The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-28

eikc coast the distance from the coast 10 the Rocky
mountains, varying from Ave 10 seven hundred
miles, comprising tract Of country nearly equal in
extent To ons-hsf Of the States Of this Union and
containing rivers nsvigabls for hundreds Of milss
lie climate in ell respects, better than that Of New
England. The Almighty has fashioned highway
rom the fsrtils vaiIsy ofths Mssssppi to the head
waters ofth Columbia Within that region, plants
spring spontaneously, lowers bloom and shed their
naS rance, and the hummins bird performs lis round
70 MaIen, The country looks out upon the Pa
cihc, Offering facilities for commerce unsurpassed,
ana some oil the best hsrbor in the known world
VIII give US the China trade Ia as many weeks as il
now takes months 10 perform the journey, and with
OUT the hangers Of passage around the oapesi
the trade Of japan, the Spanish islands. British
and Dutch East India and The golden commerce
OF the whole east, which has enriched the world.
IL is tho advantages Of this great commercial nos
session Of which Great Britain seeks TO deprive
us. She sees that the commerce Of the world, il
divided into eight paris belongs Ave parts Of il 10
herself and US; and by further allotment as between
ourselves two OF those i've parts ours; and she
secs, too that, from our growing importance, ii We
possess ourselves Of this territory, We shall be in
possession OF both oceans, that we shall be sue
eesaora TO, as~e the competitors for her tr.
denti mat here great commercial cities will grow up,
ana that our merchants will become the common
carriers Of the world ~. ..-... ~.
But we are told, as usual that there will be war
unless the country be at least divided Mr.. ID. had
sa'd al the commencement that he would diseuss the
question with the same freedom as though Il were
one to be decided before judicial Tribunal: and
while he should deprecsto reckless war he should
equally deprecate craven and purchased peace
Nether tho one nor the other was necessary.
tie had shown by the admissions of Great Britain,
lain to her subjects individually. These we have,
never 'nterfsred with; but she has herself broken
The treaty, by the exercise of acts of sovereignty
which she has right only to exercise within her
own dominions, or within country where that au-
thority was given her.
But that this state Of things must be terminated
by peaee~tde, honorable negotiation. Pescssble ne
COLLATION. becomes us; honorable negotiation should
accompany and keep pace with Il. But n, on
iuli examination, we can maintain, In the face OF
the civilized world, that 1t is ours, would be M
act OF injustice towards ourselves 10 surrender Il.
Sir, we have the right TO call upon Great Britain
TO give up her pretended claim. She cannot break
the peace Of the world, when we are willing to rea-
pect, and do respect, all tho rights she has there
But we are told that we must come down to the
18th degree Of north latitude, and compromise.
why should that parallel be proposed II has
been repeatedly offered by onr government, and
as often rejected. The last time il was offered
her Maesy's minister declared that he hoped
this gosernmsnt would make an offer more con-
sistent with honor and squity. He returned this
answer at once without referring TO his govern
men and no such question exists, except in imagin-
alton. Does IL become honor dignity, or ssli-re-
spec a. nation 10 keep constantly urging before the
people of this country and the world that the 10Th
parallel must be the dividing line; that we will give
them that line, though they havs declared they
will not roeeivei 10 IL will BE- tms enough for us
say will give Great Britain part when she
makes out title TO IL; or, IL we give her what 10
ours, let her first less consent 10 receive it, and
not force her to accept the territory which she
says she refuses Mr.. d had too much respect for
our government to occupy position so humiiating;
and though he had too much respect for the British
government to indulge in aspersons he had not that
affection for it which should induce him TO urge
upon it portion Of our territory.
The strict question before the Senate was, shall
the convention be terminsted' But il had properly
taken much wider range, and the foreign and do
nestle policy of the government brought under dis
cussion " d.
The different structure Of the two governments
was too obvious to require explanation; theirs,
central executive, and its chief power resting
in its u,inisry-ours, popular, representative, and
lis elements Of strength with the masses Of the
people. Theirs developed its greatest energies in
the Star-chsmber policy Of diplomatic negotiations
ours through its popular expression; and hence tho
reason we failed when thus brought in conflict
with her, and not because her statesmen we're
more sagacious than ours
The Oregon question here received its tone from
the peops-there from the cabinet. Why had the
declaration Of the President of the United States
ceived such unqualified and universal appreciation
1t was not merely that he said, under the sanction
of his high position, that titl. 10 the whole If
Oregon was clear and unquestionabie@it was not
that he chosen by them to be their chief magis-
trate over popular and distinguished compctitor--
il was not that they felt an abiding confidence in
his stern integrity, and an assurance that like him
who had gone before him, he would claim only that
which was right, and would submit to nothing
which was wrong; but il was because in his lam
guage they heard their own and felt that the senti-
ments he uttered the sentiments of their hearts.
But it is said we must beware how we discuss this
question, because the news from abroad is pacific;
because the queens speech is gentle; because the
language used in Parliament is mild; because the
tone of the public press in Great Britain is pacific
Sir, concede ali ths; but, beginning with the
queens speech when our whole policy is made to
depend upon the queens speech, or upon the SEN
,iments Of British statesmen, or upon the press Of
Great Britain, we may as well at once go back
to a state Of colonial servitude. Sir, what Is
the queens speecR A formula which has not
been changed three sentences for as many centu-
ries and from this we are to take our line of
conduct. But the language in Parliament is pacific,
certainly, Whoever knew an instance in which
Great Britain paraded her foreign policy before the
wordl IL we would know it, we must find out the
secrets Of her foreign Office. Her energies are diff
fereptly employed. The British premier comes into
Parliament with every expression calculated and
weighed well before uttered. The premier, in his
place in Parliament, sees nothing that will disturb
the peaceful relations of the country; but proposes
to increase warlike preparation. He trusts that
peace will be preserved, and so did he, (Mr
b. ) but he trusted Great Britain would yield up
claim asserted without right and maintained against
evidence. Hence it was that he hoped we should
have war. ....... ..
As to any commercial arrangement contemplated
between the two countries, 1t must depend upon its
advantages, and not upon the Oregon question.
Whenever Great Britain should propose any
arrangement to this government, he trusted
should meet her in the same spirit of liberality
and good feeling which should characterize the in
tercourse between two great nations. But he saw
nothing in the queens speech. in the debates in
Parliament, or in the temper of the British press,
which should induce us to hesitate or relax in the
of our rights in Oregon.
Perhaps she would throw open her ports, but
what would induce her to do III Love and affection
for the interests Of the American peopei--or had
the cries of her starving millions reached to heaven
Did she SEQ tho genius of monarchy rocking
upon its pedestal, and propose to permit fam
inc to purchase it's crust in the market OF The
- af bar lnnC0