Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-03
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
Correspondence Of the Redmond Enquirer. ]


WASHINGTON Cry, February 26, ls4G.
This has been an animated day with either
branch Of Congress In The House, the Harbor
and River improvement bill was up and Mr.
Rhe,t made one Of the most conclusive conslitu'
tonal arguments against the habit OF indiscrimi-
nate appropriations for such purposes into which
Congress have fallen Of late years, tina! has ever
been made on the subject. This speech and the
speech OF General Daniel OF North Carolina,
(daring the las, session, if l mistake noI) are
considered the best efforts upon the constitutional
branch of this vexed question ever made IN me
House of Representatives. MIR. McClelland OF
Michigan spoke in favor OF a much greater lali-
tude of construction, and Mr.. Hudson Of Massa-
chusetts seized the opportunity 10 make an ultra
Tariff speech
The principal attraction for the day, however,
was in the Senate, where the debate upon Inc no
tice was perhaps as important and Interesting as
has distinguished that Of any day during the ses-
sion. | have dozen times imagined, that one
more human being could not be forced into their
hall and galleries, but to-day il appeared as
though twice the number usually attending on a
House and privileged persons filled The lobbieS,
and many of the former occupied seats in all parts
OF the body OF the hail. and on the steps OF The
Presidents rostrum and Clerks desk. IL was
jam a perfect lam, and each Senator as ne rose 10
utter his sentiments, was instantly surrounded by
earnest listeners after the fashion in vogue In The
other branch Of Congress, when John T. Adams
Robert Dale Owen, and many other distinguished
lebaers, rise 10 address the House on very i'm
portant question.
The speeches to-day were short aud TO the point.
Indeed, they were lille more Than simple ex-
pressions OF opinion upon the proprlely and lea
sihility OF seling the Oregon question BY neso-
iia,;on and compromise; and, az they were re-
garded with so mnch anxious attention by Inc
Senate and highly intelligent auditory, WIZ, a.
briefly as possible, slate The points in The remarks
OF each Of the many Senators VINO look pait ID
the debate.
Aller the usual morning business was conclu-
ded, Mr.. Breese of Illinois introduced an amend
menl 10 certain of the propositions before The Sc
nate, providing for giving the notice simply
without IFS or andS-and for leaving II 10 The
President 10 accompany the notice with such ex-
plantations, requests or assurances as, IN his
Judgment, the case demanded, and with no others.
Mr.. Crittenden next proclaimed that The boasts,
with reference 10 our strength, which had been
ipdulsed in BY members Of both Houses Of late,
were calculated to result in any thing rather than
benefit 10 us He thought our national repula-
ton Stood fair enough abroad without undertake
ing TO increase il by trohy declarations, which
were doubtless duly estimated. He conceived
tina, Mr.. Colquills frs. resolution providing
that the President shall give the notice al The ter
mination of the session, il, in his Judgment u is
not best 10 delay ,onger) !dea,ical in effect
with his proposition The second resolution in
lroduced By Mr.. Colquilt, providing that negotia-
lion and compromise should be recommended 10
the Executive at the same time, as the proper
mode Of adjustment, was, in his opinion, calcula
ted 10 ranouiIize the public mind, and, therefore,
me, his appreciation. He spoke Tor some fifteen
minutes only; but it was plainly 10 be seen that
he intended to sustain the notice II thus amend
ed. MIR. Webster conceived II OF great i'm
portance that vote should speedily be Ia
ken on the question, SO as 10 settle The public
mind, and 10 relieve commerce from the injuries
and restraints 10 which il was subjected blythe pre-
sent state of The controversy. Conceiving that The
President should bear the responsibility OF giving
the notice and settling the question, he was I'M
willing 10 take a particle 81 il from that iunc.
Iionary. From the iact that preparations ior
war had no; been recommended 10 either House |
by The administration, he thought that II had no |
idea that war woald eventuaie. lie considered |
il unwise 10 argue against onr title while ne
gotiaiions concerning it were going on, and I
.swould have his tongue bs,ered" sooner than
he would do il under such circumstances. lie
concluded with cross fire of Wit upon the pro-
liability OF war with Mr.. Cas-, which was
spoken in an under lone, and, therefore, inaudi-
bic 10 all bu, The few surrounding those gentle
men, whose shouts OF laughter were OFT and again
repeated.
Mr. Allen, who next rose, made some FIVE or
six short addresses during The day; principally |
10 urge thai we should advance 10 the issue |
without quaking.
Mr.. Breese asked an adjournment and conse- |
ouently Tor the posponemenl OF the subject until |
Monday next in order to give him an opponu- |
nity 10 speak. lie declared that ne was against |
any compromise and stood ready 10 prove up our |
conclusive title 10 81 40.
Mr Colquitt next stated that his second reso-
luton was meant TO test how many senators
wished TO close the door 10 negotiation, and how
many considered our title above AZ degrees 10 be
too good TO admit of any compromise. lis
speech. though short, was very full oil wit pointed
against those who 90 for the whole or none
Mr. Allen said tina, if Senators were 10 be
tested by MIR. Colqai,l's second resolution, ne
wished 10 know some thing more OF The standard
by which they were 10 be tried. II should state
how far our claim should be compromised-on
what parallel OF latitude sc. THE feet and
inches" should be marked on IL, as the standard
should be euaged ere Senators were measured by
it. Mr. Colquitt, in reply declared that the
was that Of the nesoliators, not oil The Senale
His object was 10 ascertain if a majority OF the
Senate were inclined 10 oppose all compromise, 10
finals, on the whole territory. Mr.. Allen conceived
thar the assertion of the validity oil our title 10 The
whole on the part OF the Executive, after his re-
iected proposilion was withdrawn, was the posi-
lion he meant 10 occupy IN future, Tor nc lad nol
budged from il subsequently; and IN Inc CORES
pondence il had been maintained by irrelrasable
nuhf =
much at liberty 10 venture 10 cous,rne The mes
sage &c. He believed the President simply
meant in strong language to express his individu-
al conviction OF the validity Of our title, but IN no
manner 10 assume that negotiation and compIo-
mise would be inadmissible or di>honorable. 10
nrove this. he referred 10 the clause IN Mr.. buc-
hanans letter refusing arbitration, stating that IN
the further consideration OF the claim OF either
government mutual Justice would be done by the
parties without other intervention; whch cellai"-
~ implied negotiation and compromise.
Mr. Calhoun said that the remarks made To-day
cleared up all former doubts as TO the nature OF Inc
real question before the Senate, which was The al
tentative OF compromise on the one hand, ana
war on the other-that is, whether we should
maintain our title 10 the last inch by war, or
maintain peace BY compromise. III ITS preseh!
shane j, was the most important question thai
had divided the Senate since the revolution. IL
was of great importance that some expression Oh
Senatorial opinion should be made today; de
wished this minute TO put it TO vote, so that u
might 60 abroad by the next steamer, and have
dxe effect on the business Of the country IMP
ries had been sustained 10 the amount OF millions,
and with all respect 10 the Executive, he must say
that he considered it very unfortunate that u had
suffered This question 10 stand in SO doubtful a
posture for so Tonga time. He thought that the
English government was watching for some ex-
preston Of The views OF the Senate.
Mr.. Cass said that resolution OF The senate
would have no more effect on the action OF The En-
elish government, than would vote OF the Com
mon Council of the corporation Of Washington
city. England looked TO the Executive when
the message was first sen, in. he foresaw mat all
This difficulty would arise. Every days refecnoh
and observation bad since confirmed this impress
sion. He conceived that our affairs were in