The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-01-23
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.

~ TIE OEtGaN QUESTION.
TUesdoH Drcen.Jer 80, 1916.
Mr.. lIANNEGAN having concluded bis Sc.
cond remarks following Mr.. CLAYroY)-
Mr.. CALHOUN said he was no greater
advocate for the acquisition of territory Ia
the South than in the North. The honor
able Senator VAS perfectly aware Of his sen.
tlmcuts upon this subject. Whilst he was
Il member Of Mr.. Monroe's Cabinet he had
always been avcrse TO disturb the posses
sion oil Spain 10 Cuba he was so now he
would be the last man to make such move
meut. When the proper time should ar.
live, and this sutlec. be brought up for dis
cusslOn, he thought be would be able 10
show, beyond all doubt, that the reasons
which governed hlm upon the Texas ques.
Ton, governed ham also upon this question ;
aud that Il there were any difference be-
tween the Senator uud himself, it was only
as to the means to he employed in efIecting
the same result. He desired more petticu
lally to make some remarks 10 reference TO
the observations Of the Senator from Della
ware. lie assured the Senator that he was
as much ayerse 10 forcing discussion as
the Senator himself could be; bot he thought
the Senator vas entirely mistaken IN sup
posing that this was not a case 10 which
the Senate vas called on to exercise The
right Of Discussion aud Of action. With
great difference for The opinions ot the sen
ator, he thought there ought 10 be no doub,
Ieit upon THIS Eoiut either here or before
The world, as they were called upon TO say
yea or nay IA good IaIIh before The whole
world.
Uuder such declaration as Tint con.
tanned IN the resolutions submitted by the
Senator from Indiana, acted on and adopted
by the Senate, the inference vii be, that il
YOU make q treaty IN relation to Oregon,
that treaty can have no obligatory iotce,
because you declare that there exists no
power IN this Government TO yield OF trans.
ftr any part Of the territory. Now, MIA,
is the character Of my amendments Are
obey advisalofy No; they are simply a
denial Of the position assumed by the Ieso-
lotions Of lie Senator. Aud hence, though
| dm ayerse 10 discussion upon these mat
Iers generally, yet thuk that this is the
proper occasion for discussing aud deciding
the point, SO tia! there may be no hesIlGn-
cy or doubt in the mind Of the Executive,
or Of these with whom we may have TO
treat upon this question, as TO The views en-
,erlaned by the Senate 10 relation to il.
And thiuk it the more necessary, because
there has been growing tendency to deny
the authority Of the Government TO settle
by treaty questions between US and other
Powers relating TO territory.
Sir, my last resolution, 10 " hich the Sen.
ator has alluded, as laudlng the President,
simply negatives the implication that IN ma
king the offer OF the forty ninth parallel the
Presden, had abandoned the honor Of the
country, or sacrificed lis best interests, or
exceeded the power vested 10 him by the
Constitution 10 make treaties. Is this au.
dation 1t IS neither more uer less then
simple denial Of the position assumed by the
resolutions Of the Senator from Indiana.
Mr. ALLEN said he should take no part
in the general discussion upon these resolu
tons. He merely desired to say that no
did not think with the Senator from South
Carolina, ha: the Senate ought 10 keep
back all measures OF practical utility, IN or.
der TO make room for barren discussion
upon abstract pro, osltons. He understood
the Senator from South Carolina to say that
discussion ought 10 be had upon the whole
subject in relation 20 Oregon. However
wiling | may be continued MIR. A. to 90
INTO a discussion upon his subject, do not
want any discussion or action OF tins body
to pre-, ede that action which will produce
results. refer to the notice TO be given
to Great Britain for the termination Of the
joint occupancy Of Oregon, and which will
secure our rights and the ultimate paclhca.
ton Of the controversy. That is all have
to say.
Whether these resolutions contain true
analysis Of the powers Of this Government,
according to the provisions OF The Consltu
ton, /. is not my purpose at present to at
firm or deny. rose solely for the purpose
of saving that | will lend my agency TO any
effort which may lie made IN the proper
spirit TO give the question lis proper dlrec
ton before the country, by giving notice to .
Great Britain, and by extending the lurs .
dlcuon of this Government over the terri. ,
tory.
War and war party have been spoken
Of. Fit be meant by this that there is
class of men Who want war for the sake of
war, il describes class with which | am
entirely uuacquainted ; md it is therefore
that |, in my limos, heart, regret 10 hear
from the lips Of the pre- eminent (tor will
not stop al the term emInent) Senator from
South Carolina, that any proposition INTRO.
duced into thus body might have the effect
to divide the body in such woy as 10 make
it appear that there were men here, or any
where in this country, who desired war for
the sake Of war.
Without referring 10 The necessities which
sometimes exist for bringing into action The
martial energies Of the country tor me pro-
lection Of national honor and national inter
ests If the Senator desired to be understood
as saying that those who so for the whole
of Oregon are TO be denounced as the main .
tancrs and promoters of war, merely be-
III thar ,,4,,.,nns tho