The North-Carolina standard., 1846-03-04

You cannot tell them that. because vou have al
ready convinced them, that our title to the whole
OF 1t is clear and unquestionable It will not Go
to tell them the country is poor, notworth having
ana mat we would make good bargain to give
it away. 1t could not but occur to them that il
would be worth as much to US as to Great Britain.
ou would have to come out with the honest |
bare-taced confession that you wanted to give It
away, in order to appease her wrath-in order to |
avert hor power-in order to avoid the conflict |
with her, which would be necessary to mainlain
or rights. Such appears to me to be the COM |
plexlon OF the case so far regards all those who
think our title 10 the whole of Oregon is clear
and indisputabe, and are still willing to give up
a portion of it.
Now will the assertion of our manifest and ack-
Inowledged rights, of our clear and unquestiona-
BILE title to the Oregon territory involve us in
war; And here will take occasion to observe, |
that what shall say in this connexion as we'll as
what has been said by others here, is at best but
idle and vague conjecture. deem this avowal
necessary, FOR fear it may be supposed by some of
my constituents that was in possession of some
facts unknown to them, on which predicate my
opinion. For their Information, it may not be
amiss to state, that know no more about the mat
ter than what has been published and sent forth to
the world, and upon which they can speculate.with
as much. and perhaps more certainty than can
Will not stop to inquire whether the mere Civ
ing the notice IS just cause Of war. l consider
the notice as preliminary only to the adoption of
such measures may be necessary to maintain
our rights, whatever they may be, in the Oregon
territory. 1t is evident that the President so re-
CARDS It when he says in his message at the end
Of the years notice, should Congress think prop
er TO make provision for giving that notice, we
shall have reached period when the national
rights in Oregon must either be abandoned or
firmly maintained" 1t is the effect, therefore, of
the measures which are to follow the notice. and
without which the notice would be an idle mocke-
ry, and not of the notice ITSELF TO which we must
direct our attention, when arguing the probable
consequences of our conduct in this matter. The
portion Of that territory to which we may lay
claim, and the course which we are 10 pursue in
order to establish our exclusive authority in it, are
q the proper considerations to be taken in the ac-
count when we undertake to answer The question
whether there will be war. And here would
observe, that my opinion on this question is en-
titled to but little weight when put in opposition
to the opinion the hUmblest citizen in this coun-
try. Unsophiscated in the arts of diplomacy,
wholly unacqualnted with The arts of crafty poiIi-
Clans, accustomed to look at things as see them,
and hear them and read them, and to form my
opinion accordingly, it may be that l am deceiv-
ed by false appearances. But if much that see,
and hear and read, be not intended for other times
for the year 1S48, for instance-if there be no.
thing of scenic effect in all that strikes my vision,
l should say that the prospect ofa war between
this country and Great Britain about this Oregon
territory: is very far from being visionary and
chimerical. l do not say that we are to have it
the next week, or the next month"; nor perhaps the
next year. But if it shall not come before two
| years, it cannot but be regarded as imminent and
impending, for it wiIi take until that time to get
ready for it. When say that the prospect of a
war is far from being visionary, take it for grant
ed that we are TO go in for the whole territory
; nothing more nor nothing less. A majority OF
the people are for the whole of it-a majority of
their representatives believe are for the whole OF
it-and the President appears to be for the whole OF
it; do believe that the President will accept
any thing short Of the whole of it. Can any per-
son believe, otherwise of his views2 Sir l have
great confidence in that officer-more than ALL
have great confidence IN his candor, a quality
8 which has laid hold on the feelings of the people;
and which, as much any other, and, perhaps,
more than all Others he possesses, has given him
an abiding place in the very affections of the peo,
pie. He declares that our title to the whole of it
is clear and unquestonable 1t is true that in
obedience to the actions Of his predecessors, he
submitted line of boundary to the British gov
ernmcnt, which, if accepted, would have given
US less than the whole country. But no sooner
is the offer rejected, than he Instantly puts end
to further negotiation if reoced that he is rid
of the trammels by which he is surrounded as if
} glad that he is at last thrown upon bis re-
sources and left to follow the dictates of his own
Judgment From considerations like these do
not believe that the President will accept anything
$ short of the entire country And if we are to
take possession of the whole territory, can gentle
be really sincere in the declaration, oft made
= and off repeated, that we TO have no conflict
. Can members bring themselves really TO believe
that Great Britain will suffer her citizens to be OUT
etly, peaceaby, and unceremoniously dispossessed
r of their present position throughout that whole
country without making any effort to sustain them
i without raising so much her right arm IN
c order to stay the hand of the spoiler2 They who
It thus count upon her tame submission, and most
o speedy abandonment of her pretensions seem tc
g have forgotten her prde-her ambition-hel
? avarlce for territory They blindly close tnei
eyes 10 what the events of the few last years can
/, not have failed to impress upon the government
e Great Britain-and that is, that sooner or later
s. she will have to strike blow for even footholc
Is on this North American continent; nay, that sh'
v will have to strike it now, strike 1t for Oregon
or submit soon to see the scepre of her power for
If ever removed If she falter now, her doom i
ss sealed This she cannot fail to see and to feel
e and seeing and feeling it, depend upon it. this tax
nl ing possession Of the whole Of Oregon will be M
10 hoyday business as distinguished senator, tNtr
Websterl once said, when cncountering the poI
rs ularity and power of the hero of New Orfean;
h And sir il, after notice, consent 20 limit ou
u claim by the 49th deg still have my fears tha
e. even then war is not improbable. l am awar
It. that the press Of this country, and the politicians
C, too have expressed hope, and many of them
I'd belief that the differences will all be aicaby al