Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 20.pdf/82

 LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE

74

editors and owner of the committee had sworn statements from all the Senators alleged to have been mixed up in The committee recommended the plot denying the charges. that the reporters of the Times be excluded from the reporters'

would sustain the charges of the

More than

Times.

all

this the

gallery in the Senate, and the whole report

concurred

was unanimously

in.

This whole "plot" was in essence just what rumor had been And, indeed, reporting about the capital for some time. sort had taken place, the no or of anything although voting pretty nearly what was charged had happened; the British minister had, in accordance with his instrutcions, talked freely

with influential men, and

working harmoniously with Great Britain.

Whigs and peace Democrats were

to prevent a rupture of the relations

In the meantime the debate went on with no particular features until

March

sixteenth.

On

that day

Calhoun for the

time took a prominent part by pronouncing an able speech in which he analyzed the situation to date. He concluded his first

observations by stating that he was inclined to think that notice should be given for two reasons; it would prevent carrying the matter into the next presidential campaign, and

would serve to hasten a solution of the issue, because until was given Great Britain would make no move. He was for the notice, but not in its naked form, or not in the equivocal form in which it came from the House, but in a form that would plainly state what was meant. The situation was different from what it had been in 1843 for the Oregon country was filling up and it would be necessary to end the old arrangement which had worked well enough when there were few people there. Giving notice, however, meant compromise or fight war was inconceivable in view of the disastrous effect it would have on the fortunes of the United States, and so 24 nothing was left but an honorable compromise.

it it



When Edward

Everett read this speech he wrote Calhoun 25

24 Globe, XV, 502-6; Appen. 471-6. 25 6 April, Correspondence of Calhoun,

1080-1.