The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-01-06
[Vol. 4.-No. 8.

ductiOn IN that manner appeared 10 give
something to them of significance which
would create unnecessary alarm. Every
member Of the Senate knew, and every
man of intelligence knew, that unneces-
sarv alarm and apprehension about the
preservation Of the public peace was q
great evil. 1t disturbed the business Of
the country; it disturbed the calculations
of men; it deranged the pursuits oi life,
and even, to a great extent changed the
circumstances OF the whole business OF
the country. This truth will be felt
more especially by every gentleman ac-
quainted or connected with he sea board.
They all knew what an immerse amount
Of property was ahoat upon the ocean,
carried there by our citizens IN the pros
ecution Of their maritime pursuits. lhey
all knew that rumor of war, or the breath
Of rumor of war, would affect the val
ue of that property. They a! Khe"
what effect it would have upon msuran-
ces. They all knew what immense n
mount of property on shore would be al
fected bv the agitation Of public opinion
upon an intimation of the disturbance Oh
the pacific relations existing between tins
country and foreign States.
Sir, (said Mr.. w there are two ways
in either of which Government may
proceed-and when have stated them l
think it will be obvious to every one
which is the wisest. We may II we
choose create alarm and apprehension. We
may, if we are wise, cause no unnecessary
alarm, but make quiet, thorough, Just'
polite, statesmanlike prvisions Tor ths
future.
Mr.. President, / am entirely OF the
opinion of the Senator from kentucky'
| hrve not been able to bring myself to
believe that war will grow out OF this
matter, certainly not immediately; and
think | cannot be mistaken when say
that the recommendations which the
I Chief Magistrate has made to Congress
will not lead to any such result. l ihInk
it impossible to mistake the meaning oil
the President. He does not expect war
Looking at the state of things around US,
and at what is stated by the Executive l
canuot believe that he apprehends any
danger.
Sir, | shall abstain cautiously from OF.
fering any remark upon that portion OF
the message which refers to the negoaa-
ton. | abstain with equal care from any
remark upon correspondence which mas
been published. | do not wish to say
whether it does appear from that cores
pondencc that negotiation is so complete
lv and entirely at an end, that no amcable
disposition of the question may be looked
for hereafter from diplomatic source. lrls
enough for me, in order to accomplish
all the purposes Of these few remar ks, to
saw, that while am incapable of bringing
myself to the belief that the president APP
prehends any immediate danger OF war
| NAV he allowed to suppose, or to I'M
agine, that he, the President, may enter
tain an opinion similar to that which has
been expressed this morning by the Sem
ator from Connecticut. He may possl-
bly, look for propositions to come from the
other side, having communicated the ul-
timatum of this Government. Whether
it be in this view or upon other grounds
that the expectation is entertained, it Is
enough for me TO deprecate any false
alarm that may arise to disturb the tram
guilty of the country.
The President NAV feel, as | am bound
to suppose he does feel, the full weight Of
the responsibility which attaches TO him
in relation to whateyrinterests the peace Of
the country. am bound to suppose he
understands the position in which he is
placed, and that he judges wisely as to
the extent to which he should go in sub
hitting propositions to Congress. There
fore, / entirely concur in the opinion
which has been expressed, that he cannot
re gard the present position of affairs -
leading to any immediate drnger of war.
Acting upon these conclusions, (said
! Mr.. W. and entertaining these views,
all the regret feel at the introductiun Of
these resolutions is, as | have said, that,
accompanied with the remarks wich fell
from the honorable Senator when he cali
led them up, they might have tendency
to create unnecessary alarm. He trusted
that every member of the community
would perceive that it was necessary to
suppress all alarm; and, as far as he was
concerned, if gentlemen thought that tho
time has come for enlarging the defences
of the country, for augmenting the army
and the navy, he was ready to cooperate
with them.
Mr.. w. concluded by expressing the
hope that, while they did every thing that
was necessary for the preservation of the
honor and the interests Of the country,
they would abstain from creating any a.
larm in the public mind.
Mr.. Sewer said it struck him with
some surprise that any inquiry could
nevor be brought up in thet Chamber on
the subject of Oregon, but they were told