The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-23

and, being clear and unquestionable, that the
would defend il to the last extremity I was read
| TO quarrel with my venerable friend-for so wi
call him Mr.. ADAMS nodded in assent from Mas
sachuselts Mr.. ApAMsl when he said we would 81
the whole of Oregon il the President did not "bac
out" Ia laughl-if he did not slip out, or somethin
/ of the kind. That was the meaning at any rate.
| Several voices: Back out were the words"
i Well, (said Mr.. So l no more believed that Nj
| Polk, the President of the United States, woui
back out" from that position, than he would suiie
his right arm TO be cut Off and that he would soone
consent that his head should be taken from hi
shoulders, than he would deceive the American peo
pie in the declaration he had made. would hay
ventured my ALL Of earthly nature, that he woul'
be the last man in the United States 10 "back out
| from that position.
| Now, that he has 'backsd out" from it, | an
not fully advised yet; but let the case be as IT may
there has been kind OF backing ost somewhere
or by somebody, 10 say the least. | am toll
that the President, when this proposition Of the Brit
ish g' vemmeul, through Mr.. Pakenham, was LAID
before the Senate sent with IL message containing
his protest against sanctoning that treaty, Well
il he did so, (Which have reason to believe,) he
did right perhaps; bat, so far as my feelings go,
had been in his place, the Srst thing would have
done would have been TO have thrown IL back into
the face of the British minister as being wholly in
admissible. | stand now upon the ground stood
upon when my opinion was first made up. was
clearly convinced from "irrefagable facts and argu-
ments," from everything before me, that our title
to the whole Of that territory was "cIear and un.
questionable" before the late election took place.
so argued the question on the stump; It was also
argued by others with ability, and in every view OF
the case; and the people at this moment are con-
WINGED of the fact.
But how stands the case nowl Why, this territory
that was ours by every principle OF right, TO which
our title was "cear and unquestionabe," which was
proved by facts and arguments indisputable now
basey, eowardly, ignominiousy surrendered to our
ancient enemy Let me repeat IT, sir, basey, pusllan-
imOusly surrendered to our ancient enemy. Who
did 1t is matter Of indifference To me; who did the
act 1t is not for me at this moment TO inquire, for
do not know. Secrecy is enjoined; the public pro-
ceedngs cannot now be made known; but we know
about this proposition the general features, and let
me tell you | feel somewhat sensitive the sub
ject; and you will find long the Great West will
feel sensitive on the subject-upon the action OF
this government which has reversed the only great
measure that ever the Great West has brought here
to be acted on. 1t is the question she has nearest
her heart. And how have we been treated Had
we not right to expect that this claim would be
sustained TO Its full extent, when ready 10
defy the armies of the world to prevent US from
taking and keeping possession Of that territory But
how have we been met Why, after we annexed
Texas; after we did all we could; after we carried
Texas on the same banner which we carried
Oregon after the South, who particularly in
terested in this matter Of Texas, got their ends an
swered they turned round, and told virtually, "we
have got Texas; now help yourselves" Dupicity OF
this kind may answer for while but the day is
coming when the voice Of the West and North, and
other portions of this Union, will be heard and
regarded. Some Of the South nobly stood up, and
their votes are recorded for $40 4V from the very
incpient stages Of this matter until the last vote
was taken. But | regret to speak Of the South,
while their votes receding from this position stand
for f..r htt ~ tba,.
But we have put it out Of power to do any
thing in this House this matter-it has gone from
us-by the siren song Of those who whispered
"peace" and Compromise" and were afraid to
stand up boldly and assert The whole Of our undis-
pused rights, we're lulled to sleep; we urged
to pass the notice in the form il from the Sen
ate and this urgent appeal from high quarters.
Pass the notice.; it is better than notice at al, !"
was the argument urged. Well. the notice was
passed, and some of the strong $40 40 men-of those
who 60 for the whole of Oregon or none-voted for
that compromise. ! did not; end glad re-
fused. | am proud of the elevated position in
which stand, for have the whole American peo-
pie to back me, Whenever the American people
are convinced of our title, they willing to stand
up it, if it takes the last drop of blood from their
veins, the last cent Of treasure from their pock
cts.
Well by our exceedingly energetic position and
action we have annexed Texas, and out of that an
nexation has grown a war; we have brought a
by our just act. | call it just. We'll, who are
fighting our battles tbere' What is the object Of
this war What is the difficulty Why, it is lit
tie piece Of disputed territory between the Nueces
and the Rio Grande. That is the dispute now; and
rather than surrender an inch Of that territory, we
choose to be involved in war. Well go for it,
the boys say in the West, with perfect rush"
IA laugh.]
voted men and money; went for that strip of
land because believe have the best title to it of
e "a l..
war when it is necessary; and my constituents, the
people of the West, have left their homes, and gone
to fight our battles there. But how stands the rep
resentatives in the Senate from Texas' Why, af-
ter one of them making valiant speech for $40 40
they sit in their place and deliberately vote to give
away half of the Oregon territory. They came
from the South-from this very territory which my
constituents have gone to help you defend and after
we have taken you into the Union, and given you
the privilege to bask in smiles, and beneath the
protection of the stars and stripes you come here,
and when you have got your end accomplished, you
vote to throw away half the territory of Oregon,
which is ours and you sail under the democratic
flag, too!
This, Mr.. Chairman is what makes me feel
somewhat indignant; and not only these, but men
hang from the West do the same thing. My
own senator, from my own State--one of them MIR.
CoRwIN can set there and deliberately vote for the
form of notice which has brought upon us the very
thing of which now complain; and when the rati-
fcaton of the treaty comes, why, he either absents
himself from his seat, votes to ratify it. Men
from the far West, who loudly proclaimed in the
Senate Of the United States few years ago, that
our title to tie whole Of Oregon clear, the best
title that England had no shadow Of title there---i
mean Mr.. BENToN--[a laugh and who has lately,
within few days past, made another speech there,
and set down 400 as his fighting line, now comes
out and votes to give away below ago; and he can
vote to give away the navigation of the Columbia
river too. To whom To an ally of ours'
Mr. PAYNE here called Mr.. s. to order for allu-
ding to the action of senators. Considerable CONVEX
sation ensued on the point Of order, which was sus-
tanned by the chairman; but on appeal by Mr. KEN
NEEDY the decision Of the chair was overrued by the
committee by large vote, and Mr.. SAWYER was al
lowed to proceed. ....-..
was not aware (said hey that was out Of order
in referring to the past action Of the Senate; and
did not intend to transgress the rules Of order But
Mr.. Chairman, that | may be clearly in order will
suppose that there were certain gentlemen at the other
end Of the Capitol who voted so and so.
Several voices: "You are in order, so go on; give
A.