The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-02

Just ms much SO as the tunds OF INC ~ % the
| hardy population which Teads your sou. II de-
tends the citizen wherever he goes, both IN person
aud property and Is as potential IN us innneoee on
the interests Of a country any other element of
wealth or defence. IL may be tarnlshed, not only
by submission to injuries md insults nom abroad,
but equally by neglect Of the duties OF justice and
protection to the citizens at home. No duty OF the
government is more plain than that of proiel rn TO
the citizens by the proper exercise OF regular
thority and the due administration OF law IN ats
rious functions and Offices The eiuzens IN every
part Of the republic have equally the right u being
protectedj and no arrangement OF the government
with foreign nation OF which il can discotaogle IL
self can honorably continue which ties the hands of
the government, and limits it, ability TO give that
protection and care portion Of It's citizens, which
is the birhnghl Of all, and which Is granted TO all
Distinguished statesmen have doubted, some have
denied, our authority to extend The laws OF the Uni
ted States over Oregon pending the convention OF
1927 An admit that we are not free to act As fully
In his matter as we might do If The convention
were abrogated Ia the last year or two, our
cilzens, with their wives and children, .aye POSED
into Oregon. IL Is said that a population Of
eight thousand sous sTs NOE ihs.s, and ii4st tbs
number Is constantly increasins. Iheis petitions
have come up to Us, asking for the protection OF
government and law. Can wo disregard their
prayer Ought we not 20 grant III And, II so, can
honorably grant il in stintsd measure, graduated
by nice constructions and embarrassing supulatOns
Of a treaty with Great Britain which we have the
power, by compact, TO annuG Ought We not 10 be
as free to protect Oregon as Iowa or Wisconsin,
When we had only transient population Of hun
ters and traders in the territory, the convention
might well enough continue, now that we have
permanent population Of settlers, requiring the es
adjustment and administration Of regular govern
meni the honor Of the country demands its abroca-
ton.
2. The interest Of The country requires h--Can it
be expected that the commerce and business Of the
country will prosper that the pursuits Of indus
try and the investment Of capital IN plans of I'M
proyement enterprise will preserve their accustom.
ed activity under the uncertainty and threatened
hazards Of the existing state Of things The pub
tic mind 10 perplexed, and men Of business and cap
tal are lneasuraby paralZcd in their plans and OPP
eratlons. All classes OF cllIzens uneasy and
disputed. Without speedy settlement Of our
causes Of difference with Great Britain, these doubts
and dlsquietudes will increase with the increasing
bitterness snd irraon Of the prolonged controversy.
The notice to nbrosate the convention will acceler
ate negotiations, by forcing upon both parties the
necessity OF terminating and adjusting the whole |
matter.
g. The preservation Of psaee requires ito those
who reflect how rapidly international differences,
when actively canyassed, engender and emblttsr the
prejudiees and enmltles of the respective citizens
and subjects OF the nations diSpuant, and how, af
ter short time, the charms OF peace forgotten,
and the evils Of no longer dreaded, under the
angry impulses and stubborn pride of aroused pa
triotism and military en;huslasn incident 10 a pro- |
tracted controversy Of this kind, scarcely word is
necessary in illustration OF this proposition. Look
TO the history Of the day touching this matter. |
Two years ago-yes, sir, a year ago-the whole |
matter was capable Of satisfactory arrangement, in
conformity with the offer Of njiusiment and settle
ment proposed by the President Such an arrange |
ment wsuld have given almost universal satisfaction
in the United STATES. Now, under the neat Of dis
cusslon, as well here in the country, many are
opposed TO that basis of djusimen and would pre-
fer war even to IT, The longer the controversy is
kept open, the more prevalent will become this opIn-
ion, and so much the more viii be diminished the
chances Of an amicabe arrangement. Delay is dan
geruus.
III the Ameliean citizen and, prital, -,,;s 4 in.
Oregon should escape collision, which is not to
be expected in the state of the public mind
and amid the causes and occasions of irritation
resulting from their proximity and intercourse with
each other IN that distant regon--nore especially,
too, when their hardy and fearless character
for adventure remembered-it will he al
most impossible to keep the question without the
vortex Of politics within the STATES; it will be made
political hobby; parties will either divide upon it,
or instructed by the disasters of opposition TO lex
as, will with each other making bold and ex-
demands on Great Britain, Thrown into the |
strfes OF our elections, 1t viii 40 longer be ques
ZION Of negotiation. Our demands as supposed to
have been ascertained aud fixed by the result in the
popular VOTE must DC literally recognised ana grant,
Ell by Great Britain, or war is inevitable Ia The |
mean time, the same state OF things will be growing
up in England. Neither party will recede. 1t will
be made a point of honor between the nations |
which the sword only can adjust.
A. The preservation Of Oregon requires h-Sr, |
who remembers not the causuc rebuke with which |
Lord Chatham scowled down that fawning royalist,
Townsend, in the British Parliament, when, IN one |
of his TRADES against the American colonies, he |
urged the right OF Parliament levy contributions
them, IN consideration of the kindness of the |
government of Greet Britain in planting them in |
America, and taking care Of thom until they had |
grown up to strength and power. With that con.
temptuous majesty OF mlen which truth only can |
inspire when offended by the presence Of injustice |
and falsehood, and which ever wore
with prouder or more becoming port Than the great
statesman of England, sooner had Townsend |
made the assertion than he echoed back his words,
and Indignantly replied: "Your expressions planted |
them there. They have grown by your neglect" |
May not, hereafter, sons citizen of this republic
beyond the Rocky mountalns-some rural Pitt, be-
yond those stony cliffs, burning with a sense of our
injustice towards that portion of the counry-turn
upon us the like whitening rebuke, May he not |
say, truly, we shave grown by your neglect'-we
have increased in power without your aidi--we have
defended ourselves without your projections we are
freemeD and independent o! all the word?-you cast |
US off in infancy; now learn 10 dread our man.
hoodi
| have already said that, so long as the conven-
ton continues we cannot give full protection and
aid to Oregon. Injustice on part may well teach |
the settlers there to dream of independence and
separate government. To be the Romulus of an
empire-the founder of great people that far-ds
tent Ausonian shore--would be ny small temptation
or unenvled glory to an ambitious man. Great Brit
ain would, perhaps, be not unfnendiy TO such de-
sign. If, then, would not multiply difficulties in
own way, or increase the hazards of our retaining
Oregon part of the United States, this convention
should be terminated.
What will be the effect of this notice. have as
sumed, in my argument that our claim to Oregon is
clear and unquestonabe up to some point have |
not time to review the evidences of our title nor is it
necessary. Enough has been said already, in this de-
bate, on that subject. From all the investigation which
have been able to give the subject, have come to
the conclusion, that this new questlon-what
lawyers dcnomInate res integra-we would have the
best title up to $40 40 BUTT is rot res ntegra; it
is, in some respects, res adjudcdta; and though |
there be tribunal to enforce decisions on natons
yte decent respect to the opinion of mankind
requires fairness and justice in their practice and
intercourse. Since 1890, when the Nootka Sound