Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-04-02
Gonaress.
In the Senate. March %

MT hANNEGAN presented the petition of citizens
q Indiana, asking that Evansville, in that State, NAV
De made a port Of entry also that a marine hospital
may be established there; which was referred to the
on Commerce.
OREGoN-LIMITATIoN OF THE DEBATE.
Mr.. ALLEN desired to ask the attention of the
Senate TO the question on what day they would be
willing to take the vote on the Oregon question. He
believed il was now ~forty-fve days since the debate
had commenced. He certainly had no right to com-
plain of the time that had been consumed. having
himself occupied the attention of the Senate for two
days. But for many reasons which it was not neces-
sary 10 detail, he thought that there should be some
day fixed on which the subject would be brought to a
final conclusion. He desired that that day should, if
practicable. be known in advance, in order that some
Senators, whose circumstances might demand a tenn
porary absence from the Senate, might so arrange as
TO be present when the vote was taken. But there
were still more important considerations to be urged.
After some three or four months devoted to this subject
by Congress, it did appear 10 him reasonable and
proper that the Senate should FIX some day, and that
not very remote, when the sense of the body could be
taken. After q few additional remarks of the same
%purport, Mr.. A. concluded by stating that he was not
at all Influenced by any representations that had been
made about the necessity of "%quieting the a%pprehen-
sions of the country" He had never thought it
necessary to indulge in any such remarks. He spoke
chiefly with a view of meeting the wishes of several
Senators, and he proposed that Saturday should be
fixed as the day on which the vote should be taken.
Mr.. MoREHEAD did not perceive the necessity of
fixing any day-certainly not one so near as that
named. There was several Senators who yet desired
to speak on the question. In his opinion the known
courtesy of the Senate-its well-ascertained DISPOSE
tion never to take a vote when any considerable
number of members were absent, might be safely
trusted. He hoped that the Senator from Ohio would
not press his motion and at all events that it would
lie over till tomorrow.
Mr.. SPEIGHT called the attention of the Senate to
the special order.
Mr.. ALLEN observed that he had not made any mo-
motion. He did not desire 10 protract the discussion,
or to trespass on the time allotted Ia his friend who
was about TO address the Senate. All he desired was
an informal arrangement by which Senators would be
enabled to fix their minds on a certain day as that on
which the vote would be taken.
Here the matter dropped, and the Senate proceeded
TO the consideration of the
SPECIAL oRDER-oREGoN, " THE NOTICE."
Mr.. CHALMERS addressed the Senate in favor of the
notice. At his request, our report of his speech is
delayed, but will speedily appear.
A message was received from the President of the
United States.
Mr.. ALLEN called for the reading of the Message,
and it was read as follows:
The Presidents Message.
To the Senate of The United States:
In answer to the inquiry of the Senate, contained
in their resolution of the 18th inst, whether, in my
I" Judgment, any circumstances connected with, or
growing out OF, the foreign relallOnS OF IlS country,
require at this time an increase OF our naval force -
and, if so, /" what those circumstances are" | have
TO express the opinion, that a wise precaution de-
mandS snch increase.
In my annual Message of the Cd Of December last,
/ recommended to the favorable consideration of Con-
gress an increase Of our naval force, especially of our
steam navy, and the raising of an adequate military
force to guard and protect such of our citizens as
might think proper to emigrate to Oregon. Since
that period, | have seen no cause TO recall or modify
these recommendations. On the contrary, reasons
exist which, in my Judgment. render it proper not
only that they should be promptly carried into effect,
but that additional provision should be made for the
public defence.
The consideration of such additional provision was
brought before appropriate committees of the two
houses of Congress, in answer to calls made by them,
in reports prepared. with my sanction, BY the Secre-
tary of War and the Secretary of the Navy, on the
29th of December and the 9Th of January last; a
mode of communication with Congress not unusual,
and under existing circumstances, believed to be most
eligible. Subsequent events have conhrmed me IN
the opinion that these recommendations were proper
as precautionary measures.
# was n wise maxim of the Father of his country,
that .sto be prepared for war, is one of the most
efficient means of preserving Peace;' and that.
"ayoidng occasions of expense by cultivating peace"
we should = remember, also, that timely disbursements
to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater
disbursements 10 repel it." The general obligation
to perform this duty is greatly strengthened by
facts known to the whole world. A controversy re-
~specting the Oregon territory now exists between the
United States and Great Britain and while, as far
as Va, know, the relations of the latter with all Euro
pean nations are of the most pacific character, she is
making unusual and extraordinary ornaments and
warlike preparations, naval and military, both at
home and in her North American possessions.
1t cannot be disguised that, however sincere may
be the desire of peace, in the event of a rupture
these ornaments and preparations would be used
against our country. Whatever may have beer the
original purpose of these preparations, the fact is
undoubted that they are now proceeding, in part, al
least, with a view to the contingent possibility Of a
war with the United States. The general policy OF
making additional warlike preparations was distinctly
announced, in the speech from the throne, as late as
January last, and has since been reiterated by tho
ministers of the crown in both houses of Parliament
Under this aspect of our relations with Great Britain
/ cannot doubt the propriety of increa sing our mean:
of defence, both by land and sea. This can give
Great Britain no cause Of offence, nor increase th(
danger of a rupture. IF, on the contrary, we should
fold our arms in security, and at last be suddenly
involved in h~ostilities for the maintenance Of GU
Just rights without any adequate preparation, oun
responsibility to the country would be of the graves
character. Should collision between the two countries
be avoided, as 1 sincerely trust it may be, the addi
tional charge upon the treasury, in making the neces
sary preparations, will not be lost while, in thu
event of such a collision, they would be indispensable
for the maintenance of our national rights and nationa
honor.
have seen no reason to change or modify thu
recommendation of my annual message in regard tc
the Oregon question. The notice to abrogate thu
treaty of the 9th August, 1887, is authorized by the
treaty itself, and cannot be regarded as a warlikt
measure and l cannot withhold my strong convic
ton that it should be promptly given. The othel
recommendation are in conformity with the existing
treaty, and would afford to American citizens in Ore
gon no more than the same measure of protection
which has long since been extended to British subjects
in that territory.