Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-04-22

W S'NcOiotO HOhSss uCtC 10 u oOitIlllil1
in the form with which the opinions of the
Senator from Massachusetts have beer
, announced to-day, which, connected witt
the character Of the Senator for abili
lily and influence in this country, make:
that announcement of great importance
in this contest.
Three points he has directly stated: one
is, that in his judgment, the President Of
the United States has made mistakes in re.
ference TO the Oregon question. lie has
in the judgment OF that Senator, made
mistakes Of several descriptions, but main
ly in having asserted the title of the Uni.
ted States to the whole of this Territory
up TO the Russian boundary, and that in
the message in which he recommends the
termination OF the subsisting convention
between the United States and Great Bri.
tain. The Senator from Massachusetts,
thinks that by the assertion of that title in
immediate connexion with the recommen.
dation of notice, the President of the Uni
ted States has embarrassed this question !;
and that therefore, whatever may be the
result Of the action of Congress upon the
recommendations of the Executive, the
President of the United States, and not
Congress, will be held responsible before
the American people-that all the Difficult.
ties which may ensue in reference to the
Oregon question are to be traced back to
this error on the part of the President
committed in his message 10 Congress on
the opening of the session. That is one
of the points made by the Senator.
Now, sir, this is the first occasion, | be-
ieve-the very first occasion on which
have heard in this Senate any fault thus
ascribed by any one who has had no diff.
Guilty in comprehending what the Presi.
dent meant. Other Senators have said,
"if the message means this, am against
IT. and "lt II means that disagree with
IT." But the Senator from Massachusetts,
has no doubt in his mind Of what the Pre-
sdent did mean; he ascribes to him the
commission OF great error in this bust.
ness, and therefore makes him responsible
for all the consequences which may en-.
sue. That is one of the points made by
the Senator from Massachusetts.
Another point Island it is a very i'm
portan! one-that in the judgment of that
greatly experienced and enlightened Sen.
ator, the public opinion Of both the United
States and Great Britain is concentrating
upon fixed mode OF adjusting this diff
Guilty; and that that fixed mode il the as.
sumption as the basis of the adjustment.
not the arbitrary line of 40 degrees, but
the proposition of 1925, which went south
OF that line for the purpose of national ad-
vantage, yielding up the navigation of the
Columbia river to Great Britain.
Now this thing is announced to-day, as
the first announcement in the Senate ofthe
United States of disposition any where,
Though see u in some Of the papers for
The last three days. but the first announce
ment IN the Senate of the United States
OF any body, according to my recollection,
that there is the possibility, in any human
circumstances, OF the United States conce.
ding TO Great Britain the navigation OIL
the Columbia river. That is Inc point to
which l desire to attract the particular at
tention Of the Senate. The public OBI
mon OF the two countries, according to
the Senator from Massachusetts il CON. |
verging TO the point of negotiation upon
the basis of the proposition of 1896, and |
we all know what that was. Now this
strange fact presents itself: that we start. |
ed out at the commencement of this ses-
sion Of Congress with claiming the whole
OF Oregon; at the end of three months
to tremble on the 10th parallels;
and at the end OF three weeks more fall.
ing back even south of that parallel; re-
cedlng every hour, until, by the rules of
legislative progression, three months more
will bring us to the point where we will
the whole country TO Great Bri-
tain in order TO get clear of war.
Mr.. HANNEGAN. Let them try that!
Mr.. ALLEN. All these things convince
me that the President Of the United States
has not committed great error; but that
he has manifested great patriotism and
great judgment in asserting our claim as
with our title 10 the whole
of this territory. The whole of this de
bate, thus far, has proceeded upon the as.
sumplion-which | believe is unsustained
by any reason or fact--a false assumption
that Great Britain has just right to a
part of this country; and that she will sa-
crifce no part of her just rights, but will
fight for them; and that therefore we must
sacrifice part Of our just rights, rather
than fight for them.
Sir, if Congress had the first week Of
the session passed this resolution, and the
next week had followed it up by bill to
extend our laws as recommended by the
Executive, ibis Oregon difficulty would, 10
my Judgment have been by this time set.
tied without blood or the loss Of one acre
of this land of the United States. But