The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-23

In his opinion, the public welfare shall require IT,
was al hrst inclined. with the gentleman from Ken
lucky near me, Mr. DAVIS, 10 consider the CIV
Ing OF this notice rs exercise Of the Executive
power, with which the House had nothing 10 doibut
I on further reflection, have changed that opinion.
L isyery true that the formation Of such eonyen-
ton u an exercise of the trea,y-makng power but
does not therefore, follow that the dssolying the
Convention must be the exclusive act Of that power.
{ That N different question, because the "sossn.
nent OF the United States" according 10 the tnrms
OF The convention, was one OF the high contracting
parties; aud Of that government, this House,
as well as t9e President aud Senate, constr
tute part Yet there are grave reasons why
Congress-, instead Of taking lie power into iis
, own hands, should lodge il in the hands Of
the President. shall not be suspected OF dispo-
siuon 10 insrsse, unnecessarily, the power Of the
Presidents butt Am willing TO give the present Exec
aiive the power which he asks IN this matter. am
fot giving 10 the Executive all the energy and
sfhciency which he requires 10 act in matter OF
this kind. The. country has placed the President
where lie Ia, and The responsibility is his. When
the government Of Great Brlala learns that he is
clothed with this power, they viii comprehend What
10 mighty cemsnl nis, and viii BE- the more inclined
to act with Difference 70 him and to as Il seems 10
ME, that all The friends Of peace IL the House should
consent TO such IN arrangement. IL has been said
very generally that negotiations have been renewed
at London. -.s.. -. .r .. .... .-..
II Mr. c. J. IsoERsoLL, chairman Of the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs. That is not fact. They
hafe not been renewed ... .. .r..
II not, they may yet &c. trust they will be. /
am for multiplying the chances Tor ad,ts,ment and
peace The President will have the whole field before
him, and am for lodging with him this great element
lofnegoliailon. Asproposed by the bill from the Com
piuoe on Territories, and by the resolution now I'M
der confederation, the nctioe made sbsolute IL goes
forth in a hostile shape, and no choice Is left % the
President as 10 times and seasons which are often
matters Of great importance The power, II given
As propose II, will be quite effectual as IL exer-
cised absolutey by the House; yet 1t will leave 10
the wisdom and dleefeticn o. the Executive the &C.
lection Of the manner and time OF giving The notice
IL imposes ON him no responsibility which any Ex-
eculive ought to wiAh to shun. 1, places him in
grand position invested with ample power, confer
red by the confidence OF his country, and 1t opens
before him the opportunity OF accomplishing great
good for The n-ticn and for the world. -
i wish to present another view | deaife the
adoption Of different plan from that which has
been reported from the Committee on Territories
az 10 the extension Of our laws over Oregon. Il is
a part of the plan proposed by the committee to
make donations Of land to actual settlers, and this
WhilG The contention still continues in foree this
cannot but consider az violation or the rpirit Of
that instrument do think so as to the prinei-
pie Of settlement; people may go 10 that country
i'm any numbers, and they ought to he protected.
The bill Pros'des, too fSE the extension Of the laws
nal extension of jurisdiction, and will fesdt IN no
practical good. It will serve only To make the set.
tiers in that remote district OF country acquainted
with laws by their threatenings, but the meas
ure afford them no efficient protection. should
prefer the establishment Of Territorial government
so organized not 10 conflict with the provisions Of
Tie cdntsntion. M y plan would be TO send them out
a goyet1or sdsacl5us, prudent experienced eau
tious man, who would be able 10 sweep the whole
field with his eye, and give information and counsel
to the government here as 10 what was doing, and
xph df oh IN rent do,,ht
our power to establish such government over the
whole Of the territory, apprehende collision with
the British authorities, them say, place your gc!-
emor south of the Columbia river; that at least, is
portion Of the territory, which, ! presume, no
gentleman in the House is prepared TO surrender
The lsnguago Of every one here, doubt not, will
be like that OF the poel: ...,.
And many tsnnerihs, &c torn.
AnS many .ps ssEn'
| Ere scotland's king shall the Trent"
The officers Of the Hudson Bay Company are
there and British magistrates Of some descr ption
are there also; why should not our officers and our
magistrates b. there ool Will not their authority
carry with it tecpect for the American laws and
government
Besides the measure which have jus, been con-
sidering, certain resolutions have been introduced
here, which | desire for moment to refer TO.
Those offered by the gentleman from Massachu-
se,ts, Mr. WMTnRoP, which look to the adjust
ment OF the Oregon dispute without war, certain
lily admire The spirit in which they are presented
calls for my profoundest respect and hail them as
the exponent of the sentiment Of enlightened and
Christian age, and yet cannot vote for them. In
my humble judgment, the matter to which they re-
fertile mode of adjusting pending political ques-
Iton-belongs to another branch of this government,
and their adoption by might seriously interfere
with the exercise of its functions. As to the coun
ter resolution introduced by the gentleman from Iii.
nois Mr.. DovoLAss,ll am decidedly opposed to it,
It declares that the whole ofOregon is ours up to par.
ailel $40 4O, and Is intended to commit this House
against any negotiation which brings us less than
that extent of territory. Now, have already sta
ted my personal conviction to the extent Of our
rights, but will not consent to express any egsla
tive opinion on a matter which clearly belongs to
another department am for giving the Executive
full discretion and the amplest scope. This is no
party questionit sweeps beyond all such consider
atoms, and, in the measures connected with it, par
~ feelings and influences should be far from every
mind. The country is in crisis. feel il to be
crisis; and am ready to say, God speed 10 the
through il! At an hour like this win vote for no
resolutions embodying opinions on the one hand or
the Other Let the government take ground which
Is impregnable, and maintain It with frmness that
shall command respect. .g
| And now, sir, am met with the question, "Sup-
pose these measures should lead to warp do not
think they will lead to war; they ought not. But
we not at liberty, In this matter, TO turn away
from Just consideration Of the national rights and
the national honor, to look at consequences. We
are going onward, should protecting our own
citizens. We arc following the example Of the re-
public Of Rome, which caused Roman law to pre-
will, and the Ggis of Roman protection to be extend
ed wherever Roman citizens passed. abhor war.
Reviews have no charms for me. The detailed his
tory Of battles, and oil the saughers of victory, do
but disgust me. never look with admiration upon
scenes like theses unless il is when see brave and
suffering people horne down bv oppre ssion rising
up with united heart to bear back their oppressors
In regard 10 the lust Of conquest which has been
spoken of as being derogation to our national
character, am rcodyto confess that have heard
with regret the language held by some gentlemen
here about pushing forward our acquisitions, and
planting the American eagle various points Of
this continent and all over the world. The express
sion Of such sentiments is the very course to arm all
the world against us, The French revolution has
operated more than all other things to disgrace and
overthrow all republican ideas in Europe. And
whyi Because the lust of conquest which grew out
ofand accompanied that revolution rose so high ms