Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-05-02
TTERMs:::::::$2 90 IN ADVANCE.

; were their views on this question. But
; why, sir, did not these iIlustrious men
} move in this matterp Why did they not
, feel some Of that excitement which now
} animates the great American hearth II
: was because there was not at that time an
} American settler in Oregon; and now, sir,
! there are from seven to ten thousand, imA
, ploring protection upon our own soil,
against powerful overbearing, and MUIR
, derous British Company mean the
J Hudson's Bay Company-which, in the
, last twenty five years, has melted the nu-
, merous fierce and war-like savages Of the
, mountains to kill and scalp from eight
hundred to thousand American citizens,
J lawfully engaged in pursuing the Indian
|. trade. But, sir, will give further an
swer to the gentlenan's question, by ask
ing him one which | think is in point.
y Why did not General Jackson, as Presi-
dent, when the gallant young republic Of
Texas had risen in her. strength. and
thrown off the shackles Of the dictator,
Santa Anna, who had trampled her cons
stitution under his feet, and forced hef
people to assert their independence,
which, with their own good rifles they
achieved, and afterwards asked TO be ad.
mitted into the American Union;-wl,y,
ask, did he not favorably receive their APP
pllcation and recommended their admis.
sion? Can any one doubt that his feel
ings and sympathies, then warmly aroused
BY the cruel and atrocious manner in
which the Mexicans had conducted the
war, were on the side Of Texas and her
admission? ! answer, none will dare to
do so; and yet he did nothing to favor it,
and actually declined her advances! Who
can doubt that his course in this matter
was influenced by desire to let public
sentiment act upon the question: His
subsequent course furnishes the answer
and the proof.
Sir, am not one Of those who believd
in the potency Of Presidents-grest snd
mighty as was the one Of whom am now
speaking-or Cabinets, or Congresses, to
settle great questions of this character, on
ly SO far as they reflect or are backed By
The will Of the people. Sir, we have had
denunciations from the Wing side Of this
house, loud, long and strong, against the
resolution adopted by the democratic con-
vention at Baltimore in favor Of the rean.
nexation Of Texas and the reoccupation Of
Oregon. The democratic party has been
charged with dragging our foreign relations
into the late Presidential election, for party
purposes, Sc. Now, sir. was proud Of
thst resolution, and regarded its introduce
ton and adoption as highly proper; and I
will tell gentlemen, If they give the ques-
ton now before us the go-by, that they will
find al the next Presidential election, not
Democrats only, but Wings resolving in
favor Of Oregon. No man or party Will
be able TO make even decent race before
the people Of this country unless his and
their views on this question are known to-
10 BE- in favor Of Oregon-the whole Of
Oregon.
Sir, as have before said, Texas was
repulsed even by Old Hickory and DEM
ocratic House and Senate, when. IN 1887,
she first asked admission, and that, too,
after she had planted the tree Of American,
liberty 80 deep in her luxuriant soil, and
moisiened it so thoroughly with the blood
VI AIdNAS anu SIuChCtt3 uuu duntti, attu =
thousand others, that its life and growth
was beyond the possibility of doubt. -
But, sir, look at the part which this same
immortal man acted in reference TO this
very question at subsequent time. What
Democrat, at least, has forgotten the pleas
ure with which he read, during the late
| Presidential canvass, each successive letter
written by Andrew Jackson from the her.
mitage in favor Of the admission of Texas?
These were documents not emanating from
him as President, but as citizen Of Ten
nessee, a voter Of this proud Republic
Nor, sir, in rousing up the noble spirit Of
his countrynen to thwart and circumv ent
the designs Of English diplomacy upon the
important portion Of the Valley Of the Mis-
sissippi Of which am speaking, did he
forget 10 admonish them Of the necessity Of
looking to our rights OH the Pacific. which
he said we should maintain at the cannon g
mouth. His patriotism knew no bounds.
Western soil was as dear and precious to
him as southern, or northern, or eastern.--
Texas annexation and admission has been
triumphantly and happily contaminated;
and tell gentlemen, that nothing had 80
great an influence in carrying that question
as the fixed determination ofthe American
people toresist British rapacity and British
domination upon this continent.
] Mr.. Chairlnan,I am not one Of Those who
believe, or would insinuate, that there was
! bargain, as some have alleged. betwesn
the respective friends Of Oregon and Texas,
that they were to be carried pari rossu;
for as has been truly said by some gentle
men from the West, we went for Texas
because we wished to see her in the Union,
and believed that it was right that SHE
should be admitted. But, sir, remember
well when western members came here,
in 1874, full Of hope that with their in
creased strengthpunder the new apportiori.-
ment, (Dr. Inns Oregon bill having pas
sed the Senate, and been lost in The House,
at the preceding session, they would be
enabled to carry this, their darling measure,
without doubt.
i A member from Missouri Mr.. Hughes /
offered q resolution, 'declaring it a. the
opinion of this House, that we had clear
!, and indisputable title 10 the whole Of Ure-
pon, and that il was the duty Of Govern
ment 10 take possession Of its territory on
Il a. n -