The Yazoo City Whig. [volume] (Yazoo, Miss.) 1844-1851, 1845-05-09

stained from publicly advancing those epIn~
iols, while their subject formed The basis OF
begwetn the Governments OF
the two countries. But this Oregon ques
ton had been in a manner, taken out of the
sphere of diplomatic negotiation, by meth
cd at once new and Objectionable, and which
threatened 10 overbear. by an appeal to pop.
ular feeling, the ordinary methods of pro-
ceeding between nations
The speech alluded, he said, (lhough he
introduced this matter parenhetically3 10
an increase of the territory of The Unions
very large increase-an increase whose lin
its aud extent were by no means defined
Tor Texas was annexed without any specii
co boundaries. aud the territory thus acqalr
ed might be found 20 extend even 90 he la-
cIfce, Mr.. Webster had expressed al .
pInIon that the duty as we'll as tie poIic'
OF the Union was against an increase at ter
rltory, aud thai Ter proper am as he lm
oros emea u Development oil he vest eAis
taNce resources. But thls policy had been
epenis departed from, and he accession OF
territory almost declared TO form part OF the
policy Of the u. States.
His o;dsuiH then returned to the avowed
aubiec Of his remarks, and read passage
from MIR, Polk's address, in which that gen
tIemen asserts that our title to the Oregon
is clear and ndisputable,' and recommends
the American people is carry out that right
by possessing it with their wives and chill
dren, etc
He felt himself compelled TO call atten-
ton 10 the state Of the question, and to in
quire how far Mr.. Polk was justified, under
existing circumstances, and while negotia~
tons were in progress, IN asserting The right
of the u. States 10 be clear and lndisputa-
be- and in declaring his intentions respect
| ing the assertion of that right without refer
ence to treaties.
lie then enumerated the usual methods
Ct acquiring claim to territory: fret by an
cient discovery; second, by treaty third, by
recent discovery aud actual occupation; and
inquired by Which Of these methods the u.
States had acquired q title TO the territory
now in dispute.
His iordshIp then proceeded to review and
compare the English and American claims,
which he did IN very fair tone and spirit,
though OF course, with an undisguised per
suasi0n OF the justice Of the English claim
and the comparative groundlessness Of the
American, and summed up thus: On the
first ground Of ughf-ancient discovery
the English title was the best of the two; on
the second basis Of the title, treaty the Tn
tied States bad no ground to rest upon, ex
cepl for the right of joint occupancy; anc
thirdly, as to modern discovery and settle
ment, the Englisg title, acquired by Vancou
yer, and perfected by the extensive settle.
ments Of The Hudson's Bay company, wa.
far superior to any similar title which the
U. States could alege.
lie then referred TO the negotiation be
tween Messrs Rush and Husksso and lc
the fact that they never were brought TO any
satisfactory result The two countries haC
never gone farther than to agree upon join
occupancy without any rights Of exclusive
sovereignty.
But now new circumstance had occur
ed; a new and most important event haC
been brought to bear upon The question
| President Polk had made peremptoTy claim
to the whole territory, and in an unwarrant
able manner called upon the American peo
i pie to establish their claims bv occupying i
/ with their families. Alter This event it wa.
/ impossl BILE that the British Government
should fail 10 ask a speedy solution of the
whole question; impossible that this unset
lied state of things should be allowed to
continue. The carrying out of MIR. Folks
suggestions mus. produce hostile collision
between English and Americans on the ter
rlory itself; and the consequence of suct
collision needed no prophet comment
He was moi prepared TO say how much
the English Government should concede tol
the sake of peace. lie was not prepared jo
say they ought TO yield anything. H. was
here interrupted by vehement cheering
He thinks no proposal more favorable 'hal
the Que proposed oy blr Canning caa pos
slbly be made. Some persons tank + does
not much matter how question is decided
. affecting only Ger aiu extent OF 1afrei
country bat does matter IL was not e
BE- inough of, that territory % which Eng.
land couscieniously asserted clam shoulr
be Yielded TO what he must term mere
clustering assertion OF right; cloud cheers
not to be permitted tLat the tone and char
acteE of English diplomacy should be low
cred by unworthy concession.
He.repeated that he should have abstain
ed from allusion to this question had II be I
allowed to remain one Of diplomacy; but al,
ter the removal of it from that sphere in the
manner described, he felt it to be his duty
, to bring il under consideration. He (LorC
John Bessel) could do in the matter. as al
unofficial person, what ministers could not
!. unless they departed from the course pre-
scfibed by Gus ON and courtesy, while tn,
: subject was still under negotiation Fl,
: could state exactly what the rights of Eng
! land are, and upon What those rights are ba
sed. But having done so, he should leay,
! matters in the hands Of her Maiesy's ad
tisers. with the most entire confidence tia
they would protect fully the honor and in
; Iterests ofthe country.