Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-05-02
MPORTAN DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
H MESSRS. BENTON AND CAoS.


On the LIST inst
Mr.. Benton made the most important
beech upon the Oregon question that has,
AbrobabIy, ever been delivered; and it is
8nuch to be regretted that he spoke in so
NV tone as to be almost wholly inaudibIe
Id the reporters gallery. He said that
zhe object OF his remarks was TO vindicale
Inc truth of history and the intelligence
IN the Senate. The distinguished Sena
tor from Michigan (Mr. Cass) had yester
day pledged himself that if it could be
ehown that the line OF 49 degrees was es
tabIshed by the treaty Of Utrecht, as the
northern boundary OF the United States
west OF the Rocky Mountains, he would
saop upon that line; but until then he
would march into the Russian boundary.
Mr.. Benton then entered INTO a minute
History CT the treaty and OF our treaties
with England, and the purchase Of Lou
isiana, to show that the line OF AZ degrees
was estaoIisned by the treaty Oh UtFecn'
between France and England, and that
by the acquisition of Louisiana we be-
came party to the treaty and stepped
8in,o the shoes OF France in reference
10 it.
Mr.. Benton produced some French and
EngIish maps, published IN the last cent?
nv. in which the line Of 49 degrees was
als,lncly dotted out as the boundary OF The
English and French possessions on the N
w. Coast.
Mr.. Benton said he made this exposition
with no unkind feelings towards the
Senator from MIchigan-the Agamemnor
OF the 81 deg. 40 min. party--but he ha'
made specific pledge aud The conditions
OF that pledge were now fulfilled, be
should hold him down to the line OF a!
degrees.
Mr.. B. spoke upwards of an hour, and
was listened to by more than hall tine mem
bers the House.
Mr.. Hannegan followed and said HI
would say lew words in reply, which
he would not have done but for some re
marks accompanied with a sIgnltican
look directed 10 where he sat. The Sen
ator from Missouri was the last man il
The world from whom he had expects
an uukind word or an unknd look. fl,
had learned his lesson upon this Oregon
question from that Senator himself, ant
from speech which he had delivered
not more than four or five years ago up
on the Ashburlon treaty, in which he haC
shown and maintained our title up to s,
degrees. and thank God! he could not I'm
teach what he had taught HIM.
The Senator from Missouri! boosted tina
he held the Senator from Michigan -th
Apememnon of their little band oil "a deg
4O's, as he was pleased TO call hlm-l'
his power, by the pledge which he hat
given yesterday.
He (Mr. Hannegan,) would make tn
same pledge now, and whenever 1t cou'
he proved that the boundary between tn
United States and Eng land was settled
upon the line of 40 degrees from the LAX
OF the Woods to the Pacific Ocean by the
treaty OF Utrecht, he would not only ia
back upon 49 degrees, but would seal HI
lips upon the subject OF Oregon forever
Nothing that the Senator from Missouri
had said had proved anything IN reIerenc
to the line Of 49 degrees west oil IN
Rocky Mountains.
Mr.. flanagan congratulated his irlenC
the distinguished Senator from South Ca'
DINA, that the Antipodes had at lengt
met In bringing the Senator from mn
souri, over to his side, he had obtained IN
most brilliant victory Of his life.
Mr.. H. said the Senator from Nilsson
had been pleased to speak of the Agemer
mons and Ajaxes OF their little band. II
Senator must remember that there we
others at the battle Of Troy besides Ag
memnon and Ajax. There were AchlIl
and Hector. The Senator from Mlch'g'