The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-24
CONGRE S SION AL.
REMARKS OF Mr.. BURT
OF SOUTH CAROLINA,

the state OF the Unlon and having undeT Cohsuera-
ton the joint resolution to terminate the convention
of 1927 for the joint occupancy Of the Oregon ter
Titory, and the various amendments thereto
Mr.. BURT addressed the committee as follows:
Mr. CuAIElAN In has been assumed by those
who have preceded in this debate that the chief
inducement TO give the notice recommended in tho
annual message OF the President, is that It will con-
tribute to speedy adjustment Of the question OF
boundary between the United States and Great
Britain. And it was insisted by the gentleman from
Alabama, Mr.. HoUsTos, ms an objection to the
proposition Of his colleague Mr.. DAhOAS, that
any definition Of the limits OF the country on the
northwest coast, Of which we should take exclusive
possession when the notice expires, would embar-
Tass negotiations and We were admonlsbed by
that gentleman that if we deglred a compromise OF
this question, we should give the notice
Sir | entertain different opinion. | undertake
to say that the only reason assigned by the Pres-
dent, and the only object to be accomplished by the
notice, Is by terminating the treaty Of joint
pancy to enable us TO take exclusive possession Of
this territory.
What is the language Of the President Does he
not inform US, that in consideration that Mr.. Mon
70. and Mr.. Adams had each proposed 10 the gov
eminent OF Great Britain the forty-ninth parallel Of
north latitude the boundary, he felt constrained
to make another effort to adjust this long pending
controversy That he had submitted the offer OF
the forty-nInth parallel, without the right to nayi-
gate the Columbia river, which had been rendered
by his predecessors, and that it had been rejected
SIR, his language Is:
The extraordinary and wholly INVISIBLE demands Of
the British gov eminent and the rejection othe proposition
made IN Difference aoac what had been done by pre-
decessors. and the implied obligation which their acts
seemed to impose, afford satisfactory evidence that
promise hlch the United States ought accept be
eeted" With this conviction the proposition OF compo
mise which had been made ami rejected by dirrc
ton subsequently withdrawn I'd title to the whole
Oregon territory asserted and is believed maintained by
rrelgahs facts and arguments" IAN attempts compro
mise having failed it becomes the duty of Congress
slider what measures may be proper adopt the
cury and protection oour citizens now nhabiting who
may hereafter inhab Oregon and for the maintenance Of
our Just title to that territory"
The measures which the President deems neces-
sary the protection Of our citizens in Oregon
or those who may hereafter migrate to that country,
arc suggested in his message. They are the extern
sion of our jurisdiction and laws them; the es-
adjustment ofIndlan agencies the erection of block
houses, and stockade forts, the route between
our frontier settlements the Missouri, and the
Rocky mountains an adequate force of mounted III
aemen to guard and protect emigrants; and the es-
tabliEhm;nt ola monthly overland mail.
But sir, he advises 10 give the notice, and tells
us, AT the end Of the years notice, should Con-
gress think II proper TO make provision for giving
this notice, shall have reached period when the
national rights in Oregon must either be abandoned
or firmly maintained. That hey cannot be aban-
doncd without sacrifice both national honor and
interest, is too clear to admit of doubt"
Sir, can gentlemen read this earnest and emphatic
language Of the President and deludc the country or
themselves with the belief that it is advised because
it will contribute to the amicabe adjustn Of
delicate and perilous relations with Great Britain
beg this committee to be reminded that if fur
Their negotiations were in the contemplation of the
President, they be conducted only by those
functionares of the government to whom the consti-
tuition has conhded the treaty power. am yet TO
learn that the House of Representatives have ever
been supposed to participate this power with the
President and the Serrae. And ! submit to the
committee and the country that it is only because
"all attempts at compromise having faied' this
House be appealed to by the President and that
the appeal is made that we may adopt measures for
"lhe maintenance Of Just title to the territory
of the Oregon, and at the expiration of the notice,
take exclusive possession CT It.
But, sir, if we disregard the direct and explicit
language Of the President can the human mind con-
ceive any other motive for terminating the treaty
Of Joint occupancy of this territory than the exchi-
sion of Great Britain' If the notice be given, and
the question of boundary be still unad justed when
the twelve months shall have elapsed, we shall have
no alternative left but to eject Great Britain from
any portion Of the territory, submit to the sacrifice
OF those rights which the country has been told are
"cear and UNREASONABLE" Gentlemen Mr.. Chair
man, have discoursed eloquently Of Irrational no.
nor" in this debate. Let me tell them, that when
we shall have terminated the treaty by which Great
Britain holds the Joint occupacy with us of this ter
rtory, we will be nation Of cravens and dasards
and flag that shall be found upon our soil. Sir, he
cberishes no just sentiment Of national honor who
would thus pause to negotiate, or parey to COM
promise.
Before we determine, then, to give the notice to
Great Britain which is in itself harmless measure
we should have well considered whether we shall
take possession Of the entire territory of Oregon,
and if not of the whole, of which portion Of it. II
we intend to assert rights in any portion of
this country TO the exclusion Of the pretensions OF
England, TINT assertion must be maintained by the
arms of this country. The gentleman from Masaa-
chuse,ts Mr.. ADAMS has expressed the opinion,
that it, the very day after the notice should be given
we march in our troops and take possession of the
whole territory there will not be war. did not
understand that gentleman as assigning any other
reason for that opinion than his belief that one
or the other party would "back out" Sir, the
calculation that our adversary will 'back out,
take leave to think, is that prudent mar
ought not to make--it is one that u brave mar
would scorn TO make.
It, MIR Chairman, we provide for giving the no
uce without defining the extent Of our rights, The
President cannot and / feel assured he will not
hesitate to maintain them with all the resources
Of the government, to tho entire territory IN con
troyersy. And, cir, with this deliberate and offer
repeated dcclaraon-that our title to the whole
country west of the Rocky mountains, is "clcar unt
unQuestionabc, IF we simply terminate the JON
occupancy, he would find IN our action the ap
prevail Of his opinions, and might we'll he detorrct
from admitting that Greet Britain has any just pre-
tensions to ask partition of it with For myself
do not hesitate to declare, that if entertained tht
opinion as TO our title expressed in his Inaugural
address, repeated in his ANIMAL message, would
exhaust all the resources of this great country he
lore would surrender rood OF that territory OF
the demand Of foreign governments trust thi
committee Will neither shrink from, nor evndc, tn
responsibility which has devoycd uron u.s.
At recent period in our history Mr. Chairman
the distinguished citizen who was then Chief Magis
trate declared chat we should claim nothing whic
is not clearly right, ard submit to nothing which
wrong" Ii is great and noble sentiment. It de
haes the point Of honor amongst nations: and il
my estimation, tho honor Of nation as well as q
an individual, ia infinitely moro concerned in Nc
claiming that which is not clearly right than in sub
mitIing to that which ia wrong. A strong man, q
great nauon--a brave man, or a brave people
may submit to wrong without degradation, but the
can never claim what is not right without dishono
proceed, Mr.. Chairman to inquire whether v
can now assert tide to the entire Oregon territoI
consistently with this standard Of national honor.