The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-04-28
And at thar time. TOO. sir, we had not the

And at that time, too, sir we had not the
s-r title upon which 10 repoee, nor IN other re-
soecls we then IN a condiuon 10 assert more
resolutely than we did our right as against Great
Britain, independent OF the title OF Spain. IL was,
perhaps, sir, sufficient for At that time 10 have
our right Of possession acknowledged by that Pow
err The ten years being about TO expire, the term
was indefinitely extended, very unwlseiy. think,
sir In view OF our then altered circumstances, by
the convention OF The 9Th Of August, 1877. which we
now seek TO abrogate and when abrogated, we a e
for the third time the exclusive possession of the
country as its legitimate sovereign; trespass upon
which, wifuly, and by force, by any other power r,
would be an act OF war, TO De treated accordingly.
Having The RIGHT TO be The party in possession. on
the adm lsslon OF Great Britain through Lord Cas-
tlereaRh in 1915. that right necessarily be ex-
elusive Great Britain will have no right to occupy
any part OF the country for II of right the
party in possession, she cannot be there except
wrongully. Sucn subjects of a foreign power as
shall choose, after that event, remsin the coun-
Try, would necessarily become subject 10 our laws
ance, would share with our own citizens all the
benefits OF our national iiberaty, as grantees OF
lands, and participate in the advantages humanity
derives, OF whatever country or creed, from our
much cherished and tree institutions
think, SIR, the time has arrived when this con-
vention should be terminated; and had hoped we
would have voted upon the proposition, without
debate, with great unanimty and promptitude AT
present. sir, although have the acknowledge
right Of possession the territory of Oregon in the
greater part OF it-in all OF it north of the Columbia
river, except small American settlement at Bull
hnch's Harbor, Great Britain by her subjects and
her chartered power, Is in The actual and exclusive
possession. soexclusive was this posse sson, that
the northern bank OF that river was known and
called The British side" and the oppos tie bank the
American side" Our own citizens, Mr. Presi-
dent, derive no benefit whatever from this conven-
uoD; all the advantages are the side OF British
subjects; and we, at the same time, the true owners
OF the whole country. This being the case, sir, un-
less take decided action in order to obtain,
our part, that exclusive possession which belongs
to the right they will continue to derive these bene-
hts, TO the exclusion OF our citizens. II seems to
me, therefore. sir the advantages being all the
side OF Great Britain, unless give the notices. un-
less we express a desire TO terminate the conven-
ton, II Will never be terminated by Great Britain
NoEe will never come from that side, sir She
has al that abe desires, as things stand and has,
therefore, no stimulant 10 act She will not take
the initiative. She does not desire TO be RENTED to
her original barren pretensons whilst we encoun-
ter TO danger, by reposlng upon title " the best In
existence" And, as was said the other day, by the
Senator OF Massachusetts, Mr.. Webster. il cannot
give offence TO Great Britain, being but In accord.
ance with treaty stipulation and will add, sir,
she would have no right to demand the reason for
such action on our part, nor would we have the
right to ask OF her the reasons should she choose to
give the notice, but receive 1t in amiy should II
come from that power. This conve ntiOn, sir is an
obstacle in our path of progress, and we must get
nd OF IT, So long as 1t exists, we can do nothing
effective we cannot extend our laws in their most
ample scope over the country for the protection Of
)
fence or OF refugee we cannot make grants oil land in
fee to the settlers who are there in thousands
reposing with confidence upon the irmness and JUS
nce oil agovernment they dearly love short,
sir, we can do no effective act whilst the convention
exists BY abrogatlng 1t, we at once enabled to
exercise the fullest extent any act OF sovereign.
ny, we may desire, 1t will restore to freedom and
enable US 10 pursue such for our own inte-
rest as We may choose, In our wisdom, to adopt If
we do not take this course, IT do not give this
notice, il we allow things TO remain as they are,
there Is manifest DANGER before the lapse of many
years, that dfho1kies will grow up and thicken,
that war may be the result else, that country,
favored by Providence beyond almost all others In
all the great essentials OF human happiness and SO
necessary to Ms In enlarged view of our future
destiny, may become. by our objectionable neglect.
an independent nation under some foreign guaranty
and possessed of elements and position well cal
cuIated to annoy and embarrass US hereafter. Sir
the re- are strong indications OF desire several
quarters that such should be Its destiny. 1t s the
opinion OF gentlemen OF great intelligence, high
character and influence, that 1t Is not possible that
Oregon should long contlaus To be an appendage Of
our govei nment, but must be independent
think differently, Sir, il we do our duty. ! think
40 it Is an integral and most important part OF
empire, should be awake TO ITS preservation. II
we are Mindful OF This germ The enterprise OF our
people has pante on the shores OF the Pacific, il we
nurture il and cherish It, as It should be nurtured
and cherished, bes,owing upon it our kind, pro-
tecung care, It cannot but grow IN beauty aud tx.
pand 10 strength, and deriving its sustenanc- fom
the parent STEM will flourish with it in undying YER
dure.
Il depends upon ourselves, whether this country
shall remain with Us or not. Its destiny Is, under
Providence, In our own power, and we encounter a
most weighty and fearful responsibility, by any
supineness, timidity, or want OF resolution our
part, its preservation shall be eoparded, and, the
end, lost TO us forever.
Is il was proper, SIR in the nascent state oil the
Atlantic colonies, tor Great Britain to assert, and
prosecus and establish by force of arms. and by
Qumenis from the lannon's mouth, the principles
abe did establish for the oil her territory,
how much more proper and necessary IS II tor Us,
cir in this cur age, with all the improvements In
mechanical philosophy and the arts, BY which spice
10 annihllated and distance measured, not by miles
but my minutes, with our teeming millions on the
vast plains OF the West, in reach OF the Pacific
many thousands OF whom have gone to settle upon
It's shores and upon the fertile banks of
that the tul benefit of this principle OF British law
should be claimed by us, and We be as ready and as
willing to contend tor 1t, even unto war, she was
with our aid, against France. And why should we
hesitate to take the Initiative OF measures which
will force her, sir, TO acknowledge her own doc
trine The Judgment OF the civilized world will be
pronounced against her should she dlsavow the doc
trlne and the sin OF war, should one follow, Will
lie heavy on her soul.
RELYING Mr President, on the principle OF public
law, az TO territorial rights, taught us on the heights
of Abraham and on Bfaddock's held, Great britain
will have no reason 10 complain II we urge Them
against her, who originated them and gave ih men,
currency. And, cir, when Oregon shall be hlled
with our people, Gas 1t soon Will be IT this govern
mont is true to its own interests no apprehenslons
of any foreign intruder, under what flag soever ne
NAV seek TO make his entrance, De entertained
Il s our true policy then, sir, to give the notice, and
assert and maintain the principle OF British law,
which England Is estopped from denying, and
which establishes our title to the Russian line IL,
however, cir, could be made believe that the Ell
feet of the notice would be, has been intlmated,
to place our government in q position to compro-
mise our undoubted right upon any other line south
Of that, would vote against il, and tall back upon
the mastery inactivity" of the Senator OF South
Carolina, [Mr Calhoun,l as the w,sest policy, and
leave to tune to accomplish the great object to
which the whole American heart 80 earnestly and
truly devoted But, sir, have full faith the pru-
dence fimness, and sagacity Of the Executive, and
do not anticipate any such calamitous result. do
not auffrr myself for moment TO believe that he
viii violate his published pledges. No, sir, have
implicit faith in him. and that ne will so act on this
and on all other great occasions, In which the inte-