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

i But break the cOnnexion ny war you carry oui
cotton 10 the continent; the amount will necessarily
be lessened bat they will be enabled to get their
cotton cheaper, and she will be compelled TO procure
| her cotton of them You thus strike deadly blow
to her commercial superiority, and the markets Of
the world There was disposition, this moment,
in England, 10 open their markets our corn our
wheat, and breadstuffs; and he hoped before the III
sing of this Congress, there would be disposition
manifested TO open ports literally 10 all the
nations Of the earth, England would here see a
strong argument for peace; and when she reflects
that her interests 80 intimately interviewer with
ours, and which would be broken off and separated
by war; her interests for peace will be larger than any
motives she may have for war, and he believed they
would decide the question and cause the beam TO
kick for peace.
There was also another great consideration which
was suggested 10 him why she should desire to keep
peace with us, and that was the amount OF indebted
ness OF this country TO hat--a which would Deces-
sarily stop the very moment the declaration OF war
was made.
When he added together these interests in behalf
Of peace, and the interests ia favor Of war; the bal
fnce was so great in favor Of peace that he did not
fear that Great Britain would listen to the extrava-
giant speeches OF gentlemen this hoor threatening
TO lick Great Britain and our eagle to conquer
her hon. These had been brilliant declarations;
he had no part to take 10 them. He had no idea
that these war speeches would have an influence on
her if we acted on the principle of honor; if we de-
rights, by giving notice for the termination Of this
convention and asking her to fix distinctly the line
between us, that our settlers may know where TO
plant themselves.
But il was said that we should have no war be-
cause James X. Polk would back out Those who
made this assertion knew not the man. They
professed not TO know who he was during the can
vass, but he thought they had found him out. He
Of iron nerve, Of great sternness Of char
acter and he looked upon him az being the last
man who would yield or hack out But he thought
this question was theirs, and he hoped they would
not back out, or attempt TO throw over upon him
the responsibility.
Gentlemen in this debate had said a great deal
about the section of the country in which he
lived; that they were opposed to war because Of
its disastrous consequences TO the South. There
was section Of this Union, he presumed, which
would feel more heavily the weight Of war; yet this
indiscriminaie assault upon the South unwor-
thy Of gentlemen; this assumption that il a sec
tlonal question--that Il was northern question-was
ridiculous and absurd. The question was much
southern northern question; il came home aSnear-
ly to his heart to the heart of any gentleman on
this floor Gentlemen should remember that there
may be differences OF opinion between individuals
from different sections Of the Union; but, regards
the South they have never been actuated by any
such narrow and contracted considerations whenev-
er national interests are involved In every nation
al dispute, the South has always been with the
try; in the assertion OF rights she has always
been first and foremost in their defence. And he
dsliked very much that those gentlemen with whom
he acted-with whom he would go heart and hand
in asserting, under existing treaty stipulations all
our rights, in carrying forward our interests, and
maintaining our honor-he disliked exceedingly to
these men, whose honor he knew, whose hearts he
knew were for the country, and who had no sec
tonal feelings when national interests were at stake
to il suspected that their feelings and opinions
were colored by the section of the country from
which they came. IL is unjust and utterly unwor-
thy any member on this floor to cast such impu-
taiion on them.
He might be considered a western as well as
southern man All his interests and feelings were
with the South but his location in the valley OF
the Mississippi, which was one day to be the heart
Of the country, and whose people are the first TO 60
to Oregon. Their principles and their feelings, |
then, demanded Of them that they should do all they
could in honor to make them feel that they are
American citizens, and that they under the pro-
lection and defence Of the government of the United
States, after they have emigrated to Oregon SO far
them. - -
He hod thus expressed his views, as he thought, |
clearly. II had not been his purpose to controvert
the positions taken by gentlemen this floor. He |
had contened himself with stating his own position
and the reasons which induced him believe that the
course he had avowcd himself in favor Of, that
dictated by sound policy. and a due regard to the
honor of the country If war was to come out of
the present difficulties, firm action was de-
handed; but this notice was the means by which, |
if it could be avoided it would he avoided |
and 1t was the only means, unless they contented
themselves TO do nothing, to leave the country, to
leave our people who now emigrating to Oregon
under the guardianship and protection of themselves.
They have their American hearts they will form |
their own government; and they will cross the
tains, and they will no doubt defend themselves,
But they settle they want to know whether they
are settling on soil to which we have title, or on
h.,t4 ha d., fhaa al
of peace beside giving the notice. is to do nothing to
abandon the country. Would gentlemen call that
an honorable peace? II so, they must have peculiar
and singular notions Of honor different from those
he had He considered that that would be dis,
graceful peace, cowardly peace 1t would be a
Shrinking back from the assertion of our aekno,ei
edged rights; and the time had not come when this
government, strong and athletic she is, to
shrink back from the maintenance Of her just rights
When we had not failed TO vindcate them, and sue
cessuly too, with population Of three millions, in
l776, Of eight millions, in 1919, should we now,
with population of over twenty mill ons, in 1876,
ignominously shrink back from defending them
He could say for himself as he said to his constitu
ents on the hastings, that he would pledge his con-
stituents to stand by the assertion of our rights in
Oregon; and he knew that they would stand by the
country, and that they would take the consequences
They required him to 60 forward in the path of hon
or, of right and of justice; and if gentlemen were
afraid of war being the consequence of such a
course, he told them that the people of the United
States would take the consequences, and they would
abide the issue of a firm and manly defence of ma
tional rights and national honor.
Mr.. I. having concluded,
Mr.. LEAKE obtained the floor, and moved that
that the committee rise, (not having his papers, &C.,
ur,k lr,
On which motion no quo.~., ,-.-s
The commi,te, thereupon, rose and reported the |
fact to the House.
Mr.. c. J. INGERsOLL moved that there be a |
call of the House.
A motion to adjourn was made, andz-by yeas 60,
nays 67-was rejected
And the motion for call Of the House was re.
jected.
Mr.. 8. JONES asked leave to lay the table an
amendment, by way Of addition to the joint resolu'
ton of notice reported from the Committee on For
eign Affairs.
The SPEAKER said that quorum being now
present. the first question would be on going back
into committee.
The House declared that it would not 60 back
into committee, but that it would adjourn.
So the House adjourned.