The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-07

be allowed 10 have any controlling influence, al leas
IN case In which our rights were as clear in this
though they might be ao wed 10 turn the scale IN
controversy 10 rights that were doubtful. Wheth
er the assertion Of our manifest rights would o
would not involve US in war was, at the best,
mere matter Of idle speculation. He would no
stop 10 inquire whether the notice would or woulI
not have that effect Il only preliminary stel
10 such other measures as might be necessary
lor inevitable. He believed however, that the
prospect Of war was Ear from visionary or chi
merlcal-hs did not say Immediately. When he
made this declaration he took IL for granted thai w,
were to go for the whole Of Oregon; and even IL VIZ
were limit our liIe To 49, there was sill the old
song about the Columbia river and Vancouyer's
island; and Il could not be disguised that the
old difficulty still stood la the way Of settlement
The JOINT right 10 navigate the Columbia would sui
be the sine qua non Of the British government, and
that the President had said We could not yield. All
depended, therefore, the fact whether Great Brit
ain would back out or not from that proposition
lie had discovered no indication that she would
But he could not see that any war was 10 grow Out
Of the question, unless Great Britain should be the
Mr.. O. commended hat the mastery inactivity
principle, whether wise or stupid, had been trusted
to long eaough as a means Of settlement lie never
had had any confidence in il. Therefore, he was in
favor OF the notice. 10 going for IT, he should fol.
low the lead Of no man; neither Of the ilustrious
man from Virginia. lie knew no leader, and should
follow none. Whatever the interests and the wei
fare Of his constituents required at his hands, that
he should do promptly and cheerfuly. This
speech will be given hereafter
Mr.. FOOT obtained the floor, and yielded 10 a
motion that the committee rise.
No quorum voted and the committee rose and re
ported that fact TO the House.
Mr.. DROMGOOLE moved call Of the House
motion 10 adjourn was made, and, by yeas and
nays, rejected.
But quorum voted.
so the chairman resumed his seat IN COMMITTEES.
Mr.. FOOT obtained the floor and addressed tho
committee. At this late hour he would not trouble
the committee with any remarks on this question
did he not feel II to be one Of deep importance. lie
did not arrogate 10 himself the power to add any
new arguments after the elaborate and able discus.
sion which the subject had undergone. He would
examine some Of the grounds on which was rested
the exclusive title Of the United States. He did
not say, that neither the United States nor Great
Britain had rights in Oregon, but he assumed the
basis Of his argument that the title rested on evil
dence Of character so vague and inconeusive as
to present one Of those doubtful questions which
peculiarly ft and proper subjects for negotia-
ton and compromise. For twenty-five years Oregon
had been the subject Of conflicting titles each party
asserting its rights These had been the subject Of
negotiation and compromise under differ
ent administrations, representing the views and poll
cy Of different parties while both governments had
actually occupied part Of the territory in dispute
The question forced on our consideration,
whether it was proper to give the notice OF the ter
mlnslion Of the convention OF 1927 and whether we
should hazard the consequences OF asserting an ex-
elusive claim to Oregon, or whether should leave
the question open for further negotiation and COM
promse-whsther should adopt extreme meas
ures, and go for the whole Of Oregon or none, war
or no war-or whether we should epdeayor TO main
nall h. ka,. - A..
Mr.. F. proceeded to argue that our national honor
would not be compromised by the continuance Of
the negotiation. He did not think that any one
was authorized 10 make such declaration, when
England herself wishedto compromise What prov
ocaton had England offered which rendered Il ne
ceessary for US TO appeal to arms' Had our flag
been violated, or our soil invaded Had Eng
land mfringed upon the treaty Of 1872 On the
contrary she had discharged all her duties under
that treaty, and she had interrupted none Of those
friendly relations which were so important to both
nations. This was a mere question Of territory,
and such a.question was most proper to be settled
by negotiation, treaty, or reference IL was merely
a disputed claim to territory, about which both
parties honestly differed, and both could recede
from their extreme demands not onlywithout dishon
or, but with perfect proprety. II would be shock
to the moral sense Of the world if two such enlight.
ened nations should fail to settle such question
amicably but had we a clear and perfect title TO
sumption. Then our case was so much the better
for arbitration. But, however well satisfied we
might be of the validity Of our title, we had to
meet an adverse claim, and one that had long been
asserted by party which had exercised certain
rights and privileges there. He would ask, there
fore, if we warranted in asserting that Eng
land had no color Of title
We were obliged to treat her claims in candid
manner, so long as England treated us in the same
way. Suppose England should close the door
TO further negotiation, and refuse to submit to arb-
tration, and demand the whole of Oregon and say
If we chose TO go TO war on this account the
quences would be on us: would it not be resented
by the United Statesi would it not be condemned by
the whole civilized world Would it leave us any al
tentative but submission war; We could not sup
pose that Great Britain would be less sensitive than
we were on such subject II did all this,
which we had supposed England to do, would not
England go TO war; There was golden rule npp'i-
cable to nations as well as ndividuals-do unto
others as you would have them to do to you. Be-
lievlng that this controversy could be adjusted,
and that the American people wished it to be ad
jused, he would oppose any course Of action that
would tend to close the door to negotiation.
However much gentlemen might he disposed to
decry and denounce those who had heretofore Of
fered the 49th parallel, to censure the late offer
by this administration, he believed that if it had
been accepted, il would have met the sanction Of
the American people, and been hailed with enthusi-
asm even py Inc supporters OF the declarations OF
the Baltimore convention. He would not suppose
that the offer Of this government was made in bad
fah and therefore, he considered that the question
was still open to compromise by the administration.
And he referred to the last sentence in Mr.. Buchan-
ans letter to Mr.. Packenham proof Of this. If
he did not msinterpret the language of the official doc
ument, nor misunderstood its meaning, then it was
proper to let the management Of the subject remain
where the constitution had placed it; and he would
do so, in the hope that they disposed to bring
to satisfactory conclusion, and that they would
be able to do so. II we did not avoid an irritating
course an amicable adjustment of the question
would be difficult; neither party would tolerate
pretension to exclusive possession of Oregon.
IL we directed the notice to I've given forthwith, and
without qualification, and followed it up with an as
sertion Of our exclusive title, and further by de-
carng that II should no longer be the subject Of me-
gotation--as bill before the House proposed-he
ventured his poor opinion that would be the
consequence. IL we should do this, we ought to
take time to prepare. In grasping after additional
territory, we seemed to forget that we had home
and country here which ought to be defended.
Who were they who demanded the sacrifices Of
war, and claimed exclusive patriotism, and de-
nounced the friends Of peace and compromise
Whence came this atorna NJ orrou,nce, Moi fron,