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

stances which would attend breach OF our pacific
relations with Great Britain, bound 60 accept q
line favorable from Great Britain as we ourselves
had three times offered Why, what was our title
/ 10 OIegons A few vague traditions; few musty
histories Of old voyages; discovery even by Cap
tain Robert Gray, who had no more idea than man
10 the that he discovering this any other
territory, Yet Oregon was ours by an "indisputabe
title" lie should like 10 know what there
was on this floor who would take an acre Of land
under such title. ID seemed him, after all that
this contest between two nations for a terri
tory 10 which neither had any exclusive right and
for which, II were such sayages as to go to war,
II would he tte else than justice II some other
lions should come forward and turn Us both out,
we had turned the sayages out OF our territory.
! There was another title which was set up, and
that our title by manifest destiny" and, with
reference 10 this, leading journal IN New York,
favorable to the administration, told US that IL the
matter were reversed, aud had the title Of Great
Britain, and Great Britain had ours, still our tile
would he the best on the ground OF "manilest des-
Tiny" He remembered a historical anecdoe, that
when Spain and Portugal in the early part Of the
10Th century claimed the right Of jurisdiction
over the whole Of the North American Continent,
the King Of France said he should like to see the
clause in Adams will which gives them this juris-
dletion. Now he should like TO the clause
in Adams will which gave either the United
States or Great Britain the entire and exclusive
right TO this territory. He could not help thinking
that in some obscure ia some State-perhaps
in that case in which the Mormon bible was said to
be found-this will Of Adam might be found giving
US this title.
Apoosizing for having addressed the House with
| no more preparation, lac said he would conclude by
briefly repesting one or two u the views he had
advanced So far as the defenees OF the country
were concerned, this moment his vote would not be
wanting for any measure looking towards those de-
fences, which the friends Of the administration in
either House Of Congress might bring forward
lie wished to say that the respon ibuy, so far as
war aud peace were concerned, was with the friends
OF the administration and If he could keep 1t there
there il should remain lie was ready TO give his
vote for any measure which they should bring for
ward for preparation for the emergencies which
might arises and differing from his colleague, he
ready without this notice being given 10 vote for
two regiments, or tor twenty regiments II they
should he proposed; as he held it to be matter Of
duty for this HOUSE, and for the government, to
make the preparations first, and not the proyocaon
first and the preparations afterwards. There could
he nothing offensive to Great Britain in our pro-
ceeding To put our navy IN proper condition, 10
increase our fortfcaIons, TO make every prepare
ton necessary meet invasion on any part Of
our coast They owed IL 10 the country, that no
step should be taken, which should elIher necessa
rily or probably result in n Contingency OF that de-
porable kind might result from the measures
proposed, until they had FIRST provided all the neoes-
sRry preparations for it. -.
est be should be misunderstood, he wished 10
shy that he considered title TO Oregon TO be the
best title Of the two. He aequiesced in all that
might be said on the subject. lie believed our title
even to the whole OF Oregon, If were an original
question, would almost stand the test ola court OF JUS
tee certainly il would stand the test Of an impartial
umpirpge 10 which il mghtbe submitted Buthe held,
after ALL thai the title was OF such character and such
were the circumstances connected with this ques-
ton from the first moment we had heard OF Oregon,
that there had been so many concessions,
nd hnlh aIla
that at this moment we could not, with any face
or with any faith, he had almost said--assume
this extreme position; and that we were bound, by
the principles Of good faith, of civilization, and of
christianity, to make It matter OF negotiation OF
compromise and Of amcabe adjustment--and OF
arbitration, II necessary. There might be obiec-
ton TO arbitration by crowned heads. Mr.. w.
expressed his opinion that he should not be opposed
to that; hut, independent Of this, there were intel
gcnt, learned, impartial men, profound his
iorians, throughout the world, to whom L might be
submitted for arbitration. Among these he referred
especially to the venerable Galatin, to whose doc
ument at this moment our secretaries were in
debted for the best proofs Of our title, and whom
he would trust on our side with as much con-
fdence that equal justice would be done by him as
would I've done IN any other way for the country.
Nh. w. having concluded
Mr.. OWEN said: The House need not appre-
hend that shall trouble them with an hour speech
have but q yesy few remarks to rage; and
should not have risen TO make even these few, but
for my unwillingness that some of the statements
which have just fallen from gentleman from Mas
sachusetts Mr.. WMrHRoPl whom we all respect,
should go forth, without explanation or conradic-
ton.
! come to the main point at once. The gentle
man asks: why should now give notice Of the
termination of what is popularity cal ed the joint oc-
cupancy' Why desire, at this time, to terminate
the convenient Or, in fact, where the necessity
ever to terminate IL Why not let things remain as
they are, and proceed to settle the country'
will answer whyi and, in 80 doing, shall give
the reasons that induced me, two years ago. az the
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. C. J. IscER-
soLL] has reminded the House. to introduce, and
seek to have passed, the notice in question. , -.
l wished, by the notice, TO terminate this conven-
ton, because the convention is doing us, day by
day, much harm. The convention is enabling Great
Britain gradually to obtain all that, by diplomacy,
she has sought Of US. We offered her the latitude
of 40 as boundary. She, in return, proposed 10
run that parallel to the COLUMBIA and thol down the
centre of that river to the Pacific in latitude about
as, This las, proposal would give her the country
north Of the river and that very COUNTRY she is,
from day to day, now gradually obtaining, Ivy
means Of tais convention Is there an American
settler now living north Of the Columbia ? So
far as | know or believe, not one. | have re-
Gently congeTqed with en- intelligent gentle
man who has spent some years in that coun-
try; and he informs me, that The moment citizen
Of the United States attempts TO settle north of the
riyer-zon the British side as they persis, in calling
1.-THE Hudson Bay Company--the East India
Com any of that region--sees to it, that t.sey are
removed and caused to emigrate south Of the Stream
How is this donc' BY forcible ejecment' Oh no,
this agent of the British Government has far too
much worldly wisdom for that but by gold; by the
offer, if it be necessary, of large an induce
ment 10 remove.
Mr., DOUGLASS. In one case they pulled down
the cabins Of settler, north Of the Columbia.
Mr.. OWEN. On that point cannot speak; but
this know, that one American citizen who had ut
tempted to seue near Vancouver received eight
hundred dollars, to induce him TO move into the
Willamette valley. What is to be the end Of all
hs' Why, it must be apparent TO every one.
Unless, indeed, quarres breed war, settlement and
pubic opinion III that country will alike deter
nine the Columbia the line, and Great Britain
will finally become the possessor Of every foot
north Of the river. 80. .......
Are We prepared for this' Is that strip Of coun-
try, as the gentleman from Massachusetts would in
innate, worthless and not worth con,endingf ori Sir,
would as soen abandon to Great brisan ersry foot
Of Oregon as to give her up the harbors Of Puget