Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-10

Conventon that they the twin offspring Of that political
concaSe and in that avowal may be found the whole expa
nation Of the difficulties and dangers with which the question
I is attended 8@
honor the Administration, Mr.. Speaker, for whatever
spirit OF Cancellation, compromise and peace has hitherto
manifested this subject and have hesitation saying
II have any thing reproach them with, them
for II for what appears unreasonable and pecp
tate abandonment Of that spirit And any body desires
this account or any other account to brand member
Of the peace party bare my bosom, hold up both my
hands, to receive that brand willing take its first
and deepest impression, while the iron shapest and hottest
If there be any thing of shame in such brand, certainly
glory in my shame. Cicero said, in contemplation Of any
odum which might attach to him for dealing
summary with Caline, |" Eo amino senapey FIJI,
at intidiam pirtufe Partam, goriam npdiam, pu-
twem "
But who who is willing bear the brand Of being men,
Der Of the party Who will submit have that Cain
mark stamped upon his brow thank Heaven that all men,
all Sides have thus far refused No man. Of
extreme opinions has venturd yet speak upon this que
on without protesting, in the roundes terms that he for
peace Even the honorable member from Illinois, Mr Dous
who for giving the notice TO quit at the earliest
day, and for proceeding build forts and sockades
and for asserting exclusive jurisdiction the whole Ore
gon Territory at the very instant which the twelve months
should EXPIRE stout of for preserving peace
My venerable colleague, (Mr ADAMS, too from whom al
ways differ with great regret but differing from whom the
present OCCASION conform my conscientious
judgment than the opinions of my constituents under
stand themhe too, sure that very torrent Of
eloquent indignation which the order and
dignity Of the House, could have had nothing but the peace
of the country at heart So far peace then, is concerned
it seems that all agreed 50 Only be an hon
orabe peace that think is the sereotyped phrase of the
day and all differences thus reduced the question:
What constitutes honorable peace Undoubtedly, Mr..
Speaker the this question must depend upon the
peculiar circumstances Of the which is applied Yet
will not pass the consideration Of that without put
ting the burden Of proof where belongs Peace, in it
SELF ns nature and Of its original essence hon
orable No individual, nation, can lay higher claim
honor Of or the blessing of Heaven than seek
and ensue it. Louis Philippe may envy monument which
covered human dust, it may Justly be inscribed his
tombstone Gas has recently been suggesed) that while he
lived the peace Of Europe secure And ON the other
hand, war; its proper character dsgaceul and the
the country which shall wuly and wantony provoke it,
deserves the execaons Of earth and Heaven These Mr.
Speaker, the general principles which civilization and
Christianity have length engaed upon the public code of
Christendom If there be exceptions to them, do not
deny there ae they be proved specially by those who
alege them Is there then, any thing in the Oregon contro
very, now stands before which furnishes exception
to these general principles amy thing which would render
pacific policy dscedtable, which would invest with
any degree Of true honor deny altogether reteate
the propositions Of the resolutions your table maintain
]. That this question, from its very nature, is peculiarly
and emnenty for negotiation compromise and amicabe
adjustment.
That satisfactory evidence has not yet been afforded that
compromise which the United States ought accept
be effected.
g. That, other mode Of acabe settlement remains,
cannot relieve itself from its responsibility to maintain the
peace of the country while arbitration is still untried.
perceive, sir that the bef time allowed debate will
compel to deal in the most summary way with these pro-
POSITIONS and that must look other opportunities for doing
full justice either to them myself Let hasten how
ever 70 DO them what justice may.
There three distinct views in which this question
may be presented peculiarly for negotiation and
promise In the first place. there is the character of the sub
ject of the controversy Unquesonaby may
rights and claims not of nature to admit of compromise and
to which there must be absolute and unconditional reln
punishment side the other a conflict is inevitable
may alude to the impressment of
plea practice which could be renewed by Great Britain
at any moment under any circumstances without produc
ing immediate hostiies But here we have the bone of
contention and territory, thousands Of miles
distant from both countries entirely capable Of DIVISION and
the loss Of any part had almost said Of the WHOLE of which
would not be Of the smallest practical moment TO either Of
hema territory the sovereignty Of which might remain in
allegiance for half century longer without serious nconven
dement any body and reference which there
certainly not the slightest peenee Of necessity for
mary precptate action. We need ports the Pacific.
As to land have millions Of of better land still
occupied this side Of the mountains What spectacle
would be- in the sight of and angels for the
tries which claim have made the greatest advances in civil
zaon and Christianity and which bound together by
many ties Of nature and ar, Of kindred and of commerce.
each of them with and various to be
engaging in conflict Of brute force for the immediate and
exclusive occupation Of the whole Of Oregon The annals
of barbarism would afford parallel to such scene
In the second place, there is the character OF the title
to this territory both SIDES shall attempt analysis or
history Of this title certainly disposed indicate
the British title and the American there is nothing to
be added the successive expoons Of the eminent states
and diplomatists by whom it has been illustrated But
after all, what title it is fight about Who pretend
that ii is free iom all difficulty doubt Who would take
of land upon such title investment without the
warranty Of something than the two regiments Of hemen
for which your bill provides OF what is the title made up
Vague traditions Of settlement musty records of old voyages
conflicting claims Of discovery, disputed principles public law,
acknowledged violations of the rights Of aboriginal occupants
these elements out Of which clear and ndsputabe title
is compounded declare you, sir, that often thread
the of this controversy be dispute
the relative rights of two parties to territory TO which neither
Of them has any real right whatever and should hardly
blame the other nations Of the world for insisting coming
in for and lot in the partition Of it Certainly, if we
should be false character civilized nations fight
about it. the Of Christendom would be justified If they
had the power treating have always treated the
savage tribes Of continent and turning both alto
geher
Why look single fact in the history Of this controversy
In 1918 thought title TO Oregon clear and
questionable think We proposed then divide
with Great Britain without the slightest reference any
third party interest Yet at that very moment Spain
possession those rights discovery which, they
transferred by the treaty of Fonda consider
of the strongest elements in whole 1t is most
notable incident that in the discussions of 1918 awod
said regard either to the rights Of Spain to the Nooka
convention Yet Great Britain and the United States
found placing their principal reliance these two
Of title Is there enough this historical fact lead
to dsust our own judgments and conclusions and
the danger of fixing views exclusively
real imagined wants interests to overlook the
rights Of others.
Il