New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-02-28
From w Washington.
TWEyTY.sIsTH CoNGREss."First Session
Oregon Debate In the senate

WssuSGroN Thursday, Feb %, l-io
In the Senate on Thursday the oregon Questlon
came No as the Special Order The Joint Resolu-
ton OF the Committee on Foreign Relations pro
np 10 give Notice 70 Great Britain Of the intention oil
,bis Government to sunu he Treaty for the Joint &C.
eupa,cn of the Oregon Territory, and the Resolutions
of Mesus. HASSEoAH, CALHOUN and CRI7TESpES'
having relation to the subject were all Alluded 10
in the course OF the debate Mr.. CHTTTESoES 10 "ho
an sno.a had been rnads accept the hesou'ions VI
Nv Coz, QUIT instead of MS declined dong So
though not wi,hou, evident reluctance After some 1s
mad been spent in considering which OF Inc various pro
o.i,ions should have precedence debate sprung up on
me main the report Of which occupies more tnan
mage Of the Ineligencer We can only give oEiei eA
,rscts from some Of TIE most important speakers
AZ Cpr-1YSpES couuseed moderation and torbear-
snce Those who conducted the foreign relations OF me
Government were personally responsible % tne nao
r., tho right exercise OF the Wel2hg power "icH Ha4
-. ,,rsted 70 their hands. The eyes OF al Chrsten-
5or, we're fastened upon them and every cYilzea ma
,; nm be earth would hold them TO the responsibilities
Of peace or war Thoae who should involve this coun
try in an unjust in needless war must encounter
responsibility weighty enough 10 sink navy tthen
then beware To defend the national rights was one
hing 10 rush needessy into war was quite anothe!
tn rotect the vital interests of this country was tne
solemn duty and of those interests peace was me
es and the nRhtes The duties were not inconsistent
mt
fanatcisn In politics Considerations more profound
considerations of higher and nOber sor-shouc sctu
ate those entrusted with nations desuny. no nss'y
expressions passing between two pout
ing nor strutting upon the stage couo JusnJ Tue s
two such nations into q state oil war
Mr. C. could not forbear express his regret that the
o;ect;on nv the Executive department OF the offers OF
arbitration had been placed on the GROUND sci lotI ~
the diplomatic correspondence. He had 10 WISH ln'-
nronerIy IN interfere with those whose province was
10 conduct the foreign affairs OF the country out ne couu
no, conceive what right we had TO pace Ourselves III
Iris resnec, above all who had gone before US ana ABOVE
oil the ther nations of the world by declaring mat our
dsputes never should be submitted 10 aro,tratioh1
however other nations might agree 10 settle ner diner
ences W, never would condescend 70 MAKE an umpire
nj anvbody and that the rights OF boundary were not IN
themselves fit subject for arbitration
b;s doctrine was pure Interpolation into the code ol
international lava code en- which all Inc "oriu ha1
agreed and which we as Of the nations OF the world
had adoted The choice OF an arbitrator WAS anohet
matter might reject in that capacity the proposal Oh
any crowned head. Crowned heads thahh VOC %cIG
not always the wscs and the bestir TINS world OUT tnI
,yere other modes of arbitration and other suitable
arb,ra,crs There men who were born private c!'
izens and princes, who By their WISDOM heiF hho
eage their and their personal virtue were nj
Tod 10 he Judging power whose decision no nation neeu
be ashamed TO submit to- Why not refer the settlement
of this controvened question TO such trounat 40 So
natesd of degrading would in his estimation be one oil
the nobest ths could be offered TO the WIS
dom and excellence of republican inshunons FOR great
and powerul nation voluntarily to submit great CUES
touching
m riya,e citzeps thus viruous and wise would present
spectacle glorious to behold twouid be to present. 10
the world convincing evidence OF the moral progress
and intellectual elevation OF the age u Wouu stamp
uoon the present century character wonderful Tor
its advances and Improvement in political wisdom AS or
its inventions in the mechanic arts and lie achievements
in claiming the discoveries OF science TO the car oil sccs
prosperity and happiness. Such triumph OF modera-
lion over passion of Justice over PRIDE and oil the glory
of reason over the brutality OF mere physical force pro-
ceedinp from Republican hands would do more tor the
md ipffu
QUESTION of every inch of Oregon. This would raisc
our reputation in The estimation OF all the good and wise
il would obtain n revenue OF national honor-tha'
brightest jewel in na,ons's treasury-and would aug
ment our real power among the civilized population oil
the globe thsn the acquisition OF ten times tne dis
puted territory.
