Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-27

upinion that The Executive should submit in cor
iurinity with the suggestion of the British NM:
ter in the close OF his lat communication
more favorable proposition 10 Tie British govern
ment. Well, sir, ! submit not TO the America
Congress, but 10 any member OF II, wheihel ne
prepared, by his course of conduct, 10 Jnsiiiy,
lhe part Great Britain, an inference 50 c'eatl
dcducbe from the course 81 conGnc' WIZ" "
! are called upon 20 pursue by those WI
oppose The giving this notice, and "hica y
lnaniie,lly opposed 10 the known sentiments gu
opinions of the American people u we aie Ge
| ,ermiued, then, MIR. Chairman, no! to sacriilc
| his territory. and not 10 submit 10 The Biliis
| government a more liberal proposition than IN
one which has been rejected, is II mol due 10 tn
| American government-iS IL mol due TO her ma
ional character, 10 her national feelings, that sh
should no longer permit another power howeve
great, however naughty, however domineering, 1
enjoy, in common with her, rights 10 which sh
has no clear title, or to which she has no I'LL
whatever.
Mr.. Chairman: Has Great Britain ever mad
proposition 10 the United States-have ne
statesmen ever suggested proposition oil com
promise upon this Oregon question which Woul'
meet the response OF an isolated voice IN IN
American Congress? 10 gentlemen anticipate
q more favorable propo' iiion than Inc one whlci
The British Government has submitted 10 us
50, desire to be furnished with The reasons 10
taai opinion. Here is her nllInatum, as he
whole course Of policy has evidenced. There i
the ultimatam-perhapS, sir, beyond me ultima
tum-of the American people, Which has beer
submitted by our Government. We are divided
by gull; we will not cross 1t, and we have nc
reason 10 believe thai The British Government is
prepared 10 meet us on our side. Our title is clear
our rights are unqueslonable; hers are The re,
verse. Unless, then you intend 10 hold out in
ducemenis TO The British Government Ia anticl-
pale falling back, surrender. a sill! iur.hcr
surrender on the part OF the American Govern
ment, il strikes my mind that The question re-
QuircS prompt, energetic, decisive action on ne
par, of our sovernment-sncha action rs is recon-
mendcd in the Presidents message, such as IS
contemplated BY the resolution on your table.
But there is another view, Mr.. Chairman, in
connection with The slate Of The negotiation, when
desire 10 submit 10 this House. II this Congress
should adjourn, without having authorized ana
empowered the Executive TO give this notice Tor
The termination OF this Joint occupancy, there Is
another inference which may be very clearly and
distinctly drawn by the people and The Govern
ment OF Great Britain. Will they not be pre-
pared 10 say 10 themselves and 10 the world that
there exists 10 the American Government d.
vision Of opinion between these Two departments
of that Government Executive and The Le-
sisia,ive-which weakens the action OF he Go
vernment, and enervaies her energy ana ability !
The Executive marks ont course of policy e"-
dencine disposition on The part oi that teran-
mcn of The Government firmly, enerec!ically, 10
assert and maintain The rights ol The Govern
men; Congress fai,ers, falls back; Great Bri-
tain iners, and Justly ntefs, that there exists on
the part Of our Government such diversity OF
sentiment between the two diffrTen, Departments
of the Government, that il IS impossible Tor mat
energetic action which the occasion requires 10
be carried out, and those clear rights OF our Co.
vernment properly 10 be maintained. Are gen.
llemen prepared by their policy and course Of
conduct 10 authorize an inference OF this cha
rac,er on The part OF the British Government :?
am not INDUCING in Ibis course of reilcc-
lion, SO much from The apprehension That
The British Government will make these INFER
ences if il were not that, in my humble IndS-
meni. this course OF conduct would authorize them
10 infer and give Inc inference strength and i'm
would disregard such considerations.
