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


is IL Is il Of any value to us'" he alluded to the
geographical position Of Oregon and, in reference
10 the latter inquiry, he proceeded 10 exhibit its
vast, untold end permanent national importance IN
commercial point OF view AZ the western dsboUoke
upon this continent, Of the eOmmerce Of the world
Let US establish our rights IN Oregon 10 proper
degree OF latitude, which should give MS command
OF the valuable hsrbors upon the Pacific eoast-let
as settle our rights, TO secure the title 10 our
citizens who should emigrate thither--and he pre-
dlced that, in few years, the territory would be
hlled with an industrious, thriving, American popu-
latlon hourlshing towns and embryo cities would
spring up upon the Pacific, within 900 miles Of
China and the East India islands, as If spoken into
creation by magic. Connecting this with the con-
struetion Of railroads across the continent, the
whole eastern commerce Of Europe, by the ineylia-
bic eternal laws Of trade, must be landed at New
York, Boston, Philadelphia, and other Of the cities
on our seaboard and taking this rapid transit across
the continent, he received upon the Pacific ai our
possessions in Oregon thence TO find It's destination
at China the Asialic isles, and all the Pacific ports.
The voyage from Europe, by this route, would be
accomplished in less than seven weeks, while six
or seven months were required TO perform the only
present routes for that commerce by Cape Horn, dis
lance of $4,000 miles, or by the Cape ofGood Hope,
~ 900 miles. The commerce OF the world would
thus be reyolutionized; the East India company
would be broken down; Great Britain must lose her
commercial supremacy in the Pacific; and that por
ton OF its commerce which forced It's destination
there must pay tribute TO US. MIR. Z. dwell at
length on these and other considerations exhibiting
the value Of Oregon the natural 'master. key Of
the commerce OF the universe" He consldeIed II
emphstieally national question, the greatest and
most important. that had ever come before an Amer
lean Congress since the year l7S3 and be secuted
the idea thatr vas a western question.
Entertaining this view Of the value Of Oregon,
gentlemen might infer how willing he was to yield
IL. -.
the very last degree and would never consent to the
surrender Of one inch OF our own territory.
Next noticing the declaration Of Mr.. HOLMES, de-
nying Gin toto that there was any right or claim 10
that territory OF TO any part parcel thereof upon
our part that does not apply with equal force and
efficiency to the British government" he entered
into somewhat minute examination of the question
Of title arriving at the conclusion that our title
1910 was valid beyond all question or dispute, and
presenting his views in connexion with the Spanish
title and other grounds of claim as to the extent and
validity Of our title 10 the remainder Of the territory
He was about entering upon another incidental
topic Of the debate when his hour expired.
Mr.. WOODWARD spoke next in opposition to
the notice. The true question which was before
the committee was he only one which had not been
discussed, and that was the eXpediency Of giving
the notice nop. He traced the origin and history OF
that policy Of iuns Of which he was in favor, show
ing the agency which Mr.. ADAMS had had in it,
undergone in respect to il. Mr.. w. spoke Of the
convention as an armistice, agreed upon as means
of suspending or preventing war. IL gentlemen
wanted war, let them conc out and say so boldly
He knew the fact, he said, that gentlemen here in
favor Of 0regon--of the whole or none-who had
addressed the committee under high excitement had
said they confessed that if the British government
should offer the parallel Of 400 they did not see in
the face of the world, how it could be declined. He
knewfou or five members, whole Oregon men,
who had made such declarations. Why, then, was
this matter to be pressed with such haste to a con-
clusion nowi BY driving It TO an issue, they put
the British minister under the highest necessity to
make an Offer and the President to accept it; and
thus, by forcing negotiations, extorting a treaty
on 49o from Executive who was already COM
mitted to that parallel. II the whole Of Oregon
ism was not to be adopted an CT post taeio hobby
Of election, why press III They wanted the whole
Of Oregon, and, in truth, never meant to give up
any portion OF it. Withdraw the proposition Of
notice, and leave future administrations ,fncom-
mitted.
Mr.. FOSTER maintained the validity of our title
to the whole OF Oregon, and advocated the giving
the notice to Great Britain best calculated to pre-
serve the pease Of the country, and "a a necessary
precedent to the erection Of forts, the granting
or promising grants of lands tn settlers, or ta-
king any steps towards stimulating emigration to,
exercising exclusive sovereignty in, that terri
tory. He urged the importance of the termination
OF the treaty, anu ue sttueHent OF inc question OF
title, 10 enable us, consistently with our national
honor, to afford that protection to our settlers
which they claimed, and which we were bound
to extend TO them, in every point Of view. He ad-
mitted that the several offers the part of our gov
eminent Of the line Of 40 degrees, had involved the
question in embarrassment, but argued that after
the thrce-repeated rejection the part of the Brit
ish government Of our offer, under the circum-
stances under which that rejection had been made,
our government was absoved from all obligation to
adhere to, even TO accept of it, in case il were
now proposed by Great Britain.
Mr.. YELL obtained the floor, and argued in fa-
vor of the notice. Opinions were made up in his
State before he left home; and, therefore, he had
nothing to say for the conviction Of his own con-
sttuents. This he regarded as a great national
question, and he reioced that on one question: he
could agree with his wing brethren; and he was not
afraid, for once, to be found in company with the
venerable gentleman from Massachusetts,, Mr..
ApAMs,l whose counsel he would as soon take on
any subject relative to national rights as that of any
man in this House. He conceived, nevertheless
that an honest difference Of opinion might prevail
on this subject among the members Of the demo-
cratic party here
Bong satisfied that Oregon was ours, he was OPP
posed to any compromise about it, either with wing
or democrat or with Great Britain He would not
give it up without fight. We were asked by the
gentleman from South Carolina, Mr.. WoopwARD,
why we did not go along with the gentleman from
MASSACHUSETTS IN 1910 ana III 1877 lhere was no.
body settled in the country at the time. He con-
sidered the question of title, and showed that Great
Britain had no right under the Nootka Sound treaty,
and had admitted this fact repeatedly.
Mr., CALHOUN had commended that we owned all of
Oregon; and no one had undertaken to show here any
why we should stop at 49o, except that had
offered TO gveup. If we had title to the whole, why
should stop at the Columbia river, or at 49o' He
predicted that we could settle this dispute UNI
less we gave this notice. The people of this coun-
try were reused to the importance of this question;
and, beferc 1913, they would demand the posses.
sion Of the whole country up to $40 40. He con-
tended that the President was not bound TO accept
the 49tho should i, be offered from Great Britain
He warned gentlemen that, after 1850, the West
would demand larger share of the protection of
this government than she had heretofore received;
she would insist upon her back rations The PEG.
pie Of the United States would be ready, he beiev-
ed, to sustain our rights to Oregon, in case war
should grow out Of this measure.
Mr.. DODGE, of Iowa, spoke in favor Of the no.
tice, and of asserting our claims to the whole of
Oregon, and Of extending the rgis of our laws over
our settlers in that territory.