The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-10
CON RES sIONAL.
SPEECH OF Mr.. SEWER,
OF ARKANSAS.

IN VIC oe'Asej sn"" Sd lofo-Oh inc OIeSon 9ucS-
ton,
nate the convention between the United States and
Great Britain, relative TO the Oregon territory boz
ing under consideration
Mr.. SEWER addressed the Senate as follows:
Mr.. PKEsmEsr; Ths President Of the United
States in the discharge Of public duty 20 his coun-
try gave US, at tho commencement OF the present
session Of Congress, full and detailed statement Of
our relations with Great Britain, upon the subject Of
the Oregon terntoryi and he recommended Con-
gress in the conclusion of that statement, to annul
and abrogate the conventions Of 1878 and 1927,
which are now In force, between the United States
and Great Britain; and by the terms Of which, Ger
tain privileges In that territory were conferred upon
the respoctive citizens Of the two countries The
President also recommended IN his message, in con-
nexion with this subject other measures, Of which
! shall not now speak, they are not now proper
ly before the Senate.
Sir, this message Of the President, recommending
the abrogation Of those conventions, and resolu-
ton offered by the senator from Ohio, Mr. ALLEN,
having in view the ame object, were referred, at
early day, to the Committee on Foreign Relations
That committee acted promptly upon the subject
and reported the resolution now under confederation,
as imbodying the views which that committee deem
cd most proper for the sanction Of the Senate.
This resolution, sir, is brief, clear, definite,
prehensive, and unencumbered with any extrane-
Gus matter. Ii proposes only to do that which,
without offence or ex planatsn, we have the unques-
toned right TO do.
The chairman Of the Committee on Foreign Re-
lstions, Mr.. ALLEN on the eighth Of January, IA
day, by-the-by, memorable in the annals OF our
oountry,) moved in obedience to the instructions Of
his committee, TO designate early day for its con-
sideration. That motion he made, but IL did not
succeed. But day for that purpose, some weeks
more remote, fixed upon by the Senate. This
posponement was made to crafty some senators,
I-..- katns. L..
from England. We were told that packet about
that time expected, and that it highly I'M
portant wait until IL should arrive with its intel
igence. Other senators desired this postponement,
because they thought II unwse for the Senate to act
until the House of Representatives, which was then
considering it, should have disposed of this question.
And other senator's, residing convenient to this
Capitol, desired this postPonement, that they might
be INDUCED in visit to their homes, business or
pleasure. All these, constituting a majority Of the
Senate, were gratihed, and accordingly the consid-
Grafton Of this resolution deferred until the 10Th
Of February. Before that day, sir, the House had
disposed Of this subject the expected packet, with
It's intelligence had arrived the absentees had re-
turned, and this resolution was then taken up; and
from that day to this its consideration has engrossed
nearly the whole Of our time. And yet, sir, can
any one tell, however careful may have been his
observations, what is to be its fate, and when il
shall be disposed Off
Sir in the interval between The report Of this
luton and the day designated for its consideration,
the senator from Kentucky, Mr.. CnrrENDEN,l
proposed substitute, which has for its object the
removal Of the responsibility whatever that may
be) Of CRYING tins notice, from Congress, where 1t
properly belongs and to place that responsibility
upon the shoulders of the Executive. From this
responsibility should it be transferred to him,
the President will not shrink. Authorize him, in
his discretion, to give this notice to Great Britain,
and az certainly as the sun rises, on the day on
which he is vested with such discretion, will this
notice, before that sun sets, be given. This all
know. But is it right, is it consistent with the dig
nifty and character of the Senate, to evade their just
and proper responsibility, and confer it upon an
other department of the government How unlike
is this to the chivarous bearing Of my friend from
Virginia, Mr.. ARCHER, who, the other day, ex-
pressed his unwillngness to vote for any measure
which might lead to war, because, from his age and
position, he was protected from its consequences.
Is there not something tmd and unmanly in such
proceedings Something very unlike the brave and
proud heart Of old Kentuckya state ever jealous Of
the division Of the spois when danger is the booty
to be parceled OUT Should war grow out notice,
some suppose twill is tproper that this power to
make war should be, most unnecessarily, placed at
the discretion Of any Executive? had thought there
was sort of wing confessional; which was, that
the executive power of this country "was too
great, increasing, and ought to be diminished"
There certainly was time, sir, when our friends
the way had not such unbounded confidence
in executive discretion-a time, sir, when we were
told by prominent leader Of the party that he
would not confer such extraordinary power upon a
democratic president, the enemy at the gates
of the Capitol Why this sudden this generous,
unsolicited, unooked-for confidence 1t surely can
not be that the senator from Kentucky Mr.. CRIT
TENpEN] desires to place the President, upon this
exciting question: in position in which, whatever
he may do, or omit to do, the opportunity will be
afforded to factionists and slanderers for the grat
cation, to the full extent, Of their unholy wishes.
Though such are the inevitable consequences, in my
Judgment of the exercise ofthis discretionary power
on question Of such magnitude, yet shall ever be
the first, far he is concerned to disclam on his
behalf any such unworthy design.
The senator from Kentucky Mr.. CMrTENDENl
also proposes TO limit, as to time, the discretion.
airy power Of the President on the giving of this
notice. 1t is to be given, not before the close of
the present session Of Congress. And this lmita.
lion think unwise. Whatever consequences shall
grow out Of the giving of this notice, | think i,
very proper that Congress should be here, in ses-
sion, ready and willing to meet them. Unless on
very great and unforeseen emergencies, l desire
never again to see another called session of Congress
The country, think, for all the good they have
done, are sufficiently satisfied with such expert
ments And after ALL what good can we expect
from delay Of ninety or hundred days in the CIV
ing Of this notice. Will the country be better pre-
pared for il than nowi | think not.
object also to the "prean,ble" of the senator, as
do to the 'Jorth,oith" in the senator's resolution
The "preamble" of the senator is mainly histori-
cal narrative. II recitos but facts well known to
everybody, and therefore for the purpose of infor
nation is wholly unnecessary. Do we earnestly
desire speedy settlement Of this Oregon controver.
sy' Our acts as we'll as our words show it: 1t re-
quires no preamble to satisfy any Of this. Pre-.
ambes und forthwths, Mr.. President, have ever
been my abomination. The first | regard as a re.
Election upon my capacity; and the other, restraint
upon genteman's liberty. What benefit can the
senator expect from his preambe' lie it intended as
guided cover, or sweetening to the physic, we
are about to administer Or is it designed as piece
Of diplomacy, by which her Maesy's ministers
are to be tckled, and good-humoredly coaxed into
negotiation Is il calculated that this preamble will
produce this RESULT My opinion is, sir that Grea
Britain will be more apt to look at the measure il
SELF its purposes and consequences than to any
garb, however fanciful, in which 1t may be clothed
That power will negotiate with or without this pre-
amble unmindful of our anxiety, should she con
slider il her interest to do so, and not otherwise.
Sir, shortly after the senator from Kentucky TMr
CRirTENDEN,l had favored the Senate with his prop
a.. g.. 4 "a