The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-26

The proposition for notice has originated the other
House, and has passed, but with a qualification
there, or an addition, or whatever else II may he
properly called. The resolution, thus qualified
from being a resolution of naked notice TO one
with conditions comes here, and here other propO-
sitioDs are offered, and they are entertalned-thus
Ear at east-so far as TO be considered quite IN
order and III subjects for consideration My hon
oTable friend from Kentucky, IN one part OF his
Speech saws that he disposed to leave the respon-
sibility exactly where the constitution leaves it
where il properly belOngs--and that they who have
the power shall be answeTable. That is certainly
very lust sentiment, and the influence of that
sentiment on my own mind from the hrst
has been TO raise doubt whether we should do
anything IN the matter but give or refuse nouce
Nevertheless, the propositions Of qualification aud
modification have been made in The other house, and
IN This house; and it seems 10 he insisted that we
have a right to-perlaps are expected to-perhaps
is the sontiment believe II 10 Of large malorl-
ty-Of the Senate, that some qualification should ae-
company this notice. Sull really think, that IN
this state of things, have right TO know IN
what roint Of view the executive government re-
CARDS this notice. or rather what are the ends and
consequences, which in the judgment OF the ENecu.
tive, the giving Of this notice will tend. When !
HAD the honor Of addressing the Senate on this sub
ject month or six weeks ago, said-what appears
TO me equally true now-lhat the government Of the
United States-that the President Of the United
States-esnnot expect war. He does not act like
the chief magistrate Of great nation expecting that
the country may be soon invaded. He does not act
like man charged with the defence OF the country
at moment when IL is in danger Of being essailed
by the most formidable enemy earth. There is
nothing In his recommendations 10 the other house,
nor 10 this, indicative Of such an expectation.
There is nothing Of preparation for defence ndica.
ting that the President expects war We'll, then he
can expect nothing but continuance ofthls dispute
its settlement by negotiation. am bound to sup
Il. "a
What terms Of negolistionl What basis OF negoi-
atom What grounds Of negotiation Everything
that are hear from the executive department IL "the
whole or none !" and yet negotiation Sir, Il is in
vain TO conceal from ourselves, from the country,
or from the world, the gross inconsistency Of this
course of conduct II is the spirit Of that CORES.
pondence TO which my honorable friend has al
ready alluded, that the whole OF Oregon is ours,
and that nothing can be done which admits the ex.
istence Of a doubt to our right 10 the whole or
the possibility OF right existing in another; and
yet we to negotiate Pray, what is negotia-
tionl Does the administration expect that by ne
gotiation II can persuade the British government 10
surrender the whole territory us' In that its ex-
pectstion' IL may do that. ! cannot say it will
Rot. IL that's the disposition Of our government
the expectation Of our government, why, then, OF
course, IL will try It's hands at It.. wish it success
THAT is to say, wish the country could be rid OF
the dispute. Take the Oregon il you can get il,
bat, at all events sete the question between the
two countries fairly and reasonably. But say |
do not understand the position in which the execu-
tive government has placed iiselE-in favor Of ne
gotiRton al the limo, but all the time refusing to
take anything less than the whole! What consid-
erstion-what compromise-what basis-what
grounds, therefore, for negotiationl IL the
government Of the United States has made
up its mind-I speak Of the executive gov
ernment-that, so far as il is concerned, il
Will not treat for anything less than the whole OF
Oregon, then il should say 60, and throw itself on
the two houses of Congress, and on the country
IL should say so. ! am entitled TO make these re-
marks, which | mean in no disrespectful spirit to
anybody, because II cannot be denied that the effect
Of this notice is very differently viewed by inte-
gent gentlemen, all friends Of the administration on
the floor Of this Senate. The gentleman from Geor
gin, whose proposition is now thus informally be-
fore u.s. regards the notice leading TO peace-ex-
poets peace from it-hopss peace from it-desires
to express such opinions az shall enable the admin
lstraon, in the conduct Of its negotiations to arrive
at peace. Still, il is quite certain that other gentle
men, and amongst the rest my distinguished friend
from Michigan, MIR. CAss,l much less ardent
in their hopes Of peace flowing from the notice
That genteman's opinion seems to have been that,
II we pass this notice, we shall be obliged to take
possession. and that then war win follow. That is
the declaration Of the gentleman. His speeches
generally end with the expression Of his fear that
war is inevable-war is inevitable.
MIR. CASS. No, Mr. President. Blu, let me
repeat my original proposition, from which have
never varied hairs breadth. | repeat il, hope
for the last time in the hope that hereafter will
be neither misrepresented nor Misunderstood
not that say have been msrepresented by the
honorable senator. | said that we were called on
to give this notice. that if we did So and went on
complying with the other recommendations OF the
President, and IN the mean time if within the year
the question were not settled by negotiation, then
thought war would come; that if we should adhere
to our pretensons, and England to hers, insisting
on her claim, war must come.
v/Mr. WEBSTER. The only contingency that
seems likely, then, TO interfere in that event which
all deprecate is that England will continue to assert
her claim, Now, have no right to ask the honor
able gentleman
Mr.. CAsS. Ask me any question you please
sir.
mir WEBSTER. Well then, does he suppose
that England ever will surrender the whole of Ore
gon in any form Of circumstancesi
Mr.. CASS. have my doubts whether she ever
will. Iasserted the same thing when | formerly
the Senate, and asked when was it ever
known that England relinqushed territory or aban-
doned p nciple' ! vary not one hairs breadth
from my former position.
Mr.. WEBSTER. The gentleman is Of the opin-
ION that we VIII not recede, and that England will
not give up the whole; and what, then, is moro ma
tural than-not to use the rejected tern,-that war
is very likely to hsppeni confess the argument Of
expression, led mo TO entertain the idea which do
entertain of his opinion. To be sure, do
not mean to charge him with saying that "war is
inevitable" But what he said rung in my cars
ever since, and so was constantly obliged to keep
up comparison with that memorable saying with
which senator Of old was accustomed to end his
speeches-Carthago est deiendo. But what have to
say is merely TO repeat that am desirious Of ex-
pressing my judgment on this subject whenever
car do so without embarrassing the administration
II negotiation be pending, | wish to hold my
tongue. 1t shall be bistered before | would say
anything derogaory to the tile of the United States
whilst the government Of the United States was
engaged in negotiating for that territory on the
strength of our title. Gentlemen see the ernbar-
rnssment in which we stand. | will aid the admin
israon in all honorable efforts to obtain all that be-
longs to u.s. and all that we rshtfuly and hon
orabiy acquire with all nay hean--with all my
heart. But then | must know something Ger.
family, inasmuch ns am citizen of the country,
claim right, and nothing more, to know something
OF the views, purposes, expectations, and objects of
the administrator. | cannot reconcile myself to be
much longer kept in posture Of things in which no
preparations are made TO defend the country--in
which negotiation is held out every day as that