The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-05

cooperating all the other matters he believed would
pass this House with unanimity. The only differ
eoce was concerning this notice. Shall II be giyens
And that being the case he took IT, when this
venon had been in force for twenty odd years dur
ing which the honor oflhe country had not been inn
paired by M less than Eve different administrations
that il incumbent upon those who say the notice
should be gwen, To say why IL should be given, and
not 10 satisfy themselves wIh declaming about war
and about Great Briain's aggrandizement. Ia was
a question OF interest, of policy, that they TO
settle,
Now, to begin, what object had we in doing SOL
1 The gentleman from Massachusetts, lMr. ApAasl
had answered This question. Tie thought the Presl-
dent Of the United States had answered II when he
said we gain exclusive jurisdiction unless We
give the notice The object, therefore, must be- to
lake exclusive jurisdiction Of Oregon, the gentle
man says aud on which he thinks the patriotism of
certain men on this floor implicated. But IL We begin
by giving tys notice. and passing the series OF mea-
sures necessary 10 gain exclusive jurisdiction he sup
! posedlhe gentleman from Ohio, Mr.. McDowELL,l
l or the gentleman from Msssaehuse,is, Mr. ADAMS,
or the gentlemen from Pennsy wanna, Mr.. G. J. Is
GERsoLL and MIR. DARRAsn, would not halt in
4 rying them out But how was u TO he donsl There
4 was but one way. BY pulling down the cross ofSl.
George upon the thirty odd forts Great Britain had
in hat territory, and by turning every EngishmAn
out Of IT, unless he will allegiance 20 US That
was the only way in which we could take exclusive
posses sion oft Now was that peace NOT He
| wished 10 understand gentlemen; and what Wa were
TO do According TO his humble apprehension, il
was wsr-plain, nnequyocal war Now, 1t seemea
TO him, that that would be the tfrct, the inevitable
effect, Of giving this notice.
! What position (said Mr.. RI will IL put us in,
We shall leave defensive position and take up
| the aggressive position. Great Britain may then
tell ms to come on--thst she viii act the de-
/ fensve and content herself with maintaining her
own position She will put upon you the burden
Of waging an aggressive war. Now, sir, in all the
contests in which the United States engage il is inn
porant that she should act defensiyely, and that her
course should be just not only in her own ewes.
but those OF the civilized world. Our institutions
are based on the best, not the worst prnenles;
they based truth, and justice, and right That
was the basis Of republican governments, while
others were founded upon fraud and force five
should put ourselves IN the attitude Of those nations
who carry wars Of aggression, the last refuge Of
liberty that was len among tho nations Of the earth
would be forever lost We must have strong and
imperious reasons to justify US in entering upon
any war, still more an aggressive war. What
reasons have been offered for course Of meas.
ures which may lead to war! Has Great Brit
ain, since 1921 violated any of our rights Has
she injured any Of our citizens in their per-
sons or property Is she making any more progress
in the settlement and occupation Of the territory
than we are On the contrary, we are in
/ good position under the treaty, as Great Britain
is, and may enjoy oil the advantages which the
country offers TO the enterprise OF citizens. We
in better position, in fact, than Great British Isl
years, Great Britain had more advantages over US,
in the territory; for she making settlements
and carrying on trade with the Ind ans, while we
were inert. Blu, the now very different,
and the terms Of the convention were operating
j against Great Britain, and in favor Within
the last FIVE years the tide of emigration had begun
are TO roll steadily, and with daily increasing strength
from the western States to the territory Of Oregon
Our people were going there in troops; and Il had
been stated that sready had population Of seven
fhR 0as.ftn al ~.
gagged in agricultural pursuits and trade. BY this
process Of emigration and settlement we are OBJ
tanning possession Of the country--obtaining it
quietly, peaceably, and effectively. When we have
become numerous and strong in Oregon, il would
be time enough for TO wish to terminate the
convention. II Great Britain should now move in
the matter, and say that the convention was
OF Grating injurousy to her interests, it would
not be so surprising,
We might say that il we permit il to continue, it
ii must soon give you the empire over the whole
country. There would be some reason in this. Bot
| what reason have terminate treaty that was
working us manifest good, and no evili
But he would here take an opportunity 10 refer 10
one reason which had been adduced by the gentle
man from Indiana, Mr., .OwES,l who had spoken
j eloquently on this subject few days ago. That
gentleman had given a reason why the conven-
tion should be terminated, and he Ma. RHErrl felt
bound to notice it. and give it all the consideration
that was due to it. That gentleman had said that
our people could not settle north Of the Columbia
river, and that we had not solitary settler there's
that all our people went down the valley some
where, and left the British settlements north Of the
Columbia. But why did they leave that regon
Not because they driven away by force but
because the British bought them out British
gold said the gentleman the of in
ducing them to part with their settlements ard
Improvements north of the Columbia. The gen
temnn mentioned, as the hardest case that had
occurred, that one man, who had built cabin
north of the Columbia, had sold out to the British
company for eight hundred dollars. That this poor
frontier adventurer should so easily acquire such
fund in cash, was deemed so inlolerable hardship
that to prevent Its recurrence, we must now, at all
hazaIds, terminate this convention Of Joint occu.
pancy. This was the gentleman's reason for giving
the notice; but in another portion of his remarks,
he took position which destroyed it.. We must
give the notice not only because we cannot 90 over
the river, but because do go over it. These
the only reasons that he had heard why we should
give the notice.
But we will suppose the convention TO be open.
ting inJurlously upon our own interests: how can
we improve condition there? How can we
gam Oregon by giving this notice. He would ask
genhemen oa this question. Would the notice
give you exclusive and entire possession of Ore.
gon' How will il effect ths' We say, your projed
!, 10 impracilcable and absurd. How can you gett
by this notcef Suppose ii to lead to war--a war
for the maintenance OF your exclusive possession Of
I the territory: would tina, give n to you' ANer
the first gun was fired, you would have no more Of
Oregon. The people Of tina, region, if they had any
9 good sense, would soon patch upa peace between
; themselves. They would not fgh. about il;
, they would have nothing to do with the conflict
they would leave the United States and Grent
{ Britain to fight it out and carry on the war,
e not only for Oregon, but, as the gentleman from
Illinois had intimated, for Canada, Labrador, Nova
Iembia, and any region that might become the OBJ
Ject or scene Of contention. You must fight in eve
J ry region OF the world wherever British commerce
extends and British power is felt, and British
strength ia accumulated. You must humble the
British lion in the dust; you must tear down the
pillars which support the structure Of the Brit.
sh emplre--he most magnificent that the world ever
0 behcd and when you have placed your foot upon
the necks OF her subiects--when YOU have tramped
upon her flag which is unfurled in avery part ofhs
E earth-then, and not before, you will ge, Oregon
Does any man here doubt The spirit Of The British