The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-04-03


over the circumstances Of their day, and un
der which they acted. Look Of the men
concerned. Look at Monroe-at Rush
a, Clay; II would be hard, indeed, 10 pro.
nounce men like these TO have been either
unpaifloilc or unaise. Or, If We look at
the great names Of those who have since
acqulesced 10 the measure they acopisd--Hi
Jackson, and at others sinee--lt would be
hard TO say that such men deliberately ac-
guessed IN an arrangement hostile to the
best interests Of their country. do not
name the promiocat individual concerned,
Understood TO refer to Mr.. Adams be.
cause his course since that time has cancel.
led any previcJs credit TO winch he might
have entitled himself.
Such was the state Of things when this
resolution Of notice was first introduced into
the Senate. Since then, as | have SAID,
there has been q mighty change: public
opinion has developed itself, no. only on
this, but on the other side Of the Atlantic;
and that voice Of public opinion has uttered
itself mos, audibly and clearly IN favor Of
compromise. Here, too, The same change
has been manifested lnsomuch that | haz.
ard nothing when say that large, very
large majority Of lhis body is al this mo.
meni in favor Of a compromIse-an honora'
Bile compromise. And does not all the Ian.
guage and conduct Of the British Govern.
ment itself clearly demonstrate that II IS IN
favor of a compromise and Substantially
on the basis which we have ourselves offer
ed Sure am that no intelligent and re
fleeing man can read the language OF SIR
Robert Peel 10 reply 10 Lord John Russell
and not see tina, he is prepared 10 act on
proposition substantially the same with that
which was rejected by MIR. Pakenham.-
THIS declaration Of the Premier OF Great
Britain was made with very great effect
his object in making II was not 10 censure
the able and very iaihiul representative Of
Great Britain 10 this country, but to give
emphasis to the assurance that he was
ready TO make Just and fair compromise
of the disputed question. hope sincerely
that our Government has no; overlooked
tina, declaration; il was direct step to-
wards compromise, and ,tus, il has been
met in the same spirit. trust that intel
ligence has, before this time, gone abroad
10 Great Britain TO that effect, so as TO re.
move The only difficulty which now lies 10
the way.
Under the views that entertain, it 10 no
longer a question whether our difficulties
may be Practically arranged or not nor is
il even question as TO the manner; Il is
simply question Of time. But there ought
10 be no delay, because the business OF both
nations and Of the world requires tina, Il
should be settled. Ga great, and momen
tous, and delicate questions like these, there
ore the highest public reasons why there
should be no delay. Ohce settle the ques.
ton Of Oregon, and We may then settle the
question Of Mexico but TIL then, Mexico
will calculate the chances Of q rupture be.
tween Us and Great Britain, and # she sees
any chance Of war against US, she vii! 60
over TO the power which makes war upon
as, Remove these chances, pu % anI to
such hope, and Mexico Will speedily set.
tie every pending question beta cen her and
the u. States; and then, | trust, shat We
shall deal generously with her. She is
weak-feebe in the extreme and trust
tina, we shall adopt no harsh measures with
her.
have now explained the change which
has taken place IN the bearing Of this meas
ure Of notice on the questions OF peace and
war. The change consists 10 this: that
when tho notice was recommended there
existed no hope Of compromise, bat now
the highest and most confident hope is felt
by almos, all. Now, therefore, there is no
great interest connected with our deciding
This question Of notice, Que way or another.
Just 10 proportion as the prospect of com.
promise was small, the importance of thu
notice was great but, as the prospect Of
compromise increases, the measure of no.
tIce becomes Of less and loss importance.
Wc have nov reached point when we
can decide the question without much feel.
ing on either side.
now proceed to inquire what is the
bearing OF this measure on the position OF
the Executive; ADD what on the position Of
the parties 10 this body.
The conduct Of The Executive must now
be greatly changed. He must act very DIFF.
ferently now from what he would have done
when he recommended the notice under the
persuasion that there could be no compro.
mise, but that We must assert our rights by
arms. That he can advise the same thing
now which he advised rher. is impossible.
Then, he had not the remotesr expectation
of a compromise. lfnov he has a differ.
ent view, and thinks that Great Britain is
ready TO meet US with an offer such as We
made, | here say that, If be shall now de-
cline that Offer, da mt envy HIN the con.
sequences that shall follow. The change
which has taken place is no. a change IN
the President; II is a change iu the state
of things. So far from lis being any incon.
sisiency, II is, on the contrary, the highest
consistency TO agree to compromise when
matters have reached a point which was
not contemplated when he sent us his mes
sage. There is prevalent among US great
error in regard 10 this matter of consls,en.
cy. Some persons think that consistency
afg - 4.