The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-10

bitrae this question had been offered by Great bri
tain, and that that offer had been rejected by TN
United States; and finding, also, suppose, that II
the House Of Representatives, separate bill to or
game in Oregon territorial government had Deer
reported, he abandoned his intention OF offering
those proyisoes Those propositions, therefore, moi
now being before the Senate, have no remarks 10
make upon them.
Subsequently to this, the senator from Georgia
Mr.. CoLQUrrr,l proposed an amendment to the
resolution offered by the senator from Kentucky, Of
which | have spoken, and the senator from Ken
lucky, in part, accepted and adopted ii as his own
The proposition Of the senator from Kentucky, az
modified at the instance Of the senator from Geor.
gia differs from the original in this the original
proposition OF the senator from Kentucky au-
thorlZes the President, in his discretion, To es
not gips the notice after the close Of the present
sion Of Congress-; that proposition, as now modi-
fed proposes that Consrsss (and not the Prssi-
dsn shall give this notice, 10 take effect, absolutely
after Congress shall adjourn, unless the President,
in his discretion, shall SEQ t defer il. Now sir
according TO my reading, the difference ia these res
olutons, in the original and modified form, Is not
wide enough TO pay for the ink and paper which
that difference is recorded. Either to give H. in the
one case or TO defer it, in the otherto do the act,
or 10 prevent t-are, TO my mind equally objsction-
able, as both rest upon the basis of Executive
discretion and therefore amenabe to all the objec-
tons have already urged relative to this discretion
ary power. e., :, 4. 49,, c.,,.,. .,.,
proposes To negotiate" and compromise" II the
President, under our constitution, did not possess
the power TO negotiate upon all subjects, there might
be some propriety 10 confer such power upon himj
but he Possesses II, under the constitution, and
independent of US, think nothing beneficial can re
suit from inserting such authority in this resou-
ton. On the contrary, many evils may grow out
Of it. IL may, by thus manifestng such anxiety TO
negotiate defeat the very object II is designed to
su6serve. IL may do more: ii may form a danger
ous-precedent and lead in future, if not in thus in
stance to inroads upon the consutution-an instru-
ment which he and | are alike concerned in pre-
serving in its beautiful form Of simplicity and eff
cheney. Ever mindful Of this, let us exercise only
the powers the constitution confers upon the Senate,
and leave to the Executive those which properly be-
long TO him.
The senator also proposes to compromise. To
compromise what The disputed territory. And
what il that In the BRUSH vocabulary, it means
that territory which lies between the Columbia
river and the 49;h parallel Of latitude. We have
been offering for years to settle this boundary by
that parallel; and Great Britain, on her part, has
been offering to settle 1t by the Columbia river CIV
ing all SOUTH and she retaining all NORTH and the
river to be common TO both nations. Is II to divide
this country, lying between the Columbia and the
49th parallel, that the word "compromlse" is TO-
sertedi The senator from Georgia does not mean
this, for he has told me he does not. He means to
include IN his compromise oil the country 10 which
either party up claims the northwest coast Of
America-all included between the parallels of 42o
and $40 40. This is what he means. But will that
meaning be put upon it by the British government
Will even our President so construe ~ The Pres
ident has told us that acting on the principles Of
compromise, and in Difference TO the acts of his
predecessors, he has been unable to settle this dis
pute such terms the United States ought to ac-
cept. This is the information he gives us. He
tha har and ito
ton. We are informed, in one of the protocols,
that the British minister is not authorized even to
discuss our title to the country on that coast,
north Of 49o. He tells us his government would
not accept of the 49th parallel the dividing line:
and insists upon the Columbia the boundary.
All these things in the Presidents message,
and the documents which accompany it. This
message is now upon our tables; it has been carried
to, and read, in every quarter of America; It has
been widely circulated and freely commented upon
in every part Of Europe; and yet the senator pro-
poses to direct the President to Compromise" this
question And how By taking less than Ago.
No, sir, he is not for that. He sees, by the mes.
sage that the President has been unable TO get ago:
can he get it now l have seen nothing to author
ize such a conclusion. Upon what evidence is that
opinion founded-if, indeed, the senator entertains
that opinion | should like to know it, Not being
able to get Ago, upon what terms, then, is he to
'compromsei' The resolution fails to indicate the
terms upon which this compromise is to be made.
Would it be well for the President to be inform
ed of the terms which he is to compromise and
of the terms which would be satisfactory to the SEN
atea Sir the President tells tho senator, in his mes
sage, that he is unable TO compromise this question
on terms which the United States ought TO accept.
He tells them, in substance, that he cannot compro-
mise this question terms other than those dis
honorable to the nation And will the senator from,
Georgia agree to compromise this question any
such terms? 1t would be libel on his life to say
r.. Ill
have before us, could the President, or would the
British government, put any other construction up
on this resolution, than that other terms, ia
vorable to Great Britain, and more pernicious to
the interests of the United States, to be oered'
Terms which must be, if more favorable than those
already offered, in the judgment of the President
and in that judgment l concur-disgracefu to the
United States' | think no other conclusion could OIL
would be put upon this resolution. | cannot vote
for it, or for any resolution, under the crcum.
stances, which has the word compromise" in it.
Sir, am not sure but that majority Of the peo
pie of the United Stetes would rather fight Grea
Britain tomorrow, than yield up to her any part Of
Oregon, south of $40 4O l am not sure, but that
majority of the people of the United States are now
ready to assert the title Of the United States to thu
whole Of Oregon, believing, as that majority do, tina
the title of their country to the whole of 1t is un-
questionable; and with this assertion of their title,
am not sure but that this majority are not now
ready, upon the slightest ntmation from those who
have control of our public AFFAIRS to maintain it a
all hazards.
Sir the people of the United States love thei
country. They love it because it is their country
They love it, for its institutions, its fame, its pros
perty, it's inevitable destiny, and, not the less TO
the immensely of space which that country covers
Sir in the affairs of this country these people bea
with impotence any interference Of any foreig'
power, and particularly il that interference wear
| the slightest encroachment upon their territorial
rights. With still less patience do they bear sucl
interference, if led to believe it is prompted by de
| sire, on unfounded claim, to seek position q
| a vulnerable point of their country, from which
is designed to annoy the country in future. Ant
with still less patience, il such interference on suc
claim, with such objects, comes from England
| the rival of this country in everythIng-a Powe
with which they have had two wars, and many sub
seauent irritating disputes; all Of which are well re
| membered, and yet green in their memories. Thes
people, with these impressions, are now looking an
reading about Oregon, and are quietly and frm
| forming their resolves upon the subject. $40 Al
are chalked upon doors and windows, and upo
walls, pillar and post, everywhere-54o 40 ar
words, which are making their way into rhyme O
| ,,o,-o md hof,re the summer is over. SAC iU al