Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-04-04

Mr. ALLEN said that the Senator from Massachusetts, hav-
ing expressed il his opinion that the resolution calling for
certain information from the Executive should for the present
be suffered to lie the table which suggestion he preslm
ed would be complied WITH unnecessary for him to
enter upon the discussion Of the resolution.
II is constutionaly, (sad Mr. Al and true in regard
to with each other here that all the members
Of the Senate strict equality with each other but
also that the long experience of Senators In the
public business Of the country and they have acquir
ed in the judgment of the country make whatever they say
here great national question OF much Importance
than would be if it fell from others The Senator
from Massachusetts has taken his position this morning. for
the first time this great Oregon question And not only
he done this but he has also taken extraordinary
against the possibility Of having his position msaken-a
precauon growing by out of want OF capacity
address the Senate without such full and accurate notes OF
what he is about to say There is solemnly IN the form
with which his opinions have been announced to-day which,
connected with the known character ability and influence OF
that distinguished Senator makes the declaration one OF great
importance.
There three points stated by him. The first is that in
his Judgment the President Of the United States has committed
mistake this Oregon question that he has made mistakes
Of eversl descriptions but mainly having asserted the
cearncss Of the American title to the whole q the territory up
the Russian line and the fact that he did this IN the same
message in which he recommended the termination OF the
convention of Joint occupation The Senator thinks that by
announcing that title in immediate connexion with such re
comendaon the President has embarrassed the oregon ques
ton and that therefore, whatever may be the results OF the
action of Congress upon tho question, all the difficulties
which may be traced back to this error Of the
President in his message.
Now this the first occasionthe very first that have
heard the floor of the Senate, any blame cast on the Pre-
by any SENATOR who like the Senator from Massachu
setts has no difficulty in compromising the meaning ana
intention of the message Other Senators have said that
the message this, against it = and eff it means
that disagree with it, But the Senator from Massachusetts
has doubt to what and under that clear COM
pehenson the document he ascrbes the President
and makes him responsible for all consequences That the
| first point made by the Senator.
But there another point (and very important one i
which he has also made this occasion and that Is that III
the judgment of the greatly experienced and very enghen
ed SENATOR public opinion both the United States and III
Great Britain, is concentrating fixed mode OF adjusting
the existing difference and that is by assuming as basis
not the line of 49o north aude-but the proposition offered
by Great Britain in 1896 which went south of that for
all purposes Of national advantage to the navigation OF the
i Columbia river.
This is the FIRST announcement this Senate this session.
of disposition in any individual whatever (though have
seen something of the in the papers for the last three
days of the possibility under any conceivable human
circumstances to yield up to Great Britain the navigation OF
the Columbia river That the point on which wish TO
fix the attention of the Senate. Public opinion in the two
nations according the Senator from Massachusetts, is con-
vergng the point of negotiation the basis OF the pro-
position made by us in 1926.
This strange fact then, presents itself before we who
of the session with claiming
whole of Oregon up 81 49, at the end OF three months
began to embe the parallel OF 49, and at the end Of three
weeks more ready fall back south OF that The
Senate has been ecedng every hour until according to all
the rules Of Legislative progression, shall IN short time
be prepared TO surrender the whole territory TO get clear
Of
All this conynccs me- not Of the Presidents having made
great csror but of his great patriotism and judgment IN
his claim at coumensmaiey with the extent OF our
This whole debate has gone the assumption, without
facts support has proceeded the false assump
ton that Great Britain has just right TO part OF Oregon
and that she will sacrifice part of her rights but on the
contrary will certainly fight for them. believe that Con-
gess had the first week of its passed the resolution
of notice. and had then to extend laws over the
whole territory this controversy would have been settled
this without the shedding Of drop of blood the loss of
Oregon But after the world had that the Senate
ered after vote by the House of three TO and
after it has distinguished Senator at the end of three
months introduce proposition to fall back on the Columbia
river what is likely be of Great Britain Ours
invite her claim the whole; yes to claim the whole
Every inch recede mupes the chances Of fight by Great
Britain. Every body must this. When England sees
hesitation in this body when she divided counses here
when she the President cenured for the m which
he has conducted this affair when she three months
wasted when she the Of the Government parayzed
when she all this she will not hesitate to her course
But the Senator laid down another proposition and that Is
that give time for public opinion in the two nations to settle
down the proposition Of the Columbia boundary
the Senate ought in his Judgment To drop this resolution OF
notice for month that ought to postpone its further con-
sderaion present altogether. Postpone and for what
Until another shall arrive inform whether Queen
Victoria pouing whether the British Government is
pleased or offended at what we are doing here.
This is species Of national humiliation to which, with my
vote, this Senate shall submit ut is time spoke and
acted like of being the representatives oil TO
vernment determined assert its rights whether other
Governments pleased dispeased at such assertion
On these points would fix the attention of the Senate and
OF the country because they have been made by the Senator
with extraordinary soenny, and with the utmost possible
precauon each word and syllable he uters. All this
impresses with the conviction that TO have
difficulty growing on, Of this question II there is the
OF will be found in the Senate of the United States
in its hestatDg course in its divided counse, its unw
ngness sustain the rights of the country by the force Of the
country But will not uesPass on the time OF the
Senate by entering further discussion Of the subject
And pesumng that the suggestion of the Senator from Mas
sachusets r WEBsTER will meet the acquescence OF the
Senator from Delaware Mr. CLArroS will that the
proceed the consideration of the orders of the
| day.
| Mr.. A. withdrew the motion the request Of
Mr.. WEBSTER who said II is very true that express
ed with premeditaed precision sentiments this ques'
ton is important question it has respect to he ine-
Of naonsand that in considerable exgency be-
tween them is important under such circumstances to
precise and may perhaps he permitted to say that do
think would be very far out of the way if other
gentlemen would adopt little of the like to make their
language great national question like this somewhat cor
rect and accurate.
The gentleman fit consider that this proceeding will
be regarded national humiliation. rather fancy not
question whether the effect will be directly opposite and
if any in Great Britain, whether in high or low
station, shall wear either pout sarcastic sme whether
likely TO be originated by what has passed on the
other side Of the chamber than on this.
But word a matter important. The gentleman
saws that have offered boundary the river Columbia
Pray let he understood Such msapprehension OF my
words and my meaning this shows, it seems to me- that
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