The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-04-14
REMARKS OF
MR.. WEBSTER
In the e. States Senate, March
30, IS46.
THE OREGON QUESTION.

The following resolution, offered some
days ago by Mr.. ]. NJ. Clayton, COM
ing up in Its order, viz:
"Resolved, That the President Of the
United States be requested TO commune
cate to the Senate copies Of any cores
pondcnce that may have taken place be-
tween the authorities of the United States
and those Of Great Britain since the last
document transmitted TO Congress, in re-
lation to the subject of the Oregon terri
tory, OF so much thereof as may be COM
municated without detriment 10 the pub
lie interest
Mr.. Webster rose and said: shall ad-
wise my honorable friend, the member
from Delaware, to forbear from pressing
this resolution for few days.
There is no doubt that there arc letters
from Mr.. McLane; but, as the Chairman
of the Committee on Foreign Relations
opposes this motion, am to presume that
the Executive Government finds it incon-
vinient TO communicate those letters TO
the Senate, al lhe present moment.
Yet, it is obvious, that as the Senate is
called on to perform Legislative act, it
ought, before the hour of IFS decision
comes. TO be put in possession Of every
thing likely to influence its judgment; 9TH
erwise, il would be required TO perform
high Legislative functions on mere conf
dcnce. There is certainly some embar-
rassment in the case. If the Executive
Government deems the communication of
! the correspondence inconvenient, it can
only be because negotiation Is still going
on, or, if suspended, is expected to be
resumed. So far IS negotiation is con-
ccrned, the communication, or publica-
ton. Of the correspondence, NAV very
properly be thought inconrenien.. But.
then, the President has recommended the
passage of law, or resolution. By the
two Houses of Congress. In support of
this recommendation, he himself sent us,
unasked, at the commencement of the
session, the correspondence up 10 that time.
Now. if that was necessary, the rest is ne
cessarv. If we are entitled TO part, VIC
are entitled to the whole.
In my opinion, the mistake was in cal
ling on Congress to authorize notice TO
England of the discontinuance of what
has been called the joint occupation until
negotiation had been exhausted. Nego-
tiation should have been tried first, and
when that had failed, and finally failed,
then, and not till then, should Congress
have been called upon.
lnow 90 on the ground, Of course, that
the notice for disseminating the joint oc-
cupancy is properly 10 be given by au-
thority OF Congress; point which DO
not now discuss.
1t is said, indeed, that notice is to be
used as weapon, or an instrument, in ne
gotiation. hardly understand this. 1t
is a metaphor Of not very obvious appli-
cation. A weapon seems to imply, not a
facility, or mere aid, but the means either
of defence against attack, or of making
an attack. 1t sounds not altogether friend
ly and pacific. | doubt exceedingly
whether under present circumstances, no.
tee would hasten negotiation, and yet
such are those circumstances that there
may be as much inconvenience IN stand
lliS Sf1i Dc III 2OiilS lOTM dIO
The truth is. that great embarrassment
arises from the extreme pretentions and
opinions put forward by the President, in
his inaugural address, year ago, and in
his message last December. But for
these, notice would have been harmless,
and perhaps would have been authorized
by both Houses without much opposi-
ton. and received by England without
dissatisfaction. But the recommendation
OF the notice, coupled with the Presidents
repeated declarations that he held our title
70 the whole of the territory to be ''clear
and unquestionable, alarmed the country.
And well it might And if notice were
required. IN order to enable the President
to push these extreme claims to any and
every result, then notice ought to be re-
fused by Congress, unless Congress is
ready TO support these pretensions at all
hazards. Here lies the difficulty. Con-
gress is not prepared, and ind the country
is not prepared, as i believe, TO make
the Presidents opinion of clear and un-
questionable right to the whole territory
an pl;imatum. If he wants notice for
sileh . purpose. he certainly must sec that
i becomes agrave question whether Con-
sfess will grant il.
II was a great. very great mistake, to
scccmPany the recommendation OF notice