The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-31
THE DAILY UNION.

of e. lngs which had been Sgated and excited up
on thus question. When they undertook the discus
son OF question 30 important as the one now pre-
seated 20 the House and the country, u should be
in spirit OF calm dslibernton; and they should con-
slider well the consequences that are 10 follow from
the action that Is 10 be taken by this House upon H.
He knew that since this discussion had commenced
they had heard much OF wars and rumors Of wars,
and that the passions and feelings Of the country
had been addressed 10 a very great extent. So far
he Was concerned, IL he kEew the feelings of his
own bosom, he was for peace peace could be con-
tinued on honorable terms; but IT, in adopting the
means which We believe best calculated TO secure
peace, war was 10 be the result he was prepared for
the consequences. No member Of this committee de
sired peace more earnestly than he did Yes; in the
languages OF high authority, he desired the day spec
diy to come, when shall have ''peaee on earth and
good will among men" throughout the entire race
He wished he could hope that the beginning of that
glorious era would commence IN his day and gene
ration. II he could believe there was a reasonable
prospect oft, he would now he found on ptoe as il
were, stretching his ken 10 its utmost tension 10
discover the sueaks OF the dawn Of that glorious
morning. But as ardenty an he desired peace to
his country, he must take that view Of this subject
and that stand upon the question under cOnsidera-
ton, that he believed his position, and the rights the
interests, and the honor Of his country demanded
Before he approached the consideration Of the
main question presented 10 the committee, he pro-
posed 10 go along TO brush out Of the way some
been hung around this question. There had been
an attempt during the progress Of this discussion TO
excite the peculiar prejudiees Of the country They
had seen this particularly exhibited by the gentle
man from Virginia Mr.. BAYLYl in addressing the
committee on this subject. Without relying on ar
gument, without relying on facts as they exist in
the history Of this negotiation, the gentleman had
attempted he (Mr. J. believed TO excite a
prejudice exciting on the minds Of his constitu-
ency, and perhaps extending in some degree beyond
the bounds OF his district. What position had he
| takenl He had attempted 10 make the impression
| on the mind Of the country that there was partc.
ular leader and champion Of this question: and ia this
way, while he Mr.. BArLYl had separated from the
policy laid down by the administration, he had at
tempted to exonerae himself from the inconsistency
and difficulty which he was involved The gentle
man said that this question Of notice was a mere
question Of sTpedisneyj and because he happens TO
differ with the Executive or the stration on
question Of expediency, why IL is separation at
| all from the administration. Why, on this prnei-
pie, every question that may arise for the consdera-
ton Of the House may he question of "tEpedi-
sncy." The establishment Of a national bank
may be question OF expediency; the establish
ment OF a system providing for the collection,
safe-keepng, and disbursement Of the public rev.
enue, the question of the distribution Of the
proceeds Of the public lands or the question of an
oppressive and iniqutous tariff, may be by the same
construction declared a question of expediency. He
may make indiscrminate upon the admnistra-
lion and all its policy and then turn round and say
he is guilty Of no inconsistency. And how does
the gentleman attempt to cover his position Why,
he says II he has separated from the administration
who is our leader Pointing to the venerable gen.
tleman from Massachusetts,, Mr. ADAMS / sup
pose he wishes TO hit a pre- udice made upon the
minds Of his constituency in relation 10 that vener-
able gentleman, and to consider it a sufficient vind-
this notice are led of by JoHs Quscr ADAMS, the
venerable gentleman from Massachusetts. And the
gentleman, too reads extract from the spsech of
the honorable gentleman from Massachusetts to
prove what the genteman's position was during the
last Congress--an extract, torn from the context,
conveying a separate and distinct idea from its fair
construction taken in connection with the context
That speech was delivered before the question of
notice came up, upon the bill reported by the chair.
man Of the Committee the Territories, for the
establishment Of Territorial government over Ore
gon. 1t was a speech against the bill without the
notices but IN 1t The gentleman stated that after ma
ture elaboration and reflection, he had at length
brought his mind to the conclusion that the notice
ought to he given. The gentleman's position was,
that the grant Of landslide taking possession OF
the errtory-the establishment of Territorial gov
ernment-was IN direct conflict with the treaty slip
ulatons of our government under the convention
made IN 1918 and renewed in 1897. In the same
speech, the gentlemen expressly stated that after
the notice was given, of which he was in favor
after the expiration of the twelve months-he would
80 vi anu ohe TIC necessary the c0un-
try required for such an emergency; or he would
make the provision in advance to take effect at the
expiration of the notice.
Mr.. BAYLY interposed and remarked that he dis.
| liked very much to interrupt gentlemen, but he
could not sit by and allow his whole course of ar
gument TO be srepresented-unintentonal he
hoped. In referring to the gentleman from Massa
chuse,ts, he (Mr b. had not said one word of the
position of the gentleman during the last Congress-
except to quote from his remarks to the effect of
war with England. As to the rest of the gentle.
| mans Mr.. JoHNsoN'sl remarks too he undertook
to say that the gentleman wholly msrepresened his
views-unintcntionay he presumed
Mr.. JOHNSON. Will the gentleman specify in
what particular have misrepresented him'
No response being received
Mr.. }. proceeded. The gentleman had read Mr..
ADAMss speech upon the bill before the notice was
given, in which he argued that the passage of the
bill without the notice calculated to lead to
war; and the gentleman from Massachusetts, after
he had made his Speech and when the House came
to act on the bill, in with his amendment pro-
posing to give the notice, and then he would be in
favor OF the subsequent measures. These were the
views of the gentleman from Massachusetts at the
last session of Congress--these were his views
now.
Well, when they followed up tho speech of the
gentleman from Virginia Mr.. BAYLY a little fur
Their, what did he say "At all events, f am sep
araed from the administration who is the leader Of
this party in favor Of this noticei"
Mr.. BAYLY. am not the man to foiio,o this
administration, or any other administration, when
their measures do not correspond with my own
! judgment.
Mr.. JOHNSON. That is what the gentleman
said before. We all understand that
Ms. BA1Lf. The gentleman persists in mis-
stating my points.
Mr.. JOHNSON. | am stating the gentleman's
position correctly, and the documents will sustain
me IN it. The gentleman's scowls or threats have
no terrors for me. "He may go and show his slaves
how choleric he is, and make his bondmen tremble "
The gentleman Continued MIR. j. read the ex-
tract from the speech of Mr.. ADAMS, and the in
| ference clear that he intended to make the
impression on the minds of this House and the
| country that 1t was made upon the question of no
| tice, when that gentleman was distinctly opposing
| the bill, unless the notice were included in il; and
when they came to take the speech of the gentle
man from Massachusetts at the last session, and his
spseeh at the present session. they found there was
no discrepancy between the two. "Oh, but the