Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-04-16

whenever 1t is shown that the line of 10 deg. was ex-
tended to the Pacific ocean, | will not only close my
mouth and seal my lips against the utterance OF any
claim to the country north of 40 deg, but to any part
of Oregon. But, self-con6dent as the Senator is,
that he holds the Agamemnon Of our lniIe band a
prisoner, he may find himself mistaken. Not one
single document to which be referred-not one para
graph which be read had reference to a foot of land,
with the exception of his aiusion to Lewis and Clark,
west Of the Rocky Mountains. What right had Eng-
land and the United States TO settle a line dividing a
country belonging to Spain! The Senator from Mis-
souri, is perfectly aware that such was never the in
Itention-such was never in the contemplation Of Eng
land and the United States. But this was the pledge
made by the Senator from Michigan. BY this he is
bound and by this, after all that has been said. ex-
press myself also bound. Whenever il can be shown
that the treaty Of Utrecht contemplated the establish
ment of the parallel of 80 deg. west of the Rocky
Mountains, l close my mouth as to Oregon. Spain
was a party to that treaty, but she did not come in,
if | recollect right, till sumo time afterwards. / speak
from recollection, and do not make the statement with
perfect confidence of Its accuracy. but such is nv inn
preston. Spain came into IL afterwards, protesting
that she did not yield any rights on the northwest
coast, and only when that protest was concurred in,
did she become a party. As to France, prior 10 I7I3,
she never asserted a title TO one foot of territory, from
the isthmus of Darien TO the Arctic circle. on the Pa
cihc coast. And yet, England and France, according
to the version which he Mr.. Bentonl gives, and with
the impression which he would produce upon the Sem
ate, and upon the country, parcelled out what we now
call Oregon. Yet, up to that Momentum TO the
signing of the treaty of Utrecht, and long a~terward,
and down to the signing Of the Nootka Sound conven.
ton, before all Europe, with the assent of Christen.
dom. Spain asserted, and maintained, and defended
her title TO the whole of that coast. 1t would be folly
for me TO 90, even for an instant, into the arguments
by Which all this has been sustained. 1t is q notori-
Gus TACT, which no man, Senator, or otherwise, can
controvert. Let me now congratulate one, who most
kindly did me the honor, some time since. in most
fattering language, which at once found its way TO
my heart, to call nc friend an epiihet which | shall
now return to him., with his permisslOn-let me con-
graduate my friend, the distinguished Senator from
South Carolina, (AIr. Calhoun that at last the anti
podes have met-that be has made a convert of the
Senator from Missouri | congratulate him.. He has
now won the highest trophy-the brightest intellectual
trophy which he has ever achieved. He can now
make the proudest boast he ever uttered. The great
leader there (Pointing TO Mr.. Benton,) has become
his Mr.. Calhoun's convert and his subaliern in the
cause of ''masterly inactivity"
'Agamemnon of the little band . and the Aiaxes-
and ], the least of them-'the little Ajax . Sir, |
am not even the lesser Ajax; | am but a poor private
soldier in this cause. l ask no favor and | seek no
reward, save the triumph of the great cause. l ask
for nothing. / should despise myself. If, in a cause
like this, for an instant, | could cherish a feeling Of
sel6shness. | would rather be the little Aiax-ratber
the private soldier, fighting simply for subsistence in
this cause, than to hold my head so high that l could
could not see aught below me rather be the private
soldier than, with my naughty foot, to press the lowly
earth as though 1t were too mean for my tread rather
be the private soldier, than in every look, and attitude,
and act, and expression, procaim-'I am the ruler /!
l will rule or | will ruin and il is Indifferent to me
whether the consequences be rule or ruin.' Sir, be
he who he may, there is in this land, no man so high
as to have it in his power to elevate aud depress pub
lie sentiment in America, at his viii. Be he who he
may, who makes such an attempt, he will speedily
find his level. Little Ajax let it be; but let me re-
mind the Senator from Missouri, that Agamemnon
and the Ajaxes were not the only actors at the siege
of Troy. There was an Achilles there; and we have
an Achilles here. Let the Senator from Missouri be-
ware, lest he be the Hector who will grace the triumph
of this Achilles.
Here there was a loud burst of applase in the gall
leries, which the Presidents re5uke failed to check for
a few moments.
breaches Of order were so indecorous, that he now
gave notice, that if, hereafter. any marks of approha-
ton or diSapprobation should be given in the gale
ries, he would exercise his right as a Senator and
move that the galleries be cleared, without excepting
any individual.
On the I'd Of April, Mr.. Cas- replied at length 70
Mr.. BENToN's speech of the previous day. We are
compelled to omit it to, as it occupies several columns.
Suffice it to say, that it was a triumphant vindicauon
Of the correctness Of the position assumed in his
speech of the 3lst of March. Our account of the
proceedings of the debate, terminates with the con-
clusion of Mr.. CAss's speech.