Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-04-03
TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL |.
CENATE
SENATE.

After the transaction OF some unmportant bu.
siness on motion OF Mr.. Speght the Senate pro-
ceeded 10 the special order Of The day, and the Ore
gon debate was resumed.
Mr.. Benton made the most important speech
upon The Oregon question: that has probably ever
been delivered; and Ills much TO be regretted that
he spoke in so low tone as 10 be almost wholly
inaudbe in the reporters gallery. Hesaid tina,
the object OF his remarks was TO vindica'e the
truth OF history and the intelligence of the Senate.
The distinguished Senator from Michigan, (Mr.
Cass) had Yesterday pledged himself that if it
could be shown That the line OF 49 degrees was
established by the treaty Of Utrecht as the North
ern boundary OF The u. States West OF the Rocky
noun aims, he would stop upon that line; but I'M
Ill then he would march up 10 the Russian ooun-
dairy MIR. Benton then entered into minute
history of the treaty, and OF our treaties with En-
gland, and the purchase Of Louisiana, 10 show
that the line OF 40 degrees was established by the
treaty of Utrecht between France and England,
and that BY the acquisition Of Louisiana, We be-
came party 10 the treaty, and stepped into the
shoes Of France in reference TO It.
Mr. Benton produced some French and Eng
lish maps, published in the last century, in which
the line of l9 degrees was distinctly dotted out as
the boundary OF the English and French posses
sion on the North Western Coast.
Mr. Benton said he made this exposition with
no unkind feelings towards the Senator from Mi
chisan-,he Agamemnon of the 81 degrees 40
minutes party-but as he had made specific
pledge, and the conditions oflhat pledge were now
fulfilled, he should hold him down to the line of
4adegrees.
Mr. B. spoke upwards of an hour, and was
listened 10 by more than half the members of the
House.
MIR. flanagan followed, and said he would say
few words in reply, which he would not have
e sol xr,stk
signi6can, look directed 10 where he sat. The
Senator from Missouri was the last man in the
world from whom he had expected an unkind
word or an unkind look. He had learned his
lesson upon this Oregon question from that Sena-
tor himself, and from speech which he had de-
livered not more than four or five years ago upon
the Ashburton Treaty, in which he had shown
and maintained our title up 10 SIS degrees, and,
thank Godl he could not unteach what he had
taught him.
The Senator from Missouri boasted that ne
held the Senator from Mchiean-the Agamem.
non Of their little band of 81 40's, as he was
which he had given yesterday. He (Mr. Han
negan) would make the same pledge now; and,
whenever it could be proved that The boundary
between the United States and England was set.
tied upon the line of 40 deg, from the Lake Of the
Woods to the Pacific Ocean, by the treaty of
Utrecht, he would not only fall back upon 49,
but would seal his lips upon the subject of Ore
gon forever. Nothing that the Senator from
Missouri had said had proved anything 10 reie.
renee to the line Of 49 deg. West OF the Rocky
Mountains
Mr.. Haunegau congratulated his friend, the
distinguished Senator from South Carolina, that
The Antipodes had at length met. In bringing
The Senator from Missouri over this side, he bad
obtained The most brilliant victory of his life.
MIR. h. said, the Senator from Missouri had
been pleased 10 speak Of the Agamemnons and
Ajaxss Of their little band. The Senator must
remember, that there were others at The battle Of