Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-04-30
DEBATE IN TIE SENATE ON THE
OREGON QUESTION

Mr.. CRITTENDEN rose in reply, and SAID he
would not suffer impuiatons such as those
which the gentleman had made against the ac
ton and character of the Senate to pass alto
gether without notice. What, asked Mr.. c.,
is his commission and whence IS II derived
ana who authorized MIN to assume here the
air and tone OF pre-emlnence which so strong
Nv marks his language when addressing the
Senate2 son what meat does this our Cesar
feed :" that he is to rise here and lecture MS for
decisions to which we have deemed il our duty
to come Where did he come from2 Is it
the little petty office of chairman of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations which warrants
him, in his own opinion, to put on these airs
of authority to assume this performance
and to lecture us as to our official duty las he mas
now done? The Senate had just adopted
resolution proposed TO il by the Senator from
MARYLAND, Mr. r. Johnson, when the gentle.
man from Ohio gets up and says in his place
that the Senate has humiliated itself; that It has
adopted miserable feeble, paltering, contract
ed. and Gas he tcould have sald) AFFECT and sIa-
wish resolution. Let me tell him that he does
not know this body, nor the material OF which
it is composed. And let me add, there Is
another and more difficult lesson which
fear the Senator has yet TO learn and that is
to know himself When he knows himself
a little better, he will be in circumstances bet
ter to appreciate what is due from him to the
Senate He may vaunt himselfin his aSsum-
ed Office of exclusive vindicator of the Presl-
dent OF the u. States, and defender OF the hon
or of the House OF Representatives but that
gives him no warrant to treat this body with q
want of consideration. Asa member OF the
Senate. feel that Its dignity has been assaled.
and its character traduced. My own personal
share in the remarks of the gentleman, and my
own personal sense of injury and offence are
absorbed in the strongest conviction Of the dis
respect which has been manifested towards
this body. The Senate has adopted the sub
stance Of a resolution which had myself the
honor to offer. and, the gentleman has felt HIM
self authorized TO characterize a resolution
which had Just received the sanction Of this
body as a poor, paltry. faltering, timld, remu-
lous thing. can tell that Senator that the ma
iority Of this Senate and the humble indvidu
al who now addresses it are as little moved by
the dread of any responsibility but that Of do
inc wrong as the chairman Of the Committee
on Foreign Relations.
Does it belong to this body to submit 10 re-
marks. no matter with what force or yehe-
mence Of ies,iculation and loudness of tone
they may be delivered, which convey mlurl-
Gus imputations Ga Its Official course, and
public acts |, for one, shall not stand here
10 be rebuked, nor 10 hear this Senator school
ed or called to account by any such authority
The gentleman undertakes 10 make himself
the advocate and defender Of the House OF
Representatives. Why, sir, who or what Is
the House Of Representatives OF the United
States that il stands in need OF such an adVo-
cate? The gentleman's advocacy of one of
the Houses Of Congress is equally an act Of
supererogation, shall | say of assumption
with his rebuke Of the other.
Who here has auaigned the House of Rep
resentatives? Who is there among us that
does not thinkof and treat it with the most pro
found respect2 Who among us is now to
learn from that very experienced gentleman
that the House OF Representatives is a co-or-
dinate branch of the American Government
And when before did any member OF this DO
DIV rise in his place and tell US that we are con-
troled in our action here by the acton oil ma
joTties, or the largeness Of maJontless IN the
House Of Congress The gentleman tells us
of the majority by which a certain resolution
has passed another body, and he brings thai
here as an argument 10 govern and 10 control
us in our Independent legislative action. What
would the other House Of Congress think of
member there who should tell them that the
Senate has passed a certain measure, and that
out Of a decent respect to the Senate they must
pass il too Would not that House think as
yilely of us, could we be actuated by such
motive. as we in the like case, should be war
ranted in thinking Of them As the presiding
officer Of this body, appeal to you whether.
in speaking in this chamber OF votes and ma
.iorities Of a co ordinate branch, on the subject
before us. the member from Ohio has not vlo-