The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-12

ehuselts, Mr.. ADAMS, the gentleman from Ohio,
| Mr.. GIoDIsoS, the gentleman from Pennsylvania,
| Mr.. POLLOCK, the gentleman from Alabama, Mr.
HLLIARD, the "lons star" from that State and
SOME dozeh other wings, are nov cemoeruts Of the
| first water; whilst we, who bore the burden and
beat VI the day, when, in the memorable contest Of
| lo4i, tho principles OF the republican party were
staked upon tho cast ofthe die" we who were
found IN the breach, eye 10 eye and front 10 front
with the wings, and who contributed somewhat TO
the splendid victory which then crowned efforts,
are now TO be denounced as traitors TO tho demo-
cratic party and its principles. Sir, If believed
that the distinguished man WHO now fills tho presl
Dental chair with SO much honor 10 the county
| that man of whom can proudly say that conhhe
in him as fully would in any that ever held
that exalted slaiion-if, say, he could give coun-
tenaooe to these assaults upon portion Of his best
friends, simply because they could not concur with
| him in question Of meEs expedieney involving no
political principle whatever, should hold him un-
worthy Of the station.
But, Mr.. Chairman, have not ysi referred TO tho
question before the committee. | have felt il my
daly TO place myselfrght before tho people whom
represent and u say few words In vineication Of
those Of my colleagues who occupy the same posi-
ton.
must confess, ard the remark comes in patty
here that have seen enough in the discussion In
this House, and Of the action Of eeTtsn individuals
10 excite the fears OF a novice like myself have
seen enough TO have caused me, had been an I'D.
yocate for this notice. (Which was not,) 10 pause
and deliberate before taking step fatal and IT.
| reyocable. What have we seen here We are told
that this IL party question. lcongrstulate gentle
men, then, on their new elUes. have seen tie
veteran federalism Of Massachusetts, the wild, Teck
less, and mprudent fanaticism Of all the non
siaveholding States, (Which finds its appropriate
representative even on this noOr,) and the high and
generous chVllry Of tho West, shaking hands in
strange and unnatural concord over this most por-
tentous proposition. have seen abclItionisis and
iederalIsis, tariff men, bank men, and internal i'm
prOyement men, all meeting and acting in harmoni-
Gus concert upon what they say Is democratic
question. Sir, II these are the emblemB Of democ.
raey, | am no, democrat. But they are not So
And gentlemen who undertake TO nrraign US, know
full well that the test is no test al oil.
When | was elected to represent the ffth con.
gressional district Of Virginia, | was elected by
people who had held their representatives ex-
clusSely resp, nhble to themselves The charter un.
der which held my seat here, comes from the
people Of Virginia or portion Of them; and hist
have every confidence in the incumbent OF the presi-
dental chair--whist | have every co hdence in my
brethren Of the democratic party-anl whilst | am
determined 10 continue by conneNion with that par
ty (grappled to II as am with hooks Of principe)
through all tune TO come; yet look neither to the
White House, nor to members here. nor to party
dclation out OF doors, as to what shall do sha.
go home to my peoplei to them | shall give full
explanation of my course herr; and am content TO
abide by their verict and neither the gentleman from
Illinois, Mr.. HocE, nor the gentleman from Ten.
nessee, hr JouSsoS, shall be permitted to step in
between
proceed now, Mr.. Chairman, 10 notice few Of
the considerations which will guide my action on
this question Of notice. And beg leave, at the out
set, to observe that shall not 90 into discussion
OF the merits of our title to Oregon, or into an ex-
animation Of its merits compared with that Of
Great Britain. The matter has been fully discus
Sod and elaborated here, and IN the able exposition
OF our two Secretaries Of State, Mr. Calhoun and
Mr.. Buchanan, that il would be work Of superer-
Ogation to attempt To throw any new light upon it,
Suffice it to say, that hold the American title TO be
clear and unquestionnbe up to 49o und-ahalc hold
tile against England Us good to $40 40; hut
cannot hold with the chairman Of the Committee on
Territories, Mr.. DoBGLAss, that we may 60 mp to
the Arctic circle. Believing this shall pursue that
which believe best calculated to secure our
rights TO the whole country and to bring this ontro
yersy to an amlcablc settlement
What, then, Is the question for 10 decide So
far 1t has been confined exclusively to the propriety
Of giving or not giving this notice; bat the rci Is
that the proposition to give this notice is one If the
least considerations connected with the question.
What do gentlemen mean when they soy that you
are 10 give thls notice, and that it is an auicable
measured
Ii you do no more than give the notice, | agrce
that there could not possibly be any danger 10 the
peace Of the country. But that is the least part of
it. Your notice means something more than mere
notice. II means nothing at all; you contemplate
s'rong Interior action, to give it force and vitality;
otherwise you are merely acting the part Of bravo
do You say that the joint occupancy shall terlni-
nate in twelve months from the date of the motto.
but you also tell Great Britain, by inevitable im2l-
cation, that you mean to take steps enforce your
title Is this so Must it not be inc vitality 30
1t is an axiom-a truth that, merely stated, proves
itself.
Suppose tbet at the end OF the twelve months
this controversy shalt remain open and nadusted =,
and that Great Britain and the United States should
have been unable (and believe this notice to be an
insuperabc barrier IN the way) tn adjust by ne
COLLATION.: what, then, will you do' In the first
place, you will announce to Great Britain that the
notice having been duly given, and believing title
to be clear aud unquesonabe, you determined to
take such measures as may be requisite to force
that ntc. and to take possession. Is this peace
IL this calculated to secure amicabe adjustment of
! the dIf.culty' On the contrary ! repeat that, in
| my Judgment il is declaration of war in embryo
1t saying to Great Britain that the expiration of
the twelve months, we will take the country by
| force.
| shall not undertake to enter into a disquisi,ion
upoa the relative power Of Great Britain and the
| United States. know the force, the mighty and
rrcprossbe energy OF this nntion and do not fear
a contest with Great Britain, or any other power.
! But when gentlemen undertake to tell us Of the
ease with which we overrun Great Britain and
! utE uii eNtn3 on lnIS COnUnent--
it seems 10 me that they are going to war whou,
counting the cost Gentlemen say that this is q
peaceful measure. say that the speeches Of gen.
tiemen look 10 II as war measure. Ii there be
spirit of war III 1t, if gentlemen who advocate the
notice do believe that il will lead to war, whence
these beautiful apostrophes to the American eagle
ard indignant philippines against the British lion
| Whence the eloquent appeals to the patriotism and
the anti-English feelings Of the American rsoplc
or these hery deunclnons of the arrogance Of Brit
ish power' Are these tho elements OF peace or itr
signs ami embemsi
We have seen gentlemen INDUCING in fierce de
nunc,aiions OF the power OF Great Britain; We have
heard them speak of the ease with which we could
overrun her and conquer her dependencies. A gentle
man from Missouri, Mr. SIMS, who made an clo
quent speech here, undertook to tell u.s. that with ne
other weapon than the ox-poles of his wagon dri
vers we could conquer the territory and drive tn,
British out The gentleman from Michigan, tMr
CHAPMAN, IN the intensity Of his zeal took occasion
to tell US that his people could 60 over into Canada
and in ninety days annex ii appendage to tn
State which he represents And the gentleman from
Indiana, MIR. KENNEDT y, finding that these two gen
md apttsinotcd IN II. Al.