Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-02-12
SPEECH OF Mr.. PENDLET0N,
or vIRGI-~s,
ON THE OREGON QUESTION.
HousE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, !
January Is. 1876. 6


intention than any manner OF participation IN IT.
My dispos ton was, SIR, (said Mr. P.) TO leave
to those who have brought this trouble on the
country, the business Of settling IT,
II was said early in the discussion tha, this
Oregon question and that Of Texas were born
and cradled'' in the Baltimore Democratic Con-
vention Of lS44-s'twins," as my honorable
friend from Massachusetts, SAYS; ttro. he m ght
with more precise accuracy have said, out OF
very numerous litter, OF as monstrous poll
teal absurdities as any conclaye, by so rapid
parturlilon. ever spawned upon the world.
To another OF the progeny Of that celebrated
Conventlon-the most distinguished IN his des-
tiny, as the most remarkable in his birth--for
with him, by an extraordinary violation of all
the laws Of Nature and of reason, conception
and delivery were simultaneous, If not sin
gle process-to the President of the United
States, mean--w.th party majority at his
heels, and with command OF both branches of
Congress in the hands of his friends, was in
clined. repeat, to leave the task of relieving
himselfandthe Republic OF all the consequences
of his own peculiar system OF regulating and
conducting its foreign relations did not
doubt but the party had already sufficiently
lively perception Ct the difficulties into which
it has brought ITSELF to find reason--for the
party's, if not for the countrSs sake-sufiicient
to stimulate an interested, if not patriotic dedi-
cation of its best energies TO the object Of its
own extraction.
But, sir, as long as | have known your
party, and as thoroughly as believed | un-
derstood it, and know that | do understand il.
confess was mistaken on this occasion. |
was perfectly aware of the spirit of compro-
mise that shaped the decisions of your Bait
more Convention--a spirit so liberal and large
that in the brief session OF two days. ii found
time, believe, to deny and discredit every
principle which, as party, it processes; from
It's unanimous negation OF its own great funda-
mental doctrine of instruction, 10 its unani-
nous recommendation of Democratic Repub-
lican candidate for the Presidency, at the in
stance and upon the nomination Of Hartioal
Convention Federalist desire il to le re-
membered that this Baltimore Convention has
been introduced into this debate not BY me, but
by its own friends and partisans. If time per-
mitted, should be happy to pay itmy special
respects, on many accounts. But for the pre-
sent, your one-hour rule compels me to let it
pass.
] was about observing that comprehended
perfectly well the sternness of that necessity
which caused your apparent harmony, and
that 1t could not last, for it was not cordial in
its character, nor founded on any basis of pa
trotism or principle No. sir, YOU might as
well attempt to ietter the flames with flax. or
to chain the ocean with sand. as to keep in any
efficient and permanent combination, the he
terogeneous elements TO be found in the mil
Ions who compose your Democratic party. or,
what is perhaps more difficult. to restrain the
impatient and selfish aspirations of some OF the
leaders whom they follow.
But was unprepared, confess, for the
events we have seen here. | did not suppose
that the party, in thirty days after its full in
stalment into power, fresh from the people;
burning. according to its own account. with
fervent devotion to the public veal; and last,
not least, banded together by common disin-
terested reverence for the high qualities of its
chosen chief, would be found on such ques-
ton as this--a question settled at the Baltimore
Convention-split and divided into angry and
contendlng factions. And not only divided
but, if we may believe the evidence of one fac
ton against the other, selZing on this great ma
tlonal question as the occasion for commencing
a miserable scramble for the succession to the
Presidential Office.
| refer to these facts as things which have
uanspred in the face of the whole country,
and therefore proper to be referred To; and for
the further reason that they have furnished. in
part, the motive of my acton on the present
occasion. take no sides between these crimi-
mating and terminating parties. Least of all,
do tender any mediatorial ofiices--''Ro1l no
BIS talatas coiaponere Htes" | find in the bitter
ness, as well as the prematuriy OF their dis
cords, the best omen for the public good that
either their aspect or action has afforded for a
long time past.
| Yet, sir. since | have referred TO this matter
and since, for the larger part. believe the
charges to be perfectly true, owe II to my
own sincere convictions TO acqut myself of the
suspicion of lending any sort of countenance
to that very gross and ungenerous charge
which has been made against distinguished
member of the other branch of Congress.
Ifthe man. whose earliest distinction in pub
lie life was his authorship Of the war report of
1912, cannot be relied on TO sustain his country
in a Just and righteous war, then. sir. | do not
know the man who can be depended ON in
such an emergency. Ii seems TO be one OF the
hard conditions of great emnence in our coun-
try. to be peculiarly liable to the grossest inn
putatons. A great statesman, distinguished
for more than thirty years in the highest offices
of the Republic, returns 10 public life after
temporary retirement and the foreign press
halls his advent as aupieious TO the cause of
peace. Instantly he is charged with being I'M
der foreign influence, and we are significantly
told to wait and see (which side he takes" as
if those who resist these mad projects of war
Were a foreign party. or under foreign inliu-
ence.
| do not belong and never shall belong to the
party of that Senator-never, certainly, whilst
he keeps his present company--but think far
too well of HIM to suppose that he can be even
for a moment rutfied by so unjust an aspersion.
hope sincerely that he will be found. on this
occasion, where his large experience and his
matured wisdom make il almost certain he
must be found, on the side Of peace, the peace
of his own country and Of the world; that he
will, with all the strength OF his great intellect,
resist the rash and ill-advised' counsels that
would plunge his country into war; and, IN
so doing. add another to the many unquestion-
able titles he already has to the respect and ad
miration Of all his country-men II could be
permitted 10 counsel that distinguished gentle
man, | would say to him, $50, emulate the
example of a great pacifcGtor; and u, as IN hrs
case, services that deserve monuments more
durable than brass, have no present return but
the cold ingratitude of thankless generation,
then you will not fail TO win higher reward
than party can bestow--the unmixed approba-
ton Of your own conscience, and the sure and
favorable judgment Of the good and the wise,