Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-06-21
VOLUME XLI.-NO.. 10.

which he says he has devoted all the better part
of his life 10 the 'rcdNcii0n 81 tarlBS' have 10
doubt thai review OF these interesting docu-
ment> would he peculiarly eGiiyins 10 MY cos
league. ana commend them 10 his attentive p
rtisal, with the hope that alter little cool rchcc
ton. he VIII come 10 The conclusion, that IN: II
is not totally unworthy of the confidence of the
American people, merely because he may have
entertained and expressed those sentiments upon
the subject OF the Tariff. The difference betwesns
Mr.. Clay and Col Polk, and indeed, between
the Wings and Democrats, upon this question,
is this the Wings have repudiaied all their prin-
ciples and professions. and violated all their
pledges and promises 10 The people in 1910, whilst
the Democrats have adhered 10 theirs with fidelity.
and thereby preserved their integrity and consis-
tencv.
My colleague (Mr Haidm) has also referred
10 The Oregon question, and called that one OF the
humb,lss OF the day, brought up for the purpose
OF Influencing the approaching elections. He
has denominaled il Il political hobby, "A mer.
humhue. gotten up Tor political effect COMES,
my surprise al these declarations. was not pre-
pared 10 hear them from any Western man, and
especially from the lips OF my colleague. He
has certainly mol forgotten the time when he and
| advocated this same humbug. and rode this
same hobby, as he is now pleased Ia term it, be-
fore the people OF Illinois. We did not then cali
il humbug. or 4 political hobby. nor did the pee
pie Of Illinois so consider il. We and they r.
@arded and treated it as a great national qurs-
ton. involving the integrity Of our TERRITORY Our
national honor. and the highest interests oil TIE
country. NJ colleague well knows that by adj
vocatin" this great national measure (or, 10 Use
his own an@nage.) by riding this political bobby.
he procured his nomination Tor Congress over lis
able competitor, who had made a speech oil the
n
his scat in this llouse
Mr.. Hardin made an explanation, and said
that. prior la his nomination Tor Congress. he
had made speech III defence of our title Ia Ore
gon and i'll favor OF the adoption OF measures Tor
lis occupation 10 the exclusion OF foreign pow
er: but that during his canvass, he had said To-
thing or very lille. upon the subject and that no
questions mad been asked him about it. He still
adhered 10 his original opinions in regard Ia H.
Mr.. Douglass lcsuming said. he alluded Ia the
genlleman'> speech in the Capitol OF Illinois. in
favor oi the immediate occupation OF Oregon Il
was al able and patriotic speech on the Amcri-
can side OF the question II was delivered with
an enthusiasm and energy that showed that his
whole soul was enlisted in the success OF the mca-
sure. and no one suspected that the gentleman
was mounting il aS hobby To humbug the pco-
pie, and ride into Congress. Much less did "N-
pec that ailer riding his hobby successfully, and
reaching The goal OF his ambition, he would rdi
Cule and dcnonncc the very measure that enabled
him 10 succeed. The people of Illinois are not 10
be humbugged in this way. They will teach their
10 support here. in good faith, the
measures which they protested 10 advocate at
home before their elections.
Not content with ridiculing the Oregon qucS-
ton himself. my colleague has endcavorcd Ia
create the impression, that Col. Polk was also
analyzcd is beautiful specimen of logic. The
Oregon question he SAYS is humbug-Col Polk
opposed the humbug--lherelorc he ought not ro
be President. Again-it is a political hobby
Col. Polk wouldn't ride that hobby-thereiore he
ough, no, To be elected Surely this is choic.
specimen of Wing logic. But is il true, that
Col. Polk is, or ever was, opposed 10 Oregon .
Where is the evidence 10 sustain the charge =
My colleague has NOT, and cannot, produce it
He has referred to speech OF Col Polk on tins
floor in 1928, in which he pointed out some oh
cctions 10 the bill then pending, and moved lis
reference To committee. iorlhe purpose oi hay
ing il so amended as Ia obviate those objections.
