The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-01

spectacle Of a unanimous vote Of the American Sen
ate IN ts favor. sir, shall vote steadily in faSol
OF the notice, and IL cannot obtain il in the form
most acceptable, least embarrassing, and which vii
will vote for II In any form consistent with the dgni
~ and honor of tho country, rather than 1t should
TAIL For this reason ! regret the strong terms o
/ denuneiaiion employed by the senator from Con
neciicut, Mr.. Mus in speaking OF the amend
ment proposed by the senator from Georgia, Mr.
CoLeUIrr.l Whatever preference may entertain
for q more simple form, there 10 nothing In the
amendment TO justify so harsh a representation Of
its spirit and the expression Is calculated 10 engen
der i'll feelings in this chamber. The more bitterly
senator's may denounee those who favor notice in q
modified form, the greater the obstacles m the way
OF obtaining unanimous vote; and Il may endangei
its passage In any form. persuade mysef that, II
there shall be no indulgence Of mere party feeling, nc
denouncing Of each others views, that there viii b.
less diversity when we come 70 final action upon the
question. can say with ruth, sir, that listened
with pleasure 10 much that has fallen from our po-
tical opponents in this debate and feel assured, II
a eonaet shall grow out Of this controversy, that
| they will be as ready 10 sustain the rights oil
their country, and TO meet dangers and sac
rifces in her cause az bravely and as prompt
lily as our friends on this side Of the cham.
ber | regret to hear denuneiations from either
side upon the question of giving this notice. feel
when | approach any subject, connected as this Is
party feeling should be hushed; that should take
of my shoes, for the ground ! tread upon is holy.
II, when the resolutions OF the senator from MIchi-
gan Mr.. Cas- were introduced, were all so
united in sentiment may not still indulge the hope
that by treating the question Of notice with modera-
on and calmness, there will scarce be an objection
| to its passage
But the senators from New Jersey, Mr.. Day
TON, and Maine, Mr.. EVANS, said they could see
no reasons for giving the notice. The senator from
New Jersey furnished one, and very cogent one,
when he moved some weeks since to postpone this
question, in order to dispose Of the other important
business before the Senate Since then am sure the
experienced and observant senator from Maine
must have seen many and strong reasons for dis
posing Of this question, and giving the notice. Ii
is certain that we have before us but two lines Of
policy; one Is, that Of quietly and pesceaby getting
possession Of the territory by the gradual course Of
setement in other words, by the "masterly mac
uvity" which was spread out before US the other
day in all its grand and magnificent proportions
bv the distinguished senator from South Carolina,
Mr. CALHoUSl who is its oldest, most able,
and devoted advocate. II that policy could now
be pursued, this measure Of giving notice
to dissolve the convention for the JOINT occu-
cupancy OF the territory might be wrong. But the
senator from South Carolina, Mr., CALHOUN tells
us that circumstances which have occurred since
l643, render that policy dangerous if not imprac-
tcable, and say, Sir, to use an expression OF that
senator in reference to another matter, that time Is
against such policy now. Events, Mr. President,
are hurrying US forward, and we must meet them
by prompt and decisive action, or the question will
escape from our control; and | appeal TO the able
and experienced senator from Maine, Mr. EVANS,
and TO senators on all sides, il they do not see in
everything around them, even here, and more than
all in what they hear from day to day, the most
cogent reasons for action and for giving the notice.
The Legislation of the country, Mr.. President, sleeps
upon your tables the land bills the treasury, and the
tariff bills, and all our domestic policy await the
issue of this question, and 1--WE disguise it from
ourselves if we wished dependant for their pas
sage somewhat upon giving the notice. The busi-
ness Of the country is suspended, and business men
stand still, and will continue to do 30 while tho
country is filed with rumors Of war. All is uncer-
TAIN and it produces anxiety and irritation, not only
with our own, but the people of Great Britain,
which greatly increases the chances OF hostile col
Ii,ion The President Of the United States hav-
ing proclaimed our rights, and that the British
minister has rejected the offer of a settlement
upon the only line that this country will
ever consent to, and recommended giving the
notice as a means Of asserting our just rights to the
territory, the spirit Of our people demands that it
should at once be given. Does the experienced
senator from Maine [Mr. Evans see no reason for
giving the notice in the deep heavings Of the public
mind, which is never without cause, and can never
with safety be disregarded' The controversy about
Oregon has already got into the hands Of dema-
gogues and party hacks and been seized upon
BY those who would gladly use it as a disturbing
element in our political contests. Every mail that
leaves the Capitol is loaded down with matter cal
culated to inAame the public mind; and rumors of
war reach us from every extremity of this wide
spread Union. With my limited experience and
narrow vision, have seen much that leads me to
entertain fears to the preservation of peace; and
feel assured that if this controversy is not arrested
soon it will be beyond the power of either govern
ment to stop its course. The people of both coun-
tries are proud and brave. Their governments
charge each other with making demands that are
unjust. Let such question once get among the
mass of the people of both countries, with their
national pride reused by the discussions between
them, and what power could prevent them
the strongest reason for going for the no.
tice. | have felt its weight increasingly since
the commencement Of this discussion. 1t was
comparatively feeble at first but deepened from that
hour to this, and | now think that speedy action is
vitality important. If fail to give il, the arm OF
the government will be paralysed by our action
here, and rendered less able to effect adjustment
of the controversy peaceaby and honorably to the
country And should conflict ensue, our refusal
| to give the notice will weaken our government in
the eyes of the world and the President in the
confidence Of our people, time when all must
ecutve department Of the government for safety and
protection Surely every patriot would deplore such
a result, and would leave nothing undone to pre-
vent it.
| But, Mr.. President, the senator from Maine Mr..
EvANsl says that he cannot vote for giving notice,
unless he receives assurances that the intentions OF
the President are pacific, and title to the terri
tory to be demanded is clearly made out. After
what fell from the senator from North Carolina,
| [Mr. HAYWOOD in his able speech on this question,
| had supposed that every senator would be salts
fed that pending negotiations, it would be improp-
er to expect or require the President to make any
further disclosure Of his intentions than he has
made in his message and the dispatches upon the
subject To the territory south Of the 49h parallel
the senator from Maine admits title may be
clearly made out; to that extent our government has
long since taken its stand, and to that extent the
President certainly will contend for it. Whatever
may think Of the extraordinary pretensions Of the
British government to title to any portion Of the ter
rtory, in view of what our government has done by
treaty sdpulatons, running through series of
near 30 years, and in justice to British subjects who
have made settlements in the territory under the
provisions Of those treaties, would not demand q
surrender Of the whole territory. take it that the
true dignity and honor Of the country, just re.
gard for the opinions Of mankind, and to preserve