Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-08-19
Correspondence Of the Public Ledger.
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 10, ls4s.

correspondence OF the fuDl1c LeuSer.
FROM WARRINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 1s4s.
The DEBATE ON THE OREGON BILL.-The
consideration of the Oregon Bill gave rise to
an anticipated debate in the Senate, in which
Mr.. Webster, Mr.. Calhoun, MIR. Berrien, Mr..
Hunter, and number of others, participa-
ted.
Mr.. Webster made short but very inn
pressiye and bold speech against the extension
of slavery; and thus took a decided stand as
Wilmot proviso man. Whether, under
these circumstances, he will be looked upon
as supporter of General Taylor, am una
bic to say certain it is, that this movement
on his part must be considered as indicating
the course which Massachusetts, means TO
pursue at the coming election.
Mr.. Butler, of South Carolina, followed Mr..
Webster, in violent speech, in which he
declared that he should advise the South 10
take up arms and defend itself against North
ern encroachments. He presented no addi-
tional argument, and his speech was not re-
markable, except for the vehemence of his
delivery. The ordinary plea of most South
ern gentlemen is, that they mean to be e.
quals, and that as equals they cannot be ex-
cluded from common territories. They con-
slider slaves as personal property, and claim
the right to carry them where Northern men
carry their goods and chattles.
Mr. Butler was followed by MIR. Hale, in
one of his usual abolition TRADES, in which
the abstract idea of freedom, without refer
ence to position or historical origin or conse-
quence is pressed with the spirit of partisan,
and which made little or no impression on
the listeners.
Mr.. Calhoun made his shortest but best
speech of the session-indeed il was the best
speech ever heard him deliver, and full of
historical data. He showed the progress of
the aboitionists, from few persons Of weak
understanding 10 a political party, courted al.
ternately by minorities on either side, and
gradually assuming a consequence which
threatens the stability of the institutions of
the country. He has come to the conclusion
that the slavery question will not be decided
in Congress; it will be decided out of it. He
could see the struggle coming; and he warn
ed the North to pause. He believed the
South were better prepared for it than the
North, because the white population of the
South were less mixed that the white popu-
latlon of the Norih-they were mostly of the
same Origin-tescended from substantial Eng
lishmen-and united together by common III
terest, similar pursuitsand, the possession
of slaves. Their lives and their property de-
pended on the common defence
The North, he argued, were divided into
many factions, some of them quite as revo.
lutionary and subversive of the order of
things at the North, as they are 10 Southern
institutions. He referred here to the Barn
burner Convention at Buffalo, and TO their
motto of s'free sol'' as well as ''free labor
The question of 'the slavery of rages." which
puzzled the brightest iirtelects of Europe, he
said, would come, and its agitation after the
population of the United States shall have
grown more dense, will be quite as danger
ons in its consequences TO the North, as the
question of the abolition of negro slavery, is
to the South.
Mr.. Calhoun did not enter further into the
consideration of native and adopted citizens,
but merely pointed, at a distance, to the con.
siderations which at some future day may
divide them in politics and religion He
stopped with 'the advantage derived by the
South, from being sprung mostly from sub
stantial English Stock though, by the by, a
large portion of the most substantial families
of South Carolina, trace their origin TO the
French Huguenots! He forgot that a great
deal Of the strength Of the North is derived
from the cross Of breeds, and the interchange
Of ideas, and that 40 long as majorities gov
ern, their acts will be as those proceeding
unity.