The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-01-27
FORMING, JANUARY 81, 1916.

Guide us from the occupation of our own SOIL
put II 10 the gentlemen from the South, or any
quarter, whether they believe our title to OREGON
To be unqueslionable and if they do, whether
they can oppose any measure for asserting it, If
they believe that that 1t is not gnod then there
is slne excnse for them in opposing this mea-
sure But. say these gentlemen, no we be-
lieve il to be good. Then why not pass this
resolution for the purpose of enabling to take
possession of what is our own.
| Was it mt burning. bisterng, whitening
shame that the of ST. George should be found
floating on American soil
Here Mr.. l.. III. Snms exclaimed, Yes and
II viii blister our foreheads like the mark on
Cain Must this reproach be endured because,
torsooih, If we undertake to remove it, we shall
encounter the danger of war II You will rive
the people bayonets, they will defend their soiI
This, sir, is no western question. | recollect
that we had one question before us here about
yielding up American soil, and after declaring
unanimously that ii was ours. we did yield it, 1t
was given up by treaty. The West submitted
10 this alienation of our territory, because the part
of the country which most Immediately inter
esled in 1t were willing to give it up for dollars
and cents. But such will never be the case when
western territory is in question. The western.
people will never yield their soil. They will not
purchase peace by yielding their territory, nor
sell their rights for all the gold that could he Of
buy from them inch of their land, inherited
from their fathers.
Notwithstanding all that was said as TO the dan
gers OF war, he had yet 10 learn that, if was
forced upnn us, The American people were not
able 10 sustain it with vgor, aud come out of it
with honor.
If the question is to be considered as a local
question Then ask that we may be the ndues of
the course that is 10 be pursued. That is what
we did when the South came here and asked us
not TO defend their own soil but TO admit into the
Union foreign terriiOry-an indie pendent ma ion
1t, upnn that question, we had hestated it would
have been said that we wished To back out, If
we had asked for pos'poncnent of ii ;, ii would
have been considered that we had abandoned it,
You said, this is the golden r,omcnt. We can
now obtain the country which naturally belongs
TO US Ii You do moi toow MS nnw then il is be
cause yOn wish 10 bnck out. We have a Just
right 10 Oregon, as part of nur oNn country
Then why give il up2 You say that we cannot
obtain ii now without a war, and that we must
wait. What propriely is there in posiponing this
question, when the other was pressed to speedy
an issue 1--we in country where the people
are not in the habit Of yielding anything To the
arrogance of foreign power. Sir, do mol know
exactly what is meant by national honor, of which
gentlemen have been speaking, but do know
what is national diShonor; nd il is To suffer The
British government to take Oregon, after we have
become satisfied that we have exclusive rights in
that territory. We say that Great Britain has
| no right there, ard Why should we not now tell
her so by giving this notice?
| | see proPreiy (sad Mr.. K) in taking
Oregon by stealth. Hit is our own, why steal
il a.? But the policy recommended TO US is TO be
qulesceni, to suffer the country 10 be settled and
then take possession Of it. This is what was
called 81 wise and mastery inactivity" pre-
fer more open and direct course. know The
| people Of Oregon. The same blood courses
through my veins that is in theirs. There are
some of them who have warmed their feet at the
same family hearth with mine, and learned their
letters in The same log school house. They do
not ask you To defend them, but to unshackle
their arms and unite their legs. Disentangle
them from the perpexies Of this negoiiation2of
this convention which gives rights there to Bri-
fish subjects. Let them protect themselves or
tall IN the conflict. In such conflict, sir, victory
! Will be certain, we are assured by the deeds
of their fathers who went before them in lie de-
fence Of the frontier. These were the people
who went before you, like the cloud by day, aud
the pillar of fire by night, rolling back the red
men Of the woods To give passage 10 civilization
as the waters Of the Red sea we're rolled back bv
tie great Jehovah, 10 give passage to tho children
of Israel These men had been accused of a de
| sire to plunge the country iutD a war They did
not desire war all they asked was an opporiuni
| y TO cultivate their own soil in peace They
asked 10 be let alone TO enjoy their rights. But
! If their rights were invaded, they would be tho
last people in the world TO shrink from their do.
fence. They scorn all pretcnces. They know
little Of yoCr Diplomatic way Of doing things. II
you will only U0lie their hands they viii let
proud England know tllat they are able 10 defend
Oregon. But hey will not take possession Of a
territory with the forms and pretence Of peace,
with view to foui(y themselves for war. They
had read carefully everything that had been writ
ten on the subject Of The title. Some Of them
who we're not very good scholars, have had these
documents read 10 them by their fresides They
had thus become well acquainted with the sab
ject they were satisfied that Oregon belonged
to us, and it was no longer question with them
whether you should give this notice. The qnes
ton Of title being settled, there remains but one
duty for Us TO perform, (said Mr.. K.)-io pass
this notice ending he jint occupation.
II The Executive made a proposition 10 Great
Britain to compromise this question by dividing
the territory TO tie 49h parallel. ! ain not dis
posed to ccusure the Executive for having mad,
such proposition, SURROUNDED as he vas will
embarGassincnts growing out Of former uegotia
lions. and the position 10 which he found I'M
question when he came into power bit ain Cre
G.,t I coouraf,,fafo ifrr ,,,s 81. A. .