Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-04-16
Che 0a3cttc.
BENTON ANDuANNEG

Below viii be found a sketch Of the debate
upon the Oregon question, between Mr.. Ben
TON and Mr.. HANHEoAN, in the Senate, on the
LIST inst Read it 1t is rich and spicy
The great fact is now established. The com
missaries did meet under the treaty Of
Utrecht; they did execute the stipuations Of
that treaty they did determine the limits be
tween the French and British possessions in
North America; and the parallel Of forty nine,
from the Lake Of the Woods Indefinitely to
the west, was one Of the boundaries established
by them
make no application Of this fact. | draw
no argument from ii. do not apply it to the
question of title. | am not arguing tile. aud
viii not do il but am vindicating history, as
sailed at vital point by the book which has
been quoted and endorsed | am indicating
the intelligence Of the American Senate, expo
sed to contempt in the eyes Of Europe by a
supposed ignorance of a treaty which is one Of
the great political landmarks in Europe and
America and ! am demonstrating 10 the
Senator from Michigan that the condition has
become absolute on which he bound himself
Yesterday to reverse his Oregon position
Mr. President. the Senator from Michigan
gives us some Just and wise observations on
the frivolous and ridiculous causes which have
sometimes involved great nations in terrible
war. But | think that. in one Of his illustra-
tons, he iellinto amsapplication ofan historical
fact, and that without the aid Of Greenhow's
book II was the case of the war resulting
from the water on the lady's gown. The Incl
dent, ! suppose of the water and the gown, in
which two ladies' Were droB1atis person@, and a
little dog prominent fg1Tdtte, took place in
the court Of Queen Anne took place-nOt
tTansplred DO not write down transpired.
or shall certainly expire. This incident took
place in the court Of Queen Anne, the impe-
rial Sarah Duchess of Marlborough. | call
her imperial who could say 10 the proudest of
the old English Dukes that the widow Of John,
Duke Of Marlborough, married no man, not
even an emperor. This lady and her dog was
party on one side. and Mrs. Masham on the
other-and was the opposite ofprodu1ing war
II actually lead 10 peace; for heQueen, taking
part with Mrs Masham, quarrelled with the
Duchess, and then with the Duke Of Marlbo-
rough and so recalled him from his command,
stopped the career Of victory, and then made
peace-the very peace whose benefit we are
now claiming, that of Utrecht. And thus the
incident Of the gown and water throws its point
and power on the other side, and actually con-
meets with the very point have been estab-
fishing.
Mr. p. had not voted for the purchase Of
Greenhow's book he had but poor opinion
Of books compiled in closets for the instruction
of men of business They were generally
shallow. ONO use to the informed. and dan
gerous TO the unintormed, whom they led as
tray; and to the indolent. who would trust to
their superficial CLOSES, without going to the
fountain head. aud seeking truth at the bottom
I'll /. l. IL
it not been for Greenhow's Oregon the Sena-
tor from Michigan would have sought the his
tory of the treaty of Utrecht in the authentic
documents which our library contains. and
would have found the truth, and would have
been to-day freeman, and not prisoner. as
he constituted himself Yesterday. in the hands
Of the Forty-Nmes. Heis now their prisoner,
doomed to dwell at 40. He is not killed, but
taken. We may say Of him as the consoling
messenger said to Penelope:
'7ae great Ulysses is not dead,
"llut, far from wife and lou,
Gle lipGs prisoHs,, desert isle,
viii not follow the poet and say
obtained By sauGgs-nsn 20
For the Forty Mines arc not savage, but peace
full and merciful, and will allow the captive the
full liberty of his person, on his parole of hon
or yesterday given, on a condition become
absolute, never to pass 40 never TO use again
that name Of omen. the Russian line This is
a sad eIminatlon-almost rIdiculous-of his
warlke commencement. 1t is the fruit of his
dependence on Greenhow's book. That book
has been the little dog of his cataStrophe,-
Henceiorh the Senator's occupation is gone.
War-inevltable war-can no longer be the
burden of his song. War is now evitable.--
lnevitablity has reversed its application. It's
peace that is now inevitable, and hencetorth
we must hear that drlcet sound.
The effect Of this change in the Senator's
position must be great. On the Grecian band,
a diminishing effect. That band for some
months has been sitting for the picture which
the poet drew Of our grandmothers in the time
of long wasted gowns and tight stays
"Small by degrees but beautifully less 4"
But now the sudden deduction of so much
weight and strength, in the person Of their
chief, must leave them almost nothing. On
the future conduct Of the campaign Il must
have decisive effect, for the AjaXes of this
expedition, both big and little, must renounce
it when their great chief has imposed the pen
atty OF silence and inactlon on himself. On
the country it must have fine effect, for the
alarms of war viii suddenly cease. On the |
Treasury the effect will be delightful. The I
twenty lone millions extra for the armament Of
the navy, and the eight or nine millions ertra
for the army, will cease TO be wanted. The
Military and Naval Committees, if not WISE. 7
have at least been lucky. They DELAYED TO re-