms of Mr.
Webster's declaration that his tongue should
blister, before he would argue against the IL
tie ofhis country pending negotiations, Mr.
Johnson, Md, rose TO enquire Ofthe chairman
of the Committee of Foreign Affairs, whether
when the President offered TO settle this dis
pute or the parallel of49 deg, he did il 'r-
ci,LsireIy in compliance with offers ofthe same
description made by his predecessors, and
in Difference to their Judgment And he also
wished TO know whether Mr. Allen was au-
thorized to say that the President would re-
| fuse TO negotiate on any terms short Of 81
deg. 10 min.
! Mr. Allen declined TO answer these mquir-
les. Mr. Pennybacker expressed his iuten-
ton to vote for Mr. Colquitts amendment,nnd
gave briefly his reasons for so voting.
| Mr. Cass made few remarks to show that
there was no reason to believe that England
would offer an acceptable proposal. lie
thought that ifSir Robert Peel had any mean
ing of sincerity in what he had said in Parlia-
mcnt concerning the rejection of the offer of
- deg, he ought at once TO recall Mr. Paken-
ham. He concluded by avowing his belief
that unless something fortunate interviewed,
the difficulties of the case would increase
aud if il were 10 be settled by negotiation
| England must make more liberal offers than
/ sic has done heretofore.