Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-03-14


The SENATE is still engaged in the discussion Of
the Oregon Question. Messrs. EVANS, JOHNSON
of Maryland, and ATcHIsoN have spoken on the
subject during the present week.
The HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES continues "a
be occupied with the River and Harbor bill. II is
determined, however, to bring the debate on this
question to close on Tuesday next. A number
Of speeches have been made during the week.
.F =. at Il \
THE MYsTERY-THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.
PROM THE NEW roRx JOURNAL OF coMMERcE.
The late avowals in the Senate during the Ore
gon debate seem to involve in deeper mystery than
ever the Presidents real purpose relative TO the
terms on which he is disposed to final settlement
of this controversy. According to Mr.. Haywood,
he is ready and pledged to settle it in spirit OF
fair and honorable compromise on or near the 49th
parallel while other gentlemen of the same party,
hitherto supposed by the public to be better ac-
quainted with his views, take this avowal in high
dudgeon. and aver, in strong mpassioned language,
that Mr.. Polk is irreU0cabiy committed in many
ways to all Oregon, and cannot, without perfdy
and irredeemable infamy, recede an inch from that
extreme claim.
Now, we have no means of deciding the point
in dispute between these gentlemen !; but we should
like to know, and think the country has right to
demand of The President, where he does stand on
this question: II with MI. Haywood, we may rea.
sonably hope for peace; but il with Messrs. Allen
and Hamegan, then has Mr.. Cass been right in
concluding so many of his speeches with the omin-
GUS declaration, War Is inevitable. The President
must show himself soon; the people will not bear
to be kept much longer in uncertainty respecting
his real designs subject vital to their inte-
rests; and it is earnestly to be hoped that he will
in some way let us know, ere long, what he really
purposes or wishes to do. The question of peace
or war rests very much with him; and we all have
right to ask, and to insist on being explicitly told
which of these he means to give us. If he endorses
the avowals of Messrs Allen and Hannegan, we must
of course take such endorsement to be decisive
intimaton that is expected because their policy
involves such result as morally certain.
Meanwhile we observe in the Governments re-
puted organ of last Friday paragraph which seems
to make " confusion worse confounded'' in regard
to the Presidents ultimate intentions. Here is the
paragraph entire:
Le add that our policy be written
in sunbeams Decision Of action, and promptude in carry
ing out the that the message ecommendsthe
ce the necessary protect emgrants Oregon
military preparations to meet any contingency, and the ut
most harmony in party, and unanimy in pubic
ellis Are not these better 1--WE frankly and respectfully in
qure) than speculaons to the precise terms which
may settle the quesonerms which should be
cal opinions which may be unauthotatvey attributed to the
President ,"
What does all this mean What is involved in
this true policy % According to Messrs. Hanne-
gan and Allen, the President asserts clear unques
tionable title to all Oregon from AZ to 81 40, and
asks Congress to sustain him in this demand, by
notifying England to quit the whole territory within
year, by making military preparations to enforce
this exclusive claim, and keeping up in the mean
as shall at length rally the nation to man for the
conflict expected at or before the expiration Of the
notice.
Now If This does not look 10 MS, sSfGs p5fry.
could 1t must Of course end in blood Should
we, by giving the kind of notice desired by such
men as Hannegan and Allen, tell Great Britain that
the aohole territory is ours and we shall not allow
her to retain foot Of it after the lapse Of twelve
months-then these sly abetters of war, should
England, she will, refuse exravagant demand
would turn round upon us, and say we are now
compelled, as a matter Of consistency and honor,
in redemption Of our solemn pledges before the
world, to try the sword as our last and only resort
If we warn England of, extend a nominal jursdic-
ton over the whole territory, and prepare by forts
and detachmens of troops, to protect our settlers
in Oregon, would not these men, having caught us
in their net, insist on dragging us into war, and tell
it is too late for retreat the die is cast and now
we must fight!
The case, we confess, looks suspicious. II is
pretty generally supposed that the President wants
vote from Congress for the notice, in order to
give him political and moral support in bringing the
controversy to peaceful issue; but Messrs. Allen
and flanagan protest against such construction
of his motives, and assure us that he wishes by
these means TO be sustained in pushing to the last
demand which must inevitably bring war. Let us
then look before we leap Tell us before we start
whittier you going to lead us. Do you wish
us, under cover Of taking measures for peace, 10
furnish the President with engines which he may
use, and is expected by his confidential friends to
use, in bringing on waraganst which we solemnly
and earnestly protest! Such questions are neither
trivial nor impertnent. We have right to put
them and to insist on having an explicit unequivo-
cal answer from headquarters; and, if this country
should thus be pushed bndfold into war against
the wishes Of every good man, and under base,
reacherous plea Of providing for peace, there will
come upon those now in power weight Of odious
responsibility under which no man and no party
can stand.S
THE PROPOSED SOUTHERN RAILROAD.
The bin or sns southern Railroad from the Mississippi
river to the Atlantic has passed the Mississippi Legislature
will If