The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-26

MIR j. understood the senator 70 aoo lhht, IRON
THAT he imagined 10 be the determination OF th'
p.,dent as given in this message upon the partieu
an 10 which he (Mr, J.) had just alluded, that h
TNr. ALLEN was authorized to say there had beer
"a change or shadow Of turning The chairman o
n, Committee on Foreign Relations occupies posi-
don leading the public TO believe that he Is Ia some
measure the organ Of the government on this quea
rOn, and he Mr.. j. would, therefore, now ASK
him whether he was authorized TO say that the
President would refuse - negouste on any terms
,hort Of $40 40i
Mr. ALLEN. do not think was ever embar.
n.sed in my life by question being addressed "a
me- and never shall be, in whatever circumstances
may be addressed TO me, because, having but one
motive in this important matter, and that the public
GOOD shall act In strict reference TO that motive
and therefore have nothing 10 conceal or 10 disclose
which wisdom prudence do not require me "a
disclose or TO conceal The President Of the United
States has constitutional mode Of making his SEN
trnenls known TO the two houses Of Congress, and
that is by his official communications. He has re
sorted TO that constitutional mode and has laid upon
YOUR table in unequyoea language his views in this
whole matter. lnstead therefore, Of asking me
what the President msans the senator will more
wisely in consulting the record upon the table What
did say and what am authorized TO say was, that
from the position assumed by the President in his mes,
sage recorded in our journal he has not swersed
in sentiment or opinion one iota. The senator
that it would be my duty, II il were IN my power,
10 answer questions with regard to what the Pres-
d,nt would in future do with regard 10 any negoa
ion. lie would hardly expect the President to an
,wer that question. The Senate takes precautions
| against such questions by always incorporating
with resolutions for information the phrase "h, In
biz (Ihe Presidents) Judgment i can be req
d,red consistently with The public interests"
IN q question like the present, no circumstance
could Justify any man TO speak Of the future
,elion Of any department Of the government.
have said nothing moe with regard TO the yivs OF
ts President than what is recorded officially.
nave only said and repeat IL, that IN the first place
B, says this proposition TO a line on the para
| ii Of ago was made in Difference TO what had been
done by his predecessors, and not as thing emana-
n.ung from his own free will. | have said, that
liter having Withdrawn that proposition, he resumed
he ground Of his original, personal opinion by re-
asserting our claim and title up TO the Russian
boundary That's what said. | further said, that
from the ground thus assumed, the President had
no, ehAnged--that he stood Just where he stood
when he made this communication OF his views to
he country.
Mr. PENNYBACKER rose and said. approve
oflhs amendment Of tho senator from Georgia, and
DO 90 because 1t exhibits justice and wisdom. ]
vii for il; but before came to that conclusion,
found it necessary to satisfy myselfin some meas
ur ofhe probability OF the measure being brought
bout ! was not ignorant Of the fact hat the Pres
dent OF the United States had Withdrawn the prop
osdon Of compromise, and had given his opinion
hat no compromise that we should accept could be
lgrsed upon. Nevertheless, it never entered my
head that any body could rashly entertain the belief
that all Oregon could be obtained by negotiation;
and with all res ect for the opinions Of those who
|. have placed their construction on the Presidents
ntsssge-lhat he will not be satisfied with less than
Ii, whole territory-l must ifer from them. How
can entertain the opinion that the President would not
be willing that this matter should be settled short Of
so 49, when | remember that in the very despatch
u Of Mr. Buchanan in which he demonstrates our ii.
lie 10 $40 40, he makes The proposition under in
Eucons from the President Of the United States to
have the mt tier settled on the basis Of ago. In
the very letter, air. which maintains the clear and
questionable title OF the United States to $40 40, il
the proposition made thai the matter shall lie adj
usted on the parallel of ago and giving Great Brit
ain Vsncouver's island. Well, the proposition was
made, but not accepted; and then il was the Presi
dent withdrew what seemed to be, from the gener-
lhy Of the language used, the proposition of com.
promise; although the language used, If particu-
Ary scrutinized, it would mean no more than this:
hat he withdrew the specific offer Of ago with Van.
ouver's island, leaving the general question of
compromise still open. Well, what further do we
ind on this subject do not pretend to be in pos
rsion Of any knowledge more than IL possessed
by members in general Of this body of the course
he executive will pursue in this matter; nor am L
L desr0us oil II, because L snail he NEEDING with
natter not belonging to me. But SIR is il not folly
10 say that when the fer of ago was made, it was
considered by the Secretary of State as the utmost
Unit TO which the United States could go, or that
when the boundary Of the Columbia was proposed
uuh part Of Great Britain, it was regarded as the
extreme point at which their proposals should atop,
and that all negotiation must rest there, IL that
Be the view we are to take, it was placing the ques-
hon on much narrower ground Than the President
Indicated in authorizing Mr.. Buchanan to make the
Proposition. What was the consequence of with
drawing the proposition II was to extend the
oasis Of negotiation, and to give the opportunity to
the United States Of negotiating on other and proper
grounds. Why, sir, in the very letter of Mr.. Bu-
;Nanan in which he withdraws the offer of compro-
mise. and asserts the title 10 $40 4V he expresses the
hope that the matter may be settled, and happily ad
listed.
How adjusted, unless by negotiation and compro-
mSe2 have already said that the title was asserted
$50 40 in Mr.. Buchanan's letter; and particularly
wish gentlemen to refer to it rrefragable argyll
men, sustaining the title Of the United States $40 40
What else : In the letter of Mr.. b. in which he re-
ts the offer of arbitration, he says in still stronger
md more decided language, that it is useless to re-
1H 10 arbitration; that the interests of the two ma
hons great that they should be able TO do each
Gher Justice. How can understand that as pre-
Guiding arbitration for less than $40 4U' construe
The message IN this way: that although the Presi-
dent uses strong language, the question is still open
hls opinion TO negotiation; and have no doubt
hat if the British minister would bring this up as
@ offer ofnegotiation, tho President is still ready
compromise in an honorable way. In my opinion
can have no objection to the senator from Georgia's
,nsndment, because II does nothing more than JUS
tee to the President, and because it attaches the
nght meaning to his expressions. shall vote for
1t corects the construction put upon the Presi-
@nt's message here, and perhaps elsewhere, and
gives what consider to be its clear and evident
meaning.
Mr. JOHNSON. | desire Mr.. President,
make one or two remarks in explanation. |
Ssh to say sir, that it was far from my purpose in
putting the question did to the chairman Of the
Committee of Foreign Relations, to give him the
slightest offence embarrassment; and am sorry
he the first to do this or any other question,
he says. My purpose was to ascertain from the
honorable senator, whether the President of the
United States would adhere to the determination he
supposed him to express in his message of I'd De-
Hmoer am comparatively fresh in things Of this
description, and not of course SO well versed in
Shat is proper the senator from Ohio; but was
w 10 believe that the chairman Of the Committee
"foregn Relations was possessed Of information
relation To the affairs Of the country in greater
Veeee than other members Of the Senate; and il
v" under that impression asked whether there
Il in yieu of hal he Cd