The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-21
THE DAILY UNION.


come from what quarter u may, and my life for IL,
by doing, you afford the best guarantee Of con-
tnued peace. ! dislike, sir, 10 hear war talked
about--to see the subject banded about az boys
play at marbes-trealed with SO much Indifference.
LET not the trumpet be sounded all the sword be
drawn" That is the moral Of q beautiful allegory
which deeply impressed my mind would be
governed by il. Wo TO him who sounds the trum.
pet before lac draws the sword Let us be ready
with the sword In our hands 10 defend Ourselves.
am IN favor OF entering the earliest possible day
on the consideration of this bill.
Mr.. ALLEN. The question before the Senate ia
not whether this bill shall become law, but il is,
on what day viii the Senate proceed consider that
question: bill Is introduced which proposes to
appropriate, believe five millions Of dollars in con-
nexion with the public defenees Of the country. Il
70 proposed at time when the question Of peace or
war Is discussed-howeyer wisely or ulwisely--is
discussed in the two houses of Congress and in
the country. That discussion Of the question OF
peace has arisen out ofthe character of meas
ures introduced into both houses Of Congress rea-
i've 10 the extension Of the laws Of the United States
over territory righ1ully belonging TO the United
States on the Pacific ocean, II has been in that dis.
cossion that this question Of peace war has been
agitstsd. Whether nghuully or wrongfully, the
Introduction Of these has given rise to this
discusslon--some senator's arguing Il at the adop-
ton Of these measures mast necessarily lead TO war
other doubling the accuracy of that opin.
ion. The measures have been opposed upon the
ground, by some senators that they might, by some
senator's that they inevitably would lead to state
OF war between the two countries The nroduc.
lion of these measures-the proposition to give no.
ice, and the bill TO extend the laws Of the United
States over this ierritory--hus then, say, given
rse, whether rghtfully or wroDgfully, 10 discus.
sion OF inc question Of peace war Vow
Mr.. MANGUM. rise TO point Of order
submit lo'the chair, without any remark whether 4
llscuSSiOn M this
pone the consideration Of bill 10 day designated
is in order. | submit that without word Of re-
mark
Mr.. ALLEN. The senator, and presume the
Senate, must perceive that am not going into any
discussion OF the question Of war. am merely al
ought 10 influence the Senate in fixing day.
The PRESIDENT was understood 10 decide that
the senator from Ohio was In order
Mr. ALLEN proceeded. Now, sir, am OF
opinion, and believe | may safely say that every
senator IL Of opinion, that the passage of this notice
the passage Of the bill which i, is proposed 10
submit TO the consideration of the SENATE will
give no righuul cause of war tina, in those
measures there will be nothing found to Justify Great
Britain in a declaration Of war. But what will be
her course Of conduct the passage Of these meas
ures, u another question: and one about which SEN
ators are divided in opinion. But what | started
with the design to say was this that inasmuch as
uc uirSussiOh itShIu 10 Tue question OF peace
or war has arisen on the presentation Of measures
IN relation to the Oregon territory, IL seems to me
that these two subjects Of giving the notice and OF
extending the laws Of the United States over the
Oregon territory, and that Of making the prepars.
tons necessary to meet that contingency which may
arise upon this giving Of the notice, are subjects 70
be properly considered at one and the same time
Some senators may imagine, as probably they do
that Notwithstanding the passage OF these measures
Will constitute no just ground Of war, yet Grea,
Britain may think proper TO go to war. Senators
are willing to vote five or one hundred millions. the
notice being given, who would not vote a farthinp
the notice being refused. Yet these senators may
beiieve-sIncerely bclieve-that the passage of the
notice gives Great Britain no Just cause Of war bu,
that she may think otherwise; and that, therefore
on the passage OF the notice, we ought to prepare
for every contingency that may arise. Well think
these measures are part and parcel Of the same thing
for, say what you will ask the Senate to nut this
question deliberately to itself; Suppose there exist
ed no controversy about the Oregon territory would
this body vote an appropriation in one year to swell
the naval estimates 70 the amount of five millions
IA voice: "Five and half millions. presume
not. presume no senator would feel justified in
saying so. Well, then, | put another question
Suppose nothing be done relative to the Oregon terri
tory, Great Britain will enjoy all the advantages OF
our "mas,crly inactivity" and she will be content
quite content-to let things remain as they are
Wherefore, then, make an appropriation of i've mil
lions to meet unchanged condition of affairs
Whymake such an appropriation to meet contin-
gency that does not exist and to which your meas
ures cannot give riser These are the two views ~
the subject which designed to present; and re-
peat them: II no difficulty arises between the two
countries on the subject Of the Oregon territory.
would any man vote five millions
Mr.. HANNEGAN. Yes, sir, would.
Mr. ALLEN. Then, sir, you would throw away
the money ! ask the other question: if we do
u 20 lrI1t n =
on our knees and beg her Britannia Maiesty,s mar
don for having dared to agitaie the question OF our
right to this territory-if we adjourn without doing
anythng-are senators prepared TO vote for this an.
propriaton' There is no danger Of any attack from
Great Britain If we allow her the benefit of this
convention OF mastery Neutrality-suspicious. what.
ever. She is content. She has all the benof, of il.
She has her laws there: we have none. She has n
political jurisdiction there: we have none She has
all this under the conventions and f we let il con-
tnue, she will never put end to it, She is salts
fed with the state of things there We'll, then, il
we do not pass the Oregon BILL what danger is there
Of any collisioni The measure of aurmeptinr the
national defences was introduced at the commence
ment Of the session, by the distinguished senator
from Michigan, Mr.. CAssl not now in his seat;
and the necessity of that augmentation was suggest.
ed by the state Of the Oregon question. want the
Oregon measures to precede appropriation do
not wish ], to be said that voted FIVE Millions and
Great Britain in unds,urbed enjoyment of the full
benefits of "mastery inactivity"
Mr.. FAIRFIELD, who was almost entirely in.
audible in the gallery, spoke briefly in favor Of Ia
king up the bill at an early day, and against bring
ing it up with the other measures, from which he
regarded 1t quite distinct and Independent.
Mr.. CALHOUN then arose, and expressed his
wish that the motion Of his friend, the senator from
Arkansas, would prevail. Whatever might be the
opinion Of the chairman of the Committee on For
eign Relations, (Mr. ALLEN,] the bill before them
had an intimate connexion with the other questions
now pending. He had heard the debate with erea,
reluctance, and differed much with the gentleman
from Ohio, in his views of the matter. He had
however, heard with pleasure the senator from In
diana, Mr.. HAnNEsAN,l say that he was for peace
! am, (said Mr.. CALHOUN for peace; for peace on
honorable conditions: The question has been re-
duced TO that and hope to see il still more mar.
rowcd. | was happy also to hear from the chairman
OF the committee that "masterly inactivity'' would
not lead to war, but that the course he mr. AtrENl
recommended moaId lead to war. .ss1t, :
Mr., ALLEN. Any nation can avoid war by
giving up itsrights.
Mr.. HANNE(1AN observed he ,va, ~, H..