The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-04-05

WAsasoros, April .. Il


The debate ia the Senate, during the present
week, has assumed avery interesting shape. I, has
developed the hitherto hidden views Of the proml-
neni Senators upon both sides of the Chamber, as
70 the course oil action which they will respectively
oil ow upon IT, when the Oregon question comes
up for final decision The cross cutting between
General Casa and MIR. Benton has created consider
able attention IN all quarters, and among all partiss
and the retort upon the latter by Mr.. Hannegan, in
language at once eloquent and biting, amounting al
most to bull OF accommodation from the party Of
which the Hon Senator from Missouri has been FIR
so long period distinguished member, has caused
politicians to speculate largely upon the probahle
result of this ugly affair, well as the perm anen
cy or proximafe destruction OF the administration
The retort OF General Cass upon Mr.. Benton. on
Wednesday, and the denial OF that gentleman that
the treaty Of Utrecht contained provision se,tIiar
the boundary line at -. west of the Rocky Noun
tans, which he enforced the day before, and during
General Cass's absence, with 90 much energy and
self confidence In Its TRUTH has caused his friends
some pain; bat as is the case in all similar diem
mas, In which great men are occasionally caught,
their friends are not willing 10 admit that a little
fur pas OF this sort is enough to forfeit the respect
which they previously had for the Senator from
Missouri, and 30 they try to make out that he was
not "cornered." In such times, tits true,
men are oftener swayed by their passions
and prejudices in favor OF those tor whom they
have at all times been previously enlisted. than
by their reason and, consequently, it is difficult
either TO express correct opinion, or obtain one,
as TO the truth of the subject under notice
With respect TO Mr.. Benton's course now and
his course on the same subject in 1925, l am dis
posed TO think they are somewhat different In this
view Of the case, am sustained by the gentleman's
own speech, made in the United States Senate on
the frat OF March Of that year. Il will be remem-
bered that Mr. Benton, on Tuesday last. endeavored
to make 1t appear that the treaty OF Utrecht guar
emitted, or countenanced the extension of the line
10, from the Lake Of the Woods across the Rocky
mountains, indefinitely. Now, SIR, it Is known,
what glance at the map will show, that that line
would intersect the Columbia river, and OF course
the the valley OF that river-the whole OF which the
United States claim In Mr.. Benton's speech OF
March l, 1925, which have been to some trouble
to hunt up among the documents in the library of
Congress, find that Senator saying, that twenty
years ago, the contest between Great Britain and
the United States commenced about that river
The contest commenced with the discovery oil the
river itself. The moment we discovered il, she
(England) claimed IL; and without color Of tito
in her hand she has labored ever since 70 over
reach us in the art Of negotiations or to bully us out
of our discovery, by menaces OF war"
II then, England, twenty years before tho year
people out OF what they had not shadow Of title
to, how comes it now that constructive title for
England to this very territory Is urged by him who
denied 1t In toto then This Is not party quos-
ton al ALL II is one belonging properly to all par
ties-to the nation and when public men fly from
their. former positions upon important subjects Of
this nature, it is right that the country should know
4 Again, Mr -, bsnson says aa iIS'. ,1 Uspsin
Alexander Mckenzie was sent from Canada to ex-
pore the country west OF the Rocky Mountains, for
the same object; and in 1903 Lewis and Clarke were
sent by Mr. Jefferson to explore the river from its
SOURCE, which they did In the year 1903 the
United States acquired Louisiana, and with it
an open question OF boundary for that vast
Il was to be settled with the King OF Spain.
II happened at the very time this treaty was being
signed in Paris for Louisiana, that representatives
OF this country were signing one IN London for
the adjustment of the Northeastern boundary be.
tween the possessions Of Great Britain and the
United States. The former was ratified by tbs
Senate, and the latter. with the exception Of the
article relating to the line from the Lake, OF the
Woods, to the head waters Of the Mississippi, was
striker out by the Senate. and thus sent back to
London, where il was rejected. In 1907 another
treaty was negotiated, in which efforts were made
by the British government to overreach the Ameri-
with respect to the territory west OF the Rocky
Mountains. Without presenting any claim, they
endeavored to ieIce nest egg for future prsfes-
sions in that quarter Estate papers, lS22S) IA
naly, an article was agreed to, west, as far az tbs
territories OF the two countries extended in that d.
rectlon, with provso against Its application To
country west Of the Rocky Mountains The treaty
shared the tate OF that OF 1903. For causes uncon-
nected with the question OF boundary, It reject
ed by Mr.. Jefferson, without reference to the
Senate"
After many similar passages like the foregoing,
Mr.. Benton said, the truth IS, Mr. President, Great
Britain color of title the country ques-
ton. She sets up none to it. There is not paper
upon the face of the earth In which British Min
lister has stated claim. speak OF the Kings Min
listers, and not OF the agents employed by the
The claim OF Great Bri.
tain is nothing but naked pretenslon, founded in
the double prospect OF benefting herself and nur-
ing the United States. The fur trader, Sir Aexan-
der MkenzIe, Is at the bottom OF this policy Fall
ing his attempt to explore the Columbia river in
1893. he nevertheless urged upon the British gov
ernment the advantage of taking il to herself and
OF expelling the Americans from the whole OF
the region west of the Rocky Mountains
Mr. Benton concluded his able speech by saying
that the American people would never submit to be
robbed or buied ont OF their soil in thar region.
These extracts are curious IN themselves,
showing how great politicians will, at times, change
their positions, according 10 circumstances. Mr..
Benton, as Is well known, Is not on the best terms
with the administration, and without imputeng to
him any improper motives for his course now,s dii
ferent from his course 1925 upon the question
il may be fairly asked why IT 10 so. The game OF
politics curious, and the patriotism OF the pol
itcian go apocrorhal. that with some persons It il
not difficult to assign the proper reasons for these
changes The country wants the que stlon settled
satisfactorily, in some way or oher as soon as prac
tcable; and II would better become the dignity and
character Of the Senate, if they were TO eschew
President making for the present, and pass the
tce resolutions in such form that the other house
would have trouble In meeting them also. IL
they do not, the country will be kept for years in
constant state OF excite men which, to its indus
tria pursuits, will be- in the end, as bad as war
ARsKL.
WARRINGTON, April 3, l8a8.
Mr.. McDr6ie-Fifty-Fosw Forty-Local Affairs.
W. .~coo.. .xox,~cdnr, ocelar<ht ,,ncn nx~c~r