The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-02-11
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1913.

WASHINGTON, Feb 9, 1879.
Hot tvork in the Senate.
While the day has been one of unparalleled int.
rest IN the House, tie Senate has not been free
from the general excitement upon the a-absorbing
question Of peace or war.
We shall bring up our minutes Of the Senate this
evening. For the present, we purpose an elucida
ton Of the temper Of the Senate as exhibited to-day
Mr. Westcott, on the resumption Of the bill for the
erection OF ten war steamers for other purposes
of putting the navy in good order, resumed his ar
gument from Thursday last. He advocated the bill
exclusively as a peace measure; and yet he con-
fessed that since the reception Of the late diplomatic
correspondence, the omens were dark, and signih-
cant OF war.
The question continuing before the Senate, and
Mr. Dickinson having moved that the bill be laid In
formally aside, in the absence Of Mr. Fairfield, Mr..
Mangum insisted upon the question Of postpone
ment, on the motion Of Col Benton, Of last week;
Mr. Mangum was evidently aroused. HIS blood
was up on the rejection OF arbitration. He declared
his unequivocal dissent to the course of the adm-
nistratlon in this Oregon business, and his solemn
opinion that there decided majority OF the
Senate opposed to the course which had been Pug-
sued in the negotiations by our Cabinet He de-
nounced as system OF delusion, OF mystifcaton,
and of wriggng, that was inconsisten with
the interests of the country and the dignity OF tho
government. He was just as firmly OF the opinion
that the admnstra alton had no idea Of pung,ny the
country into war-but had he more confidence in
the wisdom and good sense OF the administration,
he should have less apprehenslons from the present
aspect of affairs. He had nor particle OF doubt
not partcle-in the assertion that the ad ninistra-
ton had idea OF war; but he was afraid they
might blunder into It, He believed the design Of the
administration to be to agltate the public mind, to
bring it up to the very verge OF war, in order TO
make political capital out of the gratitude OF the
people in an ultimate peaceable settlement of the
difficulty. He had no objection to laying the bill
upon the table but he hoped 1t would never be ia
ken up until there was more light thrown upon the
subject
Mr. Mangum was evidently indignant. His man.
ner was fiery and impassloned--hls language stern
and savage-his voice strong and sonorous-his
animadversons upon the administration were ~ it
he regarded the cabinet another French National
Assembly-Mr Polk another Robesplerre, and Mr..
Buchanan another Anarcharsls Clootz Ii was clear
that the Oregon correspondence had fallen, like q
bomb. shell, into his calculations, and scattered
them to the winds.
Mr. Bagby warmly approved the policy Of the ad-
pondence But he was still opposed to the ten war
steamers. He had no more idea now that there
would be war, than he had entertained hereto
fore He was satisfied there would be no war.
Mr. Allen challenged the Senator from N. c., To q
resolution testing the Of the Senate, on the
policy OF the administration in the Oregon negotla-
tions.
Gen. Cass made another war speech, and q good
one-oH hand, and to the point, aud rather boastUd
that his grounds taken on the 18th December, were
now confirmed
Finally, on motion of Mr.. J. M. Clayton, the
Senate adjourned.
The crowd in the galleries Of the Senate were
merely the overfowlngs from the immense popula-
ton in the commOdlous, but almost suffocated gal
leries Of the House.