The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-27

Triumph and he could not avoid the conclusion that
toe Oregon banrer would also soon be spread out
and triumphantly sustained. When that great issue
should he made before the people--when FALL or
none of Oregon should become the watchword-
how would IL be possible 10 avoid conflict with
Great Britain, unless she should consent TO give 40
her whole claim 10 any right in that territory.
Therefore he said that the time had come in which
the question should be settled, if il be settled
amcably II IN past years this question had been pre-
scented TO US, different action on the part of the
representatives OF the people of the United States
might have been proper but among other reasons
why he would now vote for the notice of the termi-
nation OF the joint occupancy was, that delay would
strengthen the adverse title Of Great Britain. The
laws OF Grent Britain had been extended over the
whole territory, every individual in it, whether
he was born under the cross of ST. George, or the
stars and stripes. In the year 1888, also, the Hud-
son Bay Company claimed and obtained renewal
ofts charter on the ground that IL was engaged in
settling end colonizing the country. Could not
Great Britain therefore say with great propriety in
support OF her title, that for than twenty years
she had extended laws over the territory by which
she assumed her title to be exclusive Could she
not say that, in 1895, she had renewed a charter
TO the Hudson Bay Company, on the express
ground that this company was engaged in eoloniz-
ing the country For this reason, therefore, the
time had come for terminating the conven-
ton.
But he had another reason based on the eharac-
ter of the recent intelligence from England and here
he would say in reply TO remark made by the
gentleman from Virginia, Mr.. BArLrl that he was
disposed TO adopt the precep "agree with thine adj
Versary quickly, while in the way with him."
The articles which he had read in the British pa
pers showed that great efforts were making there
10 prepare the public mind for compromise. The
Tunes, which was the most influential paper in
England, and was the organ Of Lord Aberdeen, was
employed with its usual ability in gradually re-
moving the preudices from the English mind
against the establishment Of the 49h degree as the
boundary The London Morning Chronicle, the
organ OF Lord Palmerston, and many provincial
papers, were engaged in working up the British
mind TO this ground Of compromise. Therefore,
he would say, that the question ought now
to be settled, in view Of the interests and wishes
of both nations. Though we were two nations. we
were Of the same family-speaking the same Lam
guage and partaking Of the destiny at least so
far Us il destiny to eolonize and christanize
the world. These two nations had done more than
all others in the world cvilize and christianize
It. In giving tins notice he would accompany il
with Specification OF our willingness to accept the
compromise Of the 49th parallel. This we could do
without dishonor, or the abandonment of any inn
portant interest
IL had been argued that our acquisition Of the
Spanish title did not strengthen title to Oregon.
No lawyer or historian, he said, could come TO such
a conclusion In the earliest periods Of American
history, the Spaniards were engaged in pressing
their explorations on the Pacific coast OF North
America. While Ponce de Leon, listening to the
wild Indian story Of the magic waters which would
his enfeebled frame to its youthful yigor,
was coasting the country on one side the Spanish
adyenturers were looking on the other side for the
waters Of the Pacific. Some of them were explor-
ing the coasts Of Oregon long before any one of It's
headlands or bays re-echoed to the English sail
ors their "yo-heave-yo." That tile we purchased
bya valuable consideration, and the whole of it
passed to Though Spain had not perfected
her hu hat he h. Call
1t up by occupation, yet IL was good to some extent
II accompanied by her own discoveries and explora-
tons, i, would present title, if not exclusive, by
far the best that any other nation possessed Still
it could not be denied that Great Britain had no
rights in Oregon. In this opinion he concurred
with the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. BArLr,l
who had Just taken his seat Even if we admitted
the argument that right was the best il did not
follow that Great Britain had no right at at all.
II did not follow either in justice equity that she
had no rights, because ours was better right.
Admitting that the rights acquired by Great Britain
from Spain by the treaty Of 1890 had been abro-
gated by q subsequent war-admitting that the
treaty of 1916 revived only the commercial treaties
relating to the direct trade between Great Britain
and SPAIN and not the colonial trade still il did not
follow that Great Britain had no title. If the argu-
ment was Just that we were destined by Providence
TO occupy the whole of the Oregon territory how
long would it be after we had planted ourselves along
the parallel Of ago before that enevtable destiny
would give US the whole remaining portion Of
the territory Why should we put the country
in position in which must either fight or aban.
don our grounds For these reasons, in his opinion,
we ought to accompany the notice with an offer to
accept as compromise the 49th parallel.
His friend from Pennsylvania Mr.. LEVIN had
spoken of this question as an American question
a native American question 1t might be well while
considering the question OF the integrity Of
our territory, to bestow some attention also upon
the integrity and union of its inhabitants. He con-
fessed that he had heard with regret the declaration
on this floor, that persons Of foreign birth ought to
be preferred to native citizens. He could not con-
cur in such sentiment. He valued too highly his
American birthright to surrender it for mess of
pottage. The blood in his veins was derived from
those who had fought for American liberty and in
dependence. Such birthright he would not barter
away nor abandon, though it should consgn him to
political oblivion.
When Paul was brought before tribunal on q
charge involving his life, he plead his Roman citi-
zenshp. Nay, said he, 81 was free born" The
man who boosted Of nothing, save Of the Cross of
the Redeemer, yet boosted that he was native-b born
citizen Of Rome.
So he (Mr. c. would boast that he was free
born citizen He was not speaking of existing in
suuons which ought to be recognised; but, so far
as it might be consistent with constitutional pro-
visions, he would have every man who exercised
the rights Of citizenship say that he was free born,
or had been so long resident as to be permanently
identified with the country and it's institutions.
He recollected that many years ago, he listened
to the language of distinguished Indian chief, who
had come up here to ask protection for his people
He knew the history of his nations wrongs, and
felt his blood Jingle at its recital The chief said
that he had gone to the Presidents mansion, and
had asked for protection, but his voice was borne
away down the Pennsylvania avenue, and was lost.
He (Mr. CO. could not help thinking of the elo-
quent language Of that native chief, when he him
self had stood before this House, few days ago,
and asked that the little BODY of native A ms rio M
here might be heard, and when he saw his appeal
made 10 vain, and his voice borne away the Penn
sylvania avenue, and lost in the air.
He hoped, however, TO be able, on some occa-
sion, to lay before this House his views on this
important question. Standing here not as repre-
sentative of the native American party, nor even Of
the 9Th congressional district of New York but as
representative Of the people Of the United States,
he had now asked to be heard on the question Of
peace and Standing here in this attitude, he
would urge upon the House the expediency Of
accompanying the notice lin the proprety of giving
which he concurred) with an invitation TO a com.