The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-18
THE DAILY UNION.

intended tha this bill should act upon the whole Of
Oregon and its inhabitants. He had feared that
such would be the effect and hence his proposition
TO amend it, All that is now necessary Is to afford
our citizens in Oregon the protection Of law, un-
der our joint occupancy OF me territory When the
twelve months required by the treaty shall have ex-
pred il may then be the duty OF this government To
lake exclusive possession of Oregon. Will it not,
them be time enough to pass the necessary laws for
the purpose. He thought it would be. He trusted
the calm elaboration the interval would produce
would lead TO an honorable and equitable adjust
ment of pending difficulties, and thereby relieve the
question Of ali embarrassment II he should be
disappointed in this reasonable expectation, and
the gloomy forebodngs of his friend from Mary
land tMr. GrLEsl should be realized, he, for one,
should be prepared TO meet the crisis as became
man.
Again: is it necessary, or even prudent, twelve
months in advance, to place the question OF be-
yond the control Of the war-maklng power Of the
government No one can doubt, that, at the expi-
ration Of twelve months from the period the notice
is given the BILL if passed without amendment, will
act upon British subjects in every part of Oregon.
And 10 his mind il was equally clear, that Great
Britain could not and would not, abandon her citi-
zens in Oregon 10 the jurisdiction and control Of a
foreign power. II not, what must follow? First
conflict of iurisdicuon-next Of arms. Suppose
Congress should deem 1t lnexpedient when the pc
Rod required by the notice shall have expired, to
engage in war with Great Britain, how can we con-
troll the question: Imperious reasons Of State ne
eessity might forbid conflict that time; and yet
If this law pass without amendment, you could not
control the question. Suppose you pass a bill re-
pealing the law the President might veto It, and thus
the power to produce war would be placed in the
hands Of the Executive, who might exercise it
against the will Of that department Of the govern
ment which can alone declare war. He asked again
il was either wise prudent thus To deprive Con
gress Of oontrst over the question Of war If his
amendment prevailed, Congress would retain full
power over the question: and when the proper time
arrives, such Legislation may be adopted the pub
lie exigencies may require. He doubted not all
would then do their duty. He preferred an honor
able peace; but If war comes, we shall make the
most of il. lie had nothing TO say Of title, bounda-
ry, &c.
He found, however, if he continued his remarks
upon this point he houd fall into the error Of dis
cussiug irrelevant points. This he had condemned
in others. He wolld only add that he had entire
confidence in the treaty msking power Of the govern
ment and into their lands he willingly left the power
to make treaties. II treaty be made which did not
greatly impair natlobal rights, he should not con-
denim it, but sustain hose whose duty il is to guard
the rights and honor Of the nation and at the same
time so far as they can, preserve the peace and
quiet OF the world.
He had now a remark or two 10 make TO the hon.
orabe gentleman from Tennesse Mr.. M. BRowS
He did not object 70 his taste IN attacking citi-
zen of his own Sute, now the Executive Of the ma
lion That honorable gentleman had an undoubt-
ed right to adop any course IN reference to the
President he might deem proper; but he (Mr. P.)
had also the right to revolye in his own mind the
reasons which led TO that attack. Mr.. PAYNE had
been acquainted with the system of elecuoneering
for some years past in Tennessee. A canvass there
is generally warmly contested, and good deal Of
party acrImony INDUCED in upon the stump. In
these conflicts the present incumbent Of the White
House. and the honorable gentleman from Tennes-
see Mr.. BRowS were active participants {; and, If
rumor be not al fault-f the press be not false-he
President Of the United States has presented many
accounts, filed with grave items, against the whig
party of Tennessee. The gentleman Mr.. BRowSl
was upon more occasions than one, called upon to
foot the bill | will not say (said Mr.. P.) how
he performed that duty; but he would say, it would
concur more with his notions Of yaor to beard. the
lion in his den, TO attack him face to face, and not,
after the lapse of some four or six years, "nurslng
his wrath to keep it warm" to rise in his place and
attack old rival, who, from the peculiar circum-
stances Of the case, cannot reply.
Ii was not his purpose Mr.. P. said) to act as the
champion Of the Executive. He delighted in no
such task. But he thought, if the picions Of the
grounds Of this attack were true, il would be ex-
ceedingly difficult for the President to satisfy the
gentleman from Tennessee. Suppose the President
had taken the unaterable ground Of $40 40, might
not the gentleman from Tennessee have charged
him with desire of involving his country in an I'M
necessary war for sinister purposes 1t would be
quite as easy to condemn him for that as it now
is to condemn him for paying becoming respect to
the opinion of his predecessors in offering COM
promise upon the parallel Of 400. He was willing
to leave to time to deveope the motives by which
the Executive was Influenced, not doubling that in
this, as in all else, wisdom and patriotism will con-
troll his action. For the reasons already given, he
should not speak upon the Oregon question.