The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-02-06

seriously iDure their northern
brethren who had aided them in
getting Texas, supposing shere was
no doubt of their fidelity on the Or
egon question.
Mr.. w. said the whole south, and
more particularly South Carolina,
prided itself Oil its consistency. He
now wished to call the attention of
his southern friends to one fact and
he was willng to yield the floor for
an explanation. By looking at the
bill that passed the house at the last
session OF congress, it will be seen
that it extended our jurisdiction to
"a degrees and 40 minutes. and had
this notice in besides. Now, how
could southern man preserve his
prided consistency by going for 40
degrees, and against the notice, af-
ter having voted for the bill? What
has occurred to lessen our title
since, whilst we have had the mas
terly and irrefutable argument of
the secretary of state to strength
en- it !?
Mr.. r. CHAPMAN, to whom Mr..
Wentworth yielded the floor for ex-
PLANTATION, said, that he had often,
during this debate, heard the charge
intimated of a bargain between the
south and the west; that the south
was to go for the whole of Oregon
mar, because the west went for
Teas. He had not considered this
imoutation heretofore worthy of no.
tice.; but as others had considered
the charge worthy of explanation,
he considered it due TO himself to
say, that he never heard of such an
understanding or bargain. He GER
tainly had no part in such understan-
ding; he opposed all such, and
would now denounce it as corrupt,
ifhe believed any such existed; but
this he could not believe for mo-
mcnt. Mr.. c. said, that SO far from
having had anything to do with such
an agreement, he had (almost alone
of his harty) voted at the last ses-
sion, not only against the notice, but
the bill that passed this house he
voted against it mainly on account
of the notice, though there were
other provisions very Objectionable.
Mr.. c. said he hoped that this de-
claimer would in future acquit him
from such a charge. As one of the
friends of Texas, he felt it his duty
TO protest against such an imputa
ton. 1t had not been made against
him on account of his vote last wear.
nor would he subject himself TO such
an lmpntatlon by any vote he might
give on the question now under con-
sideration.
MIR. WENTWORTH knew well the
course Of the gentleman from Alaba-
ma; he was one of the very few
southern democrats who voted
against the bill of the last session.
1t was to others that he spoke: he
wanted those who voted for the bill
to be consistent, and demand now
all they did then. He had made no
charge of violated bargain, for he
knew of none. What he had said
was to make the south consistent
with itself, and not furnish arguments
to northern abolitionists, with which
they might injure its northern allies
IN the glorious acquisition of Texas.
ii there was any censure in this mat
ter, it was not for him or any mem
Der on this floor to inhict it, but it
was for gentlemen to censurc them
selves by their own votes when the
day of trial comes, if ever it does,
and the prospect for it seemed rath-
crpoor now.
Mr.. W. differed with some mem
bers as to the result of war, if one
should come. He thought the Cana
dians would be the principal suffe-
rers; but he would not allude to this
subject. He had no right to antici.
pate war whilst we were in the
discharge of our rightful duties. The
goddess of justice is represented as
being blind. She is just and fears not.
She can see no British lion, nor
British bayonets, nor British war
steamers. Her DEGREES 90 forth.
affect whom they will; weakness
and strength are alike to her. And
we should consider ourselves as
sworn jurors, to try the claims of
our country to Oregon, and should
be blind to all consequences of our
verdict, provided that it is also lust
one. knowing our rights, which all
here admit to be unquestionable, we
should dare maintain them.