Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-12-04
Speech Of Hon. Daniel Webster.
In FdReuH HAL, Boston, on an egoiiRg preeedi
the late election in Massachusetts.


hlled, as It was ever wont TO be filed in the day
Of our fathers, by firm, intelligent, disntereset
lovers Of America. II is filled as il has been TO
the most part in our own day and generation, ant
as, so may rropitous heaven order il, il shall b,
filled by our children and grandchildren. inheri
ting through us the great principles which lie al
the foundation ofour institutions. have not beer
willing TO deny myself the performance Of the duty
for so | consider it, Of meeting here al the invita-
ton of the Central Committee, the Wings of Bos
ton. An important election is pending We are
truly in something of crisis and it is the pecuf
arlty Of the time in which we live, that year after
year, we find ourselves in a crisis. II is perfectly
true, that tor the last eighteen twenty years. eve
| ry annual recurrence Of that season. which calls
upon us to exercise our elective franchise, has
found US involved in crisis. Because the great
question of the labor of the country of the protec-
ton OF individual enterprise, has, from the com
mencement Of the administration of Jackson, down
to the present period, been the continually recur-
ring subject of debate in popular bodies and in
Congress-and if il is our fortune to live in times
when crises annually succeed, in which we are
called on TO examine with intelligence, hrmness
and vgor great questions Of general importance, il
only proves, that there is imposed u.s. as an eve
~ generation which has gone before US, the grea,
duty OF maintaining the public liberty by that per-
petual vigilance which lies at the foundation of free
ity and the people on which desire, on this Deco
| sion, to address few words to you. The imme-
diate occasion Of this meeting is the reelection of
the officers who have been charged with the adj
mnistration OF the State government for the past
year. As TO the manner in which they have dis
charged the duties Of their Offices, il any well foun-
ded objection has been made to it, in any respect
il has not reached me. | know no reason which
should prevent any Wing from giving his vote for
HFI0 anlM Ne 81 H.. "a l..
true that every general State election has some
bearing on those great public questions which have
been confded to the General Government, but in
which the people of this Commonwealth necessari-
ly feel deep and abiding interest | desire to ad-
dress you few words on two of these question
One of the most prominent and important duties
conhded to the General Government is the care of
the foreign relations Of the country-for these re.
IAy0ns are, in peculiar manner, entrusted to its
moment, all perceive, that there is ohedues1Tonn
regard TO these relations, and but one question
which excites the interest OF the Nation. But this
is ofnature so delicate and important that while all
feel its possible consequence TO the peace aud hap
piness Of the country-yet it is question OH which
it is not easy to speak, without great care before
public body.
refer, gentlemen, to the question now assuming
so much consequence before the country, the sub
ject ofthe Oregon territory. suppose ! may take
il for granted that in the judgment of every sensi-
bic and Just man. the preservation Of the peace OF
the country, upon honorable terms, is an object OF
itself highly desirable and valuable. take it for
granted that the public peace between two great
countries connected together by the most intimate
commercial relations, and having daily inter-
course exceeding That Of any other two nations upon
the face of the Globe, should not be lightly
causelessly disturbed And on the foundation Of
these general ideas, wish to say few words upon
subject which has within few days excited con-
siderable alarm.
The only question of that nature now remaining
open, between England and this country, is the
question of the Oregon Territory. What is that
question? How do we stand in regard to lit The
Oregon Territory, as every one knows, embraces
that region which lies northwest Of the Stony Noun
tains, and between that range and the Pacific 1t
is not necessary to go into the history OF the dis
covery of that territory. 1t is enough to say that
the right to its possession is IN dispute, and has
been in dispute these forty years. The ques-
ton of this right seems now to be approaching
somewhat Of crisis, and is creating considerable
alarm on either side of the Atlantic, in regard to
the course which the respective Governments OF
England and the United States may take in relation
to it, Now let us look at it, fairly and calmly and
see how it stands.
The territory has been the subject of claim, in
whole or in part, for number of years. Negotia-
ton had taken place between the two governments,
and they had found themselves not able to agree
upon the exact boundaries, as far back as ISIS.
They then did agree upon the stipulatons Of the
convention which is now in force that they should
leave the whole territory open to the subjects and
citizens OF both countries, until the boundaries
should be settled. The agreement was first limited
to ten years afterwards to longer period and
finally was extended indefinitely, or until of the
two old countries should signify an intention to re-
tract This notice has never been given, and the
entire territory of Oregon is now open to the cit-
zens and ships Of both countries, under these trea-
ty stipulations.
4 desire to speak with the utmost care, and in
such manner that there shall not be the slightest
misunderstanding of the few remarks which have
to make. Aud first, say, what all know, thai
this is a subject for negotiation, discussion and am
I icabe settlement, and has been so regarded by
both governments, during the whole length Of The
time to which have referred. Because they coulC
not agree upon the precise boundary Of their res
+ pectye territories, they agreed to joint occupa
a ton, until they could come to some understanding
in regard to it-and in the same spirit, in 1918
in 1924, and in 1926, this government proposed
to the British government line Of division, nortl
of which should be British territory, and south
American territory, to which proposition, while tn
British government did not accede, they at tht
4 same time did not insist upon right to the who'll
: of the territory Therefore, the position OF tina
question, by the admission Of both governments i
that of a question for negotiation, compromise ant
y amicable settlement have read, with interest o
course the discussion Of this subject in the Britis
House Of Commons, resulting in some unanimou
resolutions | avail myself Of the language of tn
British minister. and apply il to ourselves. | hav
no reason to complain Of the temper Of that discus
sion. II was temper becoming large-minded