The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-17

pursue different course Tho foleieu flttiuia ~
The country thus sui ected "a pnbie discussion.
aequlesce IN that which is aequiesced in Cy others
| entertain no vain hope under the exciting ques-
lions which are presented to us, while we are, as
gentlemen tell U.s. fulf ling our destiny, and extend
ing The area Of freed0m-that the various depart
mems OF this government can lie confined Withn
The limits which the constitution has assigned to
ihem-that in It's practical operations 1t will realize
IN this regard the hopes Of his friends No, SIR
The signs Of the times too clearly indicate TO US
that the checks and balances which they thought
they had created must yield to an external i'm
pulse, falsely denominaied the will Of the Amerl-
can people; and that while we have a government
admirably balanced in the proper imminent oil
our title TO the liberties we enjoy, we are,
IN fact, in the fulflment of our destiny, to have
government of popular Impulses, excited by point
cal leaders-an irresponsible Olgarchy of which the
seat and centre to be the Congress OF the United
States-the principles and the practice OF which are
not to be sought in the constitution Of the United
States, but are TO be excessively announced
TO under the edcts of party conventicles. And
already SIR here in the Senate Of the United States,
we have had our first lesson in the resolutions Of
the Baltimore convention formally rected in this
chamber, and urged upon I'd as a rule of conduct for
the President Of the United States, and a majority
of the Senate can only say, upon such subject,
that | rejoice that | am enabled to adopt as my
motto-nOn haze in tGdsra!-ackno wledglng no
obligation which binds TO the assertion or TO the
maintenance Of any measure, which does not cor
respond with my own judgment as TO the Interests
Of the country of which am a citizen, the constit-
uents whom have in part the honor TO represent,
hold myself free TO enter into the discussion Of
this question absolved from any other obligation
beyond what owe 10 God and the constitution Of
my country. Sir, the American people since the
commencement Of the present session Of Congress,
have been startled by the intelligence that they are
ont he Of In Iba tiaI dab hob
have taken place here and sewhere, they have
grounds for that apprehension; and If it is
momentarlly relieved, they look TO you, sir, they
look to this chamber, for that final and decisive re-
lief which will put end to their apprehension
They expect from us not declamation-not inham.
matory appeals. They expect from us "A calm dis
passionate consideration Of this subject, and such
judgment that consideration would lead us to form
The chairman Of the Committee on Foreign Rela.
TONS Mr.. ALLEN tells US that the season for this is
past; that the time for action has arrived that we
stand committed to assert right to the whole of Or.
egon, peaceaby or forcbly as the occasion NAV re-
quIre. And speaking of the resolution he saws: 81
know this body, and know that this resolution will
pass, and pass easily care not what speeches may
he made against 1t, 1t will pass" Well, where, sir
Is II that such declaration Is made Is this the
Senate ofthe United Staes2-or is II the old Parlla-
ment Of Paris revivedi-have we really entered up-
on the formal consideration iof question vitality az
Ittllng all our great lOltrtbtbs-ndNe we entered n
on the consideration Of such question with a fore.
gone concusioni And Is the humble office which
the Senate Of the United States has to perform,
not " advise not to deliberate, not TO decide-but 10
obey presidential edIct Is that the Office which is
allotted to us' Sir, the honorable senator deceives
himself The minor questions of party NAV
thus be arranged; and even in that case not always
is the attempt successful. But this is not a party
question. The resolution submitted by the honoIa-
bic senator from Kentucky, Mr. CRITrENDEN,l the
calm and practical argument of the senator from
Delaware Mr.. J. NJ. CLAYTON, at an early stage
Of the debate, the position occupied by various SEN
ators on the other side of this chamber all OF them
us-B these considerations assure us that the
motives by which senator's are actuated on this &C.
caslon have their origin in region far purer than
that in which the mere partisan dwells
Mr.. ALLEN. In the speech which had the
honor to deliver in the course Of this discussion
believe there not one solitary word which had
the design or effect of making this a party cues
tion-not one solitary syllable; and if that speech
has received such direction, 1t has not been by nv
hand. In making the declaration that the resolu-
lion would pass had no reference whatever to the
predomlnance Of the one the other party in this
Senate. l spoke from my conviction of what
would be the conviction of the Senate when the
whole was laid before Its members
MIR. BERRlEN. | receive with great pleasure
the explanation of the honorable senator from Ohio
that this resolution would pass, no matter what
speeches were made against it-whatever array oil
act or of argument should be ranged against it, that
t would pass. II that be so, beg to inquire wheth.
sr II submitted TO the deliberate decision of the
Senate; and when the honorable senator appeals To
Is, or states 10 us, that we committed to the |
assertion of our title TO the whole of OregoD-com-
nitted by the declaration Of the President and the
esolutions of the Baltimore cOnvention-to whom |
ioes he appeal? To the Senate of the United |
States, TO portion Of that body; saw again |
whatever may be the views of others-and on that
say nothing, for take at ts full value the decla-
alton made by the senator from Ohio Ut ! saw
or myself that this is not a partv ones
lon nor question for party or indvid
i dIctation. 1t Is not question on which
my man has right to assume for himself that su q.
,erory Of moral and intellectual power which en-
bles HIM to prescribe standard by which the pa
lotlSm and the "nerve" Of other senators are to be
Measured. To all pretensons of this sort, the an
wer is simple, and it is EN- phatic-iook al home
race your own "nerves"-cherish your own "pa-
the avenues to error in your own
'osom-and be content, If, having done this you
an faithfully discharge your own duty, leaving to
hers their proper responsibility. | take it, there
ore, that IN entering upon the examination of this
question, am free to consider all the issues which
presents; that am unfettered by any PREVIOUS OBJ
cation, and unrestraned by any party considera-
ons But here encounter difficulty in the opin-
ons which have been expressed by various sena-
Ors. am told that this subject is not open 10 un-
Uttered discussion; that may not speak unless with
he view of asserting the title of the United States to
he territory of Oregon. am called upon to exer-
Use an act Of judgment by giving my vote in rela-
ion to question in which the assertion of our title
D this territory may lead us into war; am told
hat may not investigate those questions which
onstitute the very elements of the subject under dis.
ussion! Why, if we are to assert our title to the
Whole territory of Oregon; if to assert il. if
eed be, by force Of arms the strength or the weak
ess Of our title-the extent, or the limit within
which will be prudent, and right, and proper. to
nforce lt-and since we PROPOSE under certain con-
ngency, to ASSERT by force of arms-thc strength
r weakness of our means of so asserting it-are ne
essarily elements of the question under considera
on. Yet we hear it said by the senator from Del
ware, Mr. CLAYTON and also by the senator from
1ass., Mr.. WEBsTER,] in the use-of strong ex-
resslon it strikes me- rather calculated to Indicate
is reluctance to enter into this discussion while
were pending than manifestng his de-
not to do so, If his sense of duty should
'qulre i'll hear it said by both these senator's
nat this is not the proper occasion for DISCUSSING
ia n Ielb N |