Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-02-23
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
Correspondence Of The Richmond EnGcirer.l


tie 10 Oregon, which is universally acknowledged
TO have 6ecn the most conclusive exposition 10
which The discussion in either branch OF Con-
gress has, as YET, given birth. Fie was followed
by Gel. Benton, who speedily emptied the House;
Tor as soon as i, became known that he was dis
cussing the question, the Representatives hurried
from their Hall into The Senate Chamber. Not
more than thirty or forty remained 10 continue
,he business OF the day You can lhns UNDER
stand how great was the desire III lis city 10
know his precise position relative 10 The notice
Presuming that your readers share in the univer-
10 sketch The heads oil his argument, from which
no one can fail 10 fix him in he right place. One
strong point in bis character as public man is.
that there is DO ms,akiag his position on any
subject that ne approaches His speeches never
bear different readings The ingenuity oil ia Phi
adelphia lawyer would be expended in vain in
endeavofing 10 tas;en ,wo meanings on what he
writes or speaks.
He opened b. declining 10 touch Inc question OF
lille as he conceived that nothing could be said
10 throw additional ligh, on i, after the remarks
mere certain 10 clear mp all aoutis on his side ct
Inc ocean, than on The o'her. He declared his
intention 10 confne himself wholly 10 the con-
sideration oil the convention OF joint occupancy;
and going ever lis history he referred 10 The acl
that il was formed while he was bu, young man,
practising law on the banks Of The Mississippi;
and, that il then struck him, as being truly unior
luna,e for This country. He remarked, that when
first promulgated ii had received strong censure
and opposilcn from his pen; and that his views
concerning is operation, written then, had turned
OUT 10 be prophetic. He had not hesila;ed 10 de-
nounce it as a great geographical and political
bunder; for il spoke OF several rivers; whereas
there was only one, the Columbia, and that was
ours Ii referred 10 several harbors; whereas
there was but one, which was no less clearly ours;
and also, 10 several separate and distinct terrific
ries; there being hui one, 70 which We alone had
a perlec. title. he had said, a; 50 early day,
rha, the Convention would deprive rs oil the at-
van,as-s which should have accrued 10 is in that
region from the treaty Of Client. We we're then
lroimately iD possession Of he whole territory,
and under the Convention, had quietly surrender
ed ull ihree-loulths vi il (a North OF the Colum-
sia) 10 Britain, and had also permitted her 10
occupy the emanins lonnh in common with
as Our people had odce been eiiectualy dri-
ven OF or ousted from tie county north OF The
Columbia: bnt the spir;; which was roW carrying
so many American pioneers across Inc Rocky
mountains would not be content 10 surrender al
most all or value in Oregon 10 Britain, without
struggle.
He viewed the law al Parliament extending
the jurisdiction Of tie Canada Courts over the
territory, as bold and outrageous inlraciion Of
the terms oil the Convention, under.whch Bfain
al present alone htll rights there; and he concei
:, i,o b,t IN rt /
tinusd after The notice shall have been given. 1t
is true, said he, that the Yankees in Oregon are
not alnenable 10 the Laws 81 Canada; bnt they
operated as roIfoTbearingly held over the heads
81 our people, 10 which the later would no longer
submit. Under this Stale of things, be conceived
i, impossible ,ha. the Convention could much
longer exist without conflict between Tie sub
iccls Of the two Governments settled there. he
reminded lne Senate OF the fact that, when lie
Convention was renewed for an indefinite period
10 1923 he an,l six Others only had taken ground
against ii, and that, in tie debate thereon. he mad
sirtnuousv opposed it, more especially ON ac-
count oil The evils 10 cvenuate from The JOINT &C.
