Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-02-28


Senator from Massachusetts, and which will carry his name
alone the very frontiers Of tme that his stongue should
blister before he woNd argue against the American title pend
ing negotaion worthy Of the representative Of Massa
chuses in her proudes and best days opposed 70 ar
biration. opposed the views Of the Senator from
Kentucky, to whose remarks, however, listened with pecu-
liar pleasure but there Engshman to whom If v-
g would submit the question without hesitation, and that
Lord Camden
Mr. JOHNSON, of Maryland said il was not his purpose
to engage in the debate. He merely put inquiry
to the chairman Of the Committee on Foreign Relaons-an
inquiry which he deemed called for by the remarks which fell
rom that gentlemen He was that the Senator would
see, what the whole public and feels that it exceed
ingly desirable that the public should be informed far
could be consistently with the public interests what the
determination Of the Executive in regard this question
The inquiry which he wished PROFOUND TO the Senator had
been, 10 his Judgment rendered necessary by the declaration
Of the SENATOR that when the President offered to settle the
dispute upon the parallel Of 400, he did exclusively
pance with offers Of the description which had been
made by his predecessors and Difference their Judgment
and when he asserted he did, that title clear and
undisputed, which opinion he still retains that he de-
cared his determination fall back and take nothing short
$40 4O He understood the Senator to add that he felt
thozed say that there had been shade shadow
turning in tho mind Of the Executive The inquiry which
he wished put the chairman Of the Committee on Foreign
Relations standing in the relation 70 the President which
calculated to make the community believe that he advised
Of the precise views of the President this Whether he
authorized say that the President would refuse to
gotiate upon any terms short of $40 40'f
consider
embarrassed in his i and he would be- under what
circumstances he might DO paced because having
motive in view and that the public good he should al
ways act with strict reference to that motive The President
of the United States had constitutional mode Of making his
sentiments known to Congress, and that by his sfcal
communications He had resortcd to that mode
and had laid upon their table in unequvoca language his
views Of the whole matter Instead therefore, of asking him
what the President meant the Senator would Do wisely
to consult the record me table, What he did saw and
what he authorized say was that from the position
sumed by the President in his message recorded their
Journal he had noswerved in sentiment opinion sin
gle ioa. The Senator would hardly believe he sure
that his duty if in his power answer the
question what the President would in future do in re-
gard to the negotiations The Senator would hardly expect
the President himself to the question The Senate
had always taken precautions against such questions by
poraing in resolutions of inquiry saving clause, if in his
Judgment the correspondence could be laid before the public
with just reference to the public He had said
thing regard the views Of the President than their
records showed whern his opinions amply expressed
He had said and he repeated that the proposition to
line at 49o offered in Difference what had been done
by his predecessors, and that it not thing emanaing
from his free will He had said further that having
originally entertained opinion, by reusserng claim and
our title up to the Russian boundary
Mr. PENNYBACKER made few remarks, which were
scarcely audible in the gallery in support of the notice.
clarng that re would for means Of accomplishing
very desirable result viz the final settlement of the
vey He reason to believe that would
not take thing short Of $40 40 although the Secretary
had demonstrated that title clear yet in the
letter the proposition made that the should be ad
usted by line at the 49h parallel The consequence Of
declaring title to the whole would be neither more nor
than to enlarge the basis of negotiation.
Mr. JOHNSON of Maryland said itwas far from his pur-
pose in propoundng the question which he had the chair
Of the Committee Foreign Relations give him any
embarrassment His single purpose ascertain whether
tor intended that the President of the United States
would adhere the determination the I'd Decem
ber He Of course very well advised in matters of this
description but he had been taught believe that gentleman
occupying his position possessed of information d
rect than any other Senao He understood now that the
Senator proessedand what he pressed of the
uthto be in possession Of information other than that
open to all the body and he begged leave, therefore, for the
purpose OF correcting ESQ far any remarks his could
rec what from distinguished source-he would beg
leave to read that portion Of the message relating this sub
jcc Here MIR J. rcadftom the Message Nov, he would
put TO the Senator and to the country whether, if the
President meant what he sad he would not now then,
settle the question upon the forty ninth parallel Would he
have done unless convinced that would compon
with the honor of the nation And he convinced that
honor and duty demanded that compromise what has
to change his belief and to lead him refuse nego
tate upon those terms
Mr. CAss said he would occupy the time Of the Sem
ate he knew their impotence, but very grave topic.
Events were closing around difficulties which he had fore
since the moment when he had read the Presidents
sag making themselves felt Every day position
becoming critical. The honorable Senator from
SCUM Carona urged the adopuon, the tmedi1e acopuon
Of the resolution the exclusion of all other business and
why Was il TO operate upon the President II seemed to
him not The President had naturally the control Of the
action of the Government in this controversy Congress
poweress far direct negotiation concerned The
honorable Senator seemed anxious that the action Of the SEN
ate upon the question should take place forthwith order that
it might go to England and why We moving in
charmed circle. Why should it go England Was it to
invite England to make another proposition The Senator
knew that the Senate utterly poweress that declara-
ton from them would he nothing before the English Govern
ment But the Senator desired that negotiation and compro
mise should be proceeded with Why. IL the British Gov
eminent disposed to make proposition for compromise
they would do without waiting for any proceeding the
part OF Congress and he must say that seemed to him IN
exceedingly bad toste
Mr. CALHOUN, nterposing, said he hoped the honorable
Senator would allow him to observe that he had narrowed
down the proposition and omitted the very point which he
had made viz that the business Of the country would be
erialy injured by the continuance of uncertainty in relation
to this great question He the negoator and what
dtons might be proposed by England he prepared
say. Bni since he upon his feet he would make a
gle remark From the beginning had been his impression,
whether that impression right wrong that the Govern
ment Of Great Britain would take denve position
until there had been action the part Of Congress and he
thought it was Of the utmost importance that the question
should be speedily settled.
Mr. CASs esumng said he had supposed that the honor
able Senator's motive had been foundedupon political grounds
and in that vicwshe would remark that he would be acuaed
far he concerned by desire draw from Eng
land offer to negotiate by any action the part of Con