The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-09

- ~ free trade as a fair equivalent for Oregon.
VTben came Mr.. Pakenbam minister Of Great
u,,ain 10 the United States He not 10 settle
The Oregon question:; but, after having been fifteen
vs.r, ia Mexico he sent here TO look after the
T,xss and Mexican questions. Here commenced
,ome difficulties IN the party to which he (Mr. L. J
b,longed. The Texan question was great az
.yaiion Of the difficulties with that party, and they
sere ia this House almost In minority upon the
Texan question, and, il he must confess secret,
hey were in minority on the Oregon question an tins
Congress That question greatly embarrassed the
nalty, and the result extremely douotfal when
he vote was taken. But the annexation OF Texas
was carried. and that added to their difficulties
When MI Pakenham came here, he had IN view
hat question, and the Oregon question was OF mt
nor importance He commenced HIS negotiation
with Mr. Upshr, after whose tragical death he re-
mmed it with MIR. Calhoun, whose argument IN
airport the American claim was mastery and con-
elusive, as his Arguments always were, Mr.. Paken-
ham proposed arbitration, which Mr. Calhoun de-
lined, considering arbitration, until negotiation was
Exhausted, as out Of the question. He Mr. must
Be suffered here to say, that no saw with great re-
get that southern gentlemen, with whom he had
| % long acted, were marshaled against US ON the
Oregon question. In the whole history OF the UNI
ed States but three territorial acquisitions had been
made and these were Louisiana, Florida, and Tex
s,-a adding immensely To the power and influence
Of the southern Sintes He regretted TO see pow
,du combination, the part OF the SCUM, asains'
bs first proposition 60 add territory TO the northern
States, under the influence Of distinguished pohtl-
cian--whose lead he had often fohowe himself,
.o1 who had ably sustained our claim 70 Oregon.
He would now come TO the administration OF
lanes K Polk He did not know what the gem
Ieman from Georgia, Mr.. kNo, who spoke THIS
morning, intended by applying to the Presideat the
,pi,he.s of demsgogue, pettifoger, and bully. lie
rad with feeling Of regret, noticed that his neigh
lad hasp fnr 40pnf MI
,peeeh land no doubt an able one) in favor Of ar
aTation, all OF which the Presidents message had
knocked TO pieces and he was therefore disposed TO
,rease the gentleman for irritation IN conse-
ouenee Of his disappointment. Another gentle
l man had said that Mr.. Polk was four,h-rate
lawyer This was very likely and he (MI; ~
! knew nothing TO the contrary, for he had not
ong been acquainted with Mr.. Polk; but he (Mr. H.
hs5 always understood that according TO the demo
cratic creed, men were not much, but principles
everything; and IL the popular sovereignty had been
i represented by Mr.. Clay instead ofMr. Polk, the
l decision Of the people would have become the law
/ Of the land The democratic party, (sad MIR. u
move IN mass, and altogether and are less indebted
for their success to leaders than to principles Mr.
Polk was fortunate in his Christian name; he was
the third James who had arrived at the Presidency
He would call him Jacobu, Tsriius Ell Fshr-he was
he thrice fortunate James. Mr. Polk had come
here and asked US 10 do certain act, 70 adopt GER
M
beeu proposed were to be added to the resolution,
hsy wifi add a parallel Of latitude 10 our diff.
snli.s They would bring down our claim TO AZ
md finally TO 400 and this would be the result If we
aid not say TO Great Britain that we desired to put
an end to the convention OF 1921
Mr.. Polk came here, and IN his inaugural al,
dress he said that our title TO Oregon was clear and
indisputable. In saying this, and in doing what hi
Ia, done, he said and did what was, in view Of the
,over of Great Britain, bold and perhaps perous
Len US not (said Mr. L. underrate the danger Of thin
course but let US support the President if he is right
md LET w advise him TO step back If we do not thinF
that the hazard is demanded by the necessity OF the
case. He would not, he hoped, offend any one, If he
should state that having some facilities for information
IN his position on the Committee on Foreign Affairs
b. had reason TO believe that the three principal pow
enc represented here were combined against us Of
this question. He was not insensible to the con
sequences Of the stsnd which we proposed TO take
and though he had no doubt fear to the result
vet il must be confessed that position was new
bold and perilous. The question was, whether th'
Webster policy or the Polk policy was the NOR
direct way to peace. This was the first American
rep 10 put the United States among the great ma
ions of the earth, which might fail, but II success
ally psaceable. Those who, estimating the dange
restsr than the result anticipated, desired to seI
back, had q full right to do so; but great many
we're resolved 10 20 forward at all hazards, and be
6eved the hazard to be small in comparison with tn
object.
Mr. l. believed, he said, tina, there would be n,
var; but il there should be, we must do as wei
~ we can The gentlemen fro Massachusetts
Mr. WNrHRop1 had given US a magnificent homi
y on the blessings of peace, to every word of which
he tMr. ~ said amen. The gentleman from Mas
,achusets spoke ofthe nonsense ofthe people as ben
Of potent influence; and the gentleman from Virgin
ia, [Mr. PEspLErosi-w he saw just goini
II H. L. al nd dnr,y
II by tie gentleman from Massachusetts,, and hear
word or two--had said that he would endorse ever,
! word which the gentleman from Massachusetts, hat
said Here Mr.. PENpLEroN took seat behn'
Mr. WNrHRoP.1 The gentleman from Virginia hat
now literally placed himself, as he said he woul'
d. in position 10 back the gentleman from Mas
mchusetts. $780,. .s..
He (Mr. ~ was not much given to herocs, bu
he had great faith in nonsense The Winthrop
and PendIetons of former days always appealed Il
the nonsense of the people, and acted upon it. Whel
the Boston people rose and Lynched the tea, was i
done from a sober second thought Was it not tn
offspring Of popular feeling, or nonsense All of us
and all that we boosted Of was the offspring OF non
sense; this magnificent hall in which we assemble
was the creation of nonsense. And confess (sait
Mr. ~ that have more faith in popular nonsense
than in the selfish second thought of the wisest MAJ
in the world Mr.. II said he was now growing old
and he had acted on nonsense all his life, and Away
uexpected to do so. Inc gentleman from Massacbl
sets was not only wise but learned man, ant
he had quoted Latin upon us.
[Mr. WINTHROP. Have you not quoted La
tin too n 90.
Mr. |. said he would make quotation, and in re
turn for the very pretty passage taken from one Q
Ccerc's Catilinics, he would give him one from CT
ceros de Repubica, and he would tell him that
was such a quotation as his ancestors would hav,
made in Boston, to witt ".Nolo eundtm pop,iu,n i'm.
praorem, ct doninaforem e,se ierrarmm" He, (Mr
H. did not wish to see the same people both tn,
carriers and conquerors Of the world. The gentleman
had applied his quotation to the pioneers who ad
venturously crossed the Rocky mountains after tn
example Of their fathers, who had passed the Ale
ghanies. The gentleman was unwilling to suae
our people to undertake so dangerous an enterprise
hnd commended them to their own native fields
why, the enterprise of Columbus was dangerou
and novel, and he (Mr. had heard lady soy
that she would never forgive that Genoese navigate
Nor having discovered such vile country as this
when such pleasant cities as London and Paris re
NAMED to be explored, and he had thereby oblige'
aides and gentlemen to come to these wilds and liv
On hoecake, hominy, and what mott He would nov
come to our title to Oregon. He presumed that n,
one would question title matter OF right, 70
Il i T.E.I II