The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-23


unnecessary but never appeal TO their fears
Don't underrate the strength of your own coun
try, and OYerate that of our adversary. Do moi
tell them that they would be whipped, for they vii
not be made to realize it. BY such arguments you
but inlame their passions; they know they cannot
be yanqulshed by any nation earth; and If they
but believe their cause is just, they feel doubly
armed have the charity TO believe that Tespse'
fable member Of this committee would Intentionally
and without cause involve the country in an unne-
teessary or dishonorable war we are all for peace
but dlfer a. 10 the best means of preserving il.
In the extract have Just read, Mr.. CALHOUN
did not consider the notice war measure, but the
reverse. He urged II upon the consideration OF the
Senate as first step for our government, a sort OF
preliminary TO the further action of Congress upon
the subjecti not as war, but as peace policy He
said, and said truly, that the treaty provided ex-
pressiy for It, and that had right to give il with
out assigning otr reasons. He characterized the
hope vain and delusife that we could avail our
selves OF the benefits Of that treaty without sub
jectng ourselves to It's restrictions. 1 endorse and
adopt his opinions as then expressed, as to. the
peaceful character Of the notice. None Of know,
or can know in advance, whether il will or will not
produce war. We have our opinions, and have
given mine 10 The committee.
! II, however, Great Britain desires a conflict with
| the United States that conflict will come whether
we give or withhold the notice. No fair or honora-
BILE course we adopt, under such circumstances,
will avoid II. IL she fights 1t will not be for Ore
: con- but for something Of much more importance in
her estima;ionj Oregon may be the pretext but not
the real cause. hold that war will not immediate
y proceed under any circumstances from the action
of Congress, and that # il result at all from H. il
will be us a remote consequence depending upon
contingencies which may or may not happen in the
territory Of Oregon. Ii will proceed mmedi.
ate consequence from collision Of the citizens
and subjects Of the two governments there-from
a conflict Of aws-of the authorizes Of the two
nations. Suppose give the notice, extend our
laws, and take possession OF The country war need
not be ihe7hsbIe, though 1t may he probable. II
the people who live there conform To our laws, as
they NAV do, we will OF coGrse have no war; IT,
however, u portion Of them should be disobedient,
and resist the due execution o. those laws, conflict
would snsue at once, and then war wcpId follow,
lunless an adjustment should be had. The same
may be said and with the and force, If
we should extend our laws and attempt to take pos
session Of III. country 1ithou the notice.
| will not far violate the proper rules Of order
as to lmpeach the motives Of gentlemen; have no
inclination 10 net with even seeming unfaIrness to-
wards them. Yet the fear at times presses itself
upon me that much Of this talk Of war is intended
prejudice the question before uE-that II il used
ms one OF the wssp6ns Of war against II; and
being appropriate | will read an extract from
speech delivered by Of my colleagues IN the 29th
Congress, upon the Oregon bill then pending. Mr..
| Belser said:
"HGnything produce war between the two govern.
Is
nership in the SOIL End only lie justified the
ground that these conventions Of aH tnd 1877 have already
on the part OF the United states Unless honorable gentle
could bring their minds this conclusion the ought
amend ia provision and thereby rcndof il suacienty
prospective in is operation for time to hs given by this
Of ls1 and let the controversy afterwards rest upon
| the better title.
He had ohserved in the Of his argument
that the admission Of Texas and the occupation o. Oregon
were greet American measures they were and he hoped
former He that daie. upon such question. is unit for
the high station which has been assigned him The most
to Congress the right to increase our empire by legislation
and the most deceptive against the occupation Of Oregon
Its passage may lead collision conflicts of urisdc.
ton aud ultimately to war but these are the risks often
American people have become tired OF fruess negotiation
Of crafty diplomacy. After forty years OF this kind of
dairy lost part OF Maine. The CRY then If
we did not settle BY negotiation We should haze ofesor
to the sword And the argument now is that will offend
that great we attempt to exercise Jurisdiction
Oregon"
The honorable member from Virginia Mr.. BAY
LYl commended that if the United States should give
the notice Great Britain might waive it, and COM
mence a Immediately; that the notice--the
twelve months time-being for her benefit, she had
a right to waive it if she saw fit to do So differ
with him in that opinion. do not so read or I'M
derstand that article of the convention. The notice
Of twelve months is intended for the benefit Of both
nations, and not alone for the one notified. The
one giving the notice is presumed to do with ref
erence to the time which must intervene, and has a
right claim it. If the of this be true, the
nation notified may give no indications OF a wish to
waive the notice. may seem to acquiescc in il, and in
that way throw the other nation entirely off her
guard until under pretence Of trade or commerce, |
she has her vessels lowering around our coasts, or
until she finds the largest amour, of our commerce
anoat, unsuspecting and comparatively deenceless;
and all at once when we had no right to expect !
such thing, she would "pounce do,on" upon us,
and in that way gain a decided advantage. Aside
from that if his doctrine should hold good, the ma
ton giving the notice never could tell when the trea-
ty would probably terminate If the nation notified
had the right to waive the notice the day 1t was re-
ceived, she could do it at any other time between
that day and the expiration Of the twelve MONTHS so
that every advantage would be given to her by be-
ing notified. The treaty is not abrogated on the day
the notice is given, but in twelve months thereafter,
during which time it is in full force, and quite as
sacred and obligatory it is at this moment; and If
Great Britain should act upon any other principle,
she would stand condemned by the whole civilized
world, as well as by the "God Of battles"
Nor does the put by the gentleman relieve
him. His doctrine will not hold good between in
dividuals, where the law requires one to give the
other notice for certain specified length of time be-
fore he proceed in court against him. admit
that the party notified waive the notice, and
proceed Immediately to trial. if the other party con-
sent to it, but not otherwise. The party giving the
nOilce Is presumed (os i'll TIC Case vi TIC tWo va
ons) to give it with reference the time which the
law specifies, and could not be forced into trial be-
fore its expiration. So 1t is in this case. England
and the United States may waive the notice, and
commence fighting by consent, if they please, but 1t
cannot be done under, and in accordance with, the
provisions of the treaty.
Gentlemen tell us they consider our title good to
the parallel of latitude AGO, but not further; and if
we will insert into the notice, or append to it, an as
sertion of title to that line, they will vote for It,
My honorable colleague MIR. DARoANl has fallen
into that error as will endeavor to show 1t to be
before get through with my remarks His second
resolution is in these words:
"Syc O. and he further rssoiped That the line separa.
ting the British provinces Of Canada from the United
should extended due to the coast south Of
river and from thence through the centre OF the
straits Of Fuca the Pacific giving to the United
states that portion of the territory south and to the gov
eminent Britain that portion of the territory north,
of said line"
| cannot, consistently with my notions on this
subject, vote for it. consder both of his rcsolu-
tons Objectionable and will proceed to give my rea-
sons for that opinion. object to his first rcsolu-
ton because it, in effect, directs the President ofhe