Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-04-22
ID OLtttraI.
Debate in the Senate,

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Oregon question, and 1--WE must add in pa
renthesis-true to his British feelings,) de-
cared that we should surrender the nav-
CATION Of the Columbia. We subioin a
correct synopsis of his speech, and of the
patriotic and triumphant reply of Mr.. Allen.
The Senate resumed the consideration
of the resolution submitted by Mr. Clay
ton, calling for any additional correspon-
dence on the Oregon question, sc.
Mr. WEBSTER rose and said: shall ad
wise my honorable friend from Delaware
to forbear from pressing this resolution
for a few days.
There is no doubt that there are letters
from Mr. McLane; but as the chairman
of the committee on Foreign Relations OPP
poses this motion, | am to presume that
the Executive Government finds it incon-
venent to communicate those letters to
the Senate at the present moment.
Yet, it is obvious, that as the Senate is
called on to perform a legislative act, it
ought, before the hour of its decision
comes, to be put in the possession of every
thing likely to influence its Judgment;
otherwise, it would be required to perform
high legislative functions on mere conf
dence. There is certainly some embar-
rassment in the case. If the Executive
Government deems the communication of
the correspondence inconvenient, it can
only be because negotiation is still going
on, or, if suspended, is expected to be re-
sumed. So far as negotiation is concern
ed, the communication, or publication, of
the correspondence may very properly be
thought inconvenient. But, then, the Pre-
sident has recommended the passage Of a
law, or resolution, by the two Houses Of
Congress. In support of this recommen.
dalton he himself sent US, unasked, at
the commencement of the session, the cor.
respondence up TO that time. Now, if thai
was neces sary then, the rest is necessary.
If we are entitled to part, we are enti-
tied to The whole.
In my opinion, the mistake was in call
ing on Congress to authorize notice to be
given of the discOntinuance of what ha:
been called the joint occupation, until ne
gotiation shall have been exhausted Ne,
gotation should have been tried first, anC
when that had failed, and finally failed
then, and not till then, should Congress;
have been called upon.
1t is said, indeed, that notice is to b.
used as weapon, or an instrument, il
negotiation. | hardly understand this
1t is metaphor of not very obvious appli
cation. A weapon seems to imply, not
facility or mere aid, but the means eithe
of defence against attack, or of maxim.
an attack. 1t sounds not altogether friend
ly and pacific. doubt exceedingly whe
Their. under present circumstances, motto
would hasten negotiation; and yet such ar
those circumstances that there may be a
much inconvenience in standing still as i
going forward.
The truth Is, that great embarrassment
arises from the extreme pretensions an,
opinions put forward by the President, i
his Inaugural Address, year ago, and i
his Message last December. But for these
notice would have been harmless, an
perhaps would have been authorized b
both Houses without much opposition, an
received by England without dissatisfaC
ton. But the recommendation of the nc
tce, coupled with the Presidents repeal
ed declarations that he held our title
be "clear and unquestionabIe," alarme
the country. And well it might. And
notice were required, 10 order to enabl
the President TO push these extreme claim
TO any and every result, then notice ougt
to be refused by Congress, unless Coz
gress is ready to support these pretensior
at all hazards. Here lies the difficulty
Congress is not prepared, and the countr
Is not prepared, as believe, to make tn
Presidents opinion of a clear and unque
tionable right to the whole territory d
ulhmatum. If he wants notice for sue
purpose, ne certainly must see that
becomes a grave question whether Coz
gress will grant it.
1t was great, a very great mistake,
accompany the recommendation of motto
win so positive an assertion of our rig
70 the whole territory. Did the Preside
mean 10 adhere to that, even to the extr
m'ty Oh war? If so, he should have know
mat a'ter what has happened in yea
past, the country was not likelv to susta
him. Did he mean to saw this, and afte
wards recede from it2 ii so, why saw
at all? Surely the President could n
have been guilty of playing so small
part, as to endeavor to show himself
possess spirit, and boldness, and fearle.
ness of England, more than his predece
sors, or his countrymen, and yet do all Il
in the confident hope that no serious c.
lision would arise between the two cou
tries. So low an ambition, such palt
motives, ought not to be imputed. VIII