The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-11
CONGRESS IoNAL.
OF Mr.. THOMPSON,
OF MISSISSIPPI

the notice for the termination Of the joint occa-
paney Of the Oregon territory,
Mr. THOMPSON said: At this late period Of the
debate, Mr.. Chairman, do not know that could
prepare the wayssr the remarks which propose 10
submit IN a nore Appropriate manner than by a
brief OF tho several points upon which
conceive there is general agreement on all sidss
Of the House. 70
assume, then, IN ssaenl terms, th.s We sil 20
for ofegon--not, indeed, defined by any particular
or ascerained limits but sui all Oregon
assume, also, that we all arc the advocates Of
peace. The disposition Of this committee, so far
has exhibited ITSELF is decidedly pacific. The
gentleman from Massachusetts,, Mr. WsrHRor,l
who spoke al early stage OF this debate, so
far as 70 say that peace always honorable, and
so il should be considered. But while assume that
all are for peace, 1t Is but just that this assumption
should be accompanied with the distinct qualihea-
tion that IL can be maintained consistently with the
assertion Of our national rights and our national
honor. Indeed, some gendemen, seemingly under
the guidance of settled hatred TO Great Britain and
rooted jealousy Of her gigantic power all over The
earth, had manifested disposition not TO avoid war
even readiness To rush into conflict, Il 1t DO.
came necessary, in the defence OF their rights and
that honor-but at the saUls lime they have avowed
their preference for peace
assume that our title TO the Oregon territory up
20 49o north latitude u "clear and unqueshonaole.
Its validity no disputes, aud no difference Of
opinion is expressed. As TO the country lying be-
tween 49o and $40 40, difficulties presented them
selves and different views were entertained and had
developed themselves during the discussion. But
the more gencral-l may say the universal opinion
was that ours Is the better title up 90 $40 40. To
discuss the title Is not my present purpose, nor do
| deem IL necessary for the present decision.
will not weaken, by such an attempt, the force Of
the able exposition OF il contained in the late letter
of Mr.. Buchanan TO Mr.. Pakenham. On that argu-
mont am willing TO rest the whole question. That
letter alone in my estimation, will be the means OF
handing his name down 10 oil posterity as one of
the sbes dplomatists Of the age in which he lives,
and viii associate il indissoubly with that vast
country within whose borders Will be found, at no
distant day, vast population OF intelligent and en-
terprising freemen. With this ASSUMPTION con-
tented then, with the question Of title.
Again: becve the people Of the United States
demand Of US action; action Of some kind must be
had. This question has been the subject Of discus
sion between the two governments for nearly half
century. Simultaneous with the purchase Of Lou
isians in 1903, treaty was concluded with Great
Britain, fixing the northern boundary Of the United
States. That treaty was rejected by the Senate so
far a. the boundary line was concerned, and another
treaty in 1907, on the same subject, was also re-
jec,ed by Mr.. Jefferson. The same question was
discussed in 1914 by our negotiators at Ghsnt and
no conclusiou WAS reached. IN 1918, a convention
was concluded which wss indefinitely sksasasA in
1877 which expressly declined % decide anythiSx,
and by virtue Of which the ctzens and subjects Of
the two governments jointly occupy the territory Of
Oregon upto this day. In the formation of the
treaty Of Washington in l643, the northwestern
boundary was discussed and the subject abandoned.
At different times from 1922 up to this time the
question OF Oregon has been before Congress, and
nothing whatever has been done. In 1874, the DEM
ocratic parry declared themselves in favor Of Oregon
and upon almost every flag which waved over every
public assemblagc in any section Of the Union, were
,l~.I .,IF r. sxl Dali,
was elected. We have marched up to the issue and
discharged our duty for Texas, and we have now
the appeals to OF her win-sister-Oregon. We
cannot--we dare not-closc to her petition
ers. We have come to that point where the poo
pie demand action. This House-Congress must
do something--must give the country some earnest
Of our feelings and intentions. IL is idle to say
that for Oregon, and yet do nothing to assert
our rights to Oregon. That representative who
refuses to luke scms onward step at this scssisu,
will, In my judgment, be found recrcantto hin duty,
and his constituents will hold him to q fearful ac-
countsblity. ~ ~
The great question then comes up What shall 10
done' ltisgsnerally agreed in this House that we
should forts and blockhouses atsuitabe points
as far west the Rocky mountains; that superin-
tendency for the manae of our Indian sations
west of those mountains should be established, and
that mailrou'e reaching Oregon should be put
into operation As to the propristy and expedisRcy
Of these mcasurns there no essential difference
But those things being done, emigration 70 Dragon
will be induced, facilitated, and accelerated. When
the emgrsnt at the end Of his long snd weary jour
ney, piicheshis tent in some fertile valley Of 0so-
gon, what does he want and what does hissituation
require? He wants to feel, oven there, tho proud
consciousness Of being on American ci,izsn-that
still he trcads upon American SOIL inherited from his
forsfhhes, and ssptsed and consecratcd to liberty
by their blood His situation requires Of s the en-
actment OF laws for the security fthe rights Of
and property, the establishment Of forA for his
protection against the assaults of sayases and enc
mics; and, above all, a grant Of land oSfwhich he
build home whore ho may live in peace and
safety. All these things the people desire to do
for the people Of Oregon; and il all thess thnss can
be done and preserve our good faith--if we can go
thus far and infringe neither IN letter nor spirit our
existing treaty stpulations, the question msy very
properly Arise, what is the Of terminating the
treaty OF joint occupation now in force between ms
and Great Britsini Here, men, httxypaoes isnne
which has been raised by the rpsbldien nSder dis
cussion, and on which two parties sesused 70 be
forming themselves; the ono division prcfcssing
themselves willing to do all that the settlers had .
right TO expect, by way of giving them laws, pro-
lection, and homes, and insisting that their course
will lead TO the ultimate securemeot Of the
whole territory in peaceful manner, and de-
nouncing the resolution authorizing notice as tend
ing to inevitable war and the fool loss Of the en-
tire territory. The other division claim 10 be the
true incnus OF oregon, anu, oumltung tnat we nave
thrown restrictions around ourselves by subsisting
treaties, and wishing punctiliously to observs good
faith, advocate the notice in order TO abrogaie the
treaty, which, their estimation debars them from
enacting the laws necessary TO meet the wants OF
the settlers in Oregon. And this division is con-
sidered the war-party Of the House. But shall
endoavor to demonstrate that, though war may not
possibly be avoided by either line Of policy, yet,
those who lake the position that we should fur
nsh the enlgrant settlers with laws, protection, and
homes, without giving the notice, adopt conrse
which must lead TO wnr-an immediate, most IN
glorious war, brought about by broken f,ith and
violated engagements; and that they, while they
claim TO act for peace, deserve TO be ranked the
war-psrty Of the House.
What, then, are the exact words Of the treaty Of
1918, renewed in 1877 -..n.
ARr Is agreed that any country that me- be claim
ed ~ either party the northwest coast Of America
westw ard Of the stony mountains sha together with Hs
haIbors bays and creeks, and he navigation Of all rsers
within the same be free sd open fot the Of years
rom the date OF the sguaure ~ me present oonvstic-
TO the vessels, eIens and subjects Of the two powers"
After many years Of unsatisfactory discussion,
this treaty was entered into, which decides nothing
but leaves everything OPEN and has transmitted the
same 70 US. For the purpose OF arriving Mt q just
of thu A n. hrt~<7