LESTER BURRELL SHIPPER

190

Rumors

of what was going on found their

way

into

news-

papers and current discussion. In the House one last attempt to save the honor of the country was made by McDowell who asked for a suspension of the rules to allow him to intro-

duce a set of resolutions

in

which he asserted once more the

"clear and unquestionable title," in spite of which there had, "it is believed, within a few days past, (been) submitted to the

President, and through

him

to the Senate,

a proposition to

In view of the ignorance of the people as to what was going on he called upon the House to resolve with him that the question ought to be submitted to surrender half of Oregon.

the people for their decision, and that if the treaty-making power had been used to settle a question of such magnitude

would "furnish another example of Senatorial and Executive supremacy which (was) incompatible with the Constitution and

it

The House was not of his mind the rights of the people." and refused to suspend the rules. Representative Sawyer, however, denounced the President for backing down and the Senate for deliberately voting away half the disputed territory; "If England knew the character of the treaty-making power as it exists in the present Senate she could ask anything

We

are degenerate sons of noble sires." 37 she wants and gets it. There remains the question, not important perhaps, but of Was it Polk, interest, as to the real "savior of the country."

Benton, Calhoun or some other? On the day that the Senate advised the President to accept the British offer Calhoun wrote, "It is to me a great triumph. When I arrived here it

was dangerous

to whisper 49,

and

I

was thought

to

have taken

a hazardous step in asserting, that Mr. Polk had not disgraced the country in offering it. Now a treaty is made on it with nearly the unanimous voice of the country. I would have an

equal triumph on the Mexican question, now the Oregon 38 settled, had an opportunity been afforded to discuss it."

is

Senator Benton claimed that he had proposed the course 37 Globe, XV, 979. 16 June. 38 To T. C. Clemson, n June; to Correspondence, 697, 698.

J.

E.

Calhoun

in the

same

strain, 2 July;