The Columbian fountain., 1846-04-04
TwENTY-NINTH CONGRESS
SENATE.
FRIDAY, April Sd, 1916.


Petitions and reports as usual. Petitions
Cameron, and Atherton. Reports from
Mr.. Dickinson, from the committee OF
claims, adverse to certain claims.
Mr.. Johnson of Md, from the committee or
commerce, reported bill to repeal the act o
Congress of March, 1927, in relation 10 Pi-
lots.
Mr.. Fairfield, from the committee on Nava
Affairs, made an adverse report on the petition
of J. d. Duval.
Mr.. Sewer moved the special order on the
Oregon notice.
Mr.. Ashley, who has yielded the floor on
two successive days, reviewed many Of the
arguments previously adduced on both sides
and proved that the great part Of them were
utterly unapplicable to this question. The hor
rors Of war, no matter how vividly painted in
carnation colors, were useless when urging
the notice as peace measure. The Baltimore
Convention had been brought in as fit sub
ject for denunciation, but that convention, il
not binding on the people or their representa-
tives, certainly was binding on the President
and Vice President, 1t had been said in sub
stance, that the Western people with their pc
cular temperament, were so low in education
and other essentials, as to be unfit TO form a
proper judgment on any subject relating &c
our relations with foreign countries. Now
he would read some statistics on this point as
to the state of information of Arkansas, Mis-
souri,, Michigan, and other young Western
States, compared with Virginia. or the po-
pulation of these States, the proportion of the
inhabitants, over the age Of twenty years,
who could not read and write, averaged 4.S4
per cent-Of Virginia, 7.72 per cent 1fnon-
education was the criterion of hyperborean
claims, Virginia ought TO go up to north lati-
tude 75o, instead Of 54o40, where the other
States stopped.
He thought it wrong for Senators to advo-
cate the British title, and furnish Great Britain
with arguments against our claims, that Mr..
Pakenham would not fail to avail himself
Great Britain was none TO good TO change her
grounds. She had done so already, and he
insanced an argument brought forward by
Mr.. Evans Of Maine, that he expected 10 see
used by Mr.. Pakenham, who could hardly en-
ploy higher authority than that of American
Senators. He applauded Mr.. Websler's de-
claranon, that his tongue should be blistered
before he would urge the superior pretensions of
Great Britain, while it was yet question for
negotiation. As 10 the fear Of war, he, Mr..
A. felt confident that if the whole worlds forces
naval and military combined, were arrayed a
gaist US, they could not disturb our sovereign
ty, and ii was shameful for Senate to refrain
from the assertion of our rights by reason of
fears of war. He showed that we had eight
million six hundred thousand persons capable
OF bearing arms, and that we could afford TO
lose one hundred and forty six thousand per
sons per annum, without diminishing our
means Of defence. Six hundred and thirty Sc
ven white males were born per day. He pur-
sued that topic at length, and many other
points and bearings of the question, and con-
cluded by expressing his hopes that the Senate
would pass the notice untrammelled with any
provisions that might endanger its passage in
the other house.
The sub-treasury bill was received from the
House and referred to the Finance committee.
Mr. McDuffie moved 10 adjourn.
Mr.. Webster called for the reading Of the
Presidents message, conveying the correspon-
dence called for by Mr.. w. relating 10 the
northeastern boundary negotiation. He said
1t was well known that he had hand in that
negotiation, and disparagng remarks had been
made, at this session OF Congress, in this
chamber, which had been made public, re
hectlng anlmadversion on him. He did not
intend to avail himself of the opportunity Civ
en- through the favor of the Common wealth Of
massachusetts. TO answer the charges made
here against HIM, at that time; but only
those that had been made since he had again
become a member Of that body If Mr.. Nc
Dufhe concludes his speech tomorrow he
should, on Monday next, make some remarks
on that correspondence. He moved il be
printed, which was carried, and the Senate ad-
journed.