The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-02-24

bic member hIom PENNSYLVANIA MIR g J.
lngersolD has said tl,at Thai This convention
is the own child of my honorable colleague.
II has been twice established under his aus
pIces, and with the advice and consent of
statesmen as patriotic and discriminating MS
any who now hold the helm OF our Govern
mcnt What evil has il done? What evil
is il now doing?
Inc honorable member from Pennsylva-
MA mas given US rich description ofihe
raPid inilux oil Population into that territory.
ne mas presented us with lively picture Of
know not how many thousand women and
children on their winding way 10 this prom
lsed land beyond The mountains. Let Them
GO God speed them! There is nothing in
the terms Of this convention which imredes
Their passage, nor any thing which prevents
US from throwing over them the protection of
a limited Territorial Government. | am
ready 10 90 as far as Great Britain has gone
Ia establishing our jurisdiction there and no
interest either OF those who are going there,
or oil those who are staying here, calls on US
10 90 no further AT present. The best inter
est Oh ooth parties, on the Contrary, forbid
such proceedings. Gentlemen talk about
following up this notice by taking immediate
iOS~NSSicii
said than done. What if Great Britain
should happen 10 get tie start of US in that
proceeding? Such thing would not be
matter of very great astonishme.t 10 those
who remember her cclcrily in such move
ments, and her power TO sustain them when
once made. Where should we be lhen?-
Would there be no war?
And what would be the consequence ola
war under such circumstances The conse-
quenceS, not upon cotton or upon conn cree,
not upon Boston, or Charleston. or New
York, but what would be the consequences
so lar merely as Oregon itself is coicerncd2
The cry is now "the whole Of OREGON or
nome" and echo would answer. under such
circumstances, ''noRe! ~ ! SEQ not how nrv
man III his senses can resist the conviction,
that, whatever compensation we might con-
sole ourselves with by cut cut of Canada.
or the whole of Canada-lhat under what
ever circumstances of success we mirhi carry
on the war in other quarters Of the world Or.
Of our own continent the adoption of such
course would result in the immediate l6es 81.
the whole OF the territory in dispute THAI,
at least, is own honest opinion
As friend, them 10 Oregon. with every
disposition TO maintain our Just rights to that
territory, with the most sincere desire 10 see
that territory in the possession of such ofour
own people as 10 occupy it-wheiher here
aiIer as an independent nation as was origi-
nally suggested by a distinguished Senator
from Missouri, (Mr. Benton aud more re-
Gently by no less distinguished Sensior
from Massachusetts, Mr. Webster.l or as Il
portion OF our wide spread and glorious Re-
public am opposed 10 the steps which arc
now about 10 be so holly pursued.
Sir, feel that have right 10 EXPRESS
something more than an ordinary interest in
this matter, There is no bettar element in
our title 10 Oregon than that which has been
contributed by Boston enterprise. Younay
"a Tx abou; old navigators of Spain, and the
Florida treaty, and The settlement at Astoria.
and the survey Of Lewis and Clarke. ns
much as you please, but you all come back,
Tor your best satisfaction, 10 AUD Robin
Grey" IN the end. Captain Robert Grey, Of
Boston, IN the good ship Columbia, gave Won
your earliest right of looihold upon that soil.
have seen, within n few months rast. tie
las; survivor Of his hardy crew, still living in
a green old age, and exhibiting with pride Il
TOW original sketches of some of the srenrs
Of that now memorable voyage. NY consult
uents all feel some pride in their connexinn
with The title 10 this territory But in their
name / protest against the result of their
peaceful enterprise being turned 10 lie ac-
count OF an unnece ssary and destructive war.
| protest against the pure current of the river
viii, h they discovered. & to which their ship
has given its noble name being wantonly
stained with either American or British
blood
But while / am thus opposed 70 war for
Oregon, or 10 any measure which, in my
Judgment, are likely to lead to war. | shall
withhold TO vote from any measure which
he friends Of tie Administration may bring
Onward for the defence oil the country
Whether the bill be for Two regiments or Tor
weniy regiments, it shall pass Tor al nc
To tho last file, TO the uttermosi Gnuhing.
which they may require of us, they .haH
nave men and money for the public protec-
ion. But The responsibility fer bringing a.
bout such state of things shall be theirs.
md theirs only. They can prevent it illhey
'lease. The Peace of the country and lie
honor OF the country are still entirely con-
iatibe with each other. The Oregon ours-
ion is still perfectly susceptible of IN AMIGA.
lie adjustment, and rejoice 10 believe that
may still be so adjusted. We have had
mems of peace in the other end oflhe Carl
Dl il none in this. But, if war comes. lie
administration must lake the responsibility
Or all It's guilt and all its disgrace.