Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-02-14

the articles we have heretofore published this
subject, have been in favor of the policy of taking
possession of the Oregon territory by our Govern
| ment; we publish this week the Speech of Mr.
McDUrFrE, Of South Carolina, who takes strong
ground on the other eide of the question. The dis
singuished abilities of Mr.. McDUFFIE, will command
attention to his views, notwithstanding there may
be an honest difference of opinion with regard to
his conclusions.
SPEECH OF Mr. McDUFFIEI IN THE u S. SENATE
ON THE BILL FOR THE SETTLEMENT AND Militia
RY OCCUPATION OF THE OREGON TERRITORY.
Mr.. McDuffie rose and addressed the
Senate. A wise and prudent man, (said
Mr.. McD., in any Of the various de part
ments of human affairs, would be very re-
luctant TO engage in any enterprise, how
ever thoroughly satisfied Of his right 10 do
so, until be should have well conside red,
frst,th appropriate time for lis commence
ment; secondly, the means by which it
! was 10 be accomplished, and its probable
cost; and, finally, the benefits which were
ultimately to result from its accomplish
ment. And he must be permitted TO say,
if the worthy Senator from Missouri, who
had, with so much Zeal and ability, pre-
scented this bill to the consideration OF the
Senate, had violated any Of the maxims Of
sound policy, Gas he humbIy conceived he
had, it had arisen from the circumstance
of totally overlooking the considerations to
which he had just alluded. All those SEN
ators who had engaged in this discussion
seemed to have limited their investigations
TO what he was compelled to regard as the
most unImportant OF all the questions which
this measure involves They had confin-
ed themselves to the mere abstract question
Of the right Of title. They had argued the
question as if the Senate Of the United
States was the tribunal which was to adjust
and determine the question OF the validity
OF the English or the American title; and
as if this was the only question to be de-
termned. He believed no Senator, who
had taken part in this discussion, had ex-
pressed the slightest doubt as to the validity
of the title of the United States to the Ter
rilory Of Oregon. He had investigated
the subject as fully and as thoroughly as
the documentary evidence TO which he had
been able TO obtain access had enabled him
10 do; and, with these lights before him. he
was free to declare that he regarded the
title of the United States, at least as far
north as the forty-nnth parallel of latitude,
as one of the clearest titles that was ever
the subject Of national controversy. But,
at the same time that he made this decar-
alton, he would be very sorry to assume the
responsibility of precipitating the nation
into any measure, upon his own judgment,
or that of the Senate, upon questions which
it did not belong to either to determine Cen
tlemen seemed to have forgotten that there
were two parties interested in this question;
and that, however clear our title might ap-
pear to us, theirs nigh. appear equally
clear 10 the other party. Here was case
OF JOINT occupancy, and an existing ques-
ton as TO title. The Senate had seemed,
throughout the whole discussion, to assume
that ours was the true title, and were pro-
ceedIng upon that assumptions; although the
British, at the same time, claimed that
theirs was the true title. By whom were
these conflicting claims to be settled! By
one Of the interested parties! Certainly
not.
A few words on the subject of the con-
ventIon of 1918, which had been indefinite
ly prolonged by that Of 1927. He con-
CURED perfectly with those Senators who
had maintained that the provision Of this
act, which granted, or stipulated to grant.
allodlal titles, or titles in fee simple, to all
those citizens o. this country who might
emigrate to that territory, was a palpable
violation of the convention. In was in vain
to disguise the fact, whatever might be
determined in regard to this matter They
were about TO take possession Of the terri.
tory, to establish line Of American forts,
and, by all the means and appliances Of
war, to defend that possession. They
were about to invite the citizens O: this
country to 60 there-not for the purpose
OF carrying on the fur trade; not to do that
which was consistent with joint occupan-
cy by the two parties to the convention;
but to establish permanent settlement
The British Government and the British
nation, however we might disguise the fact
In our arguments here, could not be so
blind as not TO perceive The palpabe object
of this measure. He begged TO inquire Of
the worthy Senators who took so deep an
interest in the fate of this bill. what was
the existing emergency which called upon
the United States to take this step? The
question, for the last twenty-tour years,
had been allowed to slumber, while we
were in the midst Of the greatest national
prosperity, with treasury so abundantly
supplied that the wit and ingenuity of man
could not find out a legitimate mode of dis
encumbering it of its superabundant treas
ure. He called upon Senators to state
what was the existing emergency, which
demanded, now, that a measure Of this
kind should be adopted. Why was it that
they were invoked at this moment-and.
he must be permitted TO say, this inauspi-
cious moment-to enter into a measure Of
this kinda Why had i, not been done
twenty VearS ago. or at some suhSenunnf