Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-24
TVENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
SPEECH OF Mr.. CALHOUN,

Mr.. CALHOUN, being entitled 10 the hoor'
rose and addressed the Senate:
The question under consideration rs, Wne'ner
notice .ba,l he given 10 Grea, Britain, that Inc
convention Of Joint occupancy between US anu
her shall terminate at the end OF Inc year. 10
ihar question, and those Immediately growing out
OF i'll shall conine my remarks, ! snai1 say
iog been connected with The negotiation in its ear
IL stages, il would be indelica'e on my part to
~. uss the subject of lille. shall abstain from
All personalities and every thing calculated to
wound The feelings of others; but shall express
myself freely, fully, and candidly on all subjects
Oh which may touch. in The course OF my re-
marks. With these PREDATORY observations,
SHALL proceed at once to The discussion ofthe ques-
lion OF notice. There is one point in which all
mus, be agreed; that great change has taken
mace since the commencement OF this session 10
reference 10 notice, in its bearings upon the ques-
ION of peace and war. Atlhaltime notice was
!. question OF the first magnitude, on the decision
ii which 10 all appearance, depended The ques-
ton oi eace or Wal; but now Il IS one OF coinpa-
ra,.ysIy minor Importance, and may be decided e.
,r-r way wi;hou, any'decisve effect on ei,her.-
The cause Of this change will be explained IN
he course If my remarks. So great, indeed, has
sen he change, that it has not only rendered in
Applicable The reason urged in the message, re-
cunmend!ng notice 10 be given but has altered
na,s: tally The position Of the Executive and that
81 ne several parties in the Senate TO which II
h., given origin, as shall next proceed 10 show.
That the recommendation OF the message IS
founded on the conviction that there was no hope
q. compromise Of the difficulties growing out OF
he Oregon question, is too clear 10 admit OF any
raiuna doubt. It's language is express. IL states
IN So many words The conviction that no compfo-
mise could be effected which ought 10 be accepted
On that conviction il announces, that The offer
which had been made 10 the British minister 10
s-Ii- the controversy 10 The 49h parallel oil lati-
,uie had been Withdrawn after its rejection, and
nnrl.ile 10 The whole asserted. On the same con-
~ on, il recommends 10 Congress TO give The
paics IN order 10 annul the convention, with The
view 10 remove all impedimenls 10 The asser-
,iap ci our right 10 the whole of The territory -
Assuming then that there would be no compro-
MISE II informs US, tina, al The expiration Of
we've months period would arrive when our
f,le ~ The territory must be abandoned or hrmly
maintained; and that neither our honor nor our
in,efest would permit US TO abandon IL; IN other
wo,ds, that we must then assert our exclusive So
y.,risnv 10 the whole 10 the exclusion OF that Of
e "a, Britain, unless the latter should, in the in
erYal, abandon lis claims 10 The territory
Throughout the whole recommendation there is
no. lte slightest inlination that any compromise
j. expected. On the contrary, the very opposite
is constantly assumed.
Bu, il is alleged that the reasons for believing
that mere could be no compromise, was derived
from the evidence which The negotiation itself fur
n>hei and especially by The rejection OF the offer
Is COMPROMISE on 40 degrees. Such admit TO be
he case and also that il may be fairly inferred,
il England should renew on her part tue propo-
siion rejected By her Minister, or one substantial
ythesame, our Executive would accept the offer,
aai settle by compromise the conflicting claims
10 III territory. Bur the message n,imates no
where The slightest expectation that such an offer
woui be made or, il made, that any compro-
misc could be effected.
Such is the view which have been constrain-
FL 10 take, after most careful and candid exanl-
nation OF the portion Of the message recommend
in, notice; and SUCH infer is the view taken
o. the portion oil the Senate who believe our title
10 the whole territory 10 be clear and unqueslIOn-
able. On no other view can their warm and de-
ci..ed support Of notice be explained. They not
only believe hat our title is clear and unqueson-
abs 10 the whole, but also thai the honor OF ne
country demands that it should be asserted and
maintained by an appea! 10 arms, without The sur
render Of any part. Acting on this conviction, il
is manifest that they can only support notice on
the belief, that il woull not lead 10 compromise.
