Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-03-27
SPEECH OF Mr.. WEBSTER,
On the Oregon QuesiioR.

eoncsrred in the sentiment so beautifully
expressed by the honorable Senator who
had lust taken his seat. He did not differ
from him a hairs breadth in the principles
he laid down, Eor in his sense OF propriety
in regard 10 the present debate. Mr. WIS
purpose had merely been to ascertain
whether the question TO he debated could
not be pun in a more convenient form Than
that which Il assumed at present The
Senator from Kentucky had moved an a.
mendment TO the Rmendment reported by
the Committee on Foreign Relations. The
Senator from Georgia then suggested ano-
ther, slightly differing in form, which he
intended TO move, when it should be in
order, az q substitute for that of the Sena-
tor from Kentucky. That Senator had
now declared that in regard to the first
part Of tire proposition of the gentleman
from Georgia ne had no difficulty in sc-
cepting it in placeef his own, "r as mod
ifcstion Of his own. Bar in regard 20 the
latter part of thai proposition he consider
ed it as in its nature distinct and sHbs;an-
tiveS he understood il as going further 1Aan
his own, and as not heing therefore, n nat
ural substitute fer it, Now. if it was the
disposition OF the Senate toa,s on this sub
jpct further than had been proposed by the
honorable Senator from Kentucky, the on
ly question Woai9 be whether the Senator
would not consent TO withdraw his own
amendHens and safer that Of the Senator
from Georgia to be moved in its place.
Mr.. Crittenden was understood as de-
cning 10 withdraw his own amendment,
but as still willing to accept the first part
Of the amendment Of the Senator from
Georgia as modification Of it.
Mr. Webster resamed, He did not
think it Of particular importance thai she
Senate shoad express an opinion. ON this
matter to-day or tomorrow, or this week
or the next. He supposed that the pro-
ceedings Of Inc Senate were regarded with
infinite interest at home and looked upon
with great respect abroad But Mr., w.
felt more strongly, perhaps, than the Sena-
tor from KenBcky the evils to which he
had referred, because he lived in Nhe very
midst of it, and Witnessed from day to day
the great amount of injury sustained BY
the commercial interests of this country
from the present posture Of affairs,
Mr.. w. would add few more words.
] shall vote, said he, for both portions OF
the amendment suggested by the Senator
from Georgia, (Mr. Colquitt.) ] am Prepa~
red to do so At the opening of the pres
ent session the President, uncalled upon
by the Senate, sent to both Houses the di-
pomatic correspondence which had taken
place between his Secretary OF State and
the Representative of the British Govern
ment here, recommending at the same
time the giving of notice 10 that Govern
ment of the termination Of the convention
of 1878. The correspondence thus sHb-
mitted has very properly been made sub
iect of remark in both Houses. | will say
nothing in regard to the proprety of send
ing that correspondence here. | suppose
such a step could hardly be justified, save
on the ground that the negotiation was cns
ded by the rejection of the Presidents Of
fer Of the parallel Of 4s as a boundary, and
the immediate withdrawal Of that oter'
because, in the general practice Of Gov
ernments, il has been found very nconl
venent to publish the letters which may
have passed between nesotiators before
the end Of the negotiations has been arri-
we'd at. But, as the President had sent us
thi. correspondence, and as the Senate
was called upon to act upon the proposl-
ton of notice, thought it would expedite
our decision to have before us also any fur
ther correspondence which might have ta-
ken place subsequently, to that first sent
accordingly moved the call, and in re.
Rponse TO it, the more recent correspor-
dence has been laid before us, from which
We learn the offer by the British Envoy to
submit the question to arbitration, and the
rejection of that offer by the Executive.
Now, without meaning at this time to
20 into any sort of an examination Of the
course of the Executive in this matter, or
indulgng in any remark expressive OF an
unfriendly feeling towards the Administra-
ton, or any deposition to emharrass the
Govefnment-for | feel nothing of the
kind, and nothingis further from my in4
tention-I must sti be permitted to say
that the existing posture Of affairs is such