Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-03-11
Congressional Summary.

February 17.-After the transaction q
some routine business the order OF the
day Oregon reso!utionl was taken up
Mr.. Hannegan took the floor, and address
ed the Senate with much ability and eio-
quence. He defended The American title
To the whole territory, and urged that our
government had no power TO transfer lis
territory and citizens, By treaty. We an
mex extracts from the conclusion OF MS
speech:
" Ii is not a question Of boundary, be-
cause, as have shown, we have title,
England has none. The question Of bound
airy is but pretext to hide the real object.
Ii IS raised simply because England, pow
erful and formidable as she Is, demands,
and expects US TO give. Ii is true, sir,
that war is a great calamity. But the les
sons of history are all false, Iis moral bat
an idle tale. if there are not greater ca
lamities which can fall upon men and ma
tons than a war; One Of the greatest
calamltes, SIR, is a purchased and disgrace
full peace. Bloated and enervated China
IS living witness Of that fact. Modern
/
Gle empire the curse entailed upon her
three or tour centuries ago. The ign0-
Bile descendants Of the most illustrious
race the ancient world ever saw exhibit in
their every lineament the effects Of that
awful calamity; whilst on the other hand,
consecrated still 10 this hour, Marathon
stands an eternal fame, bearing witness o.
the heroic soul of the Greeks, who dis
dained at the hands OF invading millions
to purchase peace. Princeton. and Trea-
ton, and Yorktown, bear the same testimo-
ny to the force of that noble determine
lion. Every part Of this land i the endur-
ing and eternal monument of those who
preferred resistance to submission. and
encountered all The perils Of dreadful
and unequal strife rather than purchase
an ign0minious peace. On, it Is said
" take care Of our commerce-let ms tr1 r
ic:" Ay, "let US tralIicl' Alas! that
descendants Of the heroic men Of the Re-
volution could be heard expressing vii
lingness 10 buy peace with their country 5
territory, and that priceless Jewel, their
country's honor Traffic. Az, traffic.
like the Jew who, for thirty pieces Of sill
) yer, sold his Saviour and his God! Traffic
on; but for the love of heaven, traffic not
. with the allegiance of your citizens, the
I heritage of your fathers, and the honor Of
: your country Traffic not in the freedom
Of Your brethren Traffic rs long as il
seemeth good in your eyes; but bring not
+ their birthFight into the markell It Was
, the noble language Of famous British
monarch: I" L regard the legal liberty Of
, The meanest and feeilest Briton as nv
own, and am as ready to defend it," Il
was kingly sentiment, and added lustre
10 his crown. Ii is itself enough 10 con-
secrate his memory | cherish IL. and
; would have the Senate actup9n It, and not
seek 10 transfer the allegiance OF freedom
: American citizens TO a mOnarch's throne.
.rI Where is the warrant IN the Constitution
= for such an act? The denial of my prin-
!, cipIe by the Senator from South Carolina
f avows this principle.
: "If the voice Of the American people
:. could be heard, would be willing 10 las
aside all that has been done here, and lc,
the question 90 At once - them. Sabmi.
} to the people the question. = Oregon or no
: Oregon!" $40 or 81: 4Ol" II they wOlid
} not 90 for 81 40, never would utter The
name of Oregon again. My fear IS net
of the people. My fear Is lest this ones
g ton should be strangled here.
% :" Our brethren in Oregon speak as
, speak. Ispeak for my well beloved State
IL She forbids all compromises By the sur.
render of single foot of our territory. Il
IS is not the West alone that forhidS il. Ills
e tory, speaking from the sepulchre Of the
l. sainted dead, lorbids it. The shades OF
n Washington, of Adams, of Henry, and oil
d their immortal compeerS. forbid 1t. The
J. still small voice Of Camden and Concorl
Of forbids it. The holy blood that fell IN tor
r rents in the parched fields Of Monmouth
e and Camden, and the Brandywine, fogbids
g it. ALI the spectral forms of the past, as
If they sweep along IN shadowy array, with
e mournful voices, forbid 1t. The presen
: forbids it. Seven-tenths of the American
ofI people forbid it. The future, crowded
/ with mighty events, and big with the tor
L tunes of mankind, forbids il. By all tbs
e power and glory of our country; in the
e name of the past, IN the name of the IN
: born millions whose proud fortune It VII
# be TO direct the destinies of free Americs
II protest here, in the face Of HEAVIER
/, and all men, against any dismembermen
II of our territory-the Surrender Of our prin
e ciple-the sacrifice of our honorl Here
1 take nv stand on the side of our nationa
5, rights. Come veal or woe, come peace Q
e war, here hope 10 stand"
!, When Mr.. flanagan resumed his seat
o on motion OF Dir. Coiquit', the Senate ad
:. ] .o,,rnnd