The Columbian fountain., 1846-02-20
T WI WENTY-NIN CONG RESS.
SENATE.
THURSDAY, Febeuary 10Th 1916.

/
cations, transmitted with the message from the
President received yesterday, were read. They
were OF no immediate importance and were re-
ferred without reading to appropriate commit
tees Several private petitions were presented
by Messrs, Sewer, L. Clayton, Atchison,
Dickinson, Chalmers, Mangum and Breeze,
which it is useless to specify, until they arrive
at the stage for raking down the public moneys.
Mr. Breeze also introduced Joint resolution
for changing the care and control of the u S.
mineral lands, from the War TO the Treasury
Department, which was read twice, and re-
ferred 10 the committee on public lands. He
also moved the regular Thursday Senatorial
step of adjourning over to Monday next, when
the Senate does adjourn, which was carried
1t is pretty long step to take when it becomes
habitGal
A message was received from the other
House with the bill passed yesterday
| Mr.. Atchison made some very appropriate
remarks, Id relation TO bill of his that had
been passed over for several days. The Senate
then, on motion of Mr.. Mangum, postponed
the previous orders and took up the special or
der on Oregon, and
Mr.. Dix resumed his speech, that was cut
of by adjournment Yesterday.
Mr.. J. NJ. Clayton rose to make explana-
tons, as also did
MIR. Hannegan, who stated that he had been
misreported by the Union and Intelligencer,
| insomuch tnat he had not said as reported in
those papers that some Caius Gracious might
hereafter" take possession Of the Chamber
or members seats---or the presiding officers
seat He had alluded to the historical fact Of
that individual turning his back on the Roman
Senate and addressing the multitude outside.
This was the modern talking to Bunkum,"
in the open form and in the aggregate. Mem
bers in the other House will feel obliged to
Mr. H. for the classic authority and example
| he has given them. #a #
Mr.. Dix proceeded, and placed the historical
events connected with our title and Engand's
claims in light that reflected most fayorably
on the American side Of the question. The
British argument that we cannot claim under
two titles, viz: our own discovery and Spain's
cession to u.s. SO sneerngly decried in England
and in her pensioned presses in this country
that our claim by discovery was not valid if
Spain had prior right and that SPANS
right was wrong, five had Iirst discovered the
territory, and that two wrong titles did not
make a right one-and involved trickery or
dlshonor In their maintenance--he demolished
by stating that nothing was more common in
case of conflicting claims. If the United States
should cede their claim 10 England, or Eng
land cede her claims 10 US, whether the title
would not then be perfect, and whether there
would be any breach of faith or honor in either
party receiving and holding under such title.
He should vote for the notice to terminate
what was generally called joint occupancy,
but which was IN fact, ,.'and practically, exclu
sive occupation by Great Britain. He did not
believe war would ensue from the notice. He
did not believe she would strike great blow
for such cause without exciting the disappro-
baton Of the world.
He objected TO the policy of statements that
had been made here and elsewhere as to our
detenceless state--that our coasts were unde-
Tended and denuded of means of defence. He
probably alluded to Mr.. Westcott's deplorable
statement of our defenceless condition. When
he conluded
Mr. Benton rose-He said if he had intend
ed TO touch on the grounds of our title, he
should have relinquished it on hearing Mr.
Dix. Such historical facts, clearly stated, ably
presented, and satisfactorily commented on, it
had never been his fortune to have heard in
this body. He proceeded to sketch the course
OF our thirty years truitless negotiation He
cordially agreed with the Presidents offer Of
the. .49th parallel, as division line between us
and Great Britain. 1t has been productive of
good in England, where feelings had been ex-
cacerbated by the inaugural address. 1t had
produced good effects at home. Come what
may, we are united people. He concurred
with the President in rejecting the offer to re-
fer the question TO arbitration. Small matters
might be arbltrated; but here was great coun-
try, great river, great harbors, vast kingdom,
in fact, such large matter had never been
made the subject of arbitration, and never
ought He concurred also in the recommen-
dauon to give the notice-to establish routes
and military posts, encouragement OF emil
grants, extension of our laws, land grants to
settlers, and the rifle regiment He briefly ex-
planned the benefits 10 be derived from each of
these measures; and the light expense attend
ing them.
In 1918 he was practical lawyer on the
west side of the Mississippi He then not
only foresaw the evils that now exist, but he
wrote them down at the time. Several sena- .
tors asked Mr.. B. to read them, but he re-
fused--it would look like egotism, and, be-
sides, he was not to be so turned from the
track he was on. The Convention Of 1918
made egregious geographical mistakes, and
mistakes in the knowledge or human nature.
1t was that the inhabitants could mix peace
ably under the joint occupancy pointed out
the Patriarchs Of old could not, and much less
might subjects of Britain and citizens OF Amer