Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-02-12

from our long line Of defenceess shores; pre-
senting a complication Of difficulties distresses,
and dangers that might not only command the
sympathies ofstrangers ,butplead for ihemercies
Of God, what fraternal greetings have we from
one portion Of ourown country ltisJust At this
moment that the fiend form Of ferocous fanati-
cism steals upon the scene---wIth prayers and
piety hanging upon its tongue, but me hres OF
he'll burning in its heart--and becs0ns dark,
and, as it thinks, terrible enemy upon our
rear. The dagger and the torch, the coniia-
grations and the murders oi nsufTechonary
strife, are threatened to our homes. Is there
70 be no peace for usi- Are ail the horrors TO
which have alluded 70 be perpetualiy attempt
ed TO be forced upon US, by men who ery
"pcace, peace, when there IS no peace" Is
there no period of repose2 Can no question
of peace or Of war be discussed in this House,
that we are not still TO be struck atl Is ours
TO be the fateof prometheus, chained forever 70
pillar which we cannot escape, and gnaw-
ed at forever by, not the eagle, but this Insati-
ate vulture Of abolitionsml
Cannot sspoient, grave, and reverend segn-
eurs" learn 10 understand our position and our
character. and be taught that we viii not and
cannot submit forever to this obstinate, this in
soIent interference with our own private affairs;
be virtue; that the crisis may at last be forced
upon; and lhat, ifihey be right in supposing US
too weak to protect ourselves, (of which we
have no fears then that they should credit us
with thestrength and courageto sustain a strug-
gle in which, If we did not succeed in presery-
ing ourselves, we could not fail topuldown the
pillars ofour common temple in ruin upon our
heads, and in eonsigning TO an early and mgior-
ious grave our great experiment, with all the
sublime recollections that gather round It's his
tory, and all the brilliant antcipaiions that
brighten in its future, if ii could be pursued IN a
spirit of concession and patriotism and submis-
sion TO the principles of the Constitution
As to the merits Of this Oregon question:
mean as to the character of our title find no
occasion TO 90 into ii at all. 1t seems that we
all agree in one thing, and that is, that our title
is better one than the English title. That, II
it be not one which can bear the test Of Judicial
scrutiny, still ii is better one on all grounds
than that of England. What mean is IN re-
ference only to the comparative strength OF the
two titles-Enrlish and American. My own
opinion is that either title far from being clear
one. But speak to the point, as between Eng
land and the United States, and in whatever
say on the subject desire obe distinctly under
stood as not intending to affirm that clear, le-
gal, or equitable title is in either Government
am for making our title good by prudent
means, by wise and judicious policy, by ''mas-
tcrly inactivity" If that be best, as | clearly
think il is.
viii not bore the House, not with s'thriee
told tale" but one already twenty times told, OF
the reasons which bring my mind to the con
elusion in favor of our tiltle-good, at allevents,
as against England. | should but follow in
the course OF numerous gentlemen who have
preceded me in this debate, themselves follow
ing the able and unanswerable arguments OF
our tvs Ministers, Messrs. Calhoun ane Bueh-
anan.
concur in every argument, opinion, and
sentence OF speech OF the able and learned gen
tleman who with so much distinction repre-
sents the city of Boston on this floor; and who
whilst he in tones that bring convlclon OF ms
sincerity TO every ingenious mind, declares his
purpose to stand by his country, and his whole
country, in any emergency to which she may
be brought, yet evlnees not tlmd, bat man
" and a rational anxiety to preserve the pub
lie peace. He may well take such part; toi
he who has least done so might be sand to have
lived in vain, if he had failed to be impressed
by all the splendid institutions which adorn and
enrich his beautiful city, and the great and
wise Commonwealth of which that city itselI
is ornament and pride, with the ruth of the
proposition that peace hath her ulumphs as
wei as war.
say, sir, adopt that honorable genteman's
whole Speech for il was all addressed to the
sense and not to the nonsense of this House on
this House or the country. That gentleman
gave proof, in his entire speech, as well as in
the particular declaration, of the great conf
dence which he reposes in the calm Judgment,
the "sober second thought" as he called it, OF
the people of this country: that, however true
might have been the remark of the British
courtier, in reference TO the British people, il
was not true of our day and country.
Whilst concur with all the gentlemen who
have preceded me in the matter of the title,
so far as its validity is compared with that OF
England, there is another point IN regard TO
which differ with perhaps the whole of them,
and that is as to the value OF this territory to
our Government In my Judgment 1t is not
worth one farthing to the United Sntej.-
Waving all inquiry into its Intrinsic value,
(Which hold AT a very low rate even to those
who want territory maintain that 1t is OF 10
value to us, because we want no more terri
tory; that If we were cramped within too mar
row boundaries. still Oregon is too remote from
us to form portion Of our Union with adyan-
taqe either to itself or TO us. We may incur
the heavy expense Of nursing is infancy but
long before il approaches manhood il will be
able to stand upon its own legs, and will then
set up for itself, as it ought 10 do
| call gcntlernen's attention to the character
of the vote which viii be given on this very
question, as an answer, full and complete,
against the theory Of those who favor nation
al policy Of endless and perpetual expansion
expansion until our Union comprehends see
tons that cannot have a common interest or
common attachment, bringing into the Con
federacv principle which tends inevitably
and irresistibly to national diSsunion and ruin.
Imaintan the title, however, and acknowl-
edge our obligation to make II good al all has
ards, when the necessity arises for IT'S asser-
ton.
II may be asked how would make It good?
WHY, the most agreeable process, it seems to
me. would be that indicated by the honorable
chairman of the Committee on Foreign AT
fairs. and called BY the honorable member
from Indiana ''the American multiplication ia
bic" think ii very doubtful, however,
whether our present chief Executive officer IS
precisely the man to head an operation of that
Sort of this am sure, that at that particular
game her Majesty Queen Victoria would beat
him. and beat him badly.
Here Mr., G. J. INGERsoLL observed to Mr.
u tho, Sir pObsrt Pool had elavan children |