The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-07
SATURDAY, February J, 1876.

Immediately after the journal of yesterday had
been read,
The House, on motion of Mr.. COBB, resolved
itself into Committee of the Whole on the state of
the Union, Mr.. TIBBArTs, of Kentucky, in the
chair, and resumed the consideration Of the Joint
resolution Of notice.
Mr.. TRUMAN SMITH was entitled to the
floor and addressed the committee in a speech
(Which is in course Of preparatory He declared
msef strongly impressed with the belief that the
time had arrived when this controversy should be
closed, and when the convention Of 1897 should be
abrogated. And if the committee would consent so to
modify the proposition Of notice as that whilst, on
the one hand, should assert the Just rights of this
republic to the territory of Oregon on the other it
should be consistent with the maintenance of these
amicable relations which important to the
interests Of both countries, he would cheerully vote
for it. He must say, however, that out of the
number Of propositions before the committee, there
was not one to which he could give his assent, ex-
cept to that emanatng from the gentleman fro AL
ALBANIA, who represented the Mobile district,
[Mr. DARoAN. That proposition proceeded
upon the basis that this controversy was to
be settled upon just and equitable terms of
compromise. And unless Great Britain was will
ling to come to settlement on some such basis, he,
for one, was prepared to carry the controversy to
the issue of arms As member Of the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, he had, upon only moments
consideration, signed the minority report. The po-
stions Il assumed seemed to him ut that time to be
tenable; and he was not now convinced that its con-
illusions were incorrect Since that time he had
more thoroughly examined the subject. Tho report
assumed the ground, tina, to give this notice belong
ed to the treaty.makng power, and that as mat
ter of strict legislation, the two houses Of Congress
had nothing 10 do with 1t. He had also examined
the able argument Of the venerated gentleman from
Massachusetts,, Mr.. ADAMS, in which he contend
ed that the giving this notice appertaned to the war
making power--(Mr. g. did not undertake TO use
the precise language -that 1t was a step introduc-
tory to war; and therefore that it belonged to the two
houses Of Congress. Although, as a matter of
strict legislation, they might not have power to &C,
on this subject, yet Mr. s. thought 1t was entirely
competent for them to express an opinion. Wheth-
er the minority report was or was not tenable,
therefore, did not seem to him to be matter Of any
great consequence TO the question before the com.
mtee. He thought that they should dismiss from
their minds every consideration Of party or sec
tonal character and decide the question solely on
its merits And he washed his hands of any re-
sponsibiity that might result from the action Of this
House, If was to be by rash and ill-advsed legs-
ation.
He then proceeded to discuss the history, prog
ress and character Of the negotiations from
the commencement Of the controversy, to show
that, from that time to September, l845, all
the negotiations had been conducted upon the
basis Of just and equitable compromise He gave full
credit for the the consummate ability with which
negotiations on the part Of the present adminstra-
ton had been conducted, but avoved his opinion
that they had got the nation into a COMPOUNDED
scrape; and that they must recede from the posi-
ton they had taken or the question must be brought
TO The issue Of arms
He then directed his remarks to an examination
OF the question OF title, and was still speaking TO
that point when bis hour expired.
Mr.. A. ID. SIMS said, after all that had been ut
tered this debateafier the reneatad
had been inflicted upon the South, and the more re-
peated thruss that had been inflicted on the State
which he had the honor In part TO representa-
might be expected that in the remarks which he
should submit to the committee, something would
be said in their vindication, and in purpose Of hurl
| ing back the poisoned shafts which hud been di-
reoted against them. He regretted exceedingly
that anything should have occurred in the course Of
i this debate which would have tendency TO array
party sectional feelings. Truth should be the OBJ
jet Of every candid inquiry; patriotism, he was
sure, should be the motive which leads to inquiry