Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-04-10


pegotiator. We must not gainsay that by our
resolutions as Senate. If it he our right. should
question the expedency of giving any advice I'M
asked If we were ever so competent by the On
stitution to give the advice unasked, and 1t were
not mex pedient to do it for other reasons yet is
entirely unnecessary in this case. The negotiation
is pending VI on the basis of compromise, and
we have the presidents declaration to the British
Minister that he has determined to pursue 1t to
conclusion" upon that basis. Indeed, Senators
know that after the basis. Indeed, Senators know
that after the basis was once arranged by mutual
consent, it not in the power of one of them to
change that basis without thec Of the ether
or else terminating the negotiation.
object to it further, because if the SENATE
he's right to advise, and it would be prudent and
wise to give the advice, still it cannot be pretended
that CONGRESS has such power under the
Constitution and it is of the first and highest
duties of the Senate to protect the peculiar trusts
which. under the Constitution appertain to it. and
not to admit, much less to invite the House Of
Representatives into partnership for adjusting the
President upon our foreign affairs. By adding
this amendment to a JOINT resolution violate
that duty ourselves, and consent to and invite
an encroachment upon the Senate and that forms
to my mind conclusive objection. Were there
no other, it oughtto prevail. .
object to it further, because if it is intended as
declaration of "earnest desire" made to a for
eign Government, and addressed to it. then it is
very unusual, if it be not reflection upon our
Chief Magistrate, who is the ''only mouth" of this
Government to speak to other nations; and that.
after he has already told Great Britain that he
'desire' compromise. Once is enough. would
give no room for all inference that we distrusted
him or his eacefu purposes. 1t is proper that we
should give him the moral weight of our legisla-
tive opinion by act or resolution for notice. and
leave him tolse it the best way he can, but still
responsible for any abuse of it. There hope we
shall STOP Give all the aid he asks, hut no mp.-
diments. Therceforth would make no more calls
for correspondents, but leave the Ministers tocarry
through the negotiation. Our calls may be en-
barrasslng TO both of them. They are not cacu
lated to aid our own.
There is another objection to this resolution
that is conclusive to my own mind and | ask
particular attention to it. If interpret it Alright,
it advises compromise between 49 degrees and
the Columbia riuer. Now to that Icannot agree
In the sixth protocol are these words The Brit
sh Minister said "thct he didn't feel authorized
to enter into discussion respecting the territory
north ct tie tofy-ninh parallal If latitude,
ach,ch orGs understood by TIE British Gouern-
n'ent to farm the basis Of negotiation on the
side Of The United States, as the line Of the CO.
hnabla formed that on the side Of Great Bril-
tain."
To this, apprehend, our Government assented
by signing the protocol. and Mr.. Pakenham has
ever since treated the matter accordingly.-
Then the "pendng controversy" respecting limits
is understood to be a controversy whether those
limits shall be settled at 40 or at the Columbia
river; and our advice to settle it by compromise
would be advice to compromise, viz. to give and
take for line between these two. / do not say
it was so intended: am sure it was not. But see
how much difficulty there is in agreeing upon our
construction of the message. Shall we not multi
pl7 embarrassment by every step of our interfer-
ence with negotiations?
! Suppose that mine was not the proper interpre-
tation of this resolution. 1t must be admitted not
to be free of doubt. That is sufficient to condemn
it for it may misead Great B.itain. Her Minis
ter may understand it do, and the consequence
will he that no offer that we can accept will be
| made.
Upon the whole, submit to the senate that the
r House resolutions. under all the circumstance.
now surrounding this subject, had better be adop
t ted by the senate. Their second resolution is
: but proviso excluding any inference that that
House designed by the first one to obrudc into
2 subject belonging to the President and senate. Il
P was perhaps ght for them 10 say so. 1t was bu
saying to US and to tn" President LAS negotia
1 ton is pending, and this House claims no right te
interrupt it, have taken care to declare that ne
COLLATION. is matter with W ich the peoples Re-
representatives. in the house do not hereby icterpose.
4 And, at the time the vote OF their part i'm
e piled the absence of any hostilit to negotiation
: Upon this subject, and at this stage of 1t. neSotia
y ton means compromise. From that there is ne
escape.
7 49,
ate 10 take the House resolutions go free of ohi,c
| ton they are. is this
The difference, if any, in favor of either of the
0 other propositions over those from the House, i,
j not to be compared to the Inconvenience (usine
: no stronger expresson) which the sending of Thu
e discussion back to the other House will produc,
y IN the country, and the certain delay and probable
embarrassments it will lead to In pursuing the ne
t gotation. The whole subject is with the senate
). with the senate leave it.
t Mr.. President, I have now concluded what hat
e to say. must be more or less than man if
felt so Indifferent to the kind AMI atering atten
ton of the senate for two days as not to expires
# my gratitude for it. l have spoken plainly o
!. principles and things-I hope not too much so.-
= 1t is difficult know to do that without an appear
It ance OF dsrespect to those you answer But al
i attack upon errors Of opinion is no assault upol
= the persons holding them. In my heart there i
e nothing of unkindness If | had not been placed
J. most reluctantly, in attitude where must speal
or be misunderstood if | had not been goaded b,
repeated declarations which could not assent to
e and which, if correct, knew would force me t.
oppose the and to abandon friend
and which, if not correct, it was my duty urd m,
}. right a senator to refute in free debate shou
D not have opened my mouth. II this Performance
- of an unavoidable duty should leave me expose,
'r to misrepresentation, must bear It. My hand
y are clean, my heart is easy my conscience is un
burdened; and. if have done any thing for goo
re | can rejoice, if not have tried to do it. And
g having confidence in God stronger than any "con
e, fdence in princes" pray that HE who rules til