The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-07-22

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ed the South and left him and few others alone by the
side Of the -ated owners OF the Comet Enconium, En-;
S s dGes not y b s
marks that il by voting in favor of the Ashburton
treaty, which contained stipulation in favor OF the
owners of those vessels. II is trick OF his 10 make
his charges very vaguely so as make it difficult to
detect his errors and repel his sanderous attacks.
admit that | voted for the Ashburton treaty. did
opinion of its friends saved it from rejection. Its fate
was doubtful The opposition. headed by Col Benton,
was violent. and it required two-thlrds to confirm the
treaty am willing to take whatever share OF respon-
sbliiy he may think proper TO ailot to me for voting
for it look with no little satisfaction to my course
the occasion, from the belief that rendered then
adoption the first link in that series OF causes by
which war between Great Britain and us was averted.
Who is there SO blind as not TO see that II the
treaty had been rejected, could have been avoid
ed The two countries in truth the very eve
OF rupture, the way events were moving at the time,
without either being aware Of it, AT the very next SEES.
sion the Oregon question for the first time assumed dan
gerous and menacing aspect A. bill was introduced I'M,
medatey after Its opening which covered the whole OF
that territory the object Of which commence sys
tematcay the work OF colonization and settlement on
our part. took my seat in the Senate two o, three
the bill its passage without opposition and apparent
y without division OF opinion. ! saw the danger 10 the
peace Of the two countries, and that the time had come
to take stand TO save IT, determined TO do my duty
regardless of consequences to myself ! rose and op
posed it, and thereby exposed myself to the opposition OF
the entire West, which was strongly IN its favor MY
pending in the Senate before the people for the high
est honor in their gplaced there, not BY myself but
ng al the presidency to which he attrbaies my course
on the treaty, to sway me from the path of dutyl
My stand prevented the bill from becoming law, and
that constituted the second link the series Of by
which were enabled to avert war between the two
countries Col Benton then went for the BILL and was.
believe, for the whole OF Oregon Had the treaty been
rejected at the preceding session. the stand took, and
the resistance made 10 the bill would have been all in
vain Itwoad have passed. and the country been pre-
Mps nao s
about Oregon, and similar bills introduced the
succeeding sessions which failed by small maiorhes.
In the time negotiations were commenced, and the
claim to the whole OF Oregon made. The cry was all
none and strong the current in its favor that
both parties yielded to it in the early part of the session
a short time before the session commenced, and took my
seat several weeks afterward and felt the strength
Of the current but resolved to breast it. and the
peace OF the whole country il possible / was arrested
aud counter current created. Col Benton himself
yielded TO the counter current and delivered speech
after the battle won, in which he belabored those
who stuck to all none," after he found that they
were in minority twas this chain of causes OF
which the Ashburton treaty was the first and indispensa
BILE link, which averted war; and by saved the two
countries from Of the greatest caamtes which could
have befalen them, and, might add the civilized world
shall remem Der with proud satisfaction that took
prominent lead, and highly responsible part the
side OF peace throughout the whole.
also admit that the treaty contained stipulation in
favor of the owners OF the vessels any prevent
United il to be in my speech in favor OF il not suti-
Gent to induce lis rejection But, although the treaty
contained stpulations to guard against like outrages
thereafter, much, nevertheless was done in the negoa
ton to prevent them and 10 place the South much
elevated ground in reference the subject than
where il stood when the negotiation commenced To
understand how much was done towards this, a brief
statement OF facts connected with the OF those re-
ports is necessary.
and all either stranded their voyage from the At
lantic ports TO those the Gulf or the British posses
sions Bermuda and the Bahama islands, forced put
into their ports by stress OF weather, themselves
from shpwreck ca5ried in by the rising of the
slaves and taking the vessel into port Their fate
the same The slaves were liberated under circumstances
OF more less violence and ndgniiy by the local au
thory. The outrage was enormous, and the insult to
the American flag great The first occurred as early as
the year $780, and all under the administration OF Gen
Jackson or MIR. Van Buren, except the Creole Applca
ton made TO the Executive by the for re-
dress After feeble and tame negotiation of many
years the British government agreed compensate the
in the OF the Comet and Encomum, but re-
fused TO make any IN that OF the Enterprise. the
ground that the two first occurred before her OF abolish
ing slavery had gone into operation and the other after
had The administration (Mr Van Buren's) accepted the
compensation and acquesced in the refusal in the OF
the Enterprise without remonstance protest. and thus
waived right and admitted the absurd and
principle on which the refusal was placed
What the administration shamefuy omitted to do
resolved 10 do through the Senate If possible and with
that vew and in order TO perpctuae our claim of right
moved in the Senate, in $780, the three following res
outions, and succeeded in passing them by unanimous
voting for them but not standing by me- he saws for
he never uttered a word in their support:
Rssoiusd That ship n vessel the high seas in
time OF peace, engaged Ia lawful voyage Is according
TO the laws Of nations under the exclusive jurisdiction OF
the State TO which her flag belongs much II
stitutng part OF its own domain.
Rssoipsd, That II snch ship vessel should be forced
by OF weather other unavoidable cause into
port OF friendly power, she would under the laws
lose none OF the rights aPperainng to her the high
but on the contrary she and her cargo and persons on
board, with their property, and all the rights belonging 10
their personal relations established by the laws the
protection which the laws OF nations the unortu
nate under such circu
Rssopsd, That the brig Enterprise which was forced
unavoidaby, by stress Of weather, into Port Hamilton Ber
from one part Of the Union another, within the
principle embraced In the foregoing esoutions and TINT
the seizure and deienton the negroes board by the
local authorities Of the island violation OF the
whom they belonged"
Such the condition in which the administration of
Mr. Van Buren, left these outrageous cases They never
were brought to the notice Of the public. and the pnc.
pie hrst conended for surrendered, and that main
tanned by Great Britain in the Of the Enterprise nc
the part Of the owners rendered hopeless The fol-
lowing administration had nothing TO stand on bat my
resolutions, and the vote OF the Senate in their favor H.
then, the i'll faed owners" sacrificed, il was not
by me- Their. case rendered hopeless by the pre-
cedng administration, with which Mr.. Benton was init
matey associated. and in which he acquiesced for he
asel his voice in their favor in the long period OF
been potential turn. now, to explain what was done
in reference to this subject by the negotiation which
ended IN the Ashbuon treaty, and how much the South
which be accuses me Of having abandoned, has gained
by IT, For that purpose | insert an extract from my
speech on the treaty: