Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-12-25
q wentp- Ninth Congress.
The NafionaIDefence

1Et50FttUf NavaT
ueiea 10 inquire into the condition of the Navy of TIN
United States, and into the quantity and condition
naval supplies hand and whether an increase
them IS not necessary to the efficient operations Of .
navy and 10 It's preservation and augmentation and gen
orally, into ITS capacity for defending and
commerce, and for any service the exgences Of The
try may probably require.
Resofced, That the Committee on Military Affairs be
instructed TO enquire into The condition Of The national
notifications and their arm and whether other de-
iesve works are necessary and into the condition and
quantity OF the military supplies and into The oil
the means possessed by the government for the defence
Of the country.
Res0tced, That the Committee on the Militia be in
struced to inquire the present condition that great
branch OF the public service, aud into the state Of the
militia laws; and that they he further instructed To
port such changes IN the existing system as will give
more experience and efficiency to that arm OF defence,
ana VIII place the best condition for protecting the
country, should be exposed to foreign invasion.
Mr.. Cass, in support Of the resolutions, then aud
said:
MK. President II is impossible peruse the Pres-
dents message, and to observe the progress Of public
opinion in England this is indicated the declarations
OF her statesmen in Parliament and in her daily journals
without being aware, that crisis is fast approaching in
the intercourse between that country and ours which de-
mands the serious consideration and require the
dial and active cooperation of the whole American peo
pie The President has told that the negotiations
sPeeting Oregon if they have reached close, have
al any rate, reached position almost equivalent TO IT.
The claims Of the respective nations utterly irrecon-
eIabe and compromise, by a voluntary sacrifice OF
portion Of their pretensons by parity by both,
submission of the whole matter in controversy to some
foreign power, the only alternatives by which
be preserved
Our government has alreadv declined to submit our
rights foreign arbitration. That is process which,
under equal circumstances, may well be adopted by in
dependent nations 10 terminate disputes, which would
otherwise seek the arbitramen OF II preserves the
honor IF both parties and ought the just in
of both substitutes for force, and there
fore suited 10 the advancing opinions OF the age and to
the duties and feelings of Christian communities. But
these equal circumstances do DIS
pule with England. There obvious considerations,
into " hich need here growing out of the
of country and of ours, with those
powers of Europe from whom arbitrator would almost
necessarily be selected and Of the influence she pos
their counses. and may add, growing out
Of the of institutions and the little favor these
enjoy present upon the eastern continent, which may
well have made the hesitate submit i'm
portan interests at this particular luncture such "
bunaI II may well have thought IT better to hold
right and to hold also remedy, rather than
commit both a royal arbitrator. War is great caam
lty and ought to be avoided by all proper means; but
there cnames greater than and among these IS
national dIshonor.
did not rse sir as will be seen, to discuss in whole
in part the question of right to Oregon. That
subject will come up its own time. There may be
difference OF opinion well in Congress as IN the
nation respecting the territorial extent of that right
though take this opportunity of expressing my entire
aud hearty the claim advanced by the
President But am there great party and
trust there few individuals this country who are
prepared extreme spirit Of compromise, TO
accept the liberal offer that ngland has yet made
He- pretensons and widely separated that
there seems no middle ground on which TO meet. Our
moderate claim and her liberal offer leaves
the parties nsunder by degrees of attnde and by
large portion of the territory in question What, then,
condition Can Tecede? Can we stand still
Or must we advance
As receding it neither TO be discussed nor thought
of ! refer to it, but to denounce it-a Remuneration
which will find response in every American bosom
Nothing is gained by national pusiianImy. AND
the country which seeks to purchase temporary security
by yielding TO UNJUST Preensons buys present ease at
the expense OF permanent honor and safety IL sows The
wind to reap the whrwind have said elsewhere what
will repeat here, that II is better to fight for the first
inch OF national territory for the last II is better
defend the door SILL than the hearth sone-the porch
than the altar. National character is richer treasure
than gold silver, and exercises moral influence. in
the hour Of DANGER which, 1t not power ITSELF Is us sur
ally Thus far, is untarnIshed, and let us all
oin however separated by party orby space so TO
it.
If we cannot recede, can stand still No, Mr.
President; this in all the other elements of nation
power and greatness duty and destiny are on
wards We might we'll attempt TO stay the waves OF
the Pacific, stay the tide of emigration which is
secg towards its shores. IL this government bad the
disposition il has not the power this human
But has nether-1either the power the dis
position do it. There questions OF public right,
which may rest in allegiance; which are not called into
daily exercise aud need be asserted only when required
But such the right by which we hold Oregon We
MAINTAIN it, abandon it. vigorous and enter
psng people last increasing lhsre. who will possess
the country by the best Of all tcs-tha of occupation
aud improvement; and 1t we do not provide them GO
vernment, they will provide one for themselves Al
ready necessity has compelled them organize their CIV
il society," and make those arrangements for the pres
ervaOn OF order without which civilized community
exist. IL is only few days since they made known
yon by udieious and well written memorial, their
condition and their wants and asked your nterp0sion
to remove the serious difficulties with which they find
themselves envroned And think you that If their prayer
unheard and their grievances unredressed and The
present state OF things coninue that you will lind dis
colony patiently awaiting your tardy movements,
and ready TO admit Jurisdiction, when you may be
ready to exercise il No they will feel themselves
elected off, left their resources, the victims
OF diplomatic cbcanery of national pusilanimty, and
they will seek their own security in their own power
That great TRUTH not applicable alone to republican gov
ernmens but all, and which lay at the foun
daon Of revolution, that protection and ae
glance reciprocal will be heard upon the banks
of the Columbia and will inspire the councils OF the
hardy pioneers who, while they have sought new home
in distant country, have carried with them The sent
of true liberty to the regions beyond the Rocky
mountains.
II clearly impossible that the present state Of things
should continues nor, must confess do see how It is
possible that community, nhabiting the regions
and possessing right every part of IL,
hold divided allegiance, and be governed al The same
time by two distinct and distant soyereigntes When
the present anomalous provision made, the country
was unsettled for the few hunters who roamed over IT
could hardly be dIgnifed with the of settlers and
it probably occurred TO the negoators to their
governments that this arrangement would outlye the
then existing of things, and would come to operate
upon civilized, stationary and rapidly increasing
community.
But what kind or order double-headed govern
ment preserved How its departments, legislative,
executive, and judicial TO be administered? How are
rights be conferred, or wrongs to be prevented or pun
ished2 Two neghbors, living within hearing OF each
other are responsible different tribunals and governed
by different codes Of laws. An American killing an
Engshman must be tired by an American court and by
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