The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-03

those who had signalized themselves by their eli
forts for peace with all the nations OF the earth
What constituted an honorable peace, was the ques
ton; and this question involved the whole history
Of the Oregon question. II was said by those who
maintained that anything but pacific course wal
TO be pursued, that the peace the country could
not be maintained consistently with the honor Of IN,
country. On this point he had recorded bis views
ia the resolutions which he had introduced aBd il
those views he took issue with some of the views
expressed IN the message Of the President of the
United States, and still more with some which had
been declared on this floor. They were, that tn,
Oregon question still At and fair question fol
negotiation, for compromise, for fair and amicabl,
adjustment. They were, that satisfactory evi.
dence has been brought forward that no compromise
which the United States ought 10 accept can be ef
fected. They were thirdly, that arbitration is snl
left when every other mode Of amicable settlement
has failed, and that this government cannot relieve
Itself IN the eyes OF the civilized world from the re
sponsibility which will follow the failure peacefully
TO settle this question, until all these modes Of settle
ment have been resortsd to.
He we'll aware that the discussion OF all
these questions could not be entered into under the
hour rule and he should content himself with say
lug u VOID on one or Two Of them only. lie de,
sired TO declare himself opposed expressly to the
views Of the gentleman from Penns yvania, and oi
his honorable colleague in regard to giving this no
tee TO Great Britain. He had stated it al.
lice given to Great Britain, under the pres.
ent circumstances, 10 terminate within one
year the convention for Joint occupation, OF
call it what they would, (for he did not that il
made the slightest difference IN relation to the rights
of our country, the history OF the case to change
the name Of the convention IN their debates hereaf
ter } would almost unayoidably terminate in war,
followed up as Il would probably be by an immedi
ate occupation OF the Who'll, territory. He for one,
could possible escape from war II these meas
ures were taken; and let him ask his honorable col
league, and every gentleman on this floor, who was
IN favor OF giving this notice, what possible harm
this convention had done, or was now doing; Ii
was, as the gentleman from Pennsylvania had said,
the own child Of his honorable colleague. Ii had
been twice renewed by statesmen as patriotic, as
wise, and as discriminating as any, certainly, who
now held the relns Of government in our country,
What evil has IL done' What evil il i doing at this
rnomentl The gentleman from Pennsylvania him
self had described how rapidly this territory was
filling up with our own people, with our men, wo-
men, and children. Let them 90. He (Mr. w
said God speed them There was nothing in the
terms Of the Joint convention which prevented this
policy from being pursued there was nOthing which
prevented our wives and children or their husbands
from pursuing their way to Oregon, and taking
peaceful possession of that country. Ii might be
that we should be in aibeter condition 10 give this
notice if this policy were pursued two yeem longer.
But when gentlemen undertook 10 talk about this
country taking immediate possess ion Of that Whole
terrtory-it occurred to hun, Suppose that Great
Britain should happen to get the start Of IL in
taking immediate possession,
Such thing would net be matter Of great aston
ishment To those who knew her CELEBRITY in such
movements, and her power to carry them out when
she once undertook them. Where were we, then;
Was there no danger, II war was to be the cnnse-
quence' The cry was "the ,chOls Of Oregon o.
none and echo would answer, under such circum-
stances, 'none" He declared his honest belief, that
whatever compen satlOn we might make 10 ourselves
bya cut upon Canada, or the whole OF Canada-that
under whatever circumstances we might carry on
the war in other quarters Of the world or Of our
own continent, he could not see how any man who
had his senses could resist the conviction that our
pursuit Of such a course OF policy would result to
us in the immediate and total loss of the whole OF
that territory for the present. That his honest
opinion.
As friend to Oregon, then, with every DISPOSE
ton to maintain our just rightst to hatterntory-with
the honest and sincere desire to see that terri
tory in the occupation of our children, whether
hereafter an independent territory, had been
suggested by distinguished senator from Missou-
ri, Mr.. BESToN, and as repeated by senator
from Massachusetts-or as a portion OF our great
republic, he was opposed to the measures proposed
for the giving the notice. &c, and adhered to the
views he had embodied in his resolutions. Where
did our rights to that territory come from' They
might talk about the rights Of the old Spanish navi-
gators; about the treaty of 1919 with Spain, (Which
by the way, recognised rights which we're not
auded tn in our convention Of 1857 we
might talk about the conflicting principles of
International law; about the conflicting claims
founded on discovery; but after all, we had
to come back to Captain Robert Gray, of
Boston, whose discovery it was that gave US the
best title. He believed, therefore, that he had a
right to feel some interest in the question. Ills own
constituents felt some pride in connexion with it
but, 10 thsir name, he protested against the results
of this commercial enterprise being turned into a
cause Of the disturbance Of peace throughout the
world. He protested against their own noble river
the Columba---to which they had given the name,
being wantony stained with the blood Of our own
people, or of the people Of any other country.
There was u remark that fell from the z, ntleman
from New York, Mr.. KING in reference to which
he desired to say word He had understood the
gentleman to say that the administration in making
the offer of the parallel of AZ degrees to Great Brit
ain, during the last summer, did 1t with the perfect
understanding that it would he rejected. He ap.
peaIed to the gentleman if he had understood him
correctly.
Mr.. :. KING. said had heard it, and be-
lieyed it to he so.
Mr. WINTHROP continued. There was an ad-
mission To which lie wished to call the attention Of
the House. He hoped the chairman of the Com
miiiee On Foreign Affairs would be allowed at some
future day TO contradict this statement.
Mr. P. KING said he had no other authority on
this subjec, than public rumor; and this he believed
20 be correct.
Mr. WIN rHROB ssid he had too much respect
to this administration of the country to bcIeye that
they had been guilty Of an act Of SO gross dppcily
in tho face of The world ~ order to furnish them
selves with prelext for war for the whole Of Ore
gon. .-....-.. ... &c.,.
Mr. KING (Mr. w. again yielding the foor)
said, in his opinion any man of common sense
might have known that such proposition to The
British government would be rejected has been
and it was, he understood, without even remit
Ting il across the water.
Mr.. WINTHROP. | thank the gentleman even
more for the admission he has now made.
Mr.. KING. You are welcome to it.
Mr. WINTHROP resuming, SAID he felt no par
tieuar regard for this administration; but, as an
American citizen, without regard to party, he should
the ides TINT opr government, in whosesoever
hands should be guilty of so gross treachsry in the
face Of the civilized world But he thanked the gem
teman still more for the admission he had made,
that any man of common sense must have under
stood that Great Britain would refuse the offer
which was thus made. He agreed with the gentle
man that any man Of common sense would think
that Grent Britain, at this late day, after thirty
years posponement Of this question, under The aus
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