The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-03-19
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE
lFrom an Occasional Correspondent.
HE LIBEL ON THE SENATE-MR.
CALHOUN ON OREGON.
WASHINGTON, March I6 1916

ing the great Carolinian upon the Oregon oues-
| ',on- bei"re the hour for taking up the Orders
| oi the lay had arrived, Mr.. Benton from Tho G.
lect COMMITTEE TO examine into and report upon
me charges made against portion of the Senate
by the Daily Times - of this CITY. mad. ~
port III which the whole matter was mos, ablv
reviewed, and showed, conclusiYely. thai the on
IRE charge. M all lis particulars, had not part-
Gle o foundation 10 rest npon-the very witnesses
| referred tn by the Editor of the Times. ut,erI,
| denying before the Committee tina, thew had evo,
| known or even heard of the varons circpms,o,co
specified IN she charge. The report was unan;1
| Snohsly concurred in by she Senate. and ordered
To be printed In few days You will he ablo
10 lay ~ before your readers, when il will speaL
| for itself f'""
ms matter disposed Of for the present, tho
SENATE proceeded, as in Committee of the Whol.
20 me consideration OF the Oregon question:
When MI Calhoun arose and addressed the body
Tor about one and half houIs, in that earnest
iuclu, and direct manner, which so pre-. emineptlv
characteristics all his efforts. he SAID. that bav
ing been intimately connected with the subject in
another department Of the Goverement. coDside,,.
tons OF delIcacy would induce him TO confne his
remarks 10 The simple question of notice He
next spoke of The various parties in the Senate in
reference to the question before them. and of Tho
different views by which they were influenced
conceding to all high patriotic motives. He said
mat al Inc commencement OF the session the Pre-
sldent, acting under the conviction, that Enolond
would agree To no terms for the settlement IF this
controversy, which this Government OUGHT to ar
cept. had recommended the Notice to be given
In doing which, he admitted that the President
entertaining the views he did, had pursued the
only course consistent with duty and patriotism
But differing IN opinion with the President. and
believing that just and honorable compromises
might yet he effected he, Mr.. Calhoun. had oppo.
SEn thkI CrINy tnfr nf N,,fta
pient movement In course of action which would
inevitably lead To war, unless settlement sborId
be made within the year. That the hazard was
too great-and the consequences too rnomentous
to be lightly OF hastily incurred. That 2 war
between the two most enlightened and powerfnI
nations on earth would be no small matter. 'Tb,r
IL would, IN fact, be great struggle for empire.
IN which Oregon would soon he forgotten That
the contest would be long, violent, and dsas
trcus; one, in which the destruction of life and
property, great as it would necessarily be. cons,
iuted by far the smallest portion ofthe evils to be
suffered; for these could soon be repaired by the
rapid increase and enterprising industry of our
citizens. Other evils would flow from war. which
could never be repaired he referred to the check
upon the onward march of civilization under the
influence of our free institutions, and the unnar
alleled advance of improvement in science and
the progressive arts. A check which ayes could
not remove.
lie also entered into an estimate of the costs of
war, and It's effects upon our monetary system.
and showed that, al The lowest calculation. il
would involve us in a debt of $3.50 900 ,OOO and
NIX upon the country a renewal of the paper sys-
tenn In It's most Objectionable form. But there
was yet another evil TO be apprehended from
long Protracted war, before which, all of these
sunk into comparative nothingness. He alluded
to the great military spirit that would be engen-
dered, and drew vivid picture of four victorious
Generals. each at the head of one of the GREAT di-
Visions OF our country, with their respective COM
mands strongly attached 10 them by the remem-
brance of mutual conflicts and trumphs, all stug-
9ilnS ior empire, and urging their claims by the
power of the sword, until, at length, our glorious
Union should be scattered to the winds or else
settle down into a military despotism These were
no idle tancles. There was real danger that most,
1t not all. of these fearful consequences would
flow from even successful war; and. therefore,
it should be avoided, if it could be consistent with
the interests and honor Of the country. That the
cultivation OF peace was the true policy for Re-
pubIlcs, sc.
he sincerely believed that this question could
now be settled without an appeal to arms--lhata
great change had come over the popular mind
both IN this country and in England in regard to
this controversy. That large and oveTw helm
ing majority of the people on both sides of the
water, had given the strongest manifestations of
desire To settle the matter amicably. That he
firmly believed it would be SO settled. That the
circumstances 10 which we were nov placed were
altogether different from those at the commence
ment of the session. That this change affected
the feelings and views of all parties, and that he
could not doubt that all would now be willing to
settle the matter by just and honorable comprO-
mise. That the question was involved in doubt
and uncertainty, and therefore, proper subject
tor compromise was evident, from the fact, that
many of our wisest and most patriotic statesmen
had differed in regard to it.
He drew glowing picture Of the rapid adj
vance OF our country, in wealth, prosperity and
influence, among the nations Of the earth, unless
checked in lis onward progress by some imprudent
movement on our part. He expressed the firm
conviction of his mind, that the question would
now be amicably disposed of, and intimaled his
willingness to vote for the notice in a modified
form.
You must read the speech itself This hasiJ
and imperfect sketch will afford you but faint
idea of that mastery effort Of one Of The first
minds of the present age. lie was listened 10
with deep interest by crowded chamber, and
think the speech will exert a powerful influence
over the Senate and the country.
Yours in haste, S. L. u.
IT. &c.. a.. Nr..-.. L. La..-..,aI lie