In that VERY speech, Col Polk reviewed the
whole history OF our title To that territory. made
an able and learned argument in lis defence, and
avowed his unalerahe determination never 10
consent 10 lis abandonment, OF the occupation oi
the country by torcjen power. Ii my colleague
had examined the Register Of Debates Il few PAGES
further he would have found the following
Mr. Polk moved 10 discharge the Committee
of the Whole on the state of the Union from the
Oregon bill, and 10 commit ii To the Committee
on Territories, with instructions To report an
amendment, having for it, obJcct-l>t, the cxten-
sion of the civil and the criminal jurisdiction OF
the courts of the Territory of Michigan over ali
citizens of the United States who are or NAV h.
IL -. H.. D..,l-,
and between the 'aiiudcs of ~ dec. and 81 deg.
10 min North and West 10 the Pacific Ocean,
and, ID, an exploration and survey of the NORTH
west coast OF America, between those ATTITUDES,
its bays. inlets and haIbor>, and OF the Columbia
river and lis tributaries" This proposition is
probably the origin of Dr. Linns plan Tor the oc-
c;lpation Of Oregon hy the extension of the laws
of Iowa over that country. il Col. Folks propo-
sition had been adopted in 1898. il the laws Of
the United States had been extended over that
Territory sixteen years ago, and its coast, bays,
harborS, and rivers, had been surveyed The whole
country would now be peoplcd withAmerican ci-
izens. ENJOYING the blessings OF equal laws and
Republican institutions, instead of being in The
armed military possession of a foreign power
Thus have shown lha, Colonel Polk has always
taken lc American side Of tho question, and
feel authorized 10 say that he Is now in iavor o
the adoption Of the mos; efficient Tor the
immediate occupation of that Territory. IN Col.
Folks letter 10 committee ui citizens oi Cin-
cinnati. dated April % ISL. he defines his posi-
ton in regard Ia Oregon in language that leaves
ne ground for cavi or dispute. He says:
"lel Texas be re-anncxcd, and the authority
and laws of the United States be established and
maintains within her limits, AS ALSO ~ THE
OREGoS 1ERRlToRy, and let tie ffed fohcy n caT
Gorcrniacnt be, net IN pefmn Great Bjifah, or
any oihcr iorcign roirey, 10 plant a oo'"ng on NUT
d0nini0a Orfr am puritan cf he pe0pf or ttr1fo n
of either. These are my opinions; and: without
deeming it necessary to extend this letter, by as-
signing the many reasons which influence me III
the conclusions to which | regret 10 be com
pclled to differ so widely from The views expressed
by Yourselves ana the meeting Iabolition rcehn%l
Of citizens Of Cincinnati, whom YOU represent
These are the opinions OF Colonel Polk
They breathe the true patriotic doctrine. The
time has arrived for bold, immediate speedy ac-
ton. We have slumbeTed in false security Tor
the last thirty years, in the vain hope that The
whole question would hc amcably settled By ne
o9tialions. Wien negotiations first commenced,
Great Britain had not even shadow OF title.
She onlv claimed the privilege of hunting al d
fishing in the country and asked that rather a. :.
favor than as matter of right Alter the close
of the last war she formally restored that coun-
try TO us, in pursuance fthe Treaty Of Client rs
a pant OF our territory which she had captured
during the war Afler she had gone through The
ceremony of surrendering The country, in coinpll-
ance with the treaty Of pcace. she Immediately
opened negotiations for lis joint occupancy, Tor
the purpose of fishing and hunting, and trade
with the lndianS Unfortunately for The peace
and honor Of the country, Mr. Adams, as Secfc-
tary of State, granted her that request by an arii-
Gle in the treaty of 1915, under winch she has
sen, her huniers, trappcrs, and traders, into The
country. and then turned them into farmers. Iner-
chants. ard soldiers, with view 10 lis permanent
settlement and occupation a. British colony
These settlements onse formed. and the country
reduced To actual possession, she grows holder IN
her preten>ions and asserts her claim not only to
the possession but TO tie title. OF the county
Yes. the very country witch She acknowledged To
be ours. and, in 1877. surrendered 10 us as such,
in pursuance of the Trcaty of Client, and which,
in ISIS, she asked OF US the permission 10 occupy
Jointly with Us. she in 1876. claimed a her own
and proposed negotiation about the title And
regret to say, thu; an American Secretary, o;
State so far yielded his assent 10 this uniounded
and nroDoSterorS claim rs To offer Great Brian