The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-21


e. which the part to be subject the ordi
nance Of 81 measure coming from quarter so
Justly suspected as intending mischief IL
sidered generally, by the friends of annexation in
the Senate and assented to reluctantly and only
because he had a few supporters. who, with hsmsef
held the balance and refused to for the resolution
OF The House without the amendment Among them,
for covering all Texas and the whole region north
of SO" S0 with the ordinance OF 1eo Deaoas e dona
Jsfentss.
doped the South and lett him and few others alone
by the side the fated owners Of the Comet Enco-
MUM Enterprise, and Creole. He does not state by
what act abandoned but leaves it to be inferred
from his remarks that by voting in favor the
Ashburton treaty, which contained stipulation in
favor Of the Of those vessels 1t trick of his
to make his charges very vaguely so as to make 1t d
tacks admit that voted for the Ashburton treaty.
did more delivered speech in its favor, which, in
the opinion Of its friends, saved 1t from rejection It's
tate doubtful Tho opposition, headed by Col Ben
ton violent and IL required two thirds to confirm
fponsblity he may think proper to allot to me for
voting for it look with no little satisfaction TO my
the occasion, from tina belief that rendered
then great and service to the country, or
Its adoption the first link in that series OF causes
by which between Great Britain and US was avert
ed. no is there so blind as not 10 see, tnat II
the treaty had been rejected could not have been
avoided The two countries were In TRUTH on the very
eve Of a rupture the way events were moving at the
time without either being Of it, At the very
session the Oregon question for the first time as
sumed a dangerous and mepacipg aspect. A bill
introduced edatey after its opening which
whole of that territory the object OF which
to commence systematically the work of colonization
and settlement on our part took my seat in the Sc
nate two three weeks after the of the
session, and found the bill its passage without OPP
position, and apparently without division of opinion.
the danger the peace of the two countries and
that the time had come to take stand 10 save it,
determined to do my duty regardless Of consequences
TO my self arose and opposed IT, ana thereby exposed
myself to the opposition of the entire West which was
strongly in its favor My name, then as we'll as when
the Athburton treaty pending in the Senate, was
before the people Tor the highest honor in their gilt
then permit the low motive OF ming a. the Presiden-
TO which be attributes my eOurse the treaty 10
sway me frem the path Of duty!
My stand prevented the bill from becoming law
that constituted the second link in the series Of
causes by which we were enabled to avert war between
the countries. Col Benton then for the bill
and believe, for the whole of Oregon Had the
treaty been rejected at the preceding session the stand
took and the resistance made to the bill would have
been all in vain 1t would have passed. and the
try preciptated into war; but as IL was, time
gained. which all important. The agitation, how
was kept up about Oregon and similar bills
introduce ke two succeeding sessions which failed by
small msjorities In tho meantime negotiations were
menced and the claim TO the Whole Of Oregon made
The cry ''al none,r and strong was car
rent in its favor that both parties yielded to it in the
early part of the session. | had resigned my seat in
the Senate but reelected short time before the
session commenced, and took my seat several weeks
sfter~ard and felt the strength of the current,
but solved to breast it, and the peace of tue
whole country If possible II was arrested and
ter-current created. Col Benton himself yielded to
tie and delivered speech after the
battle in which he beabored those who stuck
to "all or nonen after he found that they in
minority Ii this chain of causes, of which the
Ashburton treaty the first and indispensable link
which sverted and by it saved the two countries
from one of the greatest caamties which could hay
btfall,n them and. might add, the civilized world -
shall ever remember, 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 faver Of the of the vessels any prevent
similar outrages in future. lt objection, aud
admitted IL TO be in my speech in favor OF il
sufficient one to induce its rejection But although
like outrages thereafter much nevertheless done
in the negotiation TO prevent them, aud to place tho
South on much more elevated ground in ref renee
the subject than where t stood when the negotiation
commenced To understand how much done to-
wards this brief statement Of facts connected with
the case Of those reports. IL necessary
They were all coastng vessels, having slaves board
and all either stranded in their voyage from the
Atlantic ports to those on the Gulf on the British po,-
sessions Bermuda and the Bahama Islands or forceI
TO put into their ports by stress Of weather
Themselves from shpwreck or were carried In by the
rising Of the slaves and taking the vessel into port
Their fate the same. The slaves were liberated,
under circumstances of less violence and
dignity by the local authority The outrage
nous and the insult TO the American flag great The
first occurred early the year 1880, aud all under
the administration OF General Jackson or MIR Van Blu
except the Creole. Application WAS made to the
Executive by the owners for redress. After feeble
agreed compensate the owners In the ease Of
the Comet and Encomum, but refused to mske any in
that of the Enterprise the ground that the two first
occurred before her act Of abohng slavery had gone
into operation. and the other after II had The
nistration (Nr Van Burens) accepted the compensa-
tsn, and acquesced In the refusal In the case the
Enterprise without rcmonstrance protest and tn
waived our right, and admitted the absurd AMI dan
Eerous principle on which the refusal was placed
What the administration shamefully omitted TO do,
resolved to DO through the Senate IL possible; and
with that view and in order TO perpetuate claim Of
right moved in the Senate In 1870 the tn follow
ing resolutions and succeeded In pas sing them by
unanimous vote, with some slight ameniment-Col
Benton voting for them but not stan ling by me lie
says for he uttered a word in their support
Received That ship vessel the hi III seas In
TO the laws Of nations under the exclusive jurisdiction
of the State to which her dag belongs much 50 as il
constituting part OF its own domain
Resolved, That IL such ship vessel should be
forced by stress OF weather other
into the port Of friendly power she would under the
laws lose Of the rights apportauns to her
the high seas; but, the contrary, she aud her
cargo and persons board, with their property and
ali the rights belonging to their personal relations as
established by the laws Of the State which they
long would be placed under the protection which the
laws Of nations extend to the unfortunate under such
Resolved, That the brig Enterprise which was
forced unavoidsby by stress Of weather into Port Ha
milton, Bermuda Island, while lawful voyage on
the high seas from one part OF the Union 60 another
comes within the principle embraced In the foregoing
resolutions and that the seizure aud detention OF the
negroes board by the local authority % the Island
was act in violation Of the laws OF nations, aud
highly unjust TO our own citizens, to whom they be-
long
Such the condition In which the Administration
Of MIR Van Buren, left these outrageou, eases. They
never brought TO the notice Of the public aud the
principle first contended for was surrendered. anI
that main tanned by Great Britain in the the En-
terrrise, acquieecsd In and Of course, all claims Of
mpensaton the part Of the rendered hope
lees. The following administration had nothing to
stand but my resolutions and the vote Of the Senate
in their favor. IT, then, tho III fsted owners"
sacrificed. II was not by Their rendered
hopeless by the preceding Administrations with which
Mr. Benton intimately associated, aud In which
acquiesced for he raised his voice In their
In the long period Of ten years during all which
his voice might have been potential. turn nov 20
explain what done in reference 10 this subject by
the negotiation. which ended in the Ashburton treaty
and how much the South, which he accuses hay-
ing abandoned. has gained by 10. For that purpose
inert an extrast from r-y speeoh on the treaty
"Such was the state OF the facts, when the negotia
lions commenced in reference TO these cases. and IL
them In the fret place, the bread principles II the
law Of nations, on which placed our right In my
resolutions have been clearly stated, aud conolusvvy
yndicated in the able letter Of the Secretary OF
State which has streng hened not lttle