The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-02-11
THE CRISIS
IN AFFAIRS AT THE CAPITAL.
CURIOUS SPEECH OF mR. ADAMS,
DC. &c. Sc.

The vote upon Lynn Boyd's substitute for the
joint resolution of the Committee Of Foreign Rela-
tons, dlssolving the Convention Of August g. 1877.
on the Oregon territory, was announced by the
Speaker at twenty-five minutes after five o'clock,
and stood ia to 49, | had barely time to write
down the vote, fold my letter, and place It in the
hands of a passenger on board the cars, as they
whzzed by me at o'clock, quarter of a mile from
the depot. Whether this news by nay letter reached
you in advance of all your contemporaries or not,
you have by this time learned, as l intended it
should, and / ought, unless the lightning line got
the start of me after both reached Philadelphia,
when, OF course, could not have kept up with it
between there and New York.
With respect to the true intent and nature Of the
resolution, il had passed the House of Represen-
tatves to-day, confess, Tor one, that would rather
see it 90 through without the yr0ris0 which qualities
il SO to render negotiation necessary, before the
expiration OF the twelve months. All are aware
that without this clause, II the notice should be
gwen negotiations could still be entered into for
the purpose OF settling the difficulties between
the two countries, on the subject of Oregon !;
and hence the absurdity OF loading down the
naked question OF notice, with rider of so sill.
ly a character. There appears to me to be DIRE ad
on the part Of large portion OF the party, who adj
vocate the rights OF this country, to the whole of
Oregon, to drive the question up to the sticking
points, for II It was not SO, the simple proposition OF
notice would pass without any conditions hanging
on to it, which may render II nugatory altogether,
when It comes to be acted upon by the Preside mt
The transmission to the House Saturday last, of
the correspondence between Mr.. Pakenham and
Mr.. Buchanan, may have been patriotic, can
did and republican, but look upon 1t as the most
could have taken, If it wanted to secure tine pas
sage OF its own measures by both Houses. From
the turn that that subject took to-day, after three
O'Clock, when the debate closed, and the great
members on every side, | could see that the
disclosure OF that correspondence had the eff
feet Of frightening many into fear OF war, and Of
cooling down that species OF patriotism, which is
usually forced into activity for special occasions
The country need not be alarmed about war with
England from the present aspect of things here.
Nobody wants war, and nobody will do anything to
provoke IL particularly upon the subject OF Oregon.
The whole business may be set down a sort Of
prologue 10 the next Presidential campaign and
serious Legislative act for securing unques-
tionable and indisputabe rights to territory.
for one am glad the question is out OF the House,
and if the Senate be wise, 1t will pass the resolu-
ton, forthwith, in Its present form, without much
debate, and let the British Minister make his ,lti-
sness be over, and then, by little adrot dplo-
macy on both sides, settle down to 40 degrees
the line OF denmark alton between both countries.
There Is one feature, however, of this affair,
which gives 1t more serious aspect than what it
might otherwise bear, if we were the only parties
to the ISSUE II is, that the British government may
not look upon it in the same light that we do, and
take tor earnest what we are emily psyfully doing.
1t is this idea that has given just cause of alarm TO
several prominent members OF the Senate, on both
sides OF the questlon-frst, 10 the distinguished
Senators from Michigan and Ohio and next, to the
Senator from South Carolina, and his f0llowers-all
these are apprehensive Of difficulties with Eng
land, and each class IN Its own way, are doing what
they can, either to provide for the worst prevent
the causes Of a war from being matured. Both,
therefore, right their respective views Of the
probable result Of the passage OF the resolution, but
both are actuated by opposite motives The one by
a fear that the country may be taken by sur
prise, in an unprepared condition for repelng
an enemy, should he attack us; the other,
for avoiding the causes that may lead him
10 do it, Which OF the the wisest, it is not
tor me to affirm. The country is the best judge oil
this, and will so Judge it. Whatever motive the
politicians may have had IN bringing the subject for
ward whether in sincerity to secure just rights
to ourselves, or mere electl0neering scheme Ot
operation, the great body OF the people are commit
ted to 1.-THE nation itself is committed to it-and
nothing short OF national dishOnor will be the
sequence, il we finch from where we have taken
our stand II IS only by remaining steadfast where
we are that any chance remains tor amlcabe adj
justment OF it tor England will 60 to war with
u.s. even If we insist upon the 49th parallel. She is
not committed against giving this line, but will
do all she can to prevent from making it, before
she surrender the subject into our hands Neither
she nor want war; and rather than plunge herself
headlong into it, Lord Aberdeen will agree 10 the
49h parallel, without insisting upon any privileges
south of that line. Remember this. ARIEL.