Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-01-22

sible, he, for one, did fear the responsibility
There had been a singular course pursued on this
Oregon question, and with reference to which he must
dean the Senate moment, it contrasted so strange
ly, wonderfully with precisely similar question:
the annexation of Texas. Texas and Oregon were
born the instant, nursed and Graded the
democratic convention and adopted by the democracy
throughout the land. There not moments hes
iiation with regard TO Oregon, until Texas was
admitted; but the moment she was admitted the
peculiar friends of Texas turned, and doing all
they could to srangle Oregon But the country were
not blind or deaf. They see, they comprehend, and
he trusted they would speak. 1t most singular
state of things. We were told that, in consequence
of disputed boundary, we were likely to come into
collision with England; but did we hear from the
same quarter that we would, when annexation was
about to be consumnated, come into collision with
feeble Mexico, That was boundary question too.
We were told by those who knew something of those
Matters that the Nueces the proper boundary of
Texas! And how did they find the peculiar friends
of Texas welding peacel Did we for single In
No: at single bound the stream cleared, almost
with the celebrity of thought-the intervening space
is cleared, and your warhorse Frances the warke
blasts of the trumpet on the banks of the Rio del
Norte Nearly one hundred miles of disputed terrific
ry gives no cause for moments hesitationi Yet a
whole empire the Pacific coast is TO be given
away if England but ask, or threaten war; He never
country north of 40, one foot by treaty other
wse under 540 40.
Mr.. CALHOUN (who was imperfectly heard by the
repOrer) said that the views which governed him on
the Texas question governed him on this. He pur-
sued the best mode, according to his judgment, to
save It. If he acted with promptness and holiness
on that question, it was because promptness would
secure 1t. If there had been delay, Texas would
have been lost, and forever If the senator would
refer to his remarks delivered in lS43, he would find
the views which governed him then and now He
would not into the question now but he would be
pared to show if argument could show that the
pursued by the senator from Indiana if the prin-
cpes in these resolutions should be adopted-that Sc
far from gaining inch of Oregon, should lose
every inch. If his advice had been aken they would
never have been involved this question. He acted
under circumstances, not by himself to do the best
he could to the territory If they were to look
at Oregon properly they would find it valuable 10
US as Texas. If they disagreed, it was as to the
means OF securing Oregon, and not TO its impor.
lance. When he arose, he intended to say nothing
more than that, by Implication the senator censured
the President for offering the forty ninth degree to
Great Britain. He did not suppose that in any other
way, the senator reflected upon the President.
Mr.. HAYWOOD, in the course Of his remarks,
said that whenever it was proper, or the exigency
demanded it-and whenever the Senate should see
proper to advise the President surrender the
tiation the subject of Oregon and transfer it the
Senate, and wash his hands of 1.-THE was willing,
for the love of country and in the fear of God take
it up. Until then, he would oppose either censurng
or lauding the President pending the negotiation.
He would make motion to preclude the Senate from
the consideration of the subject at present. though he
should have the misfortune to vote alone; and he
therefore moved to lay the resolutions on the table
Mr.. CALHOUN remarked, that he had not Landed
the President, did he say that the senator from
Indiana had condemned him. II was very clear that
the sense of the Senate on his amendment would draw
very plainly their views to the permanent settle
ment of the question and for that reason he submit
ted the amendment.
MIR. ARCHER said it seemed to HIM matter i'm
material to the disposition which the Senate should
make of these two propositions. In his opinion, the
great object was accomplished by the discussion
which had taken place. And he for the purpose
of expressing his profound satisfaction with the
tude which had been taken by the senator from Soutl
Carolina.
Mr.. JOHN M. CLAYTON assured the HONORABLE,
senator from North Carolina, MIR. HAYWOOD, tina
if he should to LET the resolution lie on the table
he should have his (Mr. C.'s) vote. He fully con
Cured in the opinion that they were bound to abstain
from all discussion on the subect-matter contained
in the resolutions whilst the negotiation pending
except in far the action of the Senate in execu
tive session concerned. He trusted that the sen
ator from South Carolina Mr.. Calhoun would
move to let the resolution lie over for the consdera
ton of the executive branch of the Senate to which
they more appropriately belonged: that the ap
propriate place for discussion, if it should arise Blu
he Mr.. c. deprecated every attempt at discussion
before the country, it be the intention of any par
ty thus to prepare the country for war. The Presi
dent of the United States had the power of initiating
all these matters it their business to wait unit
he had informed them officially if treaty was made
and then they could discuss the subject. He woul,
ask the Senate if by this discussion they did not ex
fho
ton, and would they not stand committed to the coun
try by the resolutions which they should adopt
There was no man who heard him On the resolutions
and the amendments which had been offered in rela
ton the 49th parallel, the whole of Oregon, bu
must say If he acted upon these resolutions befor
the Executive had acted upon them, he (Mr. C..
would by such assume the negotiation of tn
question, which was now in the hands of the Presi
dent Suppose the resolutions or amendments offere,
/ by the senator from South Carolina, Mr.. CALHOUN,
were adopted in their place, what would, he woul
ask, be their position! A majority would declare il
favor of the 49th parallel. Now he would ask sup
pose the President could get better terms for them
suppose he would be able to get half for them-(th
United States,) and leave half for England wou
not those in the Senate who favored the views of tn
Pr sident be in this way that they had voted 70
different parallel, In having prejudged this ques
ton! He objected to the question being forced upo
them until it came properly before them. Let com
from the President; let them take portion of tn
responsibility from him. They, as the Senate, ha
no right to assume the initiative, nor act until tn
President had first acted upoa the matter.
] Mr.. HANNEGAN rose in reply. In the frs
place, the gentleman who had spoken last-a gentle
man fer whom he entertained the most profound re
spect-it was strange to him (Mr. H. to hear from
of his high character and learning that the Unit
ed States Senate had not the power under any aspec
which the question under consideration assumed, t
take upon itself the initiative in regard to territory
Can it be that the Senate only act behind pow
err in whose shade they must hide themselves! But
the honorable Senator said they were interfering wit