The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-02
CON GRE SSION AL.
SPEECH OF Mr.. THOMPSON,
OF PENNSYLVANIA,

IN the HOuW Of Representatives., January rs 1876
On the resolution authorizing the President
give the notice for the termination Of the joint OF
espaney Of the Oregon territory.
The House being in Committee Of the Whole o
the state Of the Union
Mr. THOMPSON addressed the committee a
follows:
Mr. CHAIRMAN; l have desired an opportunity 1
occupy the attention of the committee for a shoI
time on this great question. ! have the honor, sir
IN part, to represent an old Commonwealth occu
pying an important position in the republic, an,
feeling deep eoneen, in oil that may br presumed
To materially affect the general interests. I shall
neither speak loud nor long this subject and, IL
sitting out, may be permitted TO say thai enter
tain views very widely differing from many-nay
most Of the gentlemen who have spoken on thu
question. We have been told by very many o
them that, this notice passing, war was 10 ensue-
actual and inevitable war-wlth England Now
sir let US think Of that and look al the signs a lit
lie. month ago entertained the opinion, and
expressed repeatedly, that there would be no wal
if The notice were given. All through the debate
gentlemen on both SIDES Of the question spoke OF
War-on the one side, admitted that it might come
and on the other that il was inevitable. Why sir
where do you see any signs Of war; Look out all
over the face Of and society, and there is no
war there. The President says nothing Of the knel
The Senate-yeS, sir, they will preclude the sup
posed poSsibilily-it is only predctlon-of a
war, or chance Of war, by voting down this notice.
The press throughout our country is everywhere
peaceful. So il is in England. Sir Robert Peel did
remark, some time ago, that "iheyn-the English
"hAd rights Tin Oregon which, If violated, they
would be ready to maintain" And who doubts
that Nobody proposes TO invade any OF their
nights NI,dr the treaty; and Sir Robert Peel
could certainly have meant other rights while
the treaty remains in full force. Is there war in
this The Queen has said nothing about war the
Qrtftx anH. tr -
late arrivals, the news Of the press there since the
receipt Of the Presidents message. Their COM
ments on that document perfectly pacific. The
recommendations OF the President TO give this no.
tce; to erect stockades on the road TO Oregon: 10
raise the rhemen TO establish Indian agency; to
extend our laws over the territory; to send our mails
here-all, oil this IL spoken Of and the paragraph
usually ends in little bit Of compliment, that Mr..
Polk is very clever writer. Why, sir,ihere is no
war in this; the whole poetry of the thing is de-
s,royed by this arrival. "a laugh) Some body
there proposes TO trade of Oregon for the tariff Sir
will stand no trade Of that kind rest assured Of it,
No, no, sir. friend Of mine from Illinois has ex-
hbited some anxiety 10 Nuvw my course ,i,IS
subject have arrived at the right point to tell him
now; there Mr.. T. looked round for him, and re-
marked that he did not see him. but will tell him
| 20 for the ,ohois Of Oregon, and the tariff too
fore, opposed to the trade. But sir there is nothing
like war in this proposition, in my judgment. "a
augh) Let us see further. 1t is said the English
are repairing their Notifications, mounting cannon
on the Notifications at Sheerness, Pembroke, Ports
mouth, Jersey, and the Cape Of Good Hope. Why,
sir, do you suppose the old gentleman Johnny
Bully is really afraid the Yankees will come over
the water and take these places from hml SoberIy
and seriously, does any gentleman suppose it is
account Of us he is arming these places; Why, sir
there is peace every where-everywher but here, in
this little arch oircumference-this hall Excuse
me, sir, when ! say have sometimes thought Of
the story Of the "Tempest in teapot"
4Why, sir, England, conscious of her position and
Of her title, has never exhibited as much sensitive
ness in relation to this subject gentlemen to
suppose. | have exhibited little Of the spirit OF
the press in relation TO the recommendations Of
Executive. No alarm has followed it in England. But
we have gone further this subject The ven
cradle gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr.. ADAMS,
while President Of the Of the United States, il
1896, recommended, believe, the erection Of for
at the mouth Of the Columbia river, on Cape Dis
appointment. He will correct me if err. This is
on the north side of it. Actual fertilization, com
handing most important position, was recon-
mended by him. Mr. Monroe had made a similar
recommendation. The English made no objection
and no threats Of war on that account, and do moi
seem 10 DO so now, under present recommendations
England seems to have borrowed her faith in he
title from us. From this hall valuable lessons may
be learned that side of the question, and if SHE
does buster much about II, she will be much en-
Outraged in doing account Of occurrence:
here. But that is not the point just now; the argu
ment is, that if we give the notice we shall have
war.
Was that the understanding by the parties wher
the treaties Of 1918 and 1927 for joint occupany
as some call il, was entered into Did thu
President, the Senate, the King, and the House o.
Lords so understand il Did they, understand that
a treaty Of peace, which provided for the com
mencement Of war had been eptercd into, which
agreed that the convention should be termlnateu on
n notice OF twelve months by either party to thu
other which notice should DO equivalent u
a DECLARATION of war; Why sir, this woult
have been something Of a novelty. If it b.
go that the giving Of notice to end the joint occu
nancy shall be equivalent to a declaration of war,
beg 10 saw il places the parties IN diemma, truly
Without speaking Of rights, it would be this: ~
occupancy continued, the party having the righ
might lose il by the growth and cncroacnmen' 0
the other; and ii the power getting vorsted ny IN
operation should give the notice 10 quit, he must
prepared to fight il out. This would be chang'n
the question OF title as to the contingencies OF the RI
suit of a war about il. think give but fair ana
vsis of the argument that makes the no'ic
equivalent to war. Why, sir, the notics ~ MOI
war measure; the press in England don't al n'i spec
Of it as such; and will take leave to venture m
belief that in the estimation ofany intelligent powt
on earth. war, as the result Of this notice, wouid
considered as violation Of the spirit and intent
that treaty. What would be the effect of the M
tc Simply air, to remit the parties to thea g, e.
ginal rights. What would be our position ~
Secretary of State, [Mr. Buchanan, in his power'
and conclusive argument on the subject in the Ia
negotiation with the English minister. has sho"
clearly that England, at the treaty OF 1878, by ~
ministers recognised the United States az the pur
in possession Of the territory for all objects OF neg
tistion between the governments. This being 8
sir, if we give the notice, England must move hr,
we ere in possession, and she not Would she
justified in fighting on right No, sir; she mu
make sUeh offers wonld put her in the right; 81
must move; and il that be done, we shall, tru
never be ready TO fight in the wrong. An arrang
rnent would soon follow--s final settlement wou
enaue.
Suppose, Mr.. Chairman, the notice given, al
Great Britain should take it into her head to go
war her manifesto would be a curiosity rath
think. We will suppose, Of course, that il wor
contain a true s.aterasDt Of her title-the right $
was RENTED to by reason Of the treaty being er
ed. She would begin by stating that one 10
Meares. a lieutenant ofthe royal navy, al tha III
In the service Of the East India Company, and 81
ine in Portuguese vessel, landed ct Nootka IN ~
while there, made some trades vita the nauy
among other things, procured right 70 build me ?,
returned 1.-The next season, and commence Du'' !,