The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-02
POLITICAL.


ton for giving The years noiies 10 abrogais The con
psiiior " August, 1877. -rtg.
Il was ascertaned at an early period Of The SEES
sion, that the Senate would not sustain the Pfesi-
deat IA his Just and wise policy Of asserting our
right in Oregon up 70 the parallel Of $40 4V. IL
vas hoped however, that this body would pass
the notice to abTogale the treaty, without openly
disparaging our own title, and then leave the PresI-
dent 10 his constitutional responsibility. In making
ueaties the Senate his constitutional advisers
ANY public expression, therefore, from them, adj
verse 10 the avoWed policy of the President and in
favor Of the claims Of foreign nation, could not
fail to do peculiar injury TO the interests Of their
own country. Ii, In their conscience, they believed
lhat the President had demanded more than justice
from Great Britain, il was their right, as his adj
yisefs, TO communicate to him their opinion. Bu
this ought 10 have been done in executive session.
The Brush minister and the whole world ought not
TO have been present, An open collision between
the President and the Senate, on question with
foreign nation which involved the territorial rights
Of the United States, could not fail TO do mischief
IL must necessarily, parayze the Of the execu-
i've in obtaining the portion Of territory to
which the Senate thought We were entitled. But
when, in open session, eminent senators IN debate
disparaged the title Of their country, and adyo-
Gated the claims of Great Britain; and when the
Senate Afterwards ratified these opinions by vote
OF more than twO-thrds Of the whole body, the eE
feet could not fail 90 he disastrous. Such course
under similar circumstances, unexampled in the
eerely hope that IL may stand out, IN bold relief
throughout the future congressional history Of our
own country, as a beacon Of warning, and not an
example for imt,tion.
After this IL became impsssiblet 20 obtain, by ne.
gotiaton, any portion Of the territory north Of the
10Th parallel; because Great Britain could not
without forfeiting her national honor, have voun-
tary Welded any portion Of that territory, 10 which
two-thirds Of the American Senate had, IN effect,
declared before the world she was justly entitled.
a. 10 O., d stuga ID h.
only serious danger OF war between the two coun.
tries. which ever existed Great Britain, thus
eouraged might have fallen back upon the line OF
the Columbia and in this manner we might have
lost not only all that had been gained by the Presi-
dents firm and prudent policy, but would have
been rendered almost Inevitable. As the Senate
had Welded 80 much, she might have expected they
would Weld still more. Indeed, il is well known
that the public press, as well as the government Of
that country entirely changed its tone and lis line
OF conduct uf,er the first proceedings Of the Senate
reached England, and strong symptoms were man.
Tested Of returning sgain to the Columbia river, as
the line of boundary between the two countries.
We believe nothing but the prudent and perse-
yerine hrnness Of the President neutrazed the con-
duct Of the Senate, and prevented this catastrophe
In proof of the justice Of these observations, we
shall proceed to present brief sketch Of the pro-
gress through the Senaie Of the resolution to give
the years notice, and Its effects on Great Britain
The standing committees Of the Senate were not
elected until the l7th December, lo45. That OF
Foreign Relations consisted Of Messrs. Allen, Cass,
Archer, Sewer, and Anterior. On the day after
this election, Mr., Allen, the chairman, with
commendable promptness, presented joint res.
olution advising the President TO give years
notice to Great Britain, required for the alb
rogaton OF the conventions; which was
feued to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
This resolution was prepared in the cearest and
simplest form, and ought, without delay, to have
passed the Senate. We need scarcely repeat, that
Great Britain could not possibly have taken offence
at the exercise of a right which had been reserved
to either party by the convention itself We now
know positively, not only that she would not have
taken offence but that she expected If she did
not desire, the adoption by Congress Of such
resolution. In answer to the alarmsts IN this coun-
try, we might cite the language OF the London
Times that at is absurd cxaggeration to assert
that the termination of treaty which has ceased TO
give any protection to either party, is assure prelude
TO war"
On Thursday, Jaruary 8, 1886, Mr.. Allen, from
the Committee on reign Relations, reported back
To the Senate the g olution for giving the years
noIice, pmended il form, but not in substance; and,
in behalf Of the committee, asked that an early day
might be fixed for its consideration. AT the next
meeting Of the Senate, on Monday, January IL,
1876, Mr.. Allen moved that the resolution be made
the order OF the day for Tuesday, the 9th January
thus giving period of two weeks for previous rel
Election and preparation. Mr.. Haywood Immedi-
atey moved to substitute Tuesday, the Sd Febru-
airy; but Mr.. Westcott, not satisfied even with this
postponement, and stating that it was considered
question OF peace war, moved Tuesday, FebTu-
airy 10, for its consideration This motion, for the
postponement Of the resolution until the 10Th Feb
ruary, prevailed by majority of 80 to IL! This
result was accomplished by an union between the
federalists and Calhoun senators, with addition
TO their force Of Messrs. Benton and Haywood. The
democratic senators who voted with the federalists
Messrs Calhoun and McDufie of South Car
ona, Messrs. Chalmers and Speight of Mississippi,
Messrs Westcott and Yulee of Florida, Mr.. Col
quit Of Georgia, Mr.. Lewis of Alabama, Mr.. Pen.
nybacker Of Virginia, Mr. Benton of Missouri, and
Mr.. Haywood Of North Carolina. .a. a
This vote demonstrated in advance that there was
decided majority Of the Senate against the notice.
unless il could be accompanied with such PROPOSE
tons TO concate Great Britain would destroy its
beneficial effect in any future negotiation Ii was,
in substance, clear intimaton on the part of the
Senate, in opposition to the Presidents demand of
the whole Of Oregon, and went far to render it i'm
practicable for this government TO obtain by negot
alton anything beyond the 10th parallel of latitude,
This was the conclusion TO which every attentive
observer at the time arrived, and was fully justified
by the subsequent proceedings of the Senate.
"Look to The Ssnaie!" then became the watchwprd
of all those opposed to the Presidents policy |
throughout the country. That body being co-or- |
dnste branch ofthe treaty making power, and just
ly distinguished for its great abiity--that body
which ought to have promptly passed the simple |
notice. had refused, by majority of nearly two to
one, even to consider the question, until nearly two
months and an half of the session had expired! Il
Two days after this vele, the l4th January,
Mr.. Crttenden submitted an amendment, which he
gave notice he Intended to offer substitute for
the resolution Of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
This amendment was pery conciatory IN Its terms;
and although il did not contain the word "compro-
mise" yet il was evident, from its whole tenor, that
u compromise upon the parallel of 40 degrees was
intended. .., .g.4gHI
This was succeeded, on the 26th January, by the
proposition of Mr., Mangum, that the notice, when
given to Great Britain, should be accompanied by
proposition to arbitrate the question. a sa
These proceedings IN the Senate, together with
the debates and proceedings on other questions
involving the subject, which we need not specify
all breathing the same spirit, were despatched
to Great Britain in the, steam-packet which left
Boston on the LIST Of February. After their arrival
in that country, the .watehword Of the British gov
ernment and peonln was also NLook 70 The Senaie y