cupancY. Nex!, in sroGg terms, he denounced
the Convention as having been wrong from The
beginning, and as Tot being capable o. continn-
ance under existing circumstances. These con-
sderationS induced him not orv % approve ui
the recommendation al he Executive, advising
tia, the .oce should be given bu, also OF 'all The
present administration Dad done-1f all they had
Gf.fcd-and Of via, they had 80 ptonplly re,u-
SGD 10 the PROMISES
la his estimation, Ike notice was empnatlcaliy
a measure OF peace. Is most immediate effect
would be 10 restore 10 Us that possession which
We had obtained by the treaty OF Gheni, and had
so unaccountahy surrendered By The Convention
lis next effect woul! be 20 bring England 10 Sc
-, u,ir ~
soialion il we tail 10 sustain the re-
comyrendation al the Executive liz the present
upcture. she will Of course .ail 10 make Inc first
move ID Lring about an adjustment OF The ques.
ton rs under tie Contention she 0ctaaNy had all
she acanfed, viz: possession OF The Territory. She
would as seduouslv CONT negotiation, il notified,
as she is stunning il under the operation OF jc.hi
occupation. He proclaimed his unaloyed salts.
faction with the manner in which the Admins
tralion had rlanagei The question from the iourih
oil March last 10 iniS day. II had had a mos tad
mrable EFFECT, not only upon he people OF he
United States, but upon The ctizsns AMI Govern
men; OF England; Tor the lender OF compro
mise on the iorty-ninih parallel had united the
hearts OF Americans as one man in support Of
The Oregon policy Of the Executive, while il had
also aayed the excitement nay hostility, with
which the illusions 10 the subject embraced IN
The inaugural had been received across the Al.
lanlic Besides being in favour Of the notice on
tie ground thai i; was simply measure OF peace,
he approved OF it as being right IN The abstract
ip principle and therefore, il Tor that reason alore
his vote should be recorded in favour OF il, be he
consequences what they might.
Colonel Benton occupied The attention Of The
Senate for hree.lourlhs OF an honr only; but from
nv sketch 0. The points o; his speech, you viii
perceive he had tn door quite long enough TO set
At rest all surmses as 10 his position; ard l.us
also 10 put an end 10 many Of he mistakes OF the
Washington !cer-~;i,efs, for The Wing press.
upon The same subject. You will perceive that
his views as io-dsy expressed, coincide, 10 the let
Ter, with what have heretofore written you, reia
tive 10 them In coming ~ conclusion, or 10
his probable future course upon The Oregon qnes-
ton. was guided solely BY knowledge OF his
former position and sentiments npon The PROPHECY
O. he Joint occupation, and as regards The cues
ton of tile douh; whether he has this v IN
Ter mentioned TO single person what ne intended
20 do in tie premises The Wings had, as Srow,
in vain tIied, in all conceivable ways, 10 pump
him. Tnis was done in hopes Of making capi-
tai for Federalism, ont OF hi, boped-ur opposition
to The Democratic Party on the question. Their
objec, was Of course. 10 nurse such disposition.
If thew found him acting under It's influence.
They are lpns-faced this evening. Poor fellows
some how or uhcr their c;ke will turn out all
t9ngh. They have .cns since abandoned their
horrs Of realizing an. lhirr ont Of The position
Of Mr.. Calhoun and hi, pecliar i,iends, all o.
whom are too deeply attached TO The great princi-
pies upon which Ia- Govcrnnent IS being admin
i>tered 10 afford .icm he ea.i consolation in this
their hour Of despair. The tlonse Of Represen-
la,ves 10 day passed he In3ian Appropriation
P !. b. vote of one hundred and hlty,three 10
i1n. Yet ihis sturdy minority c9h'rivcd 70 Keep
il 10 debate Tor two days. On he tent, Instant,
our poli,;cal friends in Illinois were TO have a.
semb!el in Convention al Springfield, 10 select
candidate for Governor. ar. Young, Mf.
Trumbull, Mr.. Scales, or Mr.. Cohoun, will pro-
baby be TIE nominee. Some Two dozen names
will be presented TO the Convention, bu, one o:Ih
four gentlemen mentioned above will be united
on. Ii moi, The nomination will iali 10 The lot OF
Senator Semple. MACoN.