The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-14

August 9Th, 1916.
ENos Lowe, to be receiver of public moneys for
the same district.
THE FIRST SESSION OF CONGRESS UNDER THE
PRESENT ADMINISTRATIONS.
Monday last brought TO close the labors of the
FIRST session ofthe twenty-ninth Congress. At such
moment-at the conclusion Of the first legislative
chapter Of the history Of this administration-the
mind of the country naturally turns to review of
tho course Of our national politics during the pc
rod, in which the helm has been held by those who
now guide the ship of state. The sentiment, we
think, is universal, that hardly any previous admin.
istrauon Of our government has, during the first
eighteen months Of its career, leh broader and
stronger mark, for good for evil, upon the map
Of our national polity. Certainly no Congress
within our recollection has been summoned to the
discussion Of weightier or more momentous topics
Grander questions have hardly come into public de-
bate, since our government was established
And is il not the honest pride and boast Of the
present administration, and of the present Congress-
that almost all Of these most interesting questions
hare received solution, in the MAN, satisfactory to
the sober and intelligent judgment Of the people'
Great work has been done. And though in certain
sections Of our country, considerable differences of
opnion-entitled Of course to all toleration-among
those usually united in political sentiment may for
time prevail still believe that the "sober second
thought" Of the whole democracy will mainly
approve and ratify the doings Of its representa-
tiVes.
Even under the pressure of the great reforms in
our domestic pOity, to which the present Congress
was pledged when it came together, the mind Of
our people turned with keener interest, if not with
deeper disquietude, to the condition Of our foreign
relations. The present administration, when il
came into power, found the Texas question in lis
most critical Stage Annexation, our part, had
been solemnly resolved upon. The dispute as to
the boundary had been strenuously urged to pre-
vent that resolve and had been urged in vain. Tex.
up to the Del Norte was to come into the Union
But to the end that Mexican pride and puncillo
might be propitiated, negotiation to be had with
that power in liberal spirit 10 adjust the equivalents
on the boundary question to the mutual satisfaction
Of the parties In this state Of things, Mexico re-
fused all adjustment and all negotiation, and with
threats Of hostility broke off all her diplomatic rea
tons with u.s. At the same time, France and Eng.
land interfered to thwart our deliberately chosen
policy, and to prevent by intimidation or by intrigue,
the Texans from accepting our overtures At this
crisis Of the question-painly its crisis Of great
dficuty-the present administration undertook its
management. And that management, from its very
inception down to the present moment, has been
one unbroken series Of triumphs both of council
and of arms. The manly frankness of our Texan
diplomacy put to shame and put to flight the Texan
emissaries of France and of England. The Texan
people came into our Union unanimously. The fore
cast Of government in sending minister to
Mexico made manifest to all the world that we were
actingin good conscience and in spirit of peace,
and that the whole responsibility and the whole
guilt Of war, if war should come, lay not with us,
but with her. Before we struck a blow on
the battle field, zee had gained a verdict
from the civilized world. The war came, only to
bring with it series of triunphs, rejecting new
lustre the American arms. And even then The right
remained 10Th us, and the world acknowledges that
we are fighting in spirit of justice, and not of OPP
precision We believe that our war, carried on with
all vigor while it lasts, will close long, and that,
when it closes, the public opinion of Christendom
will yet more fully confirm the judgment, even now
not withheld, that we have made war with desire
for peace, AID solely for the maintenance of our
rights. The issue of the whole Texan question
thus far, is that Texas is ours; that army sees
its way open to the Mexican capital; and that Mex
leo has brought upon herself, and has deserved all
that she endures.
Upon the other great question Of our foreign rela
tons, which it has fallen to the lot of this admins
traton to conduct--the Oregon queston--we shall
speak with entire frankness. 1t had remained an
open question, incapable of settlement through sew
en- successive presidential terms. During all this
period had not aduancsd step to,oards adjustment
1t has been adjusted finally and forever within the
first eighteen months Of the present administration.
Every patriot, both in England and America, must
rejoice that mode Of adjustment without war has
been found. Every man Of candor in both countries
must admit the bodness and the breadth of the poll
cy, with which tEo present Executive presented and
shaped the issue before the world. 1t recommend
ed the notice to be given; and il this meas ure
which brought the question to issue, and finally eff
feced an adjustment of the differences between the
two countries. That the policy of the Executive
has been in every respect fully sustained by both
capable of achieving, and which, if thus sustained
it doubtless would have achieved, cannot be pretend
cd. The Oregon question ofthose vast terrific
rial issues inrelation to which different sections Of the
great democratic party, not unnaturally, per.
haps, entertained somewhat discordant views.
That these views have been harmonzed by the ad. |
mlnistration into result so satisfactory upon the
whole as the existing Dragon treaty. is matter of
honest and general congratulation The present
administration has gained settlement of the con-
troversy in the main as favorable to us as any pre-
vous administration has asked for, and much more
than Great Britain had offered 10 any preceding
administration. When the exctements of the hour
shall have settled into the sober judgments Of his
tory, this will be held to be high and enduring
honor. As the treaty stands before us at this mo-
ment it means nothing less than permanent psac,