The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-14
CoNGRE SSIONAL.
REMARKS or Mr.. ALLEN,
OF OHIO,

The Senate having agreed TO proceed to the con-
siderstion Of the motion Of Mr.. ALLEN for leave 70
introduce certain resolutions concerning the rela-
tons Of the powers OF Europe TO the governments on
the American co.tnenl; and the question being upon
grunting the leave requested tsH .-r
IN Mr.. CALHOUN remarked that he did moi know
Whether IL was material or not that the discussion
should tnte place on the motion pending, or on the
merits of the resolution ITSELF He had idea that
The Senate would adopt the resolution. But OF IL was
the desire 10 60 on with the discussion now, he had
no objection.
Mr.. ALLEN. entertain the same desire ex-
pressed at the time | asked leave to introduce the
eoution that the resolution be received and refer
red 10 the Committee on Foreign Relations. That
was my desire, aid no other, Being up, however,
and without inending to 60 into any Of the many
matters mentioned the other day in justification Of
nv own c0orse, viii make some remarks and read
from sopse books. The first objection OF the sena.
tor frog South Carolina Mr.. CALHoUsl to the in
PRODUCTION Of this resolution, the principles
hepselyes embraced in the resolution. Afterwards,
| however, he made another objection, which was
psonsl TO myself and it is 10 the latter objection
NAT propose to make few observations to the
Senate. The objection Of the senator was, that |
had taken on myself, q use his own langusge,) on
my own individual responsibility, to present TO the
consideration of the Senate, in the form Of joint
resolution, subject which. among others in the
Presidents message, had been already referred to
the Committee Foreign Relations; and the sena-
tor from South Carolina sem<d-I will not sa had
seemed TO have desire 10 excite some nnkindness
against in the committee an individual, or ex
hib me having treated them with disrospect by
not consulting them as 10 the proprety of the reso-
luton. This was clearly inference which every
senator drew from the remark OF the senator from
South Carolina. Now, sir, it is to this personal al
lusion made by the senator that will offer few
observations.
In the first place, did, in this particular what
the uniform practice ofthe body has permitted, and
what the members Of this body have uniformly
practised from the foundation OF the government,
and no more. As member Of the Committee on
Foreign Relations, lose no right, nor acquire any
night, as an individual senator. | lose no right
which had before of introducing to the considera.
| ton Of the Senate any subject which my judgment
may Indicate as proper TO be introduced. As q
matter Of right, then, ask the senator from South
Carolina whether | have not a right to move this
resolution and ask him to answer the question
definitely.
Mr. CALHOUN. The senator will proceed.
Mr.. ALLEN. | desire TO be answered now, be-
fore proceeding further.
Mr.. CALHOUN. | will answer when think prop
MIR. ALLEN. The senatar will not reply. But
my had right say my honorable colleagues,
each one had right to introduce the resolution If
they had thought proper to do so. ] say every
senator on this floor has a similar right, and the
practice Of the government from its foundation TO
this moment gives the right. And what has been
the case during this very session. The various
portions Of the Presidents message have been re-
ferred to the several standing committees-the
whole matter relating TO Oregon, and TO what course
the government ought to take with regard to the
claim of Great Britain, has been referred to the
COMMITTEE on Foreign Relations-yet, notwithstand-
ing, the senator from Indiana Mr. HANNEeANl in
roduoed resolution the subject and had the
right to do so. The senator from South Carolina
himself introduced resolution on the same subject,
and had the right. And can any man rise here to
gainsay the rIght' Not one Where, then, is the
difference in the cases' There is no difference in
the ease-none whatever. And the effort, if it was
designed to excite unkindness towards me on the
part Of my honorable friends on the committee, by
personal alusion to me this floor by the sena-
tor from South Carolina, the effort, / believe my
colleagues will bear me. out in saying has utterly
failed But let US look into the books, for books
devious why's. 1t should be remembered by the
Senate that in the year 1910 there was between the
government Of the United States and that of Grea,
Britain difficulty arising out of the fact that m
American vessel, in passing from one to another
Of the ports Of the United States, had been driven
BY stress of weather into British port in
the West Indies; and, pending this matter
the senator from South Carolina--and will not say
took" on himself-rtook "the responsibility"-be.
cause do not intend to use terms of implied re
Proach, as he has done-but will say that the SEN
ator from South Carolina, as a senator, and not a.
the chairman ofa committee, rose on this floor, ant
introduced the subject hcre for the elaboration
this body. And in what form did he introduce it
In the form Of series Of resolutions declaring tn,
law Of nations to the whole civilized world. Yes
he called on the Senate Of the United States to la,
down and to prescribe to the world what the law o
nations should be In the Interpretation OF the Amcri
can government! Yes, sir; the resolutions of tn,
honorable senator were met, not at the threshold
no man then supposed that the honorable senate
was trsnscending the limits OF propriety-hs mo
ton was not met at the threshold with any objection
to the reception Of his resolutions but upon the dis
cussion which arose upon tho passage Of the resolu
tons, distinguished senator from Kentucky, nov
not here, in,imated that although he had no objec
ton to the resolutions, yet he did not exactly see tn
necessity for the expression Of the views Of the Sen
ate OF the United States on what he regarded a
distractions. What reply did the senator from
kentucky receive to that objection? What repl,
did he receive TO the question: Are you going 4
war to enforce the doctrine you propose this day 4
lay down in the form of a law of nationsi Wha
response did he then receive to this objection from
the senator from South Carolina will read yo,
the response, at least those parts Of it that apply Il
THIS matter And here permit me to say that thes
resolutions lay down principles even broader thar
Nose laid down in the resolution now before tn
senate Making the most Of it, the language of thi
resolution applies only to two continents, Europ
and America; but his law was to extend to IN,
mouth ofthe Thames and the banks Of the Ganges
HIS law of nations would have been found amid tn
lcepergs OF the north pole, and under the hurnin!
sun Of the equator. His resolutions would hav
been enforced wherever there was water and win,
enough 10 hoat an American vessel, especially
shc had slaves on board His resolutions were
men, surely as comprehensive as mine. Min
cover only one-hof of the world; HIS covered tn
whole terrestrial globe. Mine apply to land only
his applied both TO sea and land. The argument o
the gentleman, from which am about to read, wa
m answer to the objections raised by the senate
from Kentucky. Let us hear how he deal, viii
those objections.
Mr.. a. here read the following extract from Mr.
CALHoUN's speech on the occasion, as renorted !,
The Congressional Globe"
He admits that there would have baen no irrrro, 4
introducing them had there been pending negotion In
nk there IT, because the British minister had CLOSED ~
door Of negotiation He MIR C) took the very onpos ~,
view Pending the negotiation, and before the decision
AnoWn the Poprety Of movement Of the Kind would
ny We least be doubtful but that II has been mad,
~. Justice refused, silence would he construed into a
anonment OF the claim Of our citizens aaa acquie
N e N me dangerous principle which II rejecte
~ o iepel such inference that he desired 10 take IN
80, the Senate II the resolutions should receive an
-. r BODY, would keep alive the claim; and, wit
III more imD ortant, rBbut any inferred abandonmei