Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-04-11


there is nothing in the Executive commu |
nicaiions to show us that the President
does expect war. He must, then, expect
nothing but 4 continuance Of the present
dispute or a seltIemet of of it by negotla
ltion. Blu, how is it to be settled? On
what terms? On what basis? All thar
we hear is, ''the whole Of Oregon or none!"
And yet there is 10 be negotiation. We
cannon conceal from ourselves ort the world
the gross Inconsistency of such conduct.
| 1t is the spirit Of the whole negotiation,
on our part, that Oregon is ours; there isl
nothing like admitting even doubt on
| the part Of ourselves or others, as to that
position; and yet we are 10 negotiate!
What is negotiation? Does any gentle.
man expect that the Administration are,
by negotiation, TO persuade Great Britain
to surrender the whole Of what sho holds
in Oregon? They may do this; cannot
say they will not. If that is their expec-
tallon, let them try their hand at 1t; Il
wish them success. That is, wish they
may get sail of Oregon" if we can; but
let our argument be lair, and lie, us settle
| the question reasonably.
But do not understand the position
we are placed in. The Executive seems
to be for negotiation, but against taking
anything but the whole o. Oregon. What
is to be the ground of negotiation?
What is the basis on which it IS to pro
coed? If the Executive has made up
his mind not to treat for less than the
whole, he shouds4y so, and throw him.
self at once on the two Houses Of Con
gress.
am entitled to make this remark, be-
cause 1t cannot be disguised that the pro
babIe effect of this notice is viewed very
differently by very intelligent gentlemen,
all friends Of the Administration, on this
floor. The Senator from Georgia, Mr..
CoIquitt) regards ii as measure tending
to peace; he expects, he hopes, peace
from it, aud he thinks the expression OF
such opinions as he aVows will enable the
4 Administration to SECURE the peace OF the
country There are certain other gen
Itemen, and among them the honorable
Senator from Michigan { Mr. Coss,) whe
are much less ardent 10 their hopes Of
peace. That Senator's impression has
f teen that if we pass this notice, there is
r possibility and prospect Of war: and so
. against the gentieman's own declaration;
aud disavowaIs, his. speeches generally
, terminate in the expression that war /
2 inevitable.
Mr. Cass here rose, amid genera
+ smile, and sail, No, much laughter, no
never used the word and beg leave t.
contradict the statement. have beer
q afra id OF war This, allow, has been
4 any position, and hope shall neither be
. misunderstood nor misrepresented. | d.
i not mean 10 say that the Senator iron
I Massachusetts intends to mIsrepresent me
Il MIR. Internationally not,
Mr.. Cass.-What said was, that w
= we're called on by the President to give
this notice; that if we gave it, and Their
! was no negotiation, and England. did no
q recede. and we went on to caGry out In
a Io,her measures recommended oy the fres
n ident. that then war would be certain
!. Ca laugh.) will repeat my position.
al say, il we give his notice, and there shall
,s be no negotiation; and if Eng land adhere'
+ to her professions, and we goon to take
70 possession, then there will be - gen
i tlemen may use aay term they please
e Much merrment.l
II Mr.. Webster.--The only contngenc
, the Senator fears is that England WI
! continue her claim. Now, would as
ID the honorable Senator whether he expect
it that England will ever surrender all q
Oregon TO any power on earth!
,e Mr.. Cass. have my doubts that sh
e will. asked, as long ago as IN Octooe
lie last, when she had ever relnqushed an,
IS claim to territory she ever had set up
10 Mr.. Webster. Exactly; and 1t come
g to the same thing Fhe gentleman tnlnN'
d we shall not recede, and England VIII DC
r. recede; and, then. what more Likely t
" happen than war? lido not charge IN
je gentleman with saying that "war was 'nt
,r vnable;" but what he did say yet rings /
NJ nv ears, and on every return OF the Tx
O. language | am reminded Of the sentenc
ar with which the Roman Senate: ended al
n. his speeches, "DeiaRda est Carthage
of am DESTROYS OF expressing the sent
X ment--( without wishing TO emoarrass III
n administration; if negotiations are Pen'
h, ing will hold my tongue; my tongu
-. shall be blislered before ! will say an.
ra thing against our own tlle so long as nt
he gotatIons are pending, but the Presdei
If must see the embarrassment under wh'c
we stand; am willing TO aid the Adm''
,iv is,ration, and will aid 1t to obtain all
,n which we are justly en'llIea)-'ha'
na. must know something of the views eXPe'
is ,ations, ends, and objects OF the Ffes'oe l
ed in recommending this notice | cann'
de. much longer be quiet in the existing P1
NV nre of affairs; when no measures OF u'
-, fence are recommended 10 U.S. but neg
~ tia,ion held out as likely to of'ng u