On The opposite they would be compelled TO op-
poseit.
Such, also, would seem 10 be the view taken OF
the message bv the community at large al the
time, if we may Judge from The tone OF the pub
lie press, or what perhaps is a still iruer index
The conduct OF our intelligent business men. The
message had most decided effect in that respect.
Stocks OF every description fell, marine insurance
rose, commercial pursuits were suspended, and
cur ye>se,s remained inactive al the wharves.
Snch also was the view taken by great ma
loriy OF that portion of the Senate who were OPP
posed 10 giving notice, and among whom in
tiuie myself. We opposed II on grounds di-
Iecily the reverse OF those, on which those who
believed our rights to the whole territory TO be
clear and unquestionable, supported it. They
supported notice, because they believed there
n4iher ought 10 be, nor would be, any compro-
mise. We, on the contrary, opposed il, because
we believed there might be, and ought be- COM
promise They opposed compromise, because,
as has heen stated, they believed our title to be
rericct 10 The whole; while we supported il, be.
cause we believed tine title Of neither TO the whole
10 be clear and indispulabe; and that the conlro-
versy might be adjusted by fair partition OF The
territory. With such impression, we believed
that two snch powerful and enlightened countries,
aslhe U. States and Great Britain, would mol re-
SOFT 10 arms TO settle controversy which might
b, peacefully and honorably settled by negolia-
lion and compromise.
Entertaining this opinion we were compelled
70 oppose notice, because it was necessary 70
prevent an appeal 10 arms, and insure The peace
iul settlement Of the question. BY defeating il,
breathing time would at least be afforded 10
both parties for calm and mature reflection, IN
Ter ,ne influence Of which, il was hoped, that
negotiation might he renewed, and the difference
honorably compromised Or, in case that might
fail! things might remain as thew have bcen with
oG resnr, 10 force. In that case, The territory
ken be left open 10 emigration, and The qaes-
| lion 70 whom it should ultimately belong would
be decided by settlement and colonization, unless
Great Britain should give notice on her part, in
order 10 prevent IT. II she should we would al
least gain The advantage OF transferring The re-
s?nnsibiuy from Us 10 her. should war ensue.
Another portion of the Senate appeared TO be
in favor both of compromise and notice. Their
yiews were not explicitly expressed; but as faI
as they were developed they. TOO, seemed 10 think
hat our title was not SO perfect as 10 exclude ar
ar'orable compromise; and appeared TO anici
ale in opposition 10 The message In recon-
noirg il on The three following grounds: first
! the ground of the general declaration OF The
P;esdeu, in The latter part of the message, thai
tie hoped an amicabe arrangement may DC made
o. Inc question in dispute, in conhexion with a
oeca'aiion ol Mr.. Buchanan 10 the same effect,
10 one Of his letters 10 Mr.. Pakenham. II is
impossible Tor me with every disposition 10 sop
poI' Inc recommendation OF The President in favor
o. me notice, 10 concur in the opinion that
mere genera expression Of the kind, and insisted
on 10 another portion OF the message, even when
oars-d by similar declaration Of The Secretary
81 State, could be fairly construed to override
~ ss opinion clearly and explicitly expressed by
ne message in recommending notice, that no
ssompTomise which ought to be accepted could
&c effected cannot admit Of such construc-
aoa. not only because think it unreasonable
~, because regard the duty Of the President,
opposed BY the Constitution, TO recommend mea-
.ies 70 Congress as one OF solemn and impor-
IN, Character, and that il ought TO be'performed
TN The utmost candor and sincerity. Being
s.ife'sed TO CO ordinate department, OF the 60
eminent, il ought 10 express plainly and ex-
set,y his reasons and motives for recommend
.as The measures, omitting none which he re-
ss,Gs as material and inserting none but such
II. a., believes ought to have an influence upon
we generations of Congress. 1t ousht,o be Tree
,rGa Inc suspicious of being diplomatic To ad-
~. ne contrary would destroy all confidence be-
=, Inc Legislative and Executive departments