The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-04


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in raising revenue, you must arrange the duties
on the imports so as to give to the manufacturers
of the country fair competition. There is no
thing said about that cabalistc word "inciden-
tal"
Again, gentlemen. having said that believed
the reople see the difference between the princi-
Piles of Jackson and Polk on the subject of pro-
lection, 50 think they see a difference on other
important subjects. 1t happened that Ge-
neral jackson placed his negative on the Mays
believe the people OF New York. Pennsylvania,
Michigan, aud even Indiana and Illinois, and all
the Southwest, will see in the exercise of The veto
power OF Mr.. Polk, on the river and harbor bill,
and his opposition TO works that it contemplated
desire to stretch this power to a greater extent
than General Jackson ever thought OF. More of
that presently.
In the next place, in regard to the war with
Mexico, gentlemen, am accustomed to mix as
tar as l am able with men OF all classes and per-
suasions. Your situations in life lead you to do
the same, and ask you. if you can find sens-
PIE man who mas eve. said to you, that if General
jackson or Mr.. Van Buren, were at the head of
the government, we should have had this Mexi-
can war? found none such. Why, we all
know that Mr.. Polk came into Office against Van
Buren-that he came in on the Texas interest
and for Texas purposes, and we all know that
Iexas and Texas purposes have led to this war;
Therefore say, that know no man of intelli-
gence who believes that if the result of the Balti-
Van Buren, that we should have had the Mexican
war; The purpose of these remarks has been to
show what consider has been the cause of this
change In public opinion 1t is in vain for people
to say that local causes produced these changes;
that it was anti.rentsm, or something else, that
produced II in New York. 1t was not any thing
Of the kind: The test this, edo you say the
question Of State politics has influenced these
resultsY' II you say 1t has, then look to the
election OF members of Congress--they have
nothing to do with State questions; and the truth
is that the election OF members Of Congress in this
State (Pa.) and in New York, have been carried
by greater maorities than any of the State officers
The elections were governed by national politics
There were counties in New York with which
anti-rentism had nothing to do. There Were coun-
ties, too, that were influenced, some one way and
some another; but put the test even, and apply il,
and fad that Mr.. Fish, the wing candidate for
Lieut.. Govsrnor, received more votes than Mr.
Wright the democratic candidate for governor,
did. That aatterng uncson, therefore, they can
this result There is no doing any thing with il
than TO acknowledge it to be an expression of
opinion against the existing administration.
proceed now, gentlemen, to make some re-
marks upon occurrences connected with the pre-
vlous course OF the administration since Mr.. Folks
induction into the Office of President. The ques.
ton respecting the territory of Oregon is settled
question, and we are glad 1t is. am not about
10 disturb it, nor do wish to revive any dis
cussion of it; but in two or three respects,
it may be worth while to make remarks on
It's progress. BY the treaty OF Washington OF 1912,
all questions subsistng between the United States
and Great Britain We're settlet and disposed of,
with the exception of the Oregon controversy.
(Great applause.) That renamed unsettled
(Ciapping OF hands and waving of white hand
kerchiefs) While thank you, gentlemen, for this
expression of your appreciation, must say thar
when mentioned this subject did not intend to
give you occasion for any expression of your
thanks 1t Is worthy oil remark that the impor-
lance of the Oregon question, and the interest
with which it was vic wed by the people of tie
United States, grew greater when every other
subject of dispute had ceased. do not men,
'ion 1t as matter of reProach ar all; but repeat
every man in public life has perfect right to the
exercise OF his opinion; and hope At may not be
out OF place 10 say on this occasion, that it was
ln]udlcious on the part of the President of the
United States to trust the duties of the State De-
partment, pending this Oregon question, TO The
hands OF u distinguished gentleman who was one
of the few who opposed, and had opposed, The
whole settlement of it, The Baltimore Convsn-
ton assembled in 1874. One of its prominent
proceedings was their resolution on the Oregon
question: Ii was in these Words" Resolved,
mat our title to the whole of Oregon is clear and
Observation-Disclosures no part Of it ought to be
Polk, in has first speech, adopts the same idea,
and in the same words. 1t is repeated again in
tue same words by the Secretary of State,
(Laughter) IN his letter to Mr.. Pakenham, the
briusn Minister, on the 30th of August, 1915.
And Mr.. Polk, in his first message, having talked
OF negotiation with England, yet having retracted
his offers, asserted that our title to the whole
OF Oregon could be maintained by irrefragible
argument. Ia Congress and our of It, the cry was
'our title to Oregon is clear and unquestionable
The Baltimore resolutions, in sentiment and words
ran through all documents and all despatched and
in all newspapers lfyou knew what the Baltimore
Convention had said, you knew what all those of
the party had, might, could, or would say through
all the moods and lenses | remember, gentle
men, when was at school, and learning Greek,
felt extremely obliged to Homer for putting the
l. - a
was obliged to him, because, when / came to
translate them successively, my labor was saved;
and any body who understood the Baltimore Con-
vention, need not have studied any thing else.
Nevertheless, gentlemen, this clear and unques-
tionable claim was questioned and was in the first
place made good deal clearer by a Senator from
Mississippi, and the country was in favor OF q
just and satisfactory settlement Of it. - carried
the day, in opposition to 81 40. Now, gentlemen,
the remarkable characteristic of the settlement OF
tits Oregon question by treaty, is this As ge-
neral thing, treaties are negotiated by the Presi-
dent, and confirmed by the Senate; but in this
confirmed by the President. (Laughter.) Mr.
Polk was inaugurated March 4, 1916. He entered
into a negotiation with the British Minister at
Washington. He repeated the offers of his pre-
them all, and terminated the whole negotiation
in August, 1885, In August, '45, all efforts of the
administration to settle the question, came
to an end, and l am not aware that
from that day to the signature of the
treaty, the administration, or its agents, at
home or abroad, did the least thing to advance
The negotiation single step-not one single step;
and if IT had stood where they left il, it would be
an unsettled question now. II was settled. The
discussions in Canada and on the other side of the
water, the general sense ofthe community in both
countries, concluded that it was question to be
settled by fair consideration. II was done. As the
question is settled, gentlemen, there is only one
other topic connected with it on which will re-
mark. / would not do so If thought the honor Of
the country was not in some way concerned in 1t,
and to take an opportunity of expressing my dis
sent TO the course OF the administration. What
refer 10 is the repeated refusal of the adminstra-
tion to submit the question to fair and honorable
arbitration. After The administration had with
drawn all its offers, and the case rested with the
British Minister, the latter offered to refer ten
matter TO any sovereign to make division Of the
territory The administration said we won't admit
that any division can be made; we cannot agree
to any division. Well, said the British Minister,