Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-04-30
Senator BENTON.

Some of the Democratic papers rather severe
IN their comments upon Mr. Benons recent upon
the Oregon question. They, as we'll as many wing pa
Pers, seem to infer it settled point, that Mr. B.
Is in favor Of compromise upon the 49th parallel.
We do not understand Mr.. Benton from anything
he has said He prefers negotiation to war, if we
understand him correctly but he has not declared a
willingness to settle the question the 49h paral
lei. We must have more definite declarations than
we have have yet had from Mr. Benton, before we
shall be satisfied that he his willing to yield much
as Great Britain Claims and as much the wings,
with Mr. Webster at their head, willing to give.
We regard Mr. Benton, he recently declared
himself to be- a friend to the adDlinistrafion,-em
phatically so; aud should Just as soon think of
doubling the administration itself as to doubt him.
He has his personal likes and dslikespretty strong
ones doubt but we have yet to be convinced that
he viii suffer personal feelings to direct his action
upon great measures of public interest. He has
proved to the world before this that he can sacrifice
personal hostilities upon the altar of the public good
and we have no doubt that he will do so again when
ever it may become necessary.
We not alone in this estimation of Mr. Benton.
Massachusetts, paper, the Northampton Democrat
takes the same view. 1t observes:
IS notwithstanding the specuations of the newspa-
pers, the same he GoaJs occupied The Brtish-con-
oeding wings and the anti Oregon presses are claim
ing him as a 40 man, q claim which we deny. The
New York Express, ultra federal sheet, says:
"The speech of Mr.. Benton has produced lively SEN
sation in the country, and WILL think have eff
feet in satisfying the public mind that the 10th parallel
"a all haze clear right claim, than any other
speech that has been delivered during the session."
These are words of press that has hitherto been
the loudest in exclaiming ''Humbug Benton - but
the Missouri Senator does contend that the 49th
parallel IS ALL ne hare clear right to claim. The
wing papers speak of the views advanced In his late
speech if he had never advanced them before; but
this is not the case. He took the same grounds
years ago, and took them, too, In of his rery
strongest Oregon speeches. We have recently been
examining them, and find this to be the fact.
In Col Benton's mastery speech in secret session,
on the Ashburton treaty, afterwards published, when
the injunction of secrecy removed, after adverting
to Oregon and giving glowing description of it, he
uses the following emphatic language:
"Such country have but people, one interest
government; that people should be American that
interest and that government republican 4cursed
and infamous be the that DIVIDES ALIENATEs
Irw
Yet in this very speech where such language &C.
curs Mr.. Benton takes the grounds relative to
the Treaty of Utrecht, as in the debate with Gen.
Cass- In this speech, too, he says:
"0regon belongs the United States by tile as clear
as their title 10 the District IF Columbia"
In another part of this admirable and unanswera-
bic speech he observes
"As deriving from Spain, title against RgLand IS
good throughout the against Russia, latitude
So As deriving under discoveries and settlement IL is
good against all the z0OrId the of the region
drained by the waters of the Columbia river
Yet, repeat in this very speech, so strong for
the rhole Of Oregon, Mr.. Benton promug gated those
views concerning the treaty of Utrecht which af
ford the wings such hopes of adding him to the 40
party In regard to the treaty Of Utrecht it is true
he differs from Cass and Greenhow, but this does not
make him less 81 40 man. As we understand him,
he argues that England herself has conceded by that
treaty, all the territory below 40, while through
Spain we acquired valid title as far as the Russian
settlements We still believe Mr. Benton thinks 1t
an dccursed and infamous thing to DIVIDE ALIEN
ATE OREGON.