Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-03
No. 234.

any Importance Suppose the resolutions should be laid up
ON the table, in conformity with the motion Of The Senator
from North Carolina, does he suppose that will interrupt the
progress OF the consideration Of the subject Discussion must
come, and hope will come for gratfed to find that
il will produce similar degree alarm in the country IN
| that which debate few days ago produced.
Mr.. J. M. CLAYTON then rose and observed that the
Senator from North Carolina had said he would move 10 Law
the whole subject upon the table, He assured that honoab
Senator that whenever he did his should receive Al
other besides his He fully conquered with
him that ought to be disposed Of and that was highly
improper for the Senate proceed TO the discussion Of this
natter except in Executive session, while negotiations were
going lie trusted the Senator would either make the mo-
ton which he had proposed else submit proposition
the subject from the Legislative 10 the Executive
cords He would object the discussion of there for
that the appropriate place but he regretted effort
every attempt that made to discuss the question at this
crisis before the country especially if were the object Of any
person that floor prepare the hearts Of the people for
war; In his opinion the resolutions necessarily involved
advisory power The Executive entitled the initiative
in all these matters and did not become the Senate 70
sumo it. II was the duty Of the Senate when negotiations
opened expected be opened wait until the
President informed them whether he had made treaty, and,
until he had presented the treaty to them. theyw
TO express opinion in favor of the resolutions Of the
amendments they would by their
Legislative vote in the face of the whole country must be
manifest TO every that whether they decided for the ory
ninth parallel or for the whole Of Oregon, would be pre-
judging Of the question If they should upon these
buttons before the Executive had acted and had recommended
action to hem would be assuming the initiatives which did
States Put the that the resolutions voted down
and the amendments substituted, Git could be by very
large vote, by the way what would be their position
majority would have said recommended settlement Of the
question by the parallel of forty And suppose that the
President could obtain better suppose, the
else of his discretion in conducting the negotiations he should
determine to accept twenty degrees twenty minutes
the boundary taking half Of Oregon would not be ihvov
ing the matter in difficulty and embarrassment He would
not hesitate to meet the question when presented fairly and
properly but let it not be forced upon hem let from
IoIo~
Let the Senate take from him any portion of the espon
sbliy which properly belonged to him. his Office.
lie repeated that according to the letter well the spirit
OF the Constitution, the Senate had the initiative and it
did not become them to opinion they should leave
the matter where the Constitution had placed it,
Mr. HANNEGAN said that he entertained the most pro-
found respect for the opinions of the distinguished Senator
from Delaware, but certainly seemed 10 him strange hear
from gentleman Of his learning and experience the decara-
ton that the Senate had right the initiative
under any state of facts 1t seemed to him that the Repre-
scntaves of the sovereign States of this Union have
take the initiative upon any question involving right to
American territory seemed to him that there could be
power behind which they bound to conceal to hide
themselves until the strings should be pulled and they allowed
to proceed to action
The Senator from Delaware said would DO interfering
with negotiations What negotiations Had not the Presl-
dent his message informed them that there PROPOSE
ton pending that the last proposition from this Govern
had with acavaer rejection, and had been instantly
Withdrawn Had the President told them that the nego-
atons for the present, any rate, end Nego
tations could only be resumed by offer from the
British Government, for he felt assured from the high and
manly ground assumed by the President his message that
he at least would them The President called
upon the Senate to aid him in the settlement Of the question,
and published to the world the entire diplomatic conespon
dence upon the subject thereby showing conclusvely that
negotiations had ended What would be thought of any
Government which would make public diplomatic conespon-
7 dence before shr rsgssisissEs q an end
In reference the remarks Of the Senator from North Ca
rona he had but single word 10 say He had already dis
claimed intention to cast any imputacn upon the Pres
dent; and unnecessary TO repeat it all tine ord
nary transactions Of life, IL explanation be not sufficient
he could go further How could it be attack the
President with this language of his before them Mr.
HASSEeAN here read portion Of the Presidents mesage
What had he done than what he had himself
asserted The title to Oregon must be sustained had
been already noby sustained by the Senator from South Ca
ona and by the present Secretary of State And he would
ask, in what quarter of this country would they find
bly, of American citizens who would go for the relnquish
ment Of single foot of With the refagabo testimony
of title which existed there would be much proprety
in the surrender of Florida Of Maine or Massachusetts
Gentlemen talk about the rights of England he had yet
hear the first substantial argument proof favor of Eng
lands title beyond the right Of No could pro-
duce any such proof No could do than Mr.. Pa
kenhan had done to establish Engands title, and he had,
after ALL signaly failed
The Senator from South Carolina had told them that he
friend Of Oregon any that could be
found in tho country Doubtless he believed but, if he
mother, he would not be willing to cut the child
in two, and give away half Look at the map OF Orc
the whole control Of the north Pacific hes above the
forty ninth parae-he whole maritime CONTROL every harbor
worth possessing. And yet he would give II away.
The Senator declares Continued Mr. HASNEoAs that he
has always been the devoted friend Of Oregon He congratu
aes himself upon the fact and sorry to that por
ton of the press the country has teraed and reiterated
relation his views that beautiful expression cmbodyng tho
Fabian policy and used believe, by Lord Chatham, ga
and mastery inactivity must say that regret
this policy highly laudcd in connection with this question
respect the talents well the high standing which that
distinguished occupies among the members Of the hui
man family, but have confess, little admiration for the
course which the pursues upon this question. Had
the bill witch the Senator alluded passed through Congress
and become a law, Oregon would have been twenty
thousand rifles would have secured but you refused act
you held back, when you might despite every hazard, have
secured your right.
The waiting in expectation Of your movement
they waiting in the expectation that the Government
would back them; but they waited in vain and this the
suit of your wise and mastery inactivity. This wise
and mastery inactivity" has ruined Oregon. assure you'll
this La unkndnccs sorrowuly for lament
its results Sir, about to say, and do not know who
thcr he Of place this me that the precpancy Of the
Senator relation to Texas presents remarkable contrast
his " wise and mastery inactivity in relation to Oregon
charge improper motives upon any Senator and least Of
all upon the distinguished Senator from South Carolina but
appears that when question Of territorial acquisition
arises upon the Northwest there the readiness on
the part Of Southern gentlemen participate. Prccpiiancy,
the Senator says relation TO Texas, wise, but not
the Of Oregon. Heaven knows there has been time
enough for maturing plans it is time for action The
two countries stand front TO 'front.' and my life IT, wee
question with Mexico, this would DO the golden moment;