Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-04-08
SPEECH
Mr.. Calhoun, of So. Carolina,

Mr.. Calhoun, Of So. Carolina,
Dn the OREGON BILL: Delivered in
the Sen1te Of the United States, Janua-
ry ID, 1913.
n Mr.. CALHOUN said it ought to he
borne in mind, in the discussion ol this
|, measure, that there is conflict between
bur claim and that of Grea, itaIn To the
Oreyon Territory; and TINT it extends I"
The whole territory from the Rocky Noun
tains to The Pacific Ocean; and from the
northern limits of Mexico, in latitude az,
10 the southern limits OF the Russian pos
SESSIONS, in latitu'e 81. Nor ought il to
be forgotten thai the two governments
have made frequent attempts to adjust their
conflicting cl inns, but, as yet, without sue
cess. The Fl st Of these was made IN 1918
II proved aboitive; but convention was
ente ed into, which provided that the terri
torv shou he left free and open 10 our
citizens and the sub ec's of Great Britain
for ten years: the object OF which was to
prevent collision and preserve peace, n'l
their respective claims could be adjusted
b, negotiation. The next WAS made IN
1921, when we offered TO limit our claim
10 The territory BY the 49Ih degee Of lNti-
fade: which wou d have lie I to Great BIZ.
taip all north of that latitude to the south
ern boundary of Russia. Her reg"siat' "
objected, and proposed the Columbia ri' er
is The boundary between the possessions OF
he Two countries. 1t enters the ocean
abou; the 46 h degree of latitude. 1t iol-
lows. that the portion If the territory really
I'm dispue between the twn 'oun'rl' Is
pbout three degrees of la'itude--that IS,
about one.iourth of he whole. The At
Hempt TO adjust boundaries again Jailed,
md nothing was effected | learn from
bur negotialor, a distinguished citizen Of
APennsvlvania, now in the city, that the
hepolinIiln was conducted with much ear
hestness, and rot liule feeling, on the
Bar: of the British ncgolia,ors.
In 1927, Just before the termination OF
ythe ten years, another attempt was made
h an adjustment The negotiation was
kanducted on our part by Mr.. Ga lain. -
.lfhe whole subject was discussed iul'y,'
bud with great ability and clearnesS on o D.,
kides; but, like the Two preceding, 'al'eu
Ito lins, the conflicting claims. The same
Differs were made respectively by the par
tiles that were, in 1924, and again reject
ed. All thai conId b. done was 10 renew
the convention of 1878; hut with the pro
vision, thu, each patty might, al its plea.
sure, terminate the agreement, by giving
a years notice. The object Of the renew
al was, as in 1918, II preserve peace Tor
the time, by preventing either party tr m
asserting It's exclusive tlaim to the terrt1-
nv; and that o the insertion Of the provl.
SIN, t, give either patty the right Of dong
50 VII never il might think proper, by
4 CIV ing the stipulated notice.
y Nor ought il III be forg 'rten, thai, during
the long interval from ISIS 10 this time,
Continued efforts have been made, in this
and the other House, TO indre Congress Ia
assert, ly some act, our exclusive right t,
the territory; and that hey have all here
toIo"e failed. II now remains to lie seen
whether tits bill, which overs the whole
territory, as well nnIlh as south of the 4Sth,
and provides for granting land, and cam.
men ing systematically the work OF roI"-
nlzatinn an settlement, shat share The
fate of its predecessors.
i To deermine whether it ought or no.,
involves the decision OF two pre- I'm nary
questions. The first is. whether the Iine
has now arrived when it would be expedi-
ent on or plrt 10 attempt TO assert and
mantIin our exclusive claim t. the Ieri'
tory, against the adverse claim OF Grcat
Britain; and the other, If it his, whether
the mode proposed in this bill is tbs proper
one.
In discussing them, | do not intend t.
involve the question OF our right 10 the
territory, nor its value, nor whether Grea
Britain is actuated by that keen, jealous
and hostile spirit towards US, which has
been attributed to her in this discussion.