Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-04-02
SPEECH OF MIR. WEBSTER
OREGON QUESTION.


Inc following resolution offered day ago BY Mr.
J. VI. CLAYroS, coming up IN it, order. viz:
Rs'Orsd, That the President Of the United State I
requested To communicate the Senate COPIES OF any cur,
e'Pna"ncc that may have taken place the auth ~
s"i The United States and those IT Great rt,in nr.
' last document Transmitted Cougrc.z IN relation 10
the -abect 81 ia" Oregon territory o.. 80 much thereof A.
may be communicated without dermen' g. the public in
air WEBS TER rose and sllI: shall advise nv hon.
'fau'e 'Hcnd the member from Delaware forbear from
pressing this resolution for few days
There - doubt that there are letters from, Mr. Nc
ia'' Dni as the Chairman Ut the Committee on Foreign
re 1u0ns opposes this motion 20 presume that the p.
u' We Government hnd- It inconv-niont communicate
h'.-' letters 10 thu Senate, the present moment
fe' t IT, Obvious. tHta- the crate IS called on TO per
"in legislative act ought, coe the hour Of IT, dcci-
s"n comes, o. b. put pOs-c.-i1n vi every thing civ IN
"uienee IT. judgments otherwise It would be reiuirsd 1,
perform high legislative functions on mer, confidence.
"e'' certainly some embarrassment tie II the
EAecuuve Government the cnmmunic.,i ct the
correspondence" nconvenent only De- because ne-o-
uau'ns stu. going # suspended expected In be
resumed - lar a. ncgouiuOn cCucerncd tl. conmu-
ncaon, or publication ot the core puadsncc may very
properly be ihJaght incohvcnient But thea the Presi
cent mas recommended the passage OF 4 law or resolui,r
~ tv y" Houses Of Congress. In support ecom-
eNahhon ne himself sent unaskcd, the commence
mem OF the session the correspondence up time
Now, That was Necessary, re-t IS necessary ii we
az. 'nuted 10 part, We are emitted To inc v.HvIc.
IN my opinion, the mistake IN ealing on Coogres.
10 authorize notice 10 England of the dsc.n of
"hai mas been called the Jon; occupation until negotiation
hal been exhausted Ncgr should have been ,r.ed
d.
40! ul isen, should Congress have been called upon
now 90 on tAs ground OF cour.e, that the notice Tor
''in'i'g 'heJoint occupancy i properly be given
oy 'uM'iily OF Congress; point winch do dis
/ Cus-
iss'd, indeed that notice is to be used As weapon.
OF an instrument IN negotiation. hardly understand his
IL l. mct'pn'r Of not very ubyio1s application vrt.
pom seems u imply, facility. or mere aid bat the
means either 81 ccienc" against attack or Vt inaag an
laeN' II sounds M altogether friendly and pacific
H'u'' 'Ae@,lh-t wh'ihsr under PRESENT tauces,
houe' would hasten negotiation; and yet su-h are those
ecDn'lne' that there may be much
IN standing sul. a. IN going forward.
Inc truth l., that great embarrassment a4os from the
Nuehe p'r"-I"nS aui opinions put forward by the Pre-
7os"' Ia i' inaugural address, year ago and HI.
me. 'as' December. But tor these, would
nave Oten harmless, aud perhaps would have been autnor-
ed by both Houses w7,ul much opposition and received
e! T"E.a-d without dissatisfaction. But the recummen
dsion the notice coupled with the Presidents epeaed
uteafauohs that he held iy the whole uf the ter
ni,Ty 10 be clear aud unqlesuJnaby" ahmed the
county And Wei II might. And notice we're required
~ 'u'i 10 'NA'.r the PRECEDENT to pA-h these
t''7 u" aiF anu every result, then ought re-
fused By Congress unless Congress j, reiov To supprt
'n''e petensionS at al hazards. Here lies dicus
congress d not prepared. and country l. not prepared
'' .'i-'e % m1nr Tile Presidents upIsOn a clear aad
"ntlesuoEaole right L. IN" whole territory an utinar
u Ne vans noee Tor such purpose, h- certainly must
will grant H.
Il was great, very great mistake 10 accompany the
.1a'''h o. nouce Will 50 positive assertion 1t
our ga' 10 III, whole territory ID he PRECEDENT mean
70 adhere 10 that extremity OF var If 80 h
sholl nave known that after what happened IN yearz
pas uf country Wa not likely sustain am. Did he
~ say ms ani aeTyy Ss Eeceie from II! i so, why
~ " "' '. surely the Fre-ileut could be guilty
playing - small part eudeavor = snow himself
Pc s- spltlt- and tOdues ard fearsSsre.s Of England
inoTe an las predecessors, ms counirymeg and vet do
IA ms N me conhdent hope that serious col isien
"'-d ''ise between the tao countries. 80 low an anbl-
'o, sue. ia.'fy motives olgIt be imputed. When
I -v'l' declared ia IA hss Judgement tte the
VIM u oregon vas Clear and unIueStonable,' did he
ne- express m oc more per.ona opin5n1 1.-The
.l''' j. certainty mad no place official cJrmunica-
UuH' the iouncr-Ii he intended solemn official opn.
