The Arkansas banner., 1846-02-25
WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY D, l846.

have afforded them by the publication of documents and arguments, they have become convinced that the whole of Oregon belongs 10 us.
 The people of the Western country did not inquire whether war was 10 follow from the assertion of their unjust rights While the question was in doubt whether the whole of Oregon Was ours or not, they were willing to sttnd hy and wait for a while but now you have convinced LIS that every inch of Oregon between the 42d parallel ahd the line of 5i9 40' belongs To Us. When we had set tied that question, we settled what was our duly. ou slander us when you say that we seek war and delight in blood and car mage. We are a peace-loving people. We know that we owe our long-continued and unparalleled prosperity 10 peace; and will not go out of cur way to wage an unneces- sary war upon any nation. But, sir, when the British lion, or any other lion. lies down in our path, we will not travel around the world i'll blood and fire, but we will make him leave that lair
 The consequences could not be the sub jcct of consideration, when any foreign go- yernmcnt undertook to plant itself upon our territory, and exclude us from the occupation ol our soil. put it to the gentlemen from the Seuth. or any quarter, whether they be- lieEe our title to Oregon 10 be unquesiiona- ble; and if they do, whether they can oppose any measure for asserting 1t. If they believe that that is not good, then there is some ex- cusc for them in opposing this measure.- But, say these gentlemen, on; we believe it to be good. Then why not pass ths resolution for the purpose of enabling us 10 take posses sion of what is our own.
 Was it not burning, blisterng, whitening shame that the cross of St. George should be found floating on American soi3
 Here Mir l.. II. Simms exclaimed, Yes :; and t will blister our loreheads like the mark on Cain! Must this rcproach be cnduied because, forsooth, If we undertake to remove it, we shall encounter the danger of war 3- If you will give the people bayoncts, they will defend their soil
 This, sir, is no western question. recol- lect that VIC had one question before us here about yielding up American soil, and after declaring unanimously that 1t was ours. we did yield it. It was given up by treaty. The West submitted 10 this alienation ol onr ter ritory, because the part of the country which was most immediately interested i'll 1t were willing to give it up for dollars and cents.- But such will never be the case when wes- tern territory Is in question. The western people never yield their soil. They will not purchase peace by yielding their territory, nor sell their rghts for all the gold that could be offered for them. All the mines of Peru would not buy from them one inch of their land, inherited from their fathers.
 Notwithstanding all that was said as to the dangers of war, he had vet to learn that, if it was forced upon us, the American people were not able to sustain it with vigor, and come out of 1t with honor.
 If the question IS te be considered as a To- cal question:, then ask that we may be the judges of the course that is to be pursued.- That is what we did when the South came here and asked Us not to defend their own soil, but to admit into the Union foreign terrtory-an independent nation. If, upon that question:, we had hesitated it would have been said that we wished to back out II we had asked for a postponement of it, 1t would have been considered that we had abandoned it Yon said, this is the golden
 
 which naturally belongs to us. If you do not follow us now, then it is because you wish to back out. We have a inst right 10 Oregon, as a part of our country. Then why give it up? Y ou say that we cannot obtain 1t now without war. and that We must wait. What proprietyis there in post poning this question, when the other was pressed to so speedy an issue? live in country where the people are not in the hab- it of yielding anything to the arrogance of a foreign power. Sir, do not know exactly what is meant by national honor, of which gentlemen have been speaking, but l do know what is national dishonor; and it IS 10 suf fer the British government to take Oregon, after we have become satisfied that we have exclusive rights in that territory We say that Great Britain has no right there, and why should we not now tell her so by giv- ing this notiees
 see no propriety (said Mr. K. in taking Oregon by stealth. If it Is cul own, why steal l3 But the policy recommended to us is to he quiescent, 10 suffer the country tobe settled and then take possession of il. This is what was called "a wise and maserly in- activity.n prefer more open and direct course. know the people of Oregon. The same blood courses through my veins thatis in theirs. There are some of them who have warmed their feet at the same family hearth with mine. and learned their letters in the same log school house. They do not ask you to defend them, but to unshackle their arms and unite their legs. Disentangle them from the perplexites of this ne9otialon--of this convention which gives rights there to British subjects Let them protect them selves or fall in the conflict, sir, victory will be certain, as we are assured by the deeds of their fathers who went before them in defence of the frontier These were the people who went before you, like ths cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, rolling back the rcd men of the woods to give passage to ci- viization, as the waters of the Redasta were rolled back by the great Jehovah, to give pas sage to the children of lsraeE These men had been accused of desire to plunge ihe country into a war. They did not desire war; all they asked was an opportunity to cultivate their own soil n peace. They ask ed to be let alone to enjoy their rights. But if their rights were invaded, they would De the last people in the world to shrink from .t : IzC III