Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-02-07
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY I. ls4e.
CONGRESS.

The two Houses of Congress have continued
their deliberations In reference to the Oregon ques
ton, which, from the space it occupies would seem
to be the great business of the sesson-which GER
talnly overshadows all other business-though, our
readers must have perceived, every interest of the
country would haye been benefited had the Execu-
tive not directed the attention of Congress so almost
exclusively TO it, and indeed had he, and his prede-
cessor, in regard to this question, let very well
alone" as President JACKSON did, as President
ADAMS had done before him, and as President VAN
buren, did after him. The only effect of agiating
the question has been, we believe, to excs appre-
tensions in the minds Of the peace-loving part of
our Professionalism we trust and believe,
large majority Of the whoe-and thus to repress
commercial enterprise and more or less embarrass
all descriptions Of business, with the result, already
of loss to the country-a deiracion from the COM
mon stock OF wealth and prosperity-which we have
seen estimated, and we believe not oyerrated, at
fifty millions of dollars.
The HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES has determined
upon bringing the debate to close on Monday next.
Although the subject is important yet the public,
as well as the House itself, has become weary
of the length of the discussion and willing to see
ended. During the week the House has received
some half dozen propositions on the subject be-
sides listening to number Of speeches, of which
len were made yesterday, (the session having CON-
menced at ten o'clock in the morning and continued
till halfpast eight o'clock at night, without any
visible abatement of the number of the Members,
apparently, DESTROYS of expressing their individual
sentiments upon it. Whether it be the effect of the
hour-rule, of whatever other cause, there never
has been debate in the House in which so many
regular speeches have been delivered. Already
more than third Of the Members Of the House
have taken their turn in the debate.
Of the ultimate fate Of the propositions relative to
the Oregon question depending in either House of
Congress, variant and dscordant opinions are, we
observe, expressed in the newspapers published out
of this city, both editorially and by their Washing
ton correspondents 1t is not possible certainly to
predict what will be the specific action of Congress
upon it. But, whatever may be the final action Of
the House of Representatives in the case we now feel
entire confidence that the Senate will give its sane
ton to no measure in relation to Oregon which
would stand in the way Of peaceful and honora-
BILE adjustment of the difference existing between
the Governments of this country and Great Britain
on this subject.
In the SENATE, the Navy Increase Bill, support
ed and opposed as having some bearing upon the
same subject is the only matter of prominent inn
portance that has been discussed during the week.
Meanwhile, arumor is current that negotiation has
been resumed, and is at this time going on in this
city between the Secretary of State and the Minister
of Great Britain.