Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-26

The Pennsylvania most aptly applies 10 inc
present awkward condition Of some OF the wing
press, the anecdole Of the man who had travelled
long distance 10 see an individual hanged, anu
was thrown into towering rage, because tue
execution did not "come of" according TO no'ice
AN unmannerly reprieve having arrived 10 ar
resrt. These papers predicted so strongly iha' war
would follow the "notice" proposition oil Inc aami-
nislraion, that all their thunder is rendered worse
than useless by the honorable and satisfactory urea
" OF peace. Their conduct seems 10 indicate some
disappointment that the Administration did not
involve the country in war, and thereby provide
them with handle against The President. But
like the man celebrated in Logan county, whose
rage was SO impoleni, that, in default Of doing
other mischief, he sailed forth and pulled
plank of the pig-pen," these Wing papers seem
resolved TO make war upon somebody. While they,
then, delightin Inc treaty peace, they are mol con-
tent to rejoice over The propilious result-ou'
boast OF the "vicory OF the Senate" over the Exc
cutive, and denounce the President for "cowardly
and shabby conduct" in shrinking from his own
proper responsibility and submitting the British
proposition to the Senate. That course alone,
they say saved the country from war; and yet
they assail the Presid for pursuing ii.
To show The wan, Of justice and liberalily ex'
hibited BY these ultra Wings, we shall quote the
evidence Of Wing papers themselves in Jusifl-
cation of wha, the President has done.
| The N. Y. Commercial Advertiser says:
"Ahhough we have no love for Mr. Polk gene
rally, and no unqualified admiration for his con-
duct Of the Oregon matter particularly. Never
iheless fair play is Jewel, and we do not hold
10 The duty or The wisdom Of condemnin2 every
thing done BY the head OF The government, merely
because we should be better pleased to see another
occupying his place.
"Now 10 appreciate justly the mode OF proceed
ing, we must bear in mind Inc previous facts OF
the case These are in brief that the President, at
his induction into office, distinctly proclaimed his
conviction that the lille OF The United States 10 The
whole OF the disputed territory was inconeslihle;
that he has continued 10 avuw his opinion ever
since; tina, he has been sustained in II, and ably,
by his cabinet; and that one branch Of The national
Legislature has, by large majorities, adopted The
various measures which he recommended as pro-
per TO be adopted in consequence OF such his opin-
ion.
SIN the mean time, however, different opinion
has been virtually declared By large majority Of
the Senate.
"Now what is The position OF the President, and
what his consequent duiy2 A proposition comes
To him which he thinks ought not 10 be accepted,
bu., which he has reason 10 suppose, the Senate and
the people are willing TO accept Clearly he has
the Constitutional right 10 reject il; but instead Of
doing this he sends il 10 The Senate $50 il is sup
posed) with an inlimalion Of this kind;-'Genie.
men, this does not meet my appreciation; but II
Won lhiuk il ought 10 be received and acted on,
please let me have your declaration 10 that effect,
in the regular and proper form oil resolution,
and will waive my opinion ia Difference 10 yours
will make treaty on the terms proposed, or on
such modification OF them as you may suggest,
and Sc nd il 10 you for ratification"
"Cuu!d anything more than this be reasonably
| expec,ed OF The PRESIDENT Is il not extravagani
| IL REQUIRE him 10 make treaty on terms when
he does not approve, in Difference TO the presumed
+! opinion OF the Senate, and al the hazard OF lis
| final rejection by the Senae2 For II must be
remembered that there was no positive, authentic
evidence that two-thirts vi The Senate would vote
for such treaty nobody doubted H. 10 be sure,
but ab.ence OF doubt is not proof"
To the same effect the Martinsburs, Virginia,
Gazette (Whig) says: awe think MIR. Polk has
acted wisely and prudenIly in taking The advice
! OF the Senale-lhe power provided under The
| Constitution to advise with him upon matters oi
| grave importance lnteed, The whole previous
| discussion Of Inc subject IN Congress and out If
| Congress, rendered il pruden, Tor him To lake The
| sep he has taken; and instead Of hnding lauil
| with him, We applaud his confsr. When shall
We see he happy day in this country when party
can see some good in an opponent? Every per-
son VINO knows US, knows oar stamp We are
Wing TO the back BONE and always expect TO be,
bu, we will never refuse deserved praise 10 an OPP
ponent."
Suppose the President, in full view OF the tact
ha, bo.h Houses of Congress had declared their
opinion in favor Of negotiation and peaceable
adjustment of The Oregon difficulties had taken
the responsibility OF rejecting The British p opo-
si,ion wi,hou, consulting The Senate, and had
thereby involved the nation in war, the whole
Wing pres. would have raised one shout of clamor
and denunciaton against the COURAGE" As
is. the course OF The President has been upright
and consistent, and does honor 10 him as man
and Chief Magistrate.
Il is moreover in strict accordance with the
practice OF our ablest and best Presidents
Washington. Jefferson and Jackson consulted the
Senate, under similar though not as forcible cir
cumstances. Will the Wing press transfer TO
them, too, the charge Of "cowardly shrinking
from responsibility" which Mr. Polk has not es-
caped7 The Pennsylvania furnishes one re-
markable example from each OF three admins
,rations Of Washington, Jefferson and Jackson,
in which the Senate was consulted in advance, in
regard to treaties with foreign powers:
"sOn The 7h OF March, 1892, President Wash
ing.on asked the previous advice OF inc Senate
on most important negotiation then pending
with Spain: and on the 10th OF the same month
the Senate gave him their advice upon The sub
iect.'-Vide Executive Journal of the Senate,
vol. /, pages LOG and lis.
president Jefferson went still further, because
he confdenliaiy consulted not only The Senate,
but also The House of Representatives, in regard
10 the propriely OF purchasing by treaty the Flor-
das from Spain, and settliDg the Southwestern
boundary OF Louisiana with that power. This
was done in 1906 in confidential message 10
both Houses of Congress, to which they also re-
sponded.-Vide The speech of Senator Benton on
The annexation OF Texas, delivered 10 The Senate
of The United States on The 10Th OF June, 1874, as
i, appears in The Congressional Globe OF that
year, page 6o4 80.
General jackson, on the 7lh of December, 1881,
submitted TO the Senate the award uf The King OF
The Netherlands, on the Maine boundary qucs-
ton. for their previous advice. ln his message
he declares that he had always determined, what
ever might have been the result Of the examina-
ion by The sovereign arbiler, 10 have submitted
the same 10 the Senate for their advice before
[hel executed or rejected it,
"'rhis case is exceedingly strong, because it is
we'll known that Gen. Jacksons own private
judgment was in favor of executing the award.
He might have done this, had he pleased, with
out any reference wha.everto the Senate, because
the award had peen made in pursuance OF trea-
ty, and it rested with the President alone TO
decide whether it should or should not be execu-
led. But he did not think proper 10 assume this
responsibility. In Difference to the other branch
OF The treaty making power, he asked their pre-
vious advice, and regulated his conduct accord
inely. although this advice was given against his
aba Sa,e e' majority Of one, in Ina, body-vide Sc.
nate Journal 1881 '32, pages SIG, $40, and $50"
The history Of the Oregon negotiation must
satisfy every liberal and calm miud that the sat.
&c nj att