Mr. WEBSTER said that he most cordially concurred
in the sentiment beautifully expressed by the honora.
bic Senator who had just taken his seat He did not oil
fer from him hairs bresdth in the principles he had
laid down shall vote said he, for both por-
tons the amendment suggested By the Senator from
Georgia (Mr. CoLoUITT) am prepared to do 30.
Without meaning at this time to go into any SOFT
of examination of the course OF the Executive IN ms
matter or INDUCING in any remark expressive OF an
unfi endly feeling toward the Administration or any DIS
position embarrass the Governmen;-tor feel Moth
ing of the kind and nothing is farther from my lnien-
toni must st be permitted to say that the existing
posture of affairs such render quite desirable
that should know what is the opinion OF the hXecu-
tive in regard to this measure and Ito consequences no
body doubts that the two Houses OF Congress have per
feet authority terminate the Oregon Convention with.
out offence to any body, because this is our specified
right and its exercise can present just of
plant In any quarter. But though this is undoubed
position il must be considered IN connection win
the circumstances which have been made 10 surround IT.
The resolution of notice has passed the other House OF
Congress with qualification. addition, or by whsev
er name Il should be called which changes II IN some
respect from being mere naked notice OF termination
The resolution thus qualified from being resolution OF
naked notice to with conditions. comes here and
here other propositions offered; and they are en-
ter,aned-thus far nj lcast-so tar AS 70 he consld
cred ouc in order and lit subjects for consideration
believe IL is the sentiment OF large maIority-oi the
Senate that some qualification should accompany his
notice Still really think that in this state OF things we
have right know in what point OF view the Executive
Government regards this notice rather what are the
ends and consequences which, in the judgment olthe
Executive the giving of this notice viii tend. When
mad the honor addressing the Senate on this subject
month six weeks ago said-what appts1Is 10
me equally true nowthet the OF the states
that the Presden; of the L. Satcs-caanot expect war
lie does act ike the chct magistrate oil Irea hhon
expecting that the country may be invaded lie Goes
not act like charged with the defence OF the country
at moment when in danger of being assaulted by the
moot formidable enemy on earth Ihere is nothing III
his recommendations the other House nor 10 TINS IN
icative such expectation There is nothing OF pre-
paraon for defence indicating that the President expects
war Well, then, he expect nothing out cohtnu,
ppce nj this 1suue or it's settlement by negotiation
am bound to suppose that be expects It's settlement by
negotiation What terms OF negotiations What basis
of negotiation, What grounds of negotiation Every
thing that we hear from the Executive Department is
the whole " and yet negotiatonl Sir. 1t Ia IN
vain to conceal from ourselves, from the country.
or from the world, the gross inconsistency OF this
course of conduct 1t ia the spirit OF that cores
pondence to which my honorable friend has already al
uded that the whole of Oregon s and ths nothing
be done which admits the existence OF doubt as 10
right the whole. the possibility of right eS-
istine in another and yet TO negotiate Pray,
what is negotiation Does the Administration expect
that by negotiation persuade the British Govern
to surrender the whole territory 10 us Is that
its expectation IL may do that cannot say II
will no, IL that's the disposition OF our Govern
men, or the expectation of our Government. why.
then of course it will try its hand nj il wish It
That is 10 say wish the country could be rid
OF the dispute Take the Oregon il you can get 1t,
but all events settle the question between the two
countries fairly and reasonably. But say do not un
derstsnd the position in which the Executive Govern.
lncnt has placed tsen favor OF negoaton all the time
but all the time refusing TO take any thing less than the
whole What consideration-what corp-omise-Shst
bssis-what grounds therefore, for negotiation Ii the
Government OF the United States has made up mind
u speak OF the Executive Goyernment-hst so far
il concerned il will for any thing less than
the whole of Oregon then should say So ana throw il
self on the two Houses Of Congress and the coun-