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


resolution, that the said resolution be received, and
referred 10 the COMMITTEE on Foreign Relations
That was my desire, and no other, Being up,
however, and without intending TO 90 into rny OF
the many matters mentioned the other day in JUST
lhca!ion ofmy own course, | will make some re-
marks and read from some books. The first OBJ
lection OF the seBstof from south Carolina Mr.
CALHOUN to the Introduction Of this reso stion
the principles themselves embraced in the fesolu-
lion Afterwards, however, he made another objec-
ton, which was personal To myself and j. Is TO the
latter objection that propose 10 make obser-
yatons 10 the Senate. The objection off, senator
wss that had taken on myself q use his own Lam
guage) on my own individual responsiblily to
present to the consideration OF the Senate, ia the
form of JOINT resolution, subject which, among
others, in the Presidents e. had been already
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
and the senator from South Carolina Setmed-l will
not say had-seemed 10 have desire to excite some
unkindness against me in the committee indi.
vlduali or exhibit me as having treated them with
dlsrespect, by not consulting them 70 the propre-
~ Of the resolution. This was clearly an imputa-
ton which every senator drew from the remark Of
The senator from South Carolina. Now, sir, il is to
) this personal alluslon made by the senator that
} will offer few observations.
In the first place, did, in this particular, what
he uniform practice Of the body has permitted, and
what the members of this body have uniformly
praeused from the foundation of the government,
and no more. As a member Of the Committee on
4
] night, rs an individual senator. | lose no right
which had befofc Introducing To the consideration
OF the Senate any subject which my judgment may
indicate as proper TO be introduced As matler Of
! nght, hen, ask the senator from South Carolina
whether have not right to move this resolution,
4 ana ! ask HIM 70 answer tho question definitely.
Mr. CALHOUN. The senator will proceed
Mr. ALLEN. desire to be answered now, be.
4 fore proceeding farther.
Mr.. CALHOUN. l will answer when think
, proper.
Mr. ALLEN. The senator will not reply. But
{ say had right say my honorable COLLEAGUES
each one, had right TO introduce the resolution, II
they had thought proper to do So say every SEN
ator on this floor has similar right and the prnc-
tee OF the government from its foundation to this
moment, gives the right. And what has been the
case during this very session. The various portions
OF the Presidents ressags have been referred to the
several standing committees-the whole matter re-
laung TO Oregon, and TO what course the govern
ment ought TO take with regard to the claim Of
Great Britsn-has been referred TO the Committee
on rorelgn Relations, yet, notwithstanding, the
senator from Indiana Mr.. HAnneAsl introduced
resolution on the subject, and had the right
to do so. The senator from South Carolina him
self introduced resolution the same subject
and had the right And can any man rise here 10
yalnsay the right Not one. Where, then, is the
differences in the cnse' There is no difference in the
case-none whatever. And the effort, if it was de-
signed to excite unkindness towards me on
the part OF my honorable friends on the COM
miltee, by personal allusion to me on this
floor by the senator from South Carons,
the effort, believe my colleagues will bear me out
IN saying, has utterly failed. Bnt let US look into
the books, for books terrible things for men Of
short memories and devious ways II should be re-
membered by the Senate that in the year 1910 th.re
was between the government Of the u. States and
that OF ereat Britain, difficulty arising out Of the
fact that an American vessel in passing from ore 10
another Of the ports Of the United States had been
driven by distress Of weather, into British port in
the West Indies; and pending this matter the sena.
| tor from South Caroins-I viii not say itookn ON
hlmseh-tooR "the rcsponfibility because do
not intend TO use terms Of implied repfoach, al he
had done-butl will say that the senator from South
Carolina, as a senator, and not as the chairman of a
committee, rose on this floor, and introduced the
subject here for the dcliberatiop of this body And
IN what form did he introduce it9 In the form, of
series Of resolutions declaring the law of nations The
whole civilized world Yes; he called on the Senate
OF the United States to lay down aud to prescribe to
the world what the law Of nations should be in ius-
thcauon OF the American government. Yes, sir;
the motion OF the honorable senator was met not al
the threshold. No man then supposed that IN. |
honorable senator was transcendng the limits of
ProPncty. His motion not met at the TIRES. |
hold with any objection TO the reception of his reso.
luuons, but upon the discussion which arose upon
the passage OF the resolutions, a distinguished !
senator from Kentucky, not in his seat intima-
TED that although he had objection to the resolu-
uons, yet he did not exactly the necessity for
me expression Of the views of the Senate Of the
United States what he regarded an abstraction,
What reply did the senator from Kentucky rece;y,
to that objection What reply did he receive
to the question, Are you going to war to enforce
the doctrine you propose this day to lay down
1 in the form of law of nations, What resnonse |
did he then receive this objection from the senator
from South Carolina will read you the response,
at least those parts of it that apply to this matter
And here permit me to say, that these resolutions
lay down principles even broader than those laid
down down IN the resolution now before the Senate.
Making the most of it, the language of this resou-
ton applies only to two natons-Europe and Amer
lea--but his law was to extend to the mouth Of the
Thames and the banks of the Gauges. His law of
nations would have been found amid the ice bergs
OF the north pole, and under the burning sun of the
equator. His resolution would have been enforced
wherever there was water and wind enough to float
an American vessel, especially if she had slaves on
| board His resolutions were then surely as com
prehensve as mine. Mine cover only one-half Of
the word-his covered the whole terrestrial globe
| Mine apply to land only--hs applied both to sea
| ana land The argument Of the gentlemen fom |
which am about to read, was in answer to the CD
Jections raised by the Senator from Kentucky. Let
us hear how he dealt with those objections:
Mr.. A. here read the following extract from Mr.. !
CALHouN's speech the occasion, as reported in |
tue Congressional Globe. u |
He admits there would have been no impropety in In.
thinks because British minister had Closed the
door OF negotiation He (Mr c. took the very opposite
negotiation before the decision
known the propriey Of kind would to
the least be doubul but that Il has been made
and Justice refused sence would he construed into an
abn ndonmen' of the claim Of and an acauies
cence in the dangerous principle which rejected
was to repe such inference that he desired to take the
the senate II the resolnon should receive the
vote Of the body would keep alive the claim what
was still more important rebut any inferred
Of the principle on which i rests He hoped that i
would be sn rendered Justice was our side and IL we
cannot succeed In establishing now there is no
why may not hereafter. He that the strong
preston OF opinion by the Senate which he this day anti
lead to happy termination of controversy which could
not he safely kept open BE that may our duty TO
maintain our ground " we now yeld-if the Senate
should refuse to act the resolutions then Down
we surrender both right and principle F@ ~ II
He would appeal TO the Senate Il in ready IN
say that the rights Of the South the great mass OF
property that which enters deeply their polite al
and social institutions and the maintenance Of which
not only their wealth and their prosperity peace and
saey depend shall be ouawed and placed pale