.'' upon "hlc" he was resolved act officially then II
YER save question how far he = justified without new
'e" " any eAaHse Of circumstances place the claims
VI va III tals respect, on other grounds than those
81. "cA 'Aey lad stood guter his predecessors and with
me concurrence OF all branches of the Government for n
m'' !'-'- ioT u Is no' o. b. doubted that the United
Siacs Government has admitted. through long seric. of
yt1fs mt England has gls il northwestern parts OF
/ .!s continent which are enug-d 10 be respected.
VA resident, one who has oJ.erytd ataut.tly what
mas ul'.pied mere and IN England. within last three
1"'' must think, perceive thal public opinion, in both
Countries j. coming to conclusion that this controversy
o-E-' 10 he s'tedi and Is not very diverse Ia the one
c"uty aud The other, the genera basis of such set
"'''' IH-i oas j. the otter ma .e BY the United States
TO England ll l-26.
Iuere no COON to doubt. think that this country i,
ready 10 s'nHd by that Offer substantially aud in effect
oIsA J. F opinion az least aud .auccs certainly
lntlc4id tot G:ca Britain would not In all NJ f,li ~
WONG Or. regard such pFOpusi unfit to be c5u,ii
'i' sara some weeks ago. tia; did not intend O. de
against our own c ne But appears 90 the that t.re i.
concurrence o lgue o., CON derati1n= I'M favor o.
regarding me 49h parable. a- &c jos. line OF Jcma cat lr
"".eH O'h countries NIGH well respect. Ii has for many
yea--, been tue extent OF Claim. We have cI1usi IN
,' ~ aud nothing byouiit. We have ofr red To Weld
every thing moth OF H. IL the boundaF, between lie
Two couniu, on t1s side OF the Rocky Moualn and mas
/ been since the purchase OF LOUISIANA from France
Do not INNS important either 10 prove or dspovc
'e iac dat commissioners under the treaty of utrecht
tA'sntu c 4tih parallel rs the Boundary bttRccn the
bus sh and ts French possessions in America Ancient
maps ami descriptions -gpst-tnt o.: some saving t-af
iis line of boundary 80 'iudsd1tcly vest" rh. n
sayi1E 90 terms, that 90 extends ir uufthwc crr ocean
But what m rc important, have considered ;s b1uu
tay ls established los tbr treaty of Utrecht .t e.su t.
sue ,I "e "''"N h'lnaIns Dr. was on ihe strength o
TINS ha We afoN, back the British prct"1s after We had
obtained Louisiana, norh, from the head waters of r,
/ Mississippi 90 t- parallel ct - de-. rces.
| Ins I.au1.u5.c. We have acted therefore, aud IN
cuced Others 90 act, the idea ta, t. boundary US &C.
nay established. 10 now sluIs n the treaty between
the United states and In. and. H. ou g. r genera, por IN
OF conu-li', % continuity, tHls line be continued linden
Wt.N west ur - allowed to Co the northwestern
oce1n, then % caves side the valley 1 tine C,rn
oll' q" "hsn, in nv Judgment title mantainabe On
II tue 4rHuHd of Grly's discovery.
In' Governmental the United St,tes has never offered
an, 'nc south q" iory nine with ae navigation ct the
No-mhs. and % never w.. 10 5ehpoycs al concerned
To l'-1td 'Is a- settled point A.. 60 t1c navigation of
the Columbia permanently ur for term of wears thar h.
al u.'.r "r just reasonable and friendly tsuuau,u
hIi iI. 18TH pI... mist To-. REGARDED as the genera line
%. boundary, and not n De- departed from tor any line fur
hef soril AZ TO oil sus. and sounds and Islands u the
n't o s'', a these arc iIr subjects Hr t.cal, srpu.
uu"'. 10 o., general basis be agreed fl oil the r,., Do
may 'f r .umrd tc accomplished by the exercise of
/ 20 tTri 30 ia.-utss auJ lmIv.
/ And u.v. VIZ rreriden' i- this br SOL. yhy .t.,.i
| 1.s -fit'u.nf %. longer DELAYED WAY should either
Government I'D hlc, rHsr t-om % aug tlnt WIN eth both
mus e.a 'ef must gr tanO. Of they would a,oJ -1p.
ilf' livery hours t.sy is injurious ~ tle interests "
both c.1Htlrs 10 ugfcs both. diaiutbs their bs.1ess
INTERRUPTS Co., ..C-t.4--r. aud mly time. seriously ai
,e' their ueufH 1no respectful. feeling toward. each 9TH