The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-03-26
II III E N e w Err A i.
SPEECH OF MIR. CALHOUN.
OF SOUTH CAROLYN,

lu'iohs giving hotice To Great Britain of the
aggregation oil The convention of joint occupancy
(Concludcd)
1t seemed then to me clear that opr trpe nol;oy
was such as have stated: TO adhere to the con
vention, and let settlement determine to whom
the territory should belong, afIordinp in the moan
time whatever facilities we might think proper IN
our people emgrating TO the territory not incon
sisent with the provisions of the convention. and
extending our laws over them personally in like
manner, and to the Same extent, that Great Bri
tain had by act of Parliament. To mo il seemed
ciear that mat we ought not TO 90 beyond, and
That we should by no means extend our laws over
IL Ierritorially. The necessary effects of thai
would DO 10 extend our tariff acts TO the Territory
under an express provision of the constitution
which requires that all duties and taxes shall he
laid uniformly throughout the United States.
The restrictions imposed by our high tariff duties
on me infant commerce of the territory, would 90
Tar, not only TO diminish the inducement TO emf .
grafton but TO ALLEVIATE the affection of its peonIe
10 enjoy the blessings of free trade over The broad
racine, with its numerous islands and widely
extended coast, will prove in the end to be the
strongest Inducement to emigration and 10 inn
pose high duties, would do more TO check emiora
'i"n, 10 ALLEVIATE its inhabitants, and separate
them from our Union, than any other canse
Oregon will be to the Pacific what New Fon.
land was TO the Atlantic in its colonial state and
earnestly ihp
unrestricted enjoyment of the trade of the Pacific
as New Enganders did for that of The Atlanta
before the revolution. 1t was indeed one of the
principal causes which led to the revolution
should we restrict by our high tariff duties their
INFANT Trade, they might readily find power pre
pared to extend 10 them all the ADVANTAGES of free
trade, to he followed by consequences not dificpIt
10 be perceived. Influenced by these consdera-
o"s' came 10 the conclusion that our true poll
IN LOT
themselves for the present with as little Interior
ence as possible on our part. In that respect
'hey possess great capacity from their origin and
Their native instincts. | would let them on there
ana setlle Inc country in their own way, nivinu
'hefh all The aid. countenance, and support which
we could, without extending our authority over
'hem terrlioralIy, until il could he proDerIv and
saie'y dohe. But he 1t done when it may, great
Judgment and caution will be rpouired far ihora
lies the great difficulty of reconciIino their in.
terest with that on the eastern side of the Rocky
mountains.
The other line of policy looked to tho icrmioa-
ton by giving notice and taking adverse Noses
sion OF the territory. The bill Of 1913. already
alluded to- was intended as the first step. on
posed 1t, not only because believed that some Of
us provisions violated the convention, and tina,
me course II Indicated was highly impolilc. II
seemed to me, indeed, to require little re6ec,ion
to perceive that if the bill should pass. and the
policy 1t Indicated be adopted, that negotiation or
war would necessarily fullow and that, if the
former should be resored 10 in the first instance
to prevent war, it would terminate either in cnn,-
promise or war. There could be no other resnI,
NOT was 1t more difficult 10 perceive, that if The
question was compromised, it must be on the
OASIS OF The 49Lh parallel The past history of
NE "iiaT' me TACT that II had been frequently
offered by us substantially as an uItimatun' addeJ
TO the TACT that 400 was the boundary ON This
side OF The Rocky mountains left no doubt on INV
mind mat, 1t settled by compromise, il must
be ON That basis 1t is true that our offer hereto
ioIe on that basis had been rejected, and that il
might thence be inferred that Great Britain could
mol accede to 1t consistently with her honor.
am not OF that Impression. Things have greatly
changed since offers were made and reiecteI
oy her' hen the advantages under the conven
lion were all in her favor bat now thew have
turned In favor OF us. Then our capacity TO settle
inc country was small but now, for reasons al
ready slated, they are great; and what is far
from being lmmaierlal, this increased capacity ,o
settle and coonize strengthens the foundation of
our claims TO the territory. The capacity 70
settle and cOlonize contiguous omen tepion mn,
capable oi being settled or colonzed by any other
power, goes back TO the original PRINCIPLES nm
which all claim to territory is founded.
Seeing that such would necessarily be the CON
sequence Of the line of policy Indicated by the
OIL, and wishing TO avoid both compromise and
war, l took decided stand against il. I wos
very ably seconded in my opposition so much
that Notwithstanding the apparently Iaroo ma,
JoTlty IN It's favor, when the discussion comroenc
ed, II passed this body by an equivocal majority
oi one. ] say equivocal, because one ofihe sena.
tors feIt himself constrained by accidental canses
to vote for the measure, after he had avo,ved HE
opinion against it, Since then, session after cos
sion, measures have been introduced TO rive
notice and extend our authority over the terrific
~, with view ultimately Of taking possession
OF The whole. AS anticipated, negotiation. in
order TO avoid war, followed and now ,ye arc
brought TO the alternative of COMPROMISE or Grbt
ing, as ought 10 have been forescen from The he.
ginning. ] again repeat, that ain in no way
responsible for the present state Of tbnos and if
am compelled in consequence to vote for com
promise and notice, the responsibilv rests m INV
friends behind me, whose course has forced On
tho government into it by the line Of policy thev
nave pursued. DO not impeach their patrioiiscn
but cannot bot think that they permitted their
zeaI IN behalf Of The territory and the impotence
oil those they represent 10 occupy is, to get the
control OF their better Judgment.
Having been thus brought. by tbe limo nj r,I;.
cy TO which was opposed, To- choose between
compromise and war, / withnat hesitation tako
la In Il ....-