The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-21

IbSoilo WHICH VIC nave AT COuHduu 10 oihy
placed IN proper condition for use--let the ships
now lying Ia our docks be forth with fully equipped
let Our navy-yards and Notifications be put IN
thotough repair and fully mannsd--and the soma Of
those brave oilcesS and men who gathered such
wreaths Of glory by their triumphs over The same
antagonist during the last war, will come forth with
noble zeal to emulate their deeds, and to rival their
fame in encounter with that or any other foe. l.
for one, entertain no apprehension for the result
and alter the signal Successes that have hitherto at
tended arms, whether b sea or by land, IN eve.
~ trial to which they have been subjected, ! cam
not but anticipate the most brilliant results, Aud
when we reflect, that, in all the elements Of an
offensive aud defensive war, We are much
more abundsndy provided Than on any pre-
yious occasion, and only waiting 10 be called
In reputation In proportion TO the emergency,
who can ind within him heart to quail' Instead
therefore, Of croaking over the immense power Of
England, and drawing frighifl pictures Of tie de-
Sttucdon and carnage which we are To experience,
lee us act and fefl as becomes brave men, and we
have nothing TO fear from the combined influence OF
all the power, yalor, and wealth Of Britain. But,
Mr. Chairman, does the present condition of England
porend such direful consequences In hs event Of
war ls she, ala, prepared at all points Has she
lamentations and waihgs OF her needy population
starving for bread Where are her million OF man
ufacturing operatives already ground down 10 the
lowest point Of oppression, muttering their grefs
and their sufTerngsl Where is bleeding, grooming
ireland, whose wrongs are crying aloud TO Heaven,
and whose voice 10 heard throughout tho earth
Where is rebellious, revolutionary India And
above oil, sir, where is Canads whose population
largely disafiected, asd ready TO unite their arms
with ours upon the first signal Of war;--Csnada,
which must form part Of our acquisitions, whose
loss 10 England will seal the doom OF her empire Of
the North American continent, and amply REPAY Us
for all the consequences and costs OF war, ewes
surposing that Oregon be the barren and worthless
country which some gentlemen would have us 10
believe But, sir, as | have said before as con-
sequence OF giving the notice, England will not risk
It's hazards and It's inevitable results unless she be
forced to assume q position, by the appearance Of
distraction IN oounSels aud by other other acts
Of mprudence On our part, which her pride will not
allow her to abandon. Let us be firm in our de-
mands, and resolute united in purposes, and all
will be we'll
Il is a little remarkable, but nevertheless true,
that the arguments OF some gentlemen who have
gone against the notice have had the effect Of more
thoroughly satisfying my mind that il ought to be
given. One OF my colleagues Mr.. PENDLErosl
has said that the territory IN dispute possesses no
value. Why then does England, who is situated
so remotely from It, desire 10 own IN Why are so
many ofour hardy and adventurous spirits found
leaving their present homes and seeking residence
in those distant regions The evidence Of my col.
league Is thrust upon us in such gratutous, off,
hand manner, that suspect il will make but
a feeble inlI Tession upon impartial minds. When
| shall need Witnesses upon this point, sir, will
not look for niy colleague, who has been spending
his life IN easo and quetRess within the peaceful
and quiet limits Of Virginia, but for these western
men, whose sons, brothers, and friends have made
Oregon their home, and who now call on the Amer.
lean Congress TO protect them in their rights. To
me, SIR II Will always be enough TO hear such a call
from any portion of citizens 10 induce me TO
extend TO them the protection and security OF our
laws, although the place Of their abode may be
desolae and barren rock. IL is sufficient for me
thai j, is their home to extend to them all the rights
of an American citizen.
| have been amused to hear during this discus.
sion gentlemen charging each other with inconss.
tency--to hear gentlemen charged with having pur-
sued certain course ut one session, and an oppo.
site course at another. am happy to know that
stand III no. such position. Whether right or
wrong, voted for the notice at the last session,
and, God being willing, shall vote for it a, this.
censured the. And 1 have received ins,ru u.
lions upon this subject only from one, whose
bottoms are quite lattudinous-an old gentle
man, who informs me that the people in that
region wanted Oregon up to the $40 AV, Califor-
MIA, Mexico, and Canada! feel no disposition, how
ever, 10 invade the rights OF Great Britain or any
other power whatever. But il the time shall ever
come when the people of these commissioning
first obtained their indeperdence-shal ask 10 he
admitted into our Union, as Texas has done shall
certainly be willing 10 receive them. For | have
no apprehension for the integrity and porretuy Of
our institutions account of any extension of ter
riory; and believe that the greater our extent of
territory may he, the more firmly shall we be bound
together, provided the federal and State govern
ments conhne their Legislation within the limits Of
their respective jurisdiction defined by their sew
eral constitutions; and that our system of government
is calculated ultimately to extend its guarantees and
privileges over the whole of the North American
continent.
Before conclude my remarks, beg leave to call
the attention Of the committee to the remarkable
position occupied by the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts, Mr.. WINTHROP who Mt the last session
Of Congress made speech against the notice, in
which, assuming the American title to the country
to be perfect, he gave a for voting against
the notice, the fact that negotiations between the
two governments were then pending. At the
present session, when these negotiations have term-
mated that gentleman goes against the notice upon
the ground that the American title is good for moth
ing. Here, sir, are the extracts from his two
speeches
Extract from Mr.. WlNrHRor's speech, February
|, lS45:
81 shall enter upon argument Of the American title to
the Oregon territory No such argument eainy
ed convince the members Of this House OF the justice
claim to that territory Whatever else may differ
about oil TO have sufficient of the sound.
-four title. It be forgotten however
that il is Great Britain. and the United States which
qures lie convinced this point If gentlemen would
only undertake to satisfy Sir Robert Peel and ord Aher
deem that the American title is entirely indisruabe and
that the British prrtenon Is altogether void and ground
less they would ortify Mr. Calhoun in his efforts
enforce the posi- upon tbs British minister with whom
he is treating they would turn their researches and their
rhetoric to profitable account II fear they
rbuting to no such result am inclined to believe that
arguments, however strong, would lose much OF their
weight in the quarters have suggested when uttered in
and defiance which has
much OF this debate Nor iorhear to say that ap.
pears to m extremely impoc for to be publicly en-.
gnged In any arguments upon tho subject when ncgota
lions in regard TO aractually foot within eashot
this hail. and while necessarily ignorant how far
individual views may conform tn those which tho
American Secretary OF state may be this press
ing upon the attention OF the British egotaor indeed sir
this whole proceeding is in my judgment emneny calcu.
lated peje and embarrass the negotiations which the
gov errnents employed Wehave received authen.
that these negotiations have not faledthst
they still in progress, and that communication in
gard to them may be expected from the Executive before
the close Of the present session Why not wait for this
communication why insist upon taking any step in the
dark when, In few weeks at the most Fhall be able
to act odvscdy and to clearly the ground upon which
tTrsdngr
Extract of speech January 3, 1876:
II shall atempt anay sic history OF this title tite
to Oregon) certainly not disposed to vndicate the
British and the American there nothing
added the successive exposons OF the eminent states
and dipomatists hy whom has been illustrated But