Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-04-22
ID o ItttraI.
Debate in The Senate.

Al thO W y. DCndlt uu tue outl MATCH
Daniel Webster defined his position on tn,
Oregon question, and 1--WE must add in pa
renthesis-true to his British feelngs,) de
clared that We should surrender the nav
CATION of the Columbia. We subioin
correct synopsis of his speech, and of the
patriotic and triumphant reply of Mr.. Allen
. The Senate resumed the consideration
of the resolution submitted by Mr.. CLAY
ton, calling for any additional correspon.
dence on the Oregon question, &c.
Mr. WEBSTER rose and said: shall ad
wise my honorable friend from Delaware
10 forbear from pressing this resolution
for few days.
There is no doubt that there are letters
from Mr. McLane; but as the chairman
of the committee on Foreign Relations op.
poses this motion. ! am 10 presume that
the Executive Government finds it incon-
venient 10 communicate those letters to
the Senate at the present moment.
Yet, il is obvious, that as the Senate is
called on to perform a legislative act, it
ought, before the hour of its decision
comes, TO be put in the possession of every
thing likely to influence its Judgment;
Otherwise, it would be required to perform
high legislative functions on mere conf.
dence. There is certainly some embar-
rassment in the case. If the Executive
Government deems the communication of
The correspondence inconvenient, it can
only be because negotiation is still going
on, or, if suspended, is expected to be re-.
sumed. 80 far as negotiation is concern.
ed, the communication, or publication, of
The correspondence may very properly be
thought lnconvenient. But, then, The Pre- :
sldent has recommended The passage of
law, or resolution, by the two Houses Of
Congress. In support of this recommen.
dalton he himself sent us, unasked, at
the commencement of the session, the cor.
responsiveness up 10 that time. Now, if that
was necessary then, the rest is necessary.
II we are entitled to a part, we are emit.
tied TO The whole.
In my opinion, the mistake was in call.
ing on Congress to authorize notice to be
given of the discontinuance of what has
been called the joint occupation, until me-
COLLATION. shall have been exhausted. Ne.
collation. should have been tried first, and
when that had failed, and finally failed,
then, and not till then, should Congress
have been called upon.
1t is said, indeed, that notice is 10 be
used as a weapon, or an instrument, in
negotiation. hardly understand this
II IS metaphor Of not very obvious appli.
ca'ion. A weapon seems to imply, not
AGILITY or mere aid, but the means either
Oh defence against attack, or of making
an attack, Il sounds mol altogether friend
and pacific. doubt exceedingly whe.
'her, under present circumstances, notice
would hasten negotiation; and yet such are
nose circumstances that there NAV be as
mucn inconvenience in standing still as in
going forward.
The truth is, that great embarrassment
ailses from the extreme pretensions and
opinions put forward by the President, in
DIS Inaugural Address, year ago, and in
bis Message last December. But for these.
notice would have been harmless, and
perhaps would have been authorized BY
OO'n Houses without much opposition, and
iece'ved by England without dissatisfac-
aon' But the recommendation of the no
uce, coupled with the Presidents repeat
70 declarations that he held our title 10
ae"clear and unquestonabe,' alarmed
ue country. And well il might. And if
a0'ce were required, 10 order to enable
ae fresldent 10 push these extreme claims
@any and every result, then notice ought
we refused by Congress, unless Con.
s'css Is ready to support these prelensions
@ q hazards. Here lies the difficulty.
Sngress is not prepared, and The country
nnol prepared, as believe, TO make the
sissldent's opinion Of clear and unques-
uoaaole right to the whole territory an
suma'um. If he wants notice for such
purpose, he certainly must see that il
ZONES grave question whether Con-
80 6idut IL.
ma. was a great, very great mistake, to
ss@unpany the recommendation Of notice
m, y positive an assertion Of our right
m m"e whole territory. Did the President
MI, aa % adhere to that. even to the extre-
sy y wars lfso, he should have known
~. ~ a''er what has happened in years
NJ me country was not likely to sustain
VII Did he mean to say this, and after.
\ ~, recede from ii2 Ii so, why say it
h,a surely the President could not
~ oeen guilty of playing so small a |
.s As to endeavor to show himself to |
NJ 'ss spirit, and boldness, and fearless
CON- England, more than bis predeces-
n,bs ''s countrymen, and vet do all this
lion sonnoent hope that no serious col. |
M would arise between the two coun. |