New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-06
TwENTY-NINTH coNGREss..First Session,
Reported Specially for Tie Ne.v- York Tribune.

Reported Specially for The Ne.u- York Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Saturday, April 4th le46.
IN SENATE.
During the morning hour several Petitions and
Reports were presented and acted on They were
of no general interest.
The Resolution for printing the Report of the
Commissioner ofPatents, coming up,
Mr. ASHLEY concluded his remarks in favor OF
printing the Report This was public document
of real interest 10 our farmers His remarks were
listened to with great attention.
When he had concluded, Mr.. CALHOUN moved
that the Senate proceed to the consideration Of the
Special Order of the day.
Mr. McDUFFIE then rose and addressed the Senate.
On his conscience he would state the truth. the whole
truth and nothing butth truth In regard to the con-
hicting claims between our country and England on
Oregon
He apprehended that there would be more diff.
Guilty from ourselves than from England in the set
Element of this question. He agreed with the honor
able Senator from Massachusetts that the good sense
Of the two Countries was rapidly settling down on a
compromise on 49s. Upon this, if upon any line
must the question be finally settled.
He would also proceed TO show that our title
pointed TO that line as the basis OF negotiation, that
the claims Of the two Countries clearly indicated
that as the line Of settlement.
He was astonished at the claims which had been
set up by Senators on the ground of discovery
There was no principle of international law clearer
than that discovery without settlement gave no title.
In this connection he sent to the Clerks table an ex
tract from Vatle which was read.
Here this celebrated author pronounces as an
empty 6gment the claims upon which Senators and
even the Secretary Of State had founded our title 10
this Territory.
AS TO the Spanish titles upon which so much stress
has been laid he doubted whether civilized nations
would recognize them OF any Importance, even II
Spain still retained them and tried to enforce them
now 1t was doubtful whether ever such man as
De Fuca lived, upon whose discoveries we have
heard so many arguments.
he commended that Spain never made settlement
in the Territory. The Spanish title ne thought was
not worth farthing
The only title be considered worth anything, was
the discovery of Capt. GRAY, and the subsequent
exploration Of Lewis and Clarke, followed In a rea.
sonable time BY the settlement at Astoria.
Inl81s, '24, 30 and A, our Government made the
offer of the 49th Parallel, and we never claimed q
line higher. How, then, do we get higher now
We are admonished to do to others as we would
that others should do to What would we think
if England should now come South OF her former
offer on the Columbia The blood of every Senator
and every citizen of the United States would rise to
fever heat TO the war point if England claimed one
foot South of her former offer.
What new light have we got now, more than for
administrations, 10 carry Us North OF our former
offers
AS to the probability OF settlement, he believed
that this country in great danger OF being In
volved in O War, from this miserable question:
Does any man believe that settlement can be made
on any line North Of the 10th parallel II ID pure
question of Peace War, and does this country
wish TO 60 to War for territory North of 49o.
Great God exclaimed he, have been shocked
with the GOODNESS with which War has been talked
about What shall we go TO War aboutl 1t can
not be about National honor. Does any man believe
that we would compromise National honor by re-
peatine the offer of Mr.. Gallatin-sanctoned by the
Patriots of the Revolution and of the last War? II
is then not question OF honor but of property.
1t would cost US ten times more than the value OF
the whole of Oregon to carry Ga a war one year.
He then turned to Greenhow's book on Oregon
and kept the Senate in roar OF laughter by the
descriptions there given of Oregon The best part
of the territory had only about oneenth part OF II
fit for cultivation There was probably not more
than four or FIVE thousand square miles tit support
civilized man in the whole territory In some parts
of the country they have rain except occasionally
shower in Spring. The thermometer is at the
| freezing point in the morning, and al 90 degrees al
! noon. In other parts the mountains were covered
with perpetual SHOWS and the lower rivers and lakes
were covered twothirds of the year with ice.
He doubted much whether either Of US had any
right 10 invade that Country. We have right &c
take from Savages Country fit 10 be made useful
for arts and agriculture. But he doubted whether
any civilized Nation had night TO take from Sava
ges Country fit only to be inhabited by Savages.
If our rights were involved he would die even on
this miserable Territory, but it was question mere
" OF property. War for this miserable Territory
would las, for at least seven years war of desola
ton war that must be entered into with feelings
of hatred arising from some other cause than Ma
iioual honor and be hoped that insisted on going
to war on this miserable pretext we shall prosecute
ii till one the other Nation is SO subdued as to
! be sick Of wars.
AS for the Notice. he would go for that form
which expressed most thoroughly to the President
his duty to settle it II treaty TO settle this cues
lion according TO offer of 1926 were sent In To-
morrow he would be ready TO vote for il on five min
u,es' consideration. The House had probably done
as much as they could. We were the Constitution
al advisers Of the President
| When he took his seat Mr. BREEsE read more
favorable description OF Oregon from Van Couver's
voyage.
Mr. McDUrF1E replied that Greenhow had ex
amined the country geographically-Van COuve'
only saw the coast.
The Senate then. on motion of NJ. WEBSTER, ed
| journed until Monday al IL o'clock.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Was occupied with the Private Calendar. Nc
business of public interest They adjourned early