Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-04-28


adoption by the Senate and House of Represen-
tho Joint Resolution, investing the President with
the discretion Of notifying the British Govern
ment of the termination of the treaty in relation
TO the temporary occupation Of Oregon. We
were, we confess greatly surprised at the vein OF
poetic fervor and enthusiastic exultation which
ran through that remarkable production. We
could not, however, resist the impression, as we
perused it, as Byron says Of a beautiful corpse,
that "soui wanting there" The Pegasdus OF
the Official Editor, instead of curvetting with his
usual elegance and grace, seemed TO be jaded,
and to require the lash TO keep him in mid air.
Ii was manestly an effort to save appearan-
ces, and TO cover the modification Of signal de-
feat with the mask of pretended triumph. Nor
was our astonishment at the joy evinced by the
Union at all diminished when, losing sight for a
moment of the terms of the resolution itself, diff
fering so materially and entirely it does from
the position heretofore assumed by that paper, as
well as by the Executive Of which it is the or
gan, we turned to the yeas and nays in both
Houses. and discovered that it was supported by
every member Of both the Administration party
and Opposition party, who had intimated an OPT
Mon that the notice should not be given at all, or
who had insisted, if il given, that 1t should
assume the mildest aspect; while, en- the other
hand, every vote against it given by that por-
ton of tho Administration party, who went, with
the Union for 'the whole of Oregon or none,
and who asserted with Mr.. Polk, our "clear and
unquestionable title" to every inch of the territory
in dispute, and our duty to maintain our rights
under that title, il necessary, by force of arms
How happens it, we asked ourselves, that the
Union, whose tones were but yesterday so uncOm-
promising and so warlike, is all at pacific
and so yielding in its temper 1t appeared to us
to be ungrateu too, thus to rejoice over the pros
traton of the Senatorial trio, Cass, Allen and
flanagan, and their followers, who, in their per-
tinacious adherence to that form of Notice
which was intended to exclude the idea Of a conn.,
promise altogether, had adhered faithfully TO the
manifest indications Of the Presidents own OPT
mons, and followed strictly the uniform counsel
of the Union itself! Aswe anticipated, and as was
certainly very natural the '54 40" men took um-
bragg at the manner in which the Union exulted
over "ihe deed Of The ddy,"-a deed which, in
their opinion far from rejecting any honor
upon Congress or the country, is a degrading and
humiiating concession, extorted from our fears,
TO our powerful adversary Accordingly, the
next day, the Union, generating the President
and the Cabinet from all connection with the
ticle which was so offensive TO the War party, ex-
plains and modlhes It in the following amusing
paragraph:
ave are not altogether surprised that this article Of
yesterday evening" under the head of the Deed of the
Day. should have partially IN us scope
and meaning and have given some dissatisfaction TO some
Of our friends We expect to please every body
At oil times-k the countryman VINO carried HE Jackass
10 market; but we make il a rule TO explain as go
along and give the sober second expression, whsn the
hurry fs has in any degree obscGred or distorted
our meaning. We the same privilege on the
present occasion. The whole object had in view in
chat article was rs express qualification that the
notice had authorized by Congress and secondly
possible harmony the democratic ranks, far
al least as humble could reach the Of
friends In doing THE spoke Of the fact that the notice
had passed intended to express appreciation Of
fhs Jornl IT had been made 10 assams."
As we have heretofore had occasion to remark
in RETIRE to the Notice, its form" is all-im.
portant 1t is that which stamps upon il the mean.
ing and design of Congress IN authorizing it to
be given Hence, the struggle between the oppo-
sing parties upon this essential point. Hence,
the vote of the ultra Oregon men against the No
lice itself when II assumed form" which depri-
we'd 1t OF its begerent aspect and converted it into
a measure of peace. They manifesty regarded
the language Of the resolution less a matter of
form than of substance and it is because they
did so, that, although they deemed it a matter Of
the first importance TO give the Notice, yet, rather
than permit It to be given in form so objection
able they preferred that it should be withheld al
together. 10 disappearing of the form of the No
tice therefore, the Union, in our Judgment disaP-
proves Of the great object proposed to BIO accom-
plished by giving it that form. We hope, there
FORE that in this also ii does not express the fee
lings or indicate the intention of the Executive
for f il does then indeed and in that event only,
will the language Of the resolution be altogether
unimportant. We will not, however, permit
selves TO doubt that the President will exercise
the discretion" with which he has been invest
ed, as to carry out faithfully the intentions of
Congress, which he cannot possibly msunder.
stand Otherwise, his appeal TO that body for ad.
vice or instruction, or authority to act, was
lemn farce. II had been far better, indeed, that
he should have "tNken the responsibility" in the
outset, OF putting an end to the negotiation by
planting himself upon tho extrome limit Of the
American claim, and closing the door to compro.
mise, than, after having submitted the entire sub.
isct TO the wisdom of Congress, refuse to be gui.
dcd by the clear and manifest indication, 10y an
overwhelming majority, Of the course which that
body thinks he ought to pursue. But we will not
anticipate course of action on the part of the
Executive, so insulting to the Legislative depart.
neni Of the Government and, we may safely add
30 directly ia the teeth Of public opinion, Of which
the action Of that body is unquestionably faith.
fil reflection. Although the disclaimer Of the
Union Of all "connection," on this part Of the Pre-.
siebt, with its iubilant editorial, and its now
ayowcd dsapprobauon Of the shape which wa,
finally given by Congress to the Oregon resolu
ton, are we'll calculated TO inspire serious apprc
hcnsions in the public mind that the pacific pur
poses Of Congress may after all be thwarted by th