The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-21

nal gp.e HAHN with equal force aud efficiency to bs
power OF Great BftRiu" Sir, what must be the
feelings Of British statesmen when they shah SEQ
such sentiment uttered upon the moor OF Consrt-<
| by South Carolina democrat; and by one too, sir
90 distinguished as TO be at the head OF the naya
cominitlet' I fancy that now hear The paudits d
lhe English nation, "a they come walled across ths
| broad Atlantic upon the wings df ths wind, and
their hOsannas TO the Distinguished South Carroll
nisn for asserting, before the American Congress
| and people, better claim ID 1ehelf 81 Great Brit
ain thsn has been ATTEMPTED 10 be made out by hei
oAn fdhnisttr. / beg the hohoratae gentleman 10
read aud 70 re- Eel CORRESPONDENCE between Mr.
| Calhoun and Mr. Pakenhath UPON this subject; for
am persuaded that he Will thus be Dtotght 10 dec
the error ofhis way, and TO timely rsPen,ancc ~;
the unfortunate expression which I have quoted
ron his speech He must then ieei The due weight
OF ths political sin which be has committed, and
tnuss hang his head In confusion for having aken
higher ground sgarst his own country than has ysi
been assumed by apy minister Of Great Britain
I Mr. chsrrBaD, desire 10 take Sumo notice OF a
portion Of the remarks made some daysa In com
mitiee, by an honorable member from New York
| fMr. CuLyER1 He was pleased y say tbst the
democratic Baltimore coaysBtioh had nominated Sss
the presidency a mon Of whombe had never heard,
except as a third-rate lawyer, and said il spps-
renflY by way Of dsparagement Yes, sir; that
James X. Polk, when nominated, had only been
known TO any portion OF the freemen Of these Uni
Ted SthtcA as luNlCT OF III lNfeftOf EfdQc. MS
same sentiment was frat made | believe, sh, dur.
ing the late presidential campaign, and was 80 onen
repeated during the canvass, by every Whisper up
on the stump that had been in hopes that mem
Der Of Congress would be found capabl. Of giving
II utteraDee for the ihouSandlh time. ! confess,
when first heard il, I could not suppress emotions
Of Indignation ss we'll as regrets but the staeness Of
the sentiment has lost the only excellence which II
eyef possetsed-that Of novelty. But, sir the gen.
tleman will allow me 10 hint that the remark, in
coming from him, looks very much like a ~ o.
edged sword that cuts both ways; for, although he
made blow at his antagonist, IL has eeftsiny in
hicted as severe wound upon himself IL either
conyicts him OF nsineery, Of great ignorance in
the political affairs Of his country, and OF the char
ae,er Of those who have been conspicuous In It's
cent history. The gentleman himself ray have oc-
eupied retired position, and have ben so much
out Of the way OF the world, as not To have been
informed Of the character Of the most prominent
statesmen OF the land, and may be excused for his
Ignorance upon this point. He may be pardoncd
for not knowing that this same third.rac county
court lawyer, James X. Polk, was for years the
preSdng officer OF this House, that he was at the
head OF one Of the most important committees Of
the House Of Representatives. and that he filed other
honorable stations with much credit 10 himself
as usefulness 10 his country. But sir suppose II
were true that Mr.. Polk was only third.rate law
yer; would that afford any evidence Of his pfnoss to
perform the duties of the high station which he oc-
cupes' Does the gentleman TO say that in this
republic, man is qualified TO be its chief msgis-
trate who has not obtained great distinction
special pleaderi That sentiment, sir, may suit the
whig party but II will not be recognised orthodox
doctrine, nor be regarded ss consonant wah sound
policy with the democrats, with whom principles
held TO be everything, nothing, provided they
be honest and capable. And evidence TO prove the
suficiency and excellence of this doctrine WILL for
the benefit Of the gentleman from New York bring
he
% whom shall presume he has heard Us Presidents
nf the United States, whose memory must soon be
forgotten IL the gentleman's rule shall prevail |
mention the names Of Washington, Adams, JefIer-
son, Madison, and Jackson. These men were all
eminent statesmen; but, pefheps, as compared
and Judged by the standard or the menl&sr from
New York, might have been considered as inferior
county court lawyers Did the gentleman ever hear
or read Of Benjamin Franklin'-a who rose from
the condition Of poor printer boy to the high po-
sition of the greatest philosopher Of his age And
sir, | might 20 on 10 enumeraie the names of many
individuals who rocked in the cradle of power.
ty, and bred TO some Of the humblest mechanic arts,
whose minds, when developed, proved them TO be
worthy Of tho highest stations ia the civilized world.
But, sir, | will tell the gentleman from New York,
that James X. Polk has proved himself to be one
of the abest advocates in America for he has beat
en- oil the embodiment Of whgcry itself In 1914,
sir this nation was deeply interested nthe great ques-
ton of the admission Of Texas into the Union. In
gard to it, the two parties almost equally divi-
ded. The wings had selected Henry Clay as their
champion and advocate, whilst the democrats made
choice of Mr.. Polk for theirs. Yes sir, tina, man,
whom, by way Of ridicuc, they denominated "liitie
Jimmy Polk" while he was riding with his saddle.
bags from courthouse to courthouse, without sim
gle thought or aspiration for the presidency, was cho-
sen to advocate the cause Of annexation. The sub
ject was fully and thoroughly discussed by these
leaders of the respective parties; the issue was tried
hun i,rtyo Of tue nftyt and fha
dict returned in favor of James X. Polk. And sir
for the ability which he displayed during that con.
| test--for the wisdom which he has shown every
important occasion--and for his firm, unyieldine
steadfastness to the republican faith and TO repubi
can measures, he has been rewarded with the occu
pancy of the executive mansion, and the honor OF
presiding as the head of this nation for term Of
four years; whilst the great Kentuckan has been
consigned to the shades Of Ashland, where, trnst
he will remain in peace and happiness.
In conclusion, Mr.. Chairman, will repeat tina,
we owe it duty to those who have gone to settle
in Oregon, to give this notice for terminating the
joint occupancy. We owe it to them as portion
Of the American people. These men are not mere
gamblers and spectators, but real bona de settlers
who have determined to make that country their
home, to subject its soil to the arts fcutvaton, and
to make their living by the sweat Of their brows. We
should proceed to give the notice without delay
The longer continuance of the notwithstanding
principle cannot at this time be viewed wise or
Statutory measure. Its morality is questionable; for
1t seeks to do that by covert and indirect means,
which it becomes US to do with energy and prompt
ncss-by mastery act;piiy. regard the notice
recommended by the President as the proper prelim-
mary Of settling this controversy between the
two nations in peaceful and equitable manner.
Let us support hin in his recommendation; let
us adopt the views which he has present
cd; let us endeavor to mbibe his spirit;
and | venture to predict, sir, that the danger
of war will not only be averted, but the whole mat
ter he brought to speedy and happy termination.
Sir, advocate this course az a friend to peace.
would support no measure which is calculated un.
necessarily to produce war between the United
States and Great Britan peace, honorable peace is
what all most surely must desire. II is not the III
tercst Of either nation that the friendly relations
which have so long subssted between them should
now be disturbed or broken up. Their mutual de-
pendcnce makes it the interest Of both to cherish
and cultivate state of peace and good will and
sincerely hope that the action of Congress may be
such to secure the continuance of friendly rela-
tons between the two nations. But, sir, h by the
maintenance of our just rights or the notice to close
the joint occupancy war shall be the consequence
| then uynra Iet and hrpv me