The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-07

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was considered, abroad and at home, as a decars- |
| ton OF our right TO all Of Oregon. Subsequently |
this declaration repeated and sustained by the |
official organ Of the administration, which claimed
for the United States "a of Oregon, or none. A" |
Soon, following this claim, the declaration Of
determination TO sustain IT at all hazards, and under
! all circumstances.
A rnmor came to us, (said Mr. s., J in the West, |
that the President had. after all these strong and de-
cided assertions Of our absolute title TO Oregon, Of
Tered To give up 10 Great Britain the whole country
north OF the 18th parallel. IL was said that this
oner had been made a compromise IN the course |
Of the negotiation. remember well lsaid MIR. s }
how bitterly the administration was denounced by
some Of ITS supporters for having made this offer,
could not be induced TO believe (sad Mr., s.
that such offer had been msdei nor did !
believe Il ill arrived here, aud learned il officially
from the message. But do not denounee nor con-
denim Mr. Polk for having offered this compromise
for the sake Of peace ! allude TO II only TO show
what the sentiments Of his friends on the sub
ject
1t was remarked by the gentleman from Massa-
cbussils Mr ADAAS that lac had fears that the adj
minlslrauon would back out upon this question.
But Whatever the President did, he must do in the
| face Of the world, with all eyes upon him; and he
must he judged Of by the character Of his acts
! Ought now 10 pass the resolution before the
committee, and say to the President that he must
give the notice for the termination Of the Convention
| OF lS2R | think not. | among those who
signed their names 10 the report Of the minority Of
the Committee OF Foreign Affairs, which holds
that this duty belongs to different department Of
the government exclusively and that the legislative
branch has no concern with it, | believe the prn-
eiple Of that report 10 be correct The constitution
draws line Of separation between the execu-
tive and legislative departments; and neither Of
/ these DEPARTMENTS should trench upon the pow
era Of the other The House Of Repre-
sentatiyes (Mr. S. eonended) had right 10
instruct the President TO his duty IN this case nor
to do more than offer their advice The convention
still exists. Il il still in force. But this is propo
sIion to modify Il annnl IL. Will any one say
that treaty can be terminated or changed by the ae
lion Of the House OF Representatives. The FIRST con-
yention was limited 10 ten years. Before its expira-
ton it renewed indefinitely. IL would have ex-
PRED il il had not been renewed Suppose that IL
had expired, would IL have been competent for Con-
gross to renew IL II could be done only by the FIX
eculive. But the convention is now in full force.
Can this House, with the aid Of the Senate snnul
modify III
n To my view (said Mr. SMIrH) il is inexpedent to
give the notice, TO instruct the President in regard
to his duty the subject. This is duty that be-
longs TO the President and he is responsible TO the
people for his discharge IL.
i All, SIR, desire peace. II there is any one here
who is ready to say, my voice is still for war" he
had not opened his lips on this floor. IL all
for peace, then contend that this is Of
character which, IN the present emergency, will he
the first step to bring war upon the country. The
| gentleman from Alabama Mr. TAscEr had an
ticipsted him in bringing to the notice of
the House two passages in the Presidents
message, and by remarking upon them had super
| csded the necessity Of further notice. No matter
what might be the individual opinions Of the Presi.
dent, present there was no doubt that he regard
ed this notice, when he recommended il, a war
measure He had said that the question could not
compromised, and he therefore had recommended
this step for the assertion OF rights. At the ex-
praton Of the twelve months, he tells us that we
must be prepared to maintain our rights, abandon
| them. IL this notice now given, il was his
opinion that there would be in twelve months
time. He could not bring himselfio any other
| ciuson, unless Great Britain should back and
abandon her pretensions. But did her past history
| show that she had ever pursued such course' He
believed that she had never been known to recede
! from any position she had once iaken But if we
pass this notice, she cannot recede without being
disgraced in the eyes Of the universal world.
| I do not think. sir, that shall back out. No
portion of the American people can submit to see
Oregon in foreign hands. We cannot and will not
YIELD except the decision Of arbitration, should the
question be submitted to arbitration. Can stop,
at the end Of the year, and let the country still
remain in the hands Of Great Britain No We
must proceed, as the gentleman from Massachusetts,
says, and take possession Of It in military style
| He was not disposed to yield to the pretensions of
Great Britain; but he thought it i'll became US to1
make these halls the theatre of national reproaches
We ought rather to approach this great subject in
| spirit OF moderation ana III we intended
TO assert our title TO Oregon by force, it would be
discreet now to begin to put the country in position
| to meet such an emergency. We into the late war
unprepared; and although our people on the frontier
did all that could be expected from bold and patriotic
hearts, yet they were crippled and defeated by
| the want Of necessary supplies and munitions Of
war. He would ask gentlemen who were in favor
| of this measure, why they did not take steps to
put the country in state of defence' England was
| not now at with France, she was at the time
when we declared war against her in 1912. Now
she was at peace with all the world, and, brief
notice. could turn the whole Of her fleets and armies
against us. Our duty to the country required that
we should, if this notice was given, put it in pos
ture of defence. He would be found ready and
willing TO vote for the most ample provision
to defend the country. 1t was time that the
people should be notified of their danger, if there
was a purpose to pass this resolution; not that the
hearts of the people should be prepared for war; but
that their means of defence should be increased and
that they should not be exposed without pro-
lection, to the assaults Of an enemy. 1t had been |
well said blythe gentleman from Massachusetts,
| mr. ADAMS that, while We were talking about one
| regiment of rlhemen, and one company Of sappers |
and miners, and line Of stockade forts in Oregon,
the British government was arming and preparing its
| war-seamers, presenting naval force far more
powerful than any that was ever before seen Shall
we neglect our deiences till the British artillery is
i heard on our coasts--untl we see our cities wrap
| ped in flames
lie trusted that ne WOuld ne louDd WlImg 10 go
as far any in the making provision for the pub
lie defcnces. Although direct taxes were extremely
odious in his part Of the country, he would for
them, or for any other equal mode of raising the
necessary means for this purpose. If we must have
| a contest then lei II come. II any ono now
imagined that there was British party in this coun-
try, they would then find there was none. There
was no party here that would not sustain the coun-
try in all it's hazards and dangers. But (said Mr..
81 will not ask what injury will result from a
| &c
pancy, or whatever you will! What injury will
| il dor
His honorable colleague Mr. owEHl had men,
toned one of the grievances to be complained of,
| that a settler from the United States received eight
hundred dollars to from the north side Of the
i Columbia to the south side. He Mr. s. could not
conceive what injury was to result from that. He
regarded i, equal TO gold mine for the settler; for
he could go back and make another settlement, and
get eight hundred dollars more and so repeat the
/ L.. laI h., 49, n