Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-20
TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
MONDAY. March 10, 1886.
SEN TE

In the absence OF The Vice President, the Chat
was occupied by MIR. Sewer.
After The presentation of petitions, and SOM
unimportan, business, Mr.. Benton, from the com
miltee Of investigation, made report on the sub
iect OF The charges in The Times newspaper from
which il appears that the whole of the charge
are utterly and entirely false, and the Editor ad
| mils that he wrote them without any persona
knowledge of the facts charged The Commit
lee think that the publication ofhis own tes'imo
ny, aud The expulsion ofhimself and all connected
with the paper, from the reporters gallery, will b
sufficient punishment for The offence.
Messrs. Turney, Jarnagin and Berrien express
ed their concurrence in the whole report
Mr. Dickinson agreed 10 all but that portion
expellng the Editor, &C., from the reporters gal
lery.
The report was agreed TO- and Mr.. Benton sale
lhallhc next day he would move the printing OF
an extra number of copies.
The Oregon question then came up, and Mr.
Calhoun delivered what an occasional correspon-
dent describes as powerful and eloquent speech,
and which We shall publish when 1t shall be cor
rected By himself.
He was for compromise, and he hazarded no.
thing in saying that large majority of the Sc
nate was Tor compromise-honorable compro'
mise.
He was inclined 10 give the notice in a mo-
dihed form, and on this point we quote from his
reported remarks in the National In,elligencer.-
Abiding to the great change in The situation Of
the question since The date Of the message, MIR.
C. said
Nothing could once have induced me 10 con-
sent 10 the notice recommended by The President
but now i, is very possible may give my vote
for modified notice in some form.
And this brings me Low, at length, 10 the direct
oue.tion-Shall We give The notice proposed, or
shall we not? The question is not free from
doubt.
One reason in lis favor is, that il will prevent
The continued agitation OF this Oregon question
being kept up in the country, and carried into the
next Presidential election. The measure OF no
lice, if properly qualified will, | trust, keep all
quiet until the year has expired, and that then
there will be no room for any further difficulty.
Another reason in It's favor is that in all pFoba-
biity Great Britain will not make final move
until Congress shall have acted on The subject
so that We should, as soon as possible, do some
thing in the matter II il were not for The force
OF this consideration, ! should be for poslponing
the notice for the present.
And now to the question, in what form The nc
tice shall he given? | will vote under no crcum-
stances for naked absolute notice. The cir
cumstances of The case have greatly changed
We are not in the same State OF things which ex-
is.ed when the Executive message first came in
and | cannot vote under the remotest impression
that there will be no compromise. II any gentle
~ kotro for he
notice under that hope, that motive has now pass
ed away.
Nor can vote for the resolution which ha
been sent us from the House of Representatives
| have two objections 10 il. II is equivoca ir
its meaning. If il means to declare that the
President may settle this difficulty by compro
mise il means nothing, Tor the President ha,
that right but if il is mean, as hint TO hin
to negotiate for a compromise, then | am 10
speaking more plainly. | am most decided!
agains. all equivocaiion in matters OF state poll
cy. Let US say plainly what We mean 10 say
II we mean compromise, leI say compromise
and not send the President resolution oil
which he may put just any Interpretation tina
suits him.
five give This notice al all, Think il should b,
given substantially as has been proposed BY tn
gentleman from Georgia. II consent TO the notice
il will be, as have said, TO keep this agitation
from running into the next Presidential election
and finally to terminate the question; and il We
give il at ALL let US give il precisely as We intend
expressing the opinion that the difficulty should b
settled by compromise. So much feel inclined
10 vote for.
But this whole measure is subordinate to ;
higher end, viz: the preservation OF peace and In
settlement OF our difficulties without resort Il
arms. My vote in regard 10 notice will rest OF
the question whether the notice will advance tia
end or not. And shall, therefore, reserve my
sell until shall be sallsfed on iha! point.
In the House the River and Harbor Appro
priation Bill was discussed TO empty benches
| The sneakers were Messrs. Ewing OF Tennessee
Ewing OF Pennsylvania in favor and Messrs
Brockenbroueh, Ralhbun and McClernan'
agains. The bill.