The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-26

I Of the public lands TO the Committee on Public
LandsI but has II ever been refused 10 refer sep
arale propositions touching the same subject be-
lese 10 perfectly eompstent for the Senate To
eeive propositions which may be presented. Be
leving this, | think that, in accordance with the
courtesy Of the Senate the resolution should be
cesed As to the disposition which Il may be
| proper to make Of il, when it shall have been
rei'sd, being IN the power Of the Senate,
II would become proper for the Senate TO dispose
Of as their wisdom might suggest will consid-
er II my duty 10 vote TO take IL up, although am
opposed to stirring up the subject, for We have diff
| cuues enough without adding TO or increasing
them Ii Is the part Of wisdom to settle one first,
and then go ON with the others. IL the resolution
should be referred to a committee, what practical
good viii fesultl In the view take Of il, consid
e. II no more than a matter Of courtesy. | would
! dispose OF the resolution by motion of indefinite
| p0stponement IL the committee shall think proper
TO subniit similar resolution, thendo 30. / dis.
t,ncty understood the honorable senator who
moved TO Icy tho resolution the table, that he did
not consider ii definite and final disposition Of the
! matter. Afterwards Know my honorable colleague
Mr.. CAss obtained the floor but was then preclu-
ded from addressing the Senate. Influenced by this
consideration voted 10 take up the subject will
go With senators for such disposition Of il as the
good Of the county may dictate.
! Mr.. SIMMONS. | was anticipated in most Of
the few remarks that l intended 10 offer, hy my
friend near me. ! considered that il was only AZ
act OF courtesy due to any senator TO receive any
proposition ooucbed in proper language and relating
10 subject proper for the consideration Of the body.
And although might have anticipated what has ae-
tually occurred, debate Of very VIDE range, and
although have deprecated much any senator
the effect Of that debate, yet still would have voted
for taking up the motion TO receive that resou-
tion And, SIR, do believe that il any III conse-
quences result from this debate-which certainly
do not aPprehend-it viii be because all sorts Of
questions have been brought within and fastened
upon proposition 10 receive resolution from
the senator. And TO my utter surprise the very
men who have thus gone out Of the record those
who seem 10 reflect upon me for giving that Tots But
my experience has convinced me long since that il
is worse than useless 10 undertake 10 prevent free
expression Of opinion topics Interesting public
bodies and TO the country at large, and vote Of
mine shall ever lie taken ia this body with favorable
reference To any such result believe that we are
bound-and believe that the Senate Of the United
States feel the duty incumbent upon them-to lrsut
all questions touching foreign relations with n
proper degree Of respect TO the feelings and wishes
Of other nations well those ofouT own and am
not all alarmed for the result Of any warmth OF
expression into which senator's may be betrayed in
the intensity OF their feelings in debate Of this
IL will be for the act Of this body-for the final
lion Of the Senate upon this proposition that the ma
ton will be held responsible And should he very
sorry to see question Of this grave magnitude-uI
question presented to in the mssssee OF the Pre-
siden OF the United States, and one which had,
supposed been scquiesced in by the whole civilized
world for the last twenty-five years, stfed by the
suggestion that an expression Of opinion IL
would involve this country in difficulties with foreign
powers II there be any such difficulty appre-
hendcd on this question, may he in reference TO the
language employed in giving expression to our
views and the direction Of my vote will greatly de-
pend the tone, and temper, and spirit exhibited in
the resolutions when they come up for final action.
perceive that inasmuch these things have been
gone into, 1t would be giyag in some sort opin-
i'm he neTilR nm ifself oil
agree that this may be; and let me add, that al
most in all such cases, there is very gtssi differ
| ence in mems action upon out VI power from what
1t is when they are IN power. | regretted very
much TO have the gentleman from Ohio declare that
this was great party doctrine. do not so regard
it. II there be anything IN the sentiment at all, is
great American doctrine, and administration OF
this government, go far as my knowledge extends,
has ever blinked that question. They have all,
whenever 1t came up, asserted the doctrine. When
they had the responsibility Of Office upon them they
al ways asserted it. Whether this is proper time
to 60 into 1t not, am not going to say. The
only question in my mind that viii come up, will
be after we have received the resolutions. After
that be done, Il myself have some misgivings to
what should be the proper course, but that qucs
ton am not prepared TO make any remarks until
after the question immediately before be decided
As for myself, give my vote on the reception Of
the resolutions without any reference as 10 the final
action OF the Senate upon them.
Mr.. CHALMERS desired to make the explana-
ton which he about to offer when the yeas and
nays were called. In that case the vote was de-
scribed by the mover rs a test vote, and he had |
therefore been compelled to vote in the negative
not from any desire to cut off free discussion, as
would be evident from his giving his vote in favor
of their reception-but he did not wish any infer
ence be drawn TO his opinion on the merits of
the question from that vote He would only add
that he was opposed to add, in any way, to the
causes of embarrassment at present existing be-
fvke the two coiIntries.
Mr. PENNYBACKER had voted for taking up the
motion for leave TO introduce the resolution out Of
courtesy to the senator He reserved TO hnselfthe
right to express his opinion on the merits of the
question when it came up for discussion. He was
DESTROYS, however, he would then take the opportu.
nifty of stating to the Oregon question settled
before the action of Congress was embarrassed by
any other discussion involving the relations of the
two countries. - ~
! Mr.. ARCHER had or ly a sentence to say. The
subject.matter Of the resolution was identical with
that Of the Panama discussion. That discussion
lasted sir ,oeeks. The question Of much greater
magnitude than one involving, had been stated,
merely the exercise Of ordinary courtesy brother
member. 1t neither more nor less than this:
whether the Senate, at this particular stage in the
politics and history Of the country-at this critical
monient-would do-=wha,' why, plunge at once
into this great of tempestuous debate which
! was encountered on the Panama discussion. Now,
although he was disposed to be as courteous as any
senator that chamber, yet he could not consent 70
extend courtesy far as to put in jeopardy, in the
slightest degree, the best interests of the country
He hoped, therefore, that the motion for the recep-
ton of the resolution would not prevail--hat the
condemning hand of the Senate would be placed
upon that attempt to introduce heedessly and mop
portuncy subject of irritating and Improbable dis
cussion. "a ...,.. ...a ..... .t' 80 nh .....E I..
| Mr. BREESE had been very much surprised to
hear the senator from South Carolina assert that
there was no precedent for the movement of the
honorable gentleman from Ohio. Perhaps the fact
that he was unable to find precedent for the objec
ton by one senator to the introduction by another Of
resolution expressed IN respectful language, and
relating to the business OF the Senate any subject
| of national Government, whether embraced or not
in the Presidents message, had induced that opinion.
They had also been told by the senator from South
Carolina, that the declaration made by Mr.. Monroe
| in 1893, and in which the honorable senator as
member of the cabinet must have himself participa-
ted, had had force and no effect He did not know
! by what authority the senator had right go to
pronounce that opinion. How was il possible for
The senator to estimate the moral effect already pro-