The Arkansas banner., 1846-02-25

were not very good scholars, have had these documents read to them by their fresides.- They had thus become well acquainted with the subject They were satisfied that Ore gen belonged to us, and it was no lonoer T question with them whether you should give this notice. The question of title being set- tied, there remains but one duty for us 10 per form, (said Mir. k.)--to pass this notice end ing the joint occupation.
 The Executive madea proposition to Great Britain to compromise this question bv dividing the territory to the 18th parallel. am not disposed 10 censnre the Executive tor having made such proposition, surroun- ded as he was with embaffassmenis erovino. out of former negotiations, and the position sln Wl4A&h he found the question, when he came into power; but am free to say, that congratulate him, not only for his own sake. but that Of the country, that his offer was relected. ct venture to predict, that such an elier Will never again be made, and, sit hated as we how are the country will never sustain any executive in making il. No em- barrassment can be thrown m our way to prevent HIS from holding our claim To the whole country up to the 51o 10, unless the British government should disown the act o lhef minister in feleetng our offer, and pro pose how to accept 1t. This, l think, tha i government will not do; and II not we shall at length find ourselves clear of the shaekles oi negotiation, and free to exercise our full rights
 But, al all events, the President has now recommended that we give this notice. Sup pose we do not dc II. Will il not be an in- umatlon to the British government that Con- gress does not concur with the President il, his views as to the validity of our tile? and will 1t not convey more humiliating ac- Acknowledgement that VIC did not feel ourselve. able 10 kvindcate our tiile2 Great Britain was now i'll the possession Of all the righ that she claimed-that of joint occupauy7 and until this notice was given, she would never settle lhe question by negotiation, be- cause negotiation would not probably so terminate as to place her in a better condi- ton. It is my opinion that if you will end this convention, the question will then be brought up with an intention to do some thing with it; but, unlil then, negotiation will be all twadde. The gentlemen from South Carolina NIr. Rheu had argued against this policy Of taking any steps at this time. which mlght lead te war with Great Sri tain, lest we should be considered by the na- lions ol Europe as propagandsts and thus bring upon ourselves the hostility of all the world. BHt we have no desire te % beyond our own territories. We conline ourselves to our own soil; aud ought we not to inculcaie our principles and establish our institntions there, fearless of consequences? It was our .luty 10 see our own country covered with Our own institutions, and il was our privilege 10 admit other communities to participation with us ill the benefits of free government, regardless of any combinations that might be formed by monarchs to strangle our nstitu- tons.
 We have no right to go to Canada and en- deavor to force her into our Union; but, if she should seek shelter under our govern ment, it would be perfectly proper for us to pull mp the latch and let her in So far from being weakened by those acquisitions, every new S'ate added another pillar to the temple of liberty. They will never have any desire to break of from Us because they come in by their own consent. The Roman empire ey- tended itself by conquest; nations were forced under It's yoke by the strong arm of power. The consequence was, that what was acqu- red bv the sword must be maintained by the sword. When this power could not be conin- ued the empire fell to peices. Hence some gen tlemen had drawn the arguments that by ar extension of territory. we should ultimately be weakened. and be broken into fragments But this would not be the resnlt, because. whilst their constant tendency was to sepa- ration, ours was to cohesion.
 Gentlemen had argued that war would be attended with great evils; that it would cor rupt or change our republican institutions and lead to heavy debt, the black tariff and to paper money. Sir, l am considered d democrat, dyed in the wool It has been thought, generally, that l am one hundred and fifty yards ahead of my party. have always opposed the protective tariff, and the whole funding system. But if going to war for the protection of our soil, and the de- fence of our national rights and honor nec- essarlly leads 10 the depression of the party with which 1 act, and the building up of those of all opposite faith, l am prepared 10 make the sacrifice, believing, as l do, that under the administration of any party, our institutions would flourish. each party being equally deslrous to promote the public good. But 1 deny that these results will follow from war, deny that the doctrines of re- puhlicanlsm cannot flourish in the storm of war, as well as in the calm of peace. The assertion we dsprove by facts in our history Every field Tn the western country had been stained by the blood of oar fathers-the early pioneers, and yet there liberty had Aourished in the widest luxurianee, and with the leasl national protection. Onr institutions were born in the shock of the American revolu- tion, and reared in the conflict of arms that followed. 1 do not desire war. peace is onr forte. But If war come, we must assert our rights, regardless of consequences. :. l do not desire to denonnce the British government hut despise this constant vaunling of Bri- tish power in the American Congress- What is England. The government whose seat ol .empire is found on little island anchored in the North sea True she has spread her wings around the earth; but all her greatness Is based on her ce mmrrce.-- Clip these wings, of her commerce, and you soon bring her back to the nsgnificanee Of all island government. If destiny intends