The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-03
THE DAILY UNION


selves Have we not that Of the civilized world, to
which We refer our case. with all the circum-
stances attending il But how Is the fact IN regard
10 this matter Of compromse' You may look al tho
whole, from beginning to end, and without one ex.
cepton, believe, these offers Of compromise were
withdrawn, and protest entered, 30 that they might
not be subsequently, brought up against them. Now
how was Mr.. Polk situated in regard TO this Was
he bound in honor as some had insisted, TO renew
those offers made before II he was, his propoSi-
ton, made his coming into Office 10 the British
minister, was dishonorabe one. II he was bound
at all by the precedent set by his predecessors he
was bound TO similar extent, ana MS proposition
ought TO have been similar to theirs. Theirs lnclu'
ded the navigation of the Columbia. His ought to
have included il also. But who believes that No
one II the President, in the exercise Of a sound
discretion was induced to make proposition as he
did, II was not because he was bound IN honor to do
So Ii was done in the exercise OF sound discre-
ZION, and with desire TO preserve the peace of the
country, hoping il would be In accordance with the
sense Of the American people. | will detain you,
sir, but few moments longer | will refer for a
moment to the amendment offered by the senator
from Georgia. lMr. CoLaUIrT | cannot vote for il
IN account of the second clause Here Mr.. A. read
the resolutions as proposed by Mr. CoLQUIrr. !
Now, sir, any one who knows the senator from
Georgia, knows he did not intend TO involve the
doubtless believed that his resolutions would be the
means of effectins il. And yet in my humble con
ception, il we have war, II will be brought about
by giving this form Of notice. If il is passed here
il will be rejected by the House Of Representatives
and then no notice will be given. ! would vote for
that of the House Of Representatives, as the only
means of preserving the peace Of the country. II
this notice 10 carried here, how is il carried By a
.jority Of the democratic paryl No: if it is car
ried at ALL il must be by small fraction Of the dem
ocrats with the nd Of friends the other side
Of the chamber; sndrif so Carried, il will be sure to
be rejected by the House 81 Re representatives.. But
referring back to the 9Th protocol in the negotiations
Of 1904, II will be seen IL contains the following
statement Of the British minister
That resevias for future occasion such
he might wish 10 present BY way Of explanations In
ply to the statement last presented by the American plen
reference 10 tho concluding part OF that statement that n
did not feel aUSrE,d 10 enter irio dIeusIion respecting
tsOry north cfths lsth parallel Of latitude vhieh
fhe side Of hS United States a. tie line eh, Co
Iaa5ia formed that On hs ID Of Grsa britain"
The statement thus made has never been retracteC
at ALL What he says was communicated to Con
gress, and forms part Of our public documents. Thu
British minister declares he would not feel justified
TO negotiate FOR the country north Of 10. Now
while we are acting on the question, we have pro
position Offered, expressive OF earnest desire Il
negotiate and compromise this matter. Nesotiat
for what The British government, we see, declares
its intention was To negotiate for the territory be
tween 40 and the Columbia and il there is any ioun
datlon for putting such construction on the claus
of this resolution 10 favor Of compromise, TO maxi
acquiesce in the expressed intentions of the Brsl
government, | ask, is there a man in this Senate
or in the United States, who would dare to put sucI
a weap pom in the hands of the British minister-wht
would give his vote for IL lapprehend not. hav,
not heard single individual either side, b,
his general views what they may, say he woult
come down short OF 10. ! cannot 60 sir, for tn,
proposition of the gentleman from Kentucky either
1t authorizes the President to give the notce at AM
time within twelve months after the expiration o
the present session Of Congress. do not pretend
sir, 10 be anything Of diplomatist; but think i
we give this notice. the British minister may say h
does not want II; It is given for our own purpose
and benefit; that we want the time specified, or WI
would not give it; and resolve to proceed at once a
at the expiration Of the twelve months. How
would you avoid this would not like to give it a
all unless Congress was in session. One thing fur
Iher in relation TO this convention of 1927:
"AK1 Iii, agreed that any country that may be claim
ed by either Party the northwest coast Of America
ward OF the Stony mountain shall together with its
bors bays and creeks, and the navigate Of all river
within the he free and open for the Of year
from the date OF the signature Of the present convention
to the vessels citizens and subject. Of the two powers
being well understood that this agreement not 10 be
strued 10 the prejudice OF claim which either OF tn
.a eOany noT be to- sse he I'M
other power state to any part OF the said country tn
only object Of the high contracting parties in that respect
sSas to PF'"n' disputes and differences among the"
Now, sir, cannot see FOR the soul Of me, from
this where get the authority to settle this coun
try at all. At the time Of this convention, it was
perfect wilderness. All either party wanted was
passage through this country in pursuit Of the ami
mails of the forest and the fish Of the rivers, and
the country is to remain open, how we have III,
right to settle it, ia to me incompre hensble if W,
are disposed to keep the terms of this convention
do not believe we have. The very act of takin,
possession Of it by the British, of dottng it owe
with FORTS in my opinion abrogated this convention
But how the system of mastery inactivity of the gen
tleman from South Carolina, Mr. CALHOUN ooult
be carried consistently with this convention,
years more, the Willamette valley will be open t
our people, if this question is not now settedi No
i, will be closed up. But | deem it indispensable,
that we give the notice before we settle that coun
try with our emigrants. Ii will be acting in gooc
faith to do So and declare our determination to tn,
world that prepared to settle this question.
am sorry, sir for having detained the Senate 81
long. conclude with the hope that this body vii
pass the notice in some shape. And it seems to me
whether war or peace proceed from it, we it Il
ourselves to settle this long-pending question.
hope we will pass il, and pass 1t without any condi
ton such as will trammel it in the other House
[Crcs of adjourn, adoun."]
THE WASHINGTON TREATY.
Mr.. McDUFFIE here rose to move an adjourn
mont till to. morrow; but yielded to
IvMr. WEBSTER, who expressed the hope tina
the communication received from the Presiden
would be read, as he had a word or two to say OF
it.
The message was then read, stating that, in an
swer to a resolution Of the Senate, the Presden
transmitted copies of certain documents relating tc
the negotiation of the Washington treaty of Au
gust, 1912.
|/Mr. WEBSTER again rose and said, desire t,
say that in the course Of this discussion, from va
rious quarters Of the Senate observations have bee,
made in Disagreement of the treaty of Washington
Of August, 1912. 1t was my fortune, for the goo,
or evil of my country and myself to have hand j,
the negotiation Of that treaty. 1t was much dis
cusscd before the Senate and that discussion has beer
made public. In returning again here, through tn
favor Of the Commonwealth of which | am citi
zen, nothing was further from any purpose of mine
than to revive, reconsider, or discuss over agai
| any of the Questions connected with the treaty
There were sentiments expressed by senator's here
very unfavorable to the Observation-Disclosures which
II