The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-27
THE DAILY UNION.
Nh SEABoRN JONES asked leave, at this
time to introduce certain oist resolutions from the
gislature of Georgia.
Objected 10.

J. gIslature Of Georgia.
Objseled To. .... rH."
On motion Of Mr. HOPKINS, the House resolved
itself into Committee of the Whole on the STATE
OF the Union, (Mr. TIBBATTs, Of Kentucky, 10 the
| chalr) and resumed the consideration of the Join
resolution Of notice.
| Mr. DOUGLASS Chairman Of the Committee on
srritories) who entitled TO the floor from yes
tsFaay, addressed the committee:
( Nn CIiAIrMAS; Had foreigner been present dur
q s progress OF our proceedings, and listened 70
f. ~ debate which has taken place IN this House
4 -594 the pending question, he would have come 10
the conclusion that we were grayely discussing the
| prupriety and policy of a declaration of war with
Grest Britain Gentlemen who have spoken in OBJ
position TO giving the notice, have almost invaria.
bly, placed their opposition the ground that il was
a hostile measure, and tantamount 10 a declaration
| Of war. They have denounced those of us who ad-
vocate the notice as the party, and then they
have been eloquent in their descriptions Of the bles-
sings Of peace, and they have drawn frghtfu pic
lures of the horrors OF war Sir, am unable 10
coincide in opinion with these gentlemen, that the
convention Of 1918 was substitute for war and
that It's annument would be the dissolution Of the
amcabe relations subsisting between The two coun-
tries | do not understand such 10 be the object or
the effect, the history Of that measure. III gen
tlsmen will but reject for moment, they will find
that the convention OF 1918, which, rene wed by
inmate, entered into than three years AFTER
the close Of the last war, time when this oun-
try was at peace with the whole world and when
there not even cloud 10 darken our national
horizon; when there was neither wars nor the fears
nor the panics of war. II was a mere peace meas
ure, regulation for the government Of certain in
Leresis between the citizens Of the two countries,
without having any reference TO war or relation at
all TO war The treaty itself shows that such was
its object and Il shows another fact which is more
important IN the discussion oftAis g;4cslioD, which
is that the parties TO the treaty or convention never
intended that il should be permanent measure 10
regard 10 that country First, the convention ofl5l6
by is terms, was TO terminate ten years from
It's date aud at the end Of that period of course the
two parties would stand in precisely the same rela-
ton to each other In respect TO their lights they
did before 1t was formed. Then, suppose the trea-
ty Of 1913 had been suffered tn expire by its own
termination in 1928, ! ask gentlemen whether the
two countries would then have been at war with
each other Or would they not, In other words
have been IN state OF peace with their rights stu
ated precisely they were before that convention
was formed, and as they would have been il that
convention had never been entered intoi But sir
unfortunately, IN my opinion, (and say this in no
terms Of Tcproach 1-unfortunately by the treaty Of
1927, that convention was continued in force indeh-
nteIy with the right TO either party terminate it
whenever either should think II for their interest to
Annul IT, Aud, sir, that clause for iLs termination
was put into that convention for the very reason
that the two powers the time that the con-
yention was intended for tile regulation of eoun-
try and OF interests which would undergo rapid
changes, and that that country and those inter-
ests would require such changes for their govern
ment nS tho condition of that country and of those
interests themselves underwent They foresaw
these changes which were TO take place, and they
therefore made provision for the termination of this
treaty whenever, IN the judgment OF either party il
should fail to be beneficial 10 either country.
NVn al .F.. - Il
States, 10 give notice for the termination of that
treaty Of 1927, which continued in force the eonyen-
ton OF 1915; and We met by the declaration
that this notice ID hostile novement--that il is u
Hnr rntH'ue-that II is equivalent to a declaration
Of war by this country against Great Britain; and
hence we are called upon to pause and reflect before
we make this movement, which may bring the
hunders Of the British feet and Of the British army
10 our shores; and appeals made to our fears in
order to deter us from adopting this measure. Sir
know not whether the giving this notice and the
annnlment of the treaty may lead TO war or not |
know not whether war will be the result. But
SIR there 10 one thing which | do know
and thing which is far more important in
the decision Of this question than the other
aud that thing is this-that the giping Of hi, no
lice ,oiH afford just of isar. II is immatcrial
with reference to influencing our decision Of this
question, whether war is to be the consequence or
not; but 1t "a important for US to inquire whether
the act wo are about TO Pertnsa will give gfpe good
ground Of ofenee-ju,i cause Of ,odr. IL il WILL we
ought to pause and consider well before we proceed.
But Ifitgivc no just cause of war, 1t is no argu-
ment that Great Britain will choose to make II a
cause OF war.
Then let me inquire Of gentlemen what treaty
stipulation does this notice Vioatei What princi-
pie Of the two nations does it infringe' What es-
tablished right does il invade, apprebend no gen.
teman will attempt to point out the right, the trea
ty, the law, to be violated by it. What cause of
offence then, ask, does it sfford None at all.
The giving this notice is exercise Of the right
cured by the treaty ITSELF tits the execution Of
the very treaty. And will it be said that the carrying
II at treaty into effect in the mode prescribed by its
own terms, will be cause Of war; No, sir; no
gentleman will pretend, in this argument that the
giving this notice is a cause of war; "but" say
.af~ - Il tciH lead 10 iuar;" yes, "lead to war;
7nd therefore, the notice ought NOT to be given"
tlving, as think, shown by reference to the
uEs,y that we have the right to give the notice as
peaceful remedy, now propose the inquire, for a
moment, what will be the effect of that notice. not
only upon the rights Of the parties, but upon the
relative position of the parties TO each other.
Sir, when the notice shall have been given and
when the convention shall have been terminated,
the United States and Great Britain will occupy the
same relative position to each other that they occu-
pied before the convention of 1918 was entered
into, What was that POSITION A position, sir,
Of profound peace. 1t was not a state Of war,
but position of profound peace towards each
| other. But Wnat VIII be The rights OF the United
States then' The rights then will he these:
The United States will lie entitled TO the actual,
exclusive possession Of the railsy Of the Columbia
,ipsr, and will lie entitled to continue in pos
session of that valley while treating of the question
oftlte wish gentlemen to understand me in this
position; The effect Of giuing this notice ,oH be togipe Ia
the United States The undtniable right to the exclusive
possession Of TIE raiey Of the Columbia river, and ht
right 10 hold that possession rhiie treating Of the title
Sir, that right was secured by the treaty Of Client
If gentlemen will reflect moment on the history Of
tins question they will find that at the breaking ou
Of the late war the valley Of the Columbia river was
in the possession Of citizens of the United States
that, during that war it captured by Great Brit
ain, and that by the treaty Of peace II provided
that all countries captured by Great Britain should
be restored to us hold in my hand the lst article
Of The treaty of Client. In it, it was agreed tina
"aH territory places and possessions hatsotper take,
by either party from e other during the ,car ,ohicI
may be taken after the signing The treaty creeping oni
HE islands hereinafter mentioned lin the boy Of Endy
shall be restored withom delay" ..-'
! The treaty Of peace then provided for the restora
lion of all places, possessions or territories captured
by either party. Sir, as quick as that treaty wal