The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-30

Onc worn upon more Important part OF tne case.
i The gentleman says that offer now the boundary
OF the Columbia Pray, sir, let me be understood and
such MISREPRESENTATION Of my offer certainly shows
that | not far out of the road Of reason and
proPnety In stating what Intended to say TO the
Senate IN writing. What have said and took care
10 say with precision this; First, that IN my
n opinion-I lay down law-l say nothing
ecthedra-that in my opinion public sentiment in
both countries is strongly tending to union upon
a settlement the general basis Of our offer Of
1926. Now, ask the senator form Ohio If he does
not think just so HIMSELF
II Mr.. ALLEN. No.
" Mr.. WEBSTER. Well, then, he does not think
that IN this country there is any prevalence OF opn
ION IN favor Of settlement upon the basis Of 1902
| Do | so understand him.
/ Mr.. ALLEN. The gentleman speaks Of public
opinion, and answer that have idea that it il
tending TO settlement on 49o, or any other line
south of the Russian line. But the proposition he
makes is this: speaking of the tendency Of public
opinion that its tendency in both countries is to set
tie upon the basis of the proposition Of 1896 which
conceded TO Great Britain the navigation Of the Co
lumbia river.
Mr.. WEBSTER If my opinion be SO wide of
the truth, and the opinion Of the country is not tend
ing as he says is not as represented it, we'll then,
i my humble opinion goes for nothing. Let him,
however, hear what | said--wheh | said with care
and premeditlton; il is that the line Of 49o is the
line OF denlareaton which, as general basis
public opinion ls settling | do not say the precise
basis, because Immediately added that, looking to
the line of ago as the line Of demarcation the use
Of the Columbia river by England, permanently or
for a number OF years and the use Of the straits
and sounds in the ad accent sea, and the islands ia
the adjacent sea- would all be mailer Of friendly ne
COLLATION.. have not commended to our govern
inert one thing or another about allowing England
for term Of years, the OF the Columbia river
not at ALL II the line Of 49o be established as the
general line OF demarcation, gis'tg a straight
track nom the Lake Of tho wSoaSio the Pacific,
am satisfied that the government negotiate about
what remains. But the senator and the Senate will
do me the justice to admit that said as plainly as
could, and in as short a sentence | could frame
that England must not expect anything south Of
49o, in so many words. may be mistaken, but il
seems TO me as clear as the sun at day, that
there is a tendency Of opinion moved by great ne
cessity to settle this question: strong tendency of
opinion in this country that ought to stand by our
offer Of 1926 in It's substance Is not that Just what
was argued by the gentleman from South Carolina
the other day. Is not that the result Of the discus
sion in which my friend from New Jersey took part
to prove that that the exteat Of our claim and
the whole country knowsip Now think there are
reasons for that. But rose merely to explain. ]
mean then to say-for the sake Of perfect distinct.
ness repeat it-that am OF opinion that this mat
ter must be settled upon the 18th parallel. Then
as to the use Of the Columbia river permanently,
or for term Of years, and also in regard TO all that
, respects straits, and sounds, and islands in the
neighboring sea, they are fit subjects for negotiation
But that England must not expect anything south
Of 49o and that the people Of the United States by
/, great ma orlty are content TO abide by what
this government offered TO England in 1896
Mr.. ]. M CLAYTON here rose and said:
The hour has arrived for the special order;
and | do not mean to detain the Senate from
proceeding to its consideration. | feel, however
that II is due TO myselfto state that in offering this
resolution, had not the remoiest design 10 embar-
Tass the Executive of the United States. II has
never, on any occasion, been my porpose to give any
embarrassment TO the Executive. | thought that
n there were many gentlemen in the Senate DESTROYS
Of obtaining this information, with the view oflgov-
erning their own conduct on this QUESTION. Isup-
posed that the information thus sought would be es
sentiay pacific in its character and / think now,
that if obtained II would probably increase the vote
on the notice as being favorable TO peace. Hereto
fore ] have intmated, and desire TO express again
the same idea, that my vote on this question
, would not be regulated by any information sent in
reply to this resolution | have long been warm
" OF opinion that the notice ought to be givsn and
, | have publicly expressed that opinion in the
course Of the debate in this body Think so now,
no matter what may be the condition of the negoti-
alton between this country and the Executive
think so, because the convention Of 1927 bound us
in such manner--so sbackled U.S. that during its
continuance II would be impossible for this country
acquire clear and perfect title to any part Of the ter
rtory. We are now, as is known to all peoplnr that
country with American citizens. IL is in our power
to send one hundred emigrans to Oregon for every
one England can send. And yet while we are thus
filling the country with American citizens we ACQUIRE
title whatever by that possession so long rs the
convention continues. While il remains the posses
sion of one party is the possession of the other As
an American, therefore, am anxious to put an
end the convention and for the purpose express
ed by the President in his message, that we may
the more ehecually assert rights there. I agree
with the senator, [Mr. CoLeurrr,l that while the
convention lasts have got to acquire title to that
territory and never can perfect that title to any por
ton of it until the convention be abrogated For
this reason, then, as an American, | am anxious to
terminate the convention. If were an English
man, should be equally anxious that it continue in
force. One word in conclusion, in reply to the sem
ator fron, Ohio, Mr.; ALLEN He has charged the
Senate of the United States with having embarrass
ed the Executive during the present session by
refusal to comply with the suggestions OF the Pres
idents message. -
Mr.. ALLEN. Embarrassed the Oregon ques-
ton.
Mr.. CLAYTON. How, How "embarrassed
the Oregon question:" There is no party division
in this Senate on that-that everybody knows.
Probably there are as many senator's on this side of
the chamber as there the other in favor of
the measures recommended by the President. How,
them ask again, has there been uny embarrass-
ment of the Oregon question: We have not in hot
haste passed the resolution sent from the House of
Representatives. The honorable gentleman, per.
haps, thinks that that Embarrassed the question"
But surely in no other way have we Embarrassed
the question:" Ever since it came up, the Senate
have been engaged in the discussion Of the merits of
the question: with the view Of calm and full exami-
nation of everything connected with it, There is
not, so far as | know and believe, any disposition
whatever on eth side Of the Senate to "embarrass
the queston''-quite the reverse. believe there is
settled determination the part of the great ma
jorty Of the Senate to pass the measure which the
President has recommended. and that, too, in my
humble judgment, in the very shape in which
1t ought to be held by the Executive to be
most respectful to him. hold that the resolution
proposed by the senator from Maryland, mr. JomN-
SON "a slight modification Of that proposed by the
honorable senator from Kentucky, Mr.. CRITrEN-
pEN,l is much more respectful and proper form
Of passing the notice than the resolution from the
House Of Representatives, because The latter d.
rects-orders the President Of the United States to
give the notice. That has not been the customary
mode of addressing the President of the United
States, at least since my entrance into Congress.