The Arkansas banner., 1845-06-18
DEBATE ON THE OREGON TERRIFIC
IN SENATE, January 8, 1S4l

IN SENATE, January 8, 1914.
 The following resolution (submitted by Mir. ALLEN some time ago. being under con- sderation
 ReSolUed, That the President be reques- ted to lay before the Senate (if, in his judg- ment, that may be done without prejudice to the public interests copy of any instruc- tions which may have been given by the Ex- ecutive to the American Minister in England, on the subject of the title to, and the occu- patton of, Oregon, since the 4th day of March l84l; also, copy of any correspondence which may have passed between this govern- ment and that of Great Britain ill relation to that subject since that timen-
 Mir ALLEN said Mir. President-I take this, the first, opportunity to correct an error l committed some days since, in my remarks upon this resolution.
 In speaking of the debate in the British Parliament upon the late treaty, ascrbed to the present first minister of Eagtand, Sir Robert Peel, the declaration that, had the Ore gon bill which passed the Senate at our last session become law, 1t would have been a declaration of war. Upon after reflection, it occurred to me that, having previously seen only fragments of the debate carelessly scat tered through the public papers, might have been mistaken as to the author of that dec 4 laratlon. ], therefore, immediately had re- course 10 the most authentic source-Han- sard's Parliamentary Debates, which found III our library. now hold the volume in my hand. The whole debate is here given at large, and in its corrected form and find that the declaration to which alluded was made, not, indeed, by Sir Robert Peel, but by Lord Palmerston. l will read it in his own language, as found in his speech, deliv- cred in the House of Commons, on the 21st of March, 1913. He said
 "Then there is another boundary question still unsettled, relative to what Is called the Oregon territory, on the banks of the Co., lumbla river, on the west coast of North America. What has happened lately about that question? Why, the Senate have actu- ally passed bill for immediately taking for cible possession of the whole of that terri tory; and the Senator who brought in that bill expressed his conviction that the Amer lcan claim to this territory would immedi- ately be acquesced in by Great Britain, if 1t was only urged in what he was pleased 10 call proper manner. It is IMPOSSIBLE, conceive, that this bill should pass the other branch of the Legislature; BUT IF IT WERE TO PASS, AND TO BE REACTED UPON, IT WOULD BE DECLARATION OF WARD
 Such, then, was the declaration made in full Parliament, if not by the minister, yet by one who stood but lately at the head of the foreign department; by one who, from his political and family associations, from his abilities, his experience, and consequent influence in public affairs, speaks with nor al authority less only, perhaps, than that of the minister himself. And what does this declaration import' For what was it made i? Is Il without meaning? Was 1t made with out objecti Would such..a declaration, in reference to great measure pending before the Legislature of another country, have been made by such man-by one so long accustomed to guaging the exact effect of words in such afialrs-would it have been made without meaning or object? No, sir; i; It imports that, had the Oregon bill become law, England would have resisted its exc cution by arms. It was made to test the eff ficacy of the terrors of war in arresting the future action of Congress on the subject, and of reconciling this nation to the surrender of its territory.
 But, sir, as may be told that the uao0i- cial language of Lord Palmerston expresses not the temper of the British government, or its purposes, and IS, therefore, to be disre- garded, will read an extract from the off, cial speech of the first minister, delivered to the British Commons on the same day. Sir Robert Peel said:
 "The question of the Oregon territory, no doubt, is not adjusted; but on that it is na necessary that should address the House at any length. With respect to the course which the American government has taken, the noble lord makes no allowance for the position of q goeernment so open to popular influence as ttat of .americ.. We, however, deal with the erecutiue goeernnaent, and mol aoith the Senate. We hace proposed to hat gouernmem to consider she means of eflec- ting conciliatorv adjustment respecting the Oregon territory, and we have met with no repulse, but hare receiped assurances, in re- pty 10 our proposition, that the executive gov