American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-03-27


80 md srrtnrian praiudiccs, thereby giving il wei
omr reception among all classes and conditions OF so
Cirty and especially those who constitute the life OF
trojr and business, make it medium for advertising,
I,nua 10 any other paper published in this CITY, Mcr-
chants and citizcns generally should be aware OF tins
important fact
PosITIoN OF THE PRESIDENT. Much anx-
ietv prevails to ascertain the opinions and in
tentions Of the President in relation to the
Oregon question. Is he willing to compromise,
or is he resolved to have the ''whole Of Oregon
or none?n What is to be the effect OF the NO
tce to Great Britain, peace or war; These
and other similar questions are not only asked
among the people, and through the newsPa-
pers, but by members of both Houses OF Con-
gress; for they appear to be as little acquainted
with the real views Of the President as persons
out-oEdoor. 1t is true that Senator Haywood
gave an exposition of the sentiments of the
President, apparently by authority-but, aside
from this statement-SenatoIs and Represen-
tatives appear to be totally in the dark and
perfectly mystifed. In the Senate, on a call
for certain papers communicated to the COM
Attees Oh military and naval affairs, by the
Secretaries of War and Navy, Mr.. Webster
remarked, that elf these papers had any bear
ing on the Oregon question, even the most re-
mote relation to it, they should be known to
every Senator before he voted. Differences of
opinion existed in the Senate, and throughout
the country, as to the views, opinions and
purposes ofthe Executive on this question, and
as to the effect of the notice. We had heard
different expostions of his official communca-
tiors on this floor. He desired to know wheth-
er the Executive did or did not anticipate war
as one of the effects of the notice" Thus it
appears that the constitutional advisers of the
President are as much in the dark as others in
regard to his purposes; and yet, the official
organ almost daily urges the Senate to come
to u vote upon the question Of notice, and re-
proaches members with their& diatoryiproceed-
ings on the subject. 1t is certainly extraordi-
nary and unprecedented, that the President
should withhold his views from the Senate
upon subject Of such vast Importance. If
the notice be designed as war measure, and
the President anticipated such a result from
giving it., he should surely recommend prepar
atoms for the event on a scale much larger
than any which has been suggested. If on
the contrary, it be his purpose to renew nego-
tiations with the view to an amlcable COM
promise, he should apprise his constitutional
advisers Of his views, that they may vote un-
derstandingly. Where is the necessity for
myst6cation? 1t can neither further prepare.
lions for war nor negotiations for peace-and
we therefore think that a candid and frank
conduct on the part of the Executive, would .
be more judcious and serviceable, and certain |
ly more consistent with the principles and prac- |
tice of our Government In his late message
he recommended that additions be made to |
the naval and military strength of the country,
and we commend the prudence of this precau-
tonary measure; but it is evident that, if we
are to have war, the preparations which may |
be made in consequence of this recommended
ton, will be totally Inadequate to the protec-
ton of the country; and hence we infer, that
the President does not anticipate that hostilites |
will arise between Great Britain and this |
country; and we draw the further inference
that he is willing to compromise the dispute
about Oregon-for, fit were his determined
purpose to insist upon having the whole terrific
ry up TO 81 40, he could not be so weak as to
suppose that war would not ensue.
The views of the President should not be
withheld from the Senate if they be from the
country. The mystery in which the purposes
Of Government are shrouded, keeps the peo-
pie in a feversh and unsettled state, and re-
suits in much injury from the uncertainty
which prevails. Members of Congress are cal
led upon to vote with their eyes blind folded.
They are directed to ego ahead" without
knowing what is to be the effect of the next
step which they take. This is all wrong.
SECRET COMMUNICATIONS. We have refer
red in another article, to the fact, that certain