Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1846-01-15
q wentp-Nintb Congress.
IN SENATE.
TUESDAY, December 80, 1915.
OR ECON.

cic ocean, known the territory OF Oregon, is the
property, ard part and parcel of the United States.
ReSoired That there exists power III this 60
vernment 10 transfer It's soil, and the allegiance OF
It's citizens to the domlnon authority, control, and
subsection Of any foreign prince. state, or sovereignty
ReSOlred That the aba ndonmcnt or surrender OF any
portion Of the territory of Oregon, would he an aban-
comment of the honor, the character and the best
interests of the American people.
Mr. H. said that his object in calling up these res
olutions to move to make them the order OF the
day for next week. or the week after. He would
name Monday week.
Mr. ARCHER moved to the Senator from Ind-
ana that these resolutions involved questions OF
the greatest possible Importance too much time
could be given for sdcratlon before they were
required TO act on them; and the country also--to
which country they ought to 60 before action here
should have time 10 duly consider them. lie hoped
that the Senator would that the resolutions be
printed and that the third Monday III January be
named as the day for discussion.
Mr. IIANNEOiAN acquicsced in the suggestion
| Mr.. CALHOUN did not rise to oppose the motion,
! but to make request that it be Withdrawn Tor
| few moments, TO enable hun to make some briei
remarks previously TO submitting an amendment.
He was, although he could not give his support TO
the resolutions, much grathed that they emanaled
| from the Senator from Indiana. Whatever were his
objections TO them they had the merit Of being direct
opcn and manly. They denied, in direct terms the
authority of this government To make IA treaty WIN
regard TO the Oregon territory, and denounced, as ne
uncr>tood by IMPLICATION, the proposition already
made by our government to settle by the tory-nnll
degree of latitude. Ii the Senate should support the
resolutions il clear that the question could only
be settled by force; and that peace should war
result could take place between the two co1n-
tries, but BY dlcaon, and at the lannon's mouth
The vote these resolutions would draw broad line,
which could not be misunderstood between those who
were in favor of settlement of this question by an
appeal To arms, and those who were favorable To n
more poci hc He was IN favor OF a pacific
coursc-if pos>iblc-by negotiations: and under this
impression he had prepared series of resolutions,
asserting opposite principle from those of the Senator
from Indiana. which he proposed 10 move rs an
amendment and that they be printed for the OF the
Senate. He took the occasion to avow the course
which he should pursue. He was for peace, IT IT
could be honoraby preserved. He was IN favor o
adj ustment by negotiation, 1t Il could be settled by
negoiiation If it could no, be adjusted by ncgotia
ton. he IN favor OF such course as shall throw
The onus of from shoulders 10 these ii Great
britain He approved of tie course of the admins
traon in Offering TO adjust the question on the para-
lei # forty nine degrees under all the
aud should be his wish 10 cooperate with The ENccu-
tive on this gu lon he believed the Executives
desire u be- for peace it peace be- honorably pre-
served If peace cannot be honorably preserved and
If we are To have war, he would never be found
anita conistc to our country. Even If an improper
course should produce war, when different one
would preserve peace, still he would take part with
hi, country. The would be of no ordinary
lcharacter and while he gave every support 10 it, he
would hold those responsible who rashly rushed us
into IT, lie hoped, whatever opinions may have been
heretofore entertained that the question would be dis
cnSscd i'm tho cameSt manner, when fully understood
If war could be avcred II should be done but if war
should en- sue, he trusted we would he united one
man. He accordingly offered the following resolu-
tions, which were read VIZ
Strike out all after the word reso'rea. and insert
That the President of the United States has the
, power By and with the advice and consent of the
Senate to make treaties, provided tao thirds of the
Senate present concur.
ReSolred That the power of making treaties en-
braces that Of settling and fixing boundaries between
the territories and possessions of the United States
and those of other powers, in of conflicting
claims between them in reference 10 the same
Resolved, That however clear their claims may be,
in their opinion. to the country included within the
parallels of II degrees and 81 degrees 40 minutes
north latitude, and extending from the Rocky noun
tans to the Pacific ocean, known as the Territory
of Oregon there now exists, and have long existed,
conflicting claims TO the possession of the same
between them and Great Britain, the adjustment of
which has been frequently the subject of negotiation
between the respective governments.
ReSo'red therefore,. That the President of the Uni
ted States has righfuy the power under the consti-
tuition, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senltc, provided that twothirds OF tho members pre-
sent concur adjust by treaty the claims Of the two
countries to the said territory, by fixing boundary
between their respective possessions.
ReSo'red, That the President of the United States,
in renewing the offer in the spirit of peace and
PROMISE establish the i9h degree of north latitude
as line between the two countries 10 the said ter
rtory, did not abandon the honor, the character,
the best interests of the American people. exceed
the power vested in him by tie constitution to MAKE
treaties.
/, Mr. HANNEGAN said that the first two PROPOSE
tons of the Senator from South Ca rona would not
be contested by any one. All that * stated in the
first resolution correct. and to which he could
have objection. The residue of these resolutions,
however, presented matter for serious consideration,
at least for him. for they came IN conflict with the
principles which he in his resolutions laid down.
He wished, at present, to make a few remarks in
reply TO the distinguished Senator from South Carolina
The Senator said the res outons which he (AIr Ii }
had introduced, by Implication. at any rate, conveyed
censure on the President of the United States He
had no such intention.
Mr. CALHOUN explained lie did not accuse the
Senator of consuming the Presidents but stated that
such would be the effect Of the resolutions.
! Mr.. HANNEGAN resumed. He so understood the
senator But the Senator would not dcnv that the
whole aspect of the question had changed since the
proposition of the President, and since the peremptory
and almost contemptuous refusal Of the British min
lister. If not so, he freeman as well as
the President of the United States; and, although his
political friend. and expected to be, yet if the
PRESIDENT on any occasion or occasions assumed a
position which he could not endorse, he lad the right
and would maintain 1t, as well here as at home TO
express his sentiments, without desiring or wishing
TO convey any censure He represented the same
people that the President did. He was free and rs
i freeman spoke and acted He repeated that he
meant to convey censure on the President The
Senator said that the resolutions were plain and direct
coming at once TO the point, and that the adoption of
them, if he understood them, necessarily involved n
war. Now, if the adoption of resolutions which
contained mmutable principles of TRUTH should bring
war us, let come What American was
ihere for f.ar Of WIZ who womb hnsiiatn 10 ol 70