But cannot say that such course OF Contucl,
On our part would not authorize ard justify an
OF this SORT oB The part ot"nr opponents
in this contest. Lei Congress adjourn without
Giving The notice under this state OF the facts
necled with the egoiiaion-uaterih The fact, that The
has been made ny the Executive
and IT,. Congress has failed 10 carry il out
and will not both Grea Britain and the civilized
world, wha feel any interest in IL be authorized 10
iraw lhis inference, thatthc ''cear" indispuable,
md "unqaes,ionable" title OF our Government to
he whole Of Oregon, is not 50 strong and iorcibe
rs we have attempted 10 make III But WHY, Sir,
after tweniy-fige wears, or more than twenty-five
wears of negotiation, when The American Con-
gTess have before them the proposition which has
been made upon the other si5, and no substantial
reasin cen be given why any other Proposition
will he finally agreed upon, when YOU have been
informed BY the Executive Department OF the Co
yerumenl-to whose hands this matter is specially
no proposition will be made
which this Government onghl 10 accepl-whcn,
under all these circu instances, you declare flrst
your clear and indisputable tile and right, and
then refuse 10 assert that right, or to adopt mea-
sures for the preservation Of that right. will !; mol
in the ewes oil the world weaken our title IL Ore
gon, and throw a veil care not bow ihn-oreT
tia, which We now consider SO tIi9hl ana GEAR,
10 our conce p,on al leas2 Go To the French
10 The British government, or 10 any
other government, and alter The ac'ion OF Con
gresS, refusing TO give This notice-re;us:ng 10
,ake possession Of what we declare and believe 10
be ours, and then tell me whether our rights are
not weakened ia the estimation OF those govern
menis; tell me whether our hand is not less
strong than when We first entered into the con-
tesi2 The world will so consider il, and
will say there are shrinkines back and mis-
givings among u.s. and we ourselves will look
back to the crisis, which | consider the pre-
sent moment TO be- with regret that we allowed
it TO pass by without doing justice 10 ourselves,
and without doing justice TO the honor OF our
own nation.
1t is with me, Mr.. Chairman, question in
volving our rights, and our final will not say
acqusiion-bul our final complete possession Of
the whole Of this, our own territory.
There is another view 10 reference to the nego
lialion, which propose 10 submit 10 you, Mr.
Chairman, and TO this House. II gentlemen vii
put themselves 10 the trouble 10 investigate The
negotiation between this government and the gov
ernment OF Great Britain, ON the subject OF Orc
son, commencing with its earliest inception, ant
coming down 10 the present time, they will fine
that the same reasons which control The conduc
Of an individual in the management of his pri
vate affairs, ought sometimes 10 be applied TO {
nation in conducting affairs Of national impor
lance; and the very reasons which are now urget
Tor the further posponement of action, efficient &C
tion, on the part OF our government, will be fount
TO have exercised an undue influence in times
gone bv-l do no. say, nor 10 wish 10 he under
stood, as intimaiins that there ever has been ;
period, in the history of this negotiation, whel
action of this character has been 50 impcratigel,
required on the rarl of our government, "a at III
presen. moment; but ! do believe, that the settle
meni Of this Oregon controversy could have bee
made with less excitement, with less trouble, vii,
less difficulty, in past periods Of our history, tina
it can be made al the present time.
Mr.. Chairman, there is no greater error in III
conduct of government, or in the conduct OF pr
vale affairs, than giving way to the disposition {
our nature, to postpone 'the evil day." as it
sometimes termed You will find that the pos
ponement of the Oregon controversy, instead {
opening The door for lis amcable adjustment, o
terms more satisfactory, and less calculated, I
create excitement, has, in each step of its pro
sress, accumulated new and more insurmounta
bic difficulties; and, to-day, We are perhaps iur
Their from an amicable adjustment OF it lhan "
| have been in any past period OF our history, un
less decided, energetic action is taken 10 bring
about What are the reasons urged for the pos
ponement Of action? Why. the precedent that
was postponed in 1918 and 1897, when this cor
venlion was made and renewed. Well, will an
gentleman answer me, what has the governmer
made BY the continued postponement Of the Sc
| tlcment2 Since the acquisition Of our title fror