The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-08


most anxious now for the settlement Of the Oregon
question; and those who are in favor OF postpohing
il 20 a future perod-many Of them VIII be found
on common ground in warfare upon our little ma
yy--that gallant navy which needs no praise from
my hands, It Is written IN the history OF the eoun'
j try.
/ lMr. G. here paused for moment TO inquire how
much of his hour was still unexhausted; and hay-
ing ascertained that he had but about ten minutes
more, proceeded as followEl
i Mr. Chairman, have exhausted more time upon
the discussion Of these one or two points than had
/ intended, and fear | must pass by some others TO
| which | had intended to refer. There was, howey-
or, one prominently brought forward In this discuss
sion upon witch must bestow at least passing
J thought. II is said by those tho advocate II, that
this is peace measure, and by those who oppose it,
that 1t is a war measure. MIR. Chairman, am not
\ prepared 10 60 the full extent with some who de-
clare that the inevitable result OF the passage Of this
notice will be TO involve this country m bloody
and destructive war, Nor am | prepared on the
other hand, 10 go with those who fearlessly assert
thai there danger to result from our action in
reference TO Oregon. plant myself this ground,
that the course which propose TO pursue is the one
called for by the national faith and honor Of my
country; and am IN the prosecution Of what con-
eeiye to be the just rights Of my government, and
am endeavoring TO carry out the policy best cacu-
lated TO secure this end. IL peace be the result
shall gladly welcome il. II war be the conse-
quence, we must meet il. II is crisis not TO be
4
ness, fnnness, and decision When we have dis
charged our duties, then SIR, IL will be for another
department OF our government, and for the govern
ment with whom we are In collision upon this sub
jec TO do what they may conceive TO be their duty
III, MIR. Chairman, the result shall be inauspicous-
il it shall involve US in waf-l will have the con-
selling reflection left that have pursued course Of
policy dictated by the best interests OF my country
as far as have been enabled TO appreciate those in
| terests. That we should suffer from war do
/ MT hat halt ,k.n
territory by resoring to war utterly but respect
/ fully repudlatc the idea. Whenever this govern.
| ment shall be engaged in a conflict Of this kind
with the British government, with any
| other government earth, peace will never
be declared upon terms leaving one foot Of territory
/ which has ever been consecraed 10 American free
dom and American principles, afterwards to be pro-
| famed by monarchieal or despotic principles. No;
Canada may be acquired | do not dispute that po.
sition of gentlemen who have argued this PROPOSE
ton before the House, but that Oregon will ever be
abandoned peacefully, in the struggle OF war,
my mind has never yet been brought to that con.
cluson, will IL be. Sir, upon this day, this
memorable, glorious Sth Of January, let il not be
said by American statesmen, in American Con-
gress, that this government can be injured, can be
deprived, can be weakened in her just and unques-
tionable rights by a conflict with Great Britain or
with any other government IL war come,
venture the prediction that when il terminates we
will have the consolation of knowing that not Brit
a
British subject treads on American soil. There is
where war ought TO terminate, If come il must;
there is where believe and trust in Heaven it will
terminate. .. " r....
MIR. Chairman, I desired to consider the PROPOSE
non, which has been submitted TO US in the form of
an amendment by the gentleman from Alabama,
MIR. HLLIARDl to whose remarks, in support of
the views he presented to the House | listened
with deep interest, and with the course of whose
argument ] was gratihed and instructed. am not
II. H..
commended by the Committee on Foreign Affars,
and to substitute in lieu Of 1t the one submitted by
the honorable gentleman from Alabama; and will
with the utmost Difference Of that gentleman, give
one or two reasons why / think that with the
views he has expressed-so nobly and eloauently
expressed--hc ought to be willing to give the go-by
TO his amendment, and to stand with Let u.s.
who agree on this subject, meet on common ground
in support of the resolution reported from the
Committee on Foreign Affairs. What is the diff
ference in these propositioDsl The resolution fof
the Committee on Foreign Affairs recommends that
the President forthwith give the notice. The gen.
tleman proposes in lieu of that, TO ASSET that the
President be requested TO give the notice, whenever
the public interests, in his Judgment require it.
Mr.. Chairman, consider that this proposition is
evasive; and that it must be so considered
by this country, and by the British government
ny do you wish to empower the Executive TO
give the notice when the public interest require it,
IT, at the same time we are not prepared to express
Sir, the President of the United States has sub.
mitted all the information, in connection with this
subject, which may properly be submitted, and
which, In his opinion, may have any inHu-
his opinion that the notice ought to be given
at once, that this joint occupancy shall forth
with cease The gentleman from Alabama pro-
poses now, that, instead of taking upon our
selves the responsibility Of meeting the question
and declaring that agree with the President and
he tire uobt
to be given, and call upon him to do it under our
instructions, that we merely say to him that he has
the power to do it, and we shall leave to him de-
eide it. Is it the object Of the gentleman from Ala
bama to place upon the Executive the responsibility
of giving the notice when the public interest re-
quires IL II so, the Executive has already taken
that responsibility SO far as 1t can be placed upon
the shoulders of any man, by the recommendation
which he has submitted in his message. If you
desire, then, not to relieve yourselves from the re-
sponsbity-and call the attention Of the friends of
this measure to the distinction which | draw-if
Congress is willing to assume the responsibility, if
you believe the time has arrived when this notice
should be given, when this Joint occupancy should
cease, when the rights of the government should be
declared, and maintained, cost what il may, then
meet it boldly face to face; up the question
presented by the report fthe committee, and say
to the President, cause the notice to be given. But
do not avoid the responsibility; do not step gently
behind the screen, and say to the President, "we
decline giving opinion ourselves the proper
policy to be pursued at this timc but we will give
+ you the power, (Which perhaps he may already
posscss) if in your judgment, the interest of the
country require it, to give the notice hereafter"
say let us have no evading of this question: if we
believe the notice ought to be given, let us so de-
clare by our actions. ."
/ The hammer of the Chairman suddenly fell, ter
minating Mr.. C.'s remarks at this point, and the
sharp sound "Mr. Chairman" rung from twenty
earnest aspirants for the floor.
Mr.. McCLERNAND having obtained the floor,
: addressed the committee:
II had been objected, he said by the minority OF
the Committee Of Foreign Affairs in their report,
that Congress has no rghtful Jurisdiction of the res
outon under consideration. The resolution directs
the President to notify Great Britain, that the con-
vention OF 1897 in regard to the northwest coast
: will be annulled and abrogated by the act Of the
United States at the end of twelve months after such