The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-08


passage Of the bill he had not the official account
before him, il seemed, but he stated thai he would
not decide Hypothetical case of war that he would
not suppose question and then decide II 10 be a
question ofwar no war, but this was what he
would say, that he had assurances from the Presi-
dent Of the United States, which justified the conyic-
llon upon his part that he the President would moi
have permitted that bill to have become law That
was the point on which he Mr. Al hung his reso-
luton. The Senate had passed bill. The British
minister alleged that he had reasons which induced
him 10 believe that President Tyler would not have
permitted that bill to become law, and he Mr. A }
wanted 10 know what the reasons were, which the
British minister had and the American Senate had not
orsupposng that President Tyler would have vetoed
that bill. Well In that state Of the case, they met
again. The Oregon question again came before the
Senate. They were required TO exercise the law
making function upon that question, and IN that
state Of the case with the discussion in the British
| Permanent before them and the declaration Of the
| British premier that he had these assurances from
the President that he would have vetoed that bill
I for that the substance Of his deelarations-he
| (Mr. Az wanted to know before they proceeded
with subsequent legislation, what those reasons
werei what the state Of the was, created by
the relations existing between the President Of the
United States and the prime minister of England.
| IL was material that that should be known To the
Senate, because the prime minister Of England had
virtually said that the Senate Of the United States
|
vetoed, aRd which they were about to do again.
That had been no haphahard declaration Of an hum
bic member Of the British Parliament--not made in
| an oyster cellar by an irresponsible man--but made
! by man who shook the trideat Of Old England
| over the waters Of the world. He il was who de-
clsred that he had the assurance that that bill would
| not pass--that MIR. Tyler would have defeated Il.
Well, the Senate came 10 act upon Il again, and he
| (Mr. A. wished TO know the facts TO
what had passed between the President and
| tho British government, and on that he
| predicaled his resolution, because the state Of
the case required IL, inasmuch they had the
threat Of veto hanging over them; and II with
| that argument he went before the Senate with his
| resolution-aD argument that never was answered,
and never could be answered. IL that which
the Senate, with that wisdom, gravity, and patri-
| Otlsm renowned all over the world voted down, on
the argument Of grave and sedate senators, who al
legged that the passage Of the resolution would have
the same effect which he alleged the passage Of that
now before the Senate would have although the cir
eumstances were more strongly in favor Of the pas
| sage of the one which he (Mr. Al offered. Now
| they had an Executive that had some responsible
ty-that possessed the confidence of some portion
| of the American people TO back t-one which had
| some character at stake, well as the Senate, and
which might be fairly presumed would have regard
| to that character and would not suppress-would
not keep back-any information which the rights
honor, and interests OF the country required should
be communicated to the Senate. No man rose
there and said that he believed that Mr.. Polk would
pocket information and withhold it from the Senate
| # II was proper to be communicated TO them and
| The public interests demanded its communication
Ii any rose in his place and made such decla-
ration, he (Mr. A. would Immediately withdraw
| his opposition, and vote for the resolution. But
what said the distinguished senator from Delaware
| Mr.. CLAYTON He said that in the absence Of
this resolution, the Senate might in the dark
Senators might vote for the Oregon resolution
,eyxa fha ha.a thatH
passed. Indeed! And yet the gentleman said he
believed the President kept back nothing which
ought TO he put IN possession Of the Senate Did
not the declaration of the senator imply distrusti
II any man would falter-woud hesate-woud
vote against the joint resolution, because the one
now offered did not pass, the imputation was that
Mr. Polk kept something back, which he was afraid
| TO give them. He repeated, If any man made such
declaration, he (Mr. Al would at once vote for the
resolution. He had stated over and over again the
grounds on which he opposed the resolution. He did
not mpute any such motive any one but the gem
era tendency of the action of the Senate since il
had got the resolution from the House, was to
paralyze the arm Of the aggregate government-he
spoke not only Of the Executive arm, but the arm
Of the aggregate government 1t had had the effect
Of dividing, to some extent, the opinions of men
whose united opinions alone could sustain the glory
| and honor Of the country. How divided By ar
gument, which they were told at the outset of the
discussion, would blister the tongue of the man that
uttered them-divided by argument, which went tu
establish the injustice of the United States govern
ment towards Great Britain, ifthey established any,
thing at all, and therefore tending to encourage
Great Britain in the prosecution Of her demands
| even at the point OF the sword, with the approba-
ton of the world, invoked by arguments uttered on
the floor of the United States Senate.
Mr.. BREESE here rose and moved that the
Senate proceed to the consideration Of the special
order.
Mr.. CALHOUN begged the senator to withdraw
his motion for few moments, as he had one word
to say He felt it due to the late administration TO
state IN reference to what had fallen from the sena.
| tor from Ohio, Mr.. ALLEN, that neither he, (Mr
c. nor as far as he knew, any member of Mr.
Tyer's cabinet heard a single expression
which authorized any such idea that the Presi
dent ever intended to veto the bill alluded to- or any
such bill
Mr.. ALLEN. did not say that he did. He
| read what SIR Robert Peel said
Mr.. CALHOUN continued. If any such idea
was entertained by Mr.. Tyler, existed only in his
own mind, and was never, as he (Mr. c. believed,
| communicated to any human being. Fearing that the
reference now made to this subject might leave an
impression In any quarter that some declaration
countenancing that idea had been made he had felt
IT his duty to give to it this unqualified contradc-
ton.
Mr.. ALLEN. said nothing of any declaration
on the part Of the administration.
Mr.. CALHOUN. understand YOU perfectly
Mr.. ALLEN. In order to put the question at
rest, will ask the secretary to read the passage
in the speech Of the British premier to which al
uded.
The secretary then read tho passage 1t is as
follows:
The question Of the Oregon territory doubt not
adjusted; but that 1t Is not that should
dress the House at any length With respect to the
which the American has taken the noble lord
makes no allowance for the position of government
open to popular influence that Of America, We how
ever deal with the Executive and with the
Senate We have proposed to that government consider
the Of eecng conciatory adjusment respecting
the Oregon territory, and have met with repulse but
have received assurances in reply to proposition tina,
the executive government Of the United anxious to
to adjustment oftha question; have every
to hope that unless the former animosty
and embtter the feelings between the two countries
tempt to settle that question by negotiation will be
factory The noble lord says that the has passed
bill which believe it has not passed think the votes
equally divided, but whatever the Senate may do II
is impossible for the executive government to approve Of
such hill after having expressed desire negotiate
The noble lord says the adoption Of that bill would
war Twill not discuss hypothetical Of unless
when as have said the executive has sgni
fed to its desire 10 maintain