Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-04-03

WILMINGTON, n. c.. FRIDAY. April. 3, 1916.


1t the strong excitements under which the
speech was made. The constitutional author
tiles OF the Government overIuled his ohjec-
lions, and It is no disparagement to the fame
OF the speech or of that Senator, to believe
that his noble and generous heart would be
able to see now (and his manly character
would let him own it, that there was quite e.
nongh OF lnvective and suspicion in the speech
when it was made. l know not how he feels |
under its repetition, with or without notes, I
but have admired the patience of Senators
implicated by denunciations about the Wash
ington treaty, and wondered how they could
silently endure it. Certainly, when such
things are introduced here, they are in exceed
ing bad taste, and very like what a venerated
friend of mine used to call the dulIest thing
in the world to listen at" old psalms sung
over dead horses" Ont of the Senate, it is the
game by which great men of this nation are
to be killed off, and more room left for exalt-
ing little men to big Offices.
But. Mr.. President, let all this be as it may,
and let it he right or wrong in the President
10 have sent his message. and the information
in it, to the Congress of the United States he
has done 1.-THE act is past recall. The sub
jet is before the Senate, and, with all its en-
barrassments, it has become necessary for the
Senate to act upon it, and, in my judgment.
the sooner we do that, the better for the coun-
try.
In order to act Alright we must look to the
| Presidents messages, and see for ourselves
t what position he occupies. | agree entirely
with some other Senators that we cannot take
our position upon this question of the notice
until we see the position Of the President. See
it, | mean, with reasonable certainty as
positive certainty cannot be arrived at, and
cannot be expected. If he means to negotiate
for compromise, or if there be pending ne
gofinfaon, it would be nnwise, unprecedented,
and lndelicate. for the President, either him.
self directly, or indirectly through another
person. to declare beforehand any determine
ton of his own mind upon questions to arise
, in the further progress of such a negotiation.
: l shall, in justice to him, have occasion TO
! point out to the Senate hereafter how | think
this siIence-:his necessary slence-proves
f almost Of itself that his s'thoughts are turned
on peace
, But what is the position of the President in
5 this negotiation! About it there would be
: less doubt if there had been less effort to as
E. sign the President an extreme position and
false position. What say the s'records o.
e Where does he stand d? We must see before
we fling him the notice to terminate the con-
t vention of 1927.
! First, we all know that the President
: whose assent is ndispensable-wiIl not agree
: to an arbitration. do not stop to defend or to
! accuse him for this it belongs to some other
s occasion. If, in the providence of God, this
- Oregon controversy should terminate in con-
f1ct, the responsibility of having rejected ar
e bitraiion will be fearful one, and he will have
j. to meet it. But the responsibility has been
e taken by him. The Senate, therefore, must
e now proceed upon it as f:ct, "6xed fact
y that arbitration is out Of the question. We
e cannot help it if we would. and owe it to can
e dor to say that ,cculd net IF I could.
II Well. then, we have seen in his message
: that Great Britain made an offer Of compro-
a mise. which was rejected by the American
d Government in August, 1874, and the Presi-
l. dent has informed Congress plainly and dis
g ,inctIy that this British proposition to us can
e not be entertained by him, but that it is
n ''whoIIy inadmissible." So far there is no
y difficulty. Every thing is plain and directly
o to the point, as it ought to be.
;, Next, we are informed by the message that
l. The President himself made an offer to Grea,
j. Britain by which the territory of Oregon be
1t tween the parallels Of 42o and $40 40 was
is proposed to be divided by compromise on ht
d line Of 490, and shat the British Minister re-
l. Ijected it without submitting any other propo'
!. si,Ion, &c. This offer of our President was
- made on the 18th Of July, 1S45-refused or
the goth of the same month. But on the BOT!
It August, 1845, the President withdrew his re-
IS jected proposition, and re-asserted, by his let.
d ter to the British Minister, our claim and title
IS to the whole Of Oregon; achich letter has moi
Re been 0nsWered!
e The President does not say that the negoti
- alton has been abandoned, nor that it actH b.
H. 81 @Syrg
At another offer. No such thing. He does no
n inform Congress that he will or will not re
\. nc,v, or that he will or will not entertain his
Re own offer, which he adopted as that of the ma
re ton, for compromise. I repeat that it was
y under the circumstances, impossible for hin
j. to do that. provided he considered compromise
!, still admissible. Buthe does say that he ha:
Il receded, notwithstanding his opinion as to IL
p tie, to the line of 49o as compromise. and his
n reasons for it are given-reasons quite as con
e elusive in favor of accepting the offer now as
a they were for making it last year. And. as
h understand the Presidents position, he stands
e this day upon that line of 49o as compromise
d if compromise is TO be had. Once for all, LEI
re me explain, that when have spoken or shall
it hereafter speak of the compromise line o
y 49o," do by no means intend to be under
r stood literally. But mean that line in sub
ct stance-uot ''every inch''-I mean the same
ID compromise substantially which this Govern
y ment has frequently offered, without regard tic
l. slight variations which may be left for set
?. Element by ''equivalents.'' do not measure
IS my own or other peoples patriotism by the
is ''inch." | shall not recognize that measure
ment in deciding upon the merits of the Ad'
s. ministration or the wisdom of a treaty-not a.
r all. at all.
s Mr.. President, Idisauow any authority Il
N speak FOR the President. Ihave already said
Of that he could not speak for himself, nor au'
d thorize another to speak for him. so long as
lie negotiation was pending, or not concluded
| OH wish II u,ere ca that he cnnId sneak