The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-21

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| seven or ten thousand hardy emigrants IN The dla
pu,ed territory; We have gained the advantage
having demonstrated our ute IN The face Of IN
World and once more, ! repeat, we have game
hms Wlliany man pretend TO say that we are no
better prepared now 10 defend our rights IN oregon
than we were under the administrations OF Nh
Monroe, or Mr.. Adams, or Gen. Jackson Suppos
We had suffered ourselves at that time TO have bee
hurried hesdlong INTO contest about this matter, doe
any one doubt that We would have jeopardizsd,
we had not absolutely lost the whole OF the terrific
ry' Has This lime, then, been lost 10 uA Have We
rested on our oars for nothing No, sir, we are bet
| Ter prepared now than We were then, and we sha
be Jniiy prepared in few brief years But gentle
men ask iphsa--when will We be prepared TO asser
our rights, answer, we are ready no'e, the wor~
comes to the worst We are ready TO mainial
them by arms even now, II We shall be compelled 4
do so. But Of this there is no danger, II We pursu
a wise and prudent policy. And We shall be inhn
itely better prepared when, at The expiration OF
few years, we shall have twenty or thirty thousand
rides la Oregon, and emlgrants sufficient TO euln
waite the vol, and raise corn and beef 10 maintain
any army We may send TO protect them. An army
which should he sent there now, would have u
sabsist ulon .'male and dog'--lses Frsmonls sx
peditionl-poor food for lighting men, take Il, sir
but IN few years we shall have citizens there th'
/ fruits OF whose labors viii maintain any army sen
| 10 protect them Then We will be ready, sir, ant
| then we will strike.
| But egain, il was said by the gentleman from
Georgia, Mr.. CoBB, that unless this notice I've gver
Immediately, England and the world will be induced
10 believe that the American Congress and people
disposed not TO sustain but 20 desert the Executive
and the administration. But any such inference
be fairly drawn, If we pursue the proper policy
Suppose we adopt every step proposed, and every
measure recommended by the Executive, barring
only this solitary one ofimmedate notice; suppose
we follow the recommendations Of the President as
10 the establishment Of Territorial government the
appointment of governor, and Indian agents, the
erection OF bockhouses and forts for the protection
Of our citizens the overland mad, and the induce
ments to emigration, &c: will any man 60 forth from
this hall and say that we are disposed 70 desert the
administrations Will il have that appearance in the
eyes Of the world No, sir; il is ungenerous and
unjust 10 make this charge again, US; and whoever
will make this charge against me, will do mo foul
injustice and Islander me- But once again il is
urged that the honor Of the country is at stake; and
ifthe notice be not given il will suffer in the esiima-
tion of the world Sir by the course of policy
which have proposed, thea merican Eagle shal not
mout feather he shall not droop a wing Amer
can honor shall remain as pure and intact as before
and the American name for prudence moderation
and wisdom, shail stand even higher than il now
does among the nations Of the earth. What, sir,
have we slumbered thus long. through more than a
quarter Of century upon this convention forgetful
of our national honor, TO awake thus suddenly and
find aSSaIled tafnishedl What has Great
Britain so recently done in this matter N imnugn our
honor We have demonstrated TO the world the
validity of our title and we now say TO Great Brit
ain s0regon is ours and we mean in time to possess
ourselves of every inch of it- viii the national
honor suffer by this coursel think not, sir
But now sir allow me 10 call the attention of the
committee 10 the other side OF this question Ina.
pine that to be done which am afraid will be done
shortly Imagine this notice 10 be given. Great
Britain 10 have received il, and the next vessel that
leaves her island 10 bear 10 us from her proposop
10 this effect: 1--WE have failed 10 COMPROMISE this
matter; YOU have ordered us out of the territory;
we feel no disposition to fight with Won; we do not
desire war; give ms now that which YOU have three
several times offered us divide the territory at the
49th decree of north latitude; we will cheerfulIy
take the northern portion leaving you the southern;
this matter shall end, and we will sit down by YOU
as friepds and shake hands vi,h YOU a brothers. |"
Imagine such a proposition as that coming from
Great Britain Immediately after notice given Is the
possbility so very remote that gentlemen cannot give
il their reflection or consideration Every advocate
of immediate notice persists in declaring that Great
Britain cannot 6oht. and will NOT fohi for OREGON,
Then il she canno, and will not fight. / saw the
chances are ten to one that she will make some such
offer as have mentioned And If she shall do this
resoectfully beg of the next gentleman who shan
take this floor on that side of the question, TO march
10 mnnfuIly and at once to the question and inform
~. ,,b., co,rse the ico,n,r,, and The ad,;n,,ra,;on
the proposton or should il reject il; already see
gentlemen around me-simmeda,e notice. men too
who are nodding assent and by significant GESTURES
nmatine that such proposition should be accept.
ed see others. warm advocates of the notice also.
shaking their heads, and by indignant frowns an
swerine "never. never"
Sir. the thing is palpabe; Great Britain by such
proposition. after notice given would place the adj
mnistration in a dilemma from which il would have
no resource but in selecting the blun,er or the soft
err horn. For if the administration should accede
to the proposition. il would raise sucha storm Of
oppos,ion North. South East, and wit. as would
shake. if not entirely overthrow il. The clamor
would be raised the crv would 90 forth. uYon have
s,crced our rights YOU have forfeited our interests
Won have FILTERED away the better portion Of our
SIorious territory. Won have acted with timidifv
imbecli,v Won have ,backed out. we can no long,
er snppoyt vou.n r. on the contrary. Inc adminiS.
tra,ion should reject such a proposition. nubic
dsso,isfaction would be even more violen, and
more to be dreaded. For it would he said
thai thew had wantonlv plunged us into a war.
when thew might have avoided il bv eomnro.