The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-26

between the officers, and making war on the old
taTs of the navy, while the other was making re-
Communications 10 Congress 10 increase the army
for the purpose OF conducting emgrants 10 Ore
gon. He looked TO the Treasury Department
where the sinew Of war are kent expecting TO find
engineers, and all sorts ofscienlifc men computing
what money would be required in the first six months
Of that war; but instead Of that he found custom
house officers surveyors and appraisers, consider.
ing how far they could cut down the revenue sup
ply Of the snews Of war. And thus, while the hon
orable senator from Michigan was looking to the
national defenees, and the honorable senator from
Ohio was preparing the hearts of the people for
war, the Executive, TO say the least Of it, was not
preparing TO arm, and the treasury was gently cut
ting down the sinews Of war. If war grew out OF
that question IL would be sentimental war, for
there was nothing else to prepare the hearts of the
people Tor it, DurNg all that time the public nstur-
ally looked TO what is called the organ of the Execu.
tive, which strongly reminded him Of one of those
instruments to be found IN iayerns, which were
played on by every one. One morning il the big
drum full Of wars alsrms-the next, it was all for
peace. Thus the Information derived from Wash
Ington by the country was one day war, another
peace, another doubtful until at last men who had
been accustomed to resort TO the courthouse
to hear the news threw down the papers in dis
gust, and said there would be no fight after
all. Sir, that was the position of things then;
when all was doubtful, and even the senator
at the head Of the Committee on Foreign Relations
could give certain information-when the devoted
friends Of the President could give no information
when the maglclans and soothsayers were all at
iault--the honorable senator from Ohio mr., Al
ZEN was brought in to explain the kings dream and
read the hand writing on the WALL and he rendered,
certainly, great service to the country, although he
produced little confusion among his own friends
But the question came back TO them, Where does the
Executive stand was that negotiation still open
and going on6-was that question still in such POI
ston as that Il might lie settled on the basis Of age
by compromise and DegotiatoDi-or had the Presi-
dent fallen back to his first love, expressed in his
inaugural address, in which he went for the whole
OF Oregon, and declared il our right, and that he
would stand for 1t as part Of the country His
colleague few days ago. for the purpose Of getting
Information 10 enable him TO vote understandingly
on the various propositions, thought proper to put
TO the President questlon-whethert there was any
thing in our foreign relations which required in his
judgment any increase OF our naval or military
forces. He (Mr. M. had hoped that, in answer to
that resolution, they would be enabled to ascertain
clearly the position of the Executive. As far as il
could be learned from the message they must resort
TO construction to get at his meaning. His (Mr.
Ms conclusion was, that the Executive enter
tanned the views attributed to him by some gentle
men, thatnegotailon was at end and that compro-
mise had ceased to be thought Of he could not have
said that the message contained all the information
on the subject. lie says, In answer to the question
II was necessary to make some increase in our army
and navy; and the he gave was the nature Of
our relations with Mexico and Great Britain. II he
understood right the extent to which he recon-
mended an increase, such az would be useful
IN time Of war, and not lost in time Of peace-thus
leaving the question doubtful Bot il the President
like many senators and the country, entertained the
belief that war was to come out OF that question OF
notice. and the present position Of negotiations the
President knew better than any one else the posi-
of that and II
out OF 1t, the President would be violating his duty
without proclaiming the danger. One observation
further in regard to the message In answer TO the
call, he had told the country that considerable in
crease Of the army and navy was necessary, and he
seemed to urge on Congress immediate action in
making the increase. IL appeared to him that the
President ought TO have given that information TO
the Senate and the country, without being asked for
II. IL there were circumstances connected with the
foreign relations requiring increase in the army
and navy, IT was the duty Of the Executive to say
so, without It's being called out by committees or
resolutions Of that body.
His (Mr. M.'s) earnest desire was to see that
question settled honorably and peceably, and as
became two great nations like Great Britain and
the United States. II was said that advantage
might be taken by Great Britain Of the United
States. All such assertions he treated as idle
Great Britain dare not take advantage of the
United States, nor dare the United States take
advantage Of Great Britain on a question like that
No two honorable men, understanding their rights
in the settlement ofa question of that kind, ever
feared that one should take advantage Of the other
he wanted 10 see the question settled peaceably and
speedily; for unless il were settled speedily, new
difficulties would arise which it would be difficult
to CONTROL until the whole country would become
excited; and therefore it was important to bring on
a settlement on any fair and honorable terms; and
ne was the more anxious to settle it speedily, from
having heard it said that public opinion would set
tie II Satisfaction right Rnt
this was government Of constitutional law, and he
would think it due to his countrymen to say that
no considerable portion of them would be found
ready TO drag the matter out Of the hands of the
government, and dispose oft as they pleased. He
was aware there was process then going on for
the purpose of manufacturing that opinion 1t
commenced at the Baltimore convention in the shape
of its resolutions, and it was to be found in the
party prints of the day, in oas,s, in speeches made
at crossroads, and in new and peculiar form in
the city of Washington; this manufacture of public
opinion was going by challqing $40 4O" on the
walls from end of Pennsylvania avenue to the 9TH
err II was to be seen, too, in resolutions of dinner
parties, in the notices of stamps on letters. But
he trusted that sort of public opinion would not
weigh with government. He had beforesad he de-
sired to see the question settled by peaceful nego-
tation, and to bring that about, he would do almos,
anything consistent with the honor and rights of the
country, and he was prepared to adopt such meas
ures as should be proposed for bringing about that
end He confessed, however, that when the ques-
ton was first brought before Congress, he was
against the notice in any form. He supposed the
position Of that question could never be better than
1t was at the commencement of the present admins
traon, for the purpose of adusting il by negotia-
ton and compromise. That being his opinion, he
supposed the giving Of the notice. putting an end
to the joint occupancy, might disturb the relations
between the two governments, and that the best po
sition for bringing the question to successful and
final termination, was TO be found under the treaty
of joint occupation of 1897. If he could be salts
fed that by giving the notice, would aid the Pres
ident to bring that matter to final and honorable
adjustment, he would go for it with all his heart
If the President wanted i for the purpose of set
Ting the question, he would say take it, give it to
you for what your friends say you want it for. In
that point of view he would give the notice as he
would give deadly weapon to a neighbour to use in
selfdefence, with an injunction that he should use
it for that, and no other purpose. But if after getting
this weapon, or notice, he should deceive him, and
1t for the purpose of war, then he should do so
on his own responsibility. He would give it for
settlement the President seized it for the purpose of
aggression; in that the consequence should rest
with him. Having come to that conclusion he