The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-02
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE.

II
We witnessed and enjoyed very animated debate
Yesterday in the Senate upon the Oregon BILL Messrs
Cass Benton, Westcott, Webster, Calhoun, Atchi
son, &c, &c, took part, the two former speaking
more at large on the broad merits Of the question
especially the boundaries Of Oregon, than the Other
orators. General Cass replied to Mr.. Bentons pre-.
vious speech, and Colonel Benton succeeded him in
the debate. Ii is not our duty nor our desire to
comment upon the speeches Upon one part Of the
transaction alone do desire to offer word of
mark. Col. Benton spoke with great emphasis and
| among other matters he apostrophized "the great
or large) organ" as by his manner he pleased
70 designate the editor OF this paper As we had no
opportunity Of replying to him in his place, will
he permit US to say in our O0n places, with all
respect, that we do not intend TO discuss, at this
lime, the boundaries of Oregon the rights Of our
country, in the presence of the British minis
ter and in the present critical state of for
sign relations IL we are on the eve Of a ne
collation., some of the senators supposed, we
think the subject is in safer and wiser hands, per-
hsps, than in those either of the senator from Mis-
souri, or Of the editor Of "the Unon"-safer and
wiser, because the gentleman who administers the
executive powers at the other end Of the avenue is
as safe and as wise statesman either OF u.s. with
more information too about foreign relations than
zoe certainly possess aided he is also by an able
cabinet, who have studied the whole subject in all its
lights and shades, in all its bearings and relations,
or some time past; and he is, we have no doubt,
quite as anxious to preserve the rights, and honor,
and peace of his country, az either Of US. We feel
no wish To prejudice the claims Of our country, or
to embarrass the action Of the Executive, by any
discussion at the present critical moment. We are
willing, at least, TO leave The question at this time
to the treaty-making power, satisfied are that
the President fortunately for himself and fortunate
ly for US all, cannot bind his country by the
else Of his own constitutional functions, without the
concurrence Of the Senate his constitutional ad-
visers, and his constitutional revisers So much we
beg leave TO reply and without the slightest telling
towards the distinguished senator from Missouri.
On more remark, and we have done. Is the SEN
ator certain that it is not himself who is under the
mistake, when he alleges that others are willing 10
risk war with England under any gross mistake?
We content ourselves with most respectfully pro-
posing the query. We leave it to time itself to sup
ply the solution. The honorable senator has al
ready made mistakes enough Of his own, 1--WE do
not charge them as committed by design)
As for the various projects which were yesterday
laid before the Senate, may be excused from re-
pesting again decided confidence in the bill sent
to them by the House of Representatives. 1t enables
us to send emigrants to Oregon by the encourage
ment which is given to them on their way thither,
through the military power, and by stationary
posts on the road; and when they arrive at their
place OF destination, by the control which the bill
proposes to exert through the Indian agency and by
the protection thus afforded against the Indians also
by comforting on the emigrants the benefits of the
mail service and also by the jurisdiction extended to
them through the government Of the Iowa Ter
ritory, analogous to the jurisdiction which
has been extended by the British laws to the
British subjects. This bill, too, has this pc
culiar advantage, that it does not commit our
government to any particular boundary line; but
extends our laws to all the territory which VIC may
have the west Of the Rocky mountains Neither the
49o men, nor the 5000 men, can, therefore, we
should suppose, be dissatisfied by this arrangement
1t neither gives Great Britain any cause for offence
with US, nor can offend our own people.
The above was in type last night, but crowded our
with many other articles. This delay gives us the
opportunity of accompanying it with the speeches
of Messrs. Cass and Bentou-the latter of which
we copy from the National Intelgencer of this
morning. The speech of General Cass is specially
reported for the "Union."