New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-01
The Oregon Question.
speech of MIR. Webster.

-
First Page very good sketch OF Mr.. WEBsTER's
/ Speech. with the remarks of NJ. ALLEs In reply
but the whole country will be anxious 10 see Mr.
WEBsTERs views at length. and so ne give them
from the National In,elligencer.
The following resolution, offered some days ago
! by Mr. ]. II. CLAYTON, coming up inits order, VIZ
R.solrG That the President Of tie United States be
requested communicate 10 the Senate copies OF any
correspondence that have taken place between the
authorities Of the United States and those OF Great BIZ
tain since the last document transmitted 10 Congress- in
relation the subject OF the Oregon territory OF 30
much thereof may De communicated without oetri-
rnent TO the public interest =
Mr.. WEBSTER rose and said | shall advise ny
honorable friend, the member from Delaware, 10
forbear from pressing this resolution for lew days
There is no doubt that there are letters from Mr..
McLane; bat, as the Chairman OF the Committee on
Foreign Relations opposes this motion, am 10 pre-
sumo that the Executive Government finds il neon
venient TO communicate those letters TO The Senate
al the present moment
Yet /: is obvious that the Senate Is called on 10
perform legislative act ough. before The hour OF its
decision 10 be putin possession OF every thing
likely 10 influence its Judgment otherwise, IL would be
required perform high legislative functions on mere
confidence. There is certainly some embarrassment in
the case II the Executive Government deems the
communication of the correspondence inconveuient it
can only be because negotiation is still going on or if
suspended is expected 10 be resumed So far as nego
J
Of the correspondence, may very properly be thought
nconvenielt. But then the President has recommend.
ed the passage ola law, resolution by the two Houses
Of Congress- In support OF this recommendation he
himself sent unasked, at the commencement OF the
session. the correspondence up 70 that time. New, II
that was necessary the rest Is necessary II we are en-
titled 10 part, entitled 10 the whole.
| In my opinion the mistake in calling on Congress
10 authorize notice to England Of the discontnuance OF
what has been called The joint occupation until nesoa
ton had been exhausted. Negotiation should have been
! rtlr,b had fnila md siiad
then ard till then should Congress have been called
upon.
now 20 on the ground Of course that the notice for
disseminating the Joint occupancy properly TO be CIV
by authority OF Congress; point which do not new
discuss
1t is said indeed that notice is to be used as weapon
| or an instrument in negotiation. hardly understand
this 1t is messphor OF not very obvious application
a weapon seems TO imply, facility, or mere aid,
but the either defenc against attack of max
ing an attack. /. sounds altogether friendly and pa
cifc. doubt exceedingly whether. under present cir
curnstances notice would hasten negotiation; and yet
such those circumstances that there may be as much
Inconvenience in standing still as in going forward
The truth that great arises from the
extreme pretensons and opinions put forward BY the
President in his inaugural address, year ago and in his
message last December. But for these. notice would
have been harmless, and perhaps would have been
thorized by both Houses without much opposition. and
received by England without dissatisfaction. But the
Recommendation OF the notice coupled with the Prcs!
dents repeated declarations that he held TILE TO the
alarmed the country And we'll il might. And If notice
required in order enable the President to push
these claims any and every result then notice
be refused by Congress- unless Congress ready
support these pretensions all hazards. Here lies
the difficulty Congress prepared and the country
is not prepared believe, make the Presidents
opinion OF clear and unquesonabe right to the whole
territory u!timatum If he wants notice for such
purpose, he certainly must that becomes grave
question whether Congress will grant It.
was great very great mistake 10 accompany the
nj
OF our right the whole territory. Did the President
to adhere to that TO the extremity OF war
IL he should have known that. after what has hap
pened in years past the country not likely 10
tain him Did he say this, and atterwsrd re-
cede from il If why say all Surely the Prcsi
dent could not be guilty of playing so small part MS
To endeavor 10 chow himself TO possess spirit and
holiness and fesressness of England, more than his
predecessors. his counrymen and yet DO all this in
tho confident hope that no serious collision would
arise between the two countries SO low an am
bton, such paltry motives ought not TO be imputed
When the President declared that in his Judgment
title the whole of Oregon clear and unques-
tionsoe. did he mean to express an Official or mere
personal opinion 1.-THE latter il certainly had no place
in official communication II the former-f he in
tended solemn official opinion upon which he was re.
solved to officially. then II ia very grave question
he far he Is justified without lights change
of circumstances place the claims Of this country IN
this respect other grounds than those on which they
had stood under his predecessors and with the concur
renee of all branches OF the Government tor so many
years for not be doubted that the United States
Government has admitted through long series ofyears
that England has rights in the parts OF this
continent which entitled to be respected.
Mr.. President. whe has observed aentively what
has rauspred here and in England within the last three
months must. | think perceive that public opinion IN
both countries is coming to conclusion that this con
roversy ought be settled and lie not DIVERSE in
the country and the other as TO the general basis oil
such settlement That basis is the offer made by the
United States to England in 1926.
There 10 no room doubt think, that hs country Is
ready stand by that offer substantially In effect Such
is my opinion least and circumstances certainly ndi-
that Great Britain would not in all PROBABILITY
would not regard such proposition unfit TO be con.
sdered. said weeks ago, that did not intend TO
discuss titles az and certainly not 10 adducc argu.
against claim. But Ii appears to me that
there is OF arguments or considerations
in favor of regarding the 49th parallel as the just line oil
demarcaiion. which both countries might well respect
Il has Tor many years been the extent of our claim we
have claimed up to 1872 and nothing beyond It. We have
offered yield every thing North Off. ltis the boundary
between the two countries on this SIDE the ROCK
Mountains and has been since the purchase Of Louisiana
from France
do not think il important either 20 prove or dsproye
the f.c that Commissioners uDder the treaty OF Utrecht
established Inc 49h parallel az the boundary between the
English and the French possessions in America An
cent maps and descriptions represent il; some say
ing that this line of boundary is indefinitely West
others saying in that 1t extends to the North
western ocean" But. what is more important we nave
considered this boundary established in the treaty OF
Utrecht least this side OF the Rocky Mountains II
was on the strength of this that back the Brit
sh prstensons. after had obtained Louisiana North
from the head the Mississippi TO the parallel Of
49o.
This is ndubitabs. We have acted. therefore, and
Induced others TO act, the idea that this boundary
was actually established. now stands in the rea-
~ between the United States and England. IT, on the
general notion OF coatsuity or continuity this line
be continued indefinitely west, or is allowed to run
to the northwestern ocean," then 1t leaves on our
side the valley OF the Columbia to which in my judy
nen our title Is maintainabe the ground OF Gray
discovery.
The Government OF the United States has never Of
fered any line South OF orynne with the Navigation
of the Columbia and it will. behooves all con-
cerned to regard this settled point As TO the navi:
cation of the Columbia, permanently or for term OF
year that is all matter for just reasonable and friendly
negotiation. Blu, the 49h parallel must be regarded as
the general line Of boundary, and not to be departed
from for any line farther south. AS TO all straits and
sounds and islands in the peghborng all these are
fair subjects for treaty stipulation Ii the general basis
be agreed all the rest 1t may be presumed may De
accomplished BY the exercise OF spirit OF fairness and
smity
And now Mr. President, if this be why should this
settlement be longer delayed Why should either 90
hold back longer from doing that which both
/ think can must be done, if they would AVOID
rupture Every hours delay is injurious to the inter
ofboth countries i agitaes BOTH disturbs the II
business interrupts their intercourse and may IN time
| hair