The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-13

FAINT settlement in Oregon up to the 18th parallel an
this being done, he might safely leave il TO time
american enterprise to do the rest. But, MI
Chairman, let me return TO the inquiry into tn
probable consequences ofgiying this notice. | hay
said that the best possible result would be AN ADJUST
ment on the basis of boundary along the 49u
c parallel; but have seen nothing as yet TO conyne
me that Il was the most probable result If thu
minister from Great Britain refused to consider th
proposition, when made in the course Of an AMIGA
bic and courteous correspondence, is il very proba
BILE that she will be inclined 10 accept il wher
; We give the notice, under circumstances which i'm.
ply that she must either agree TO our proposition,
go 10 war for the whole country IL the British
minister represented the real views Of his govern
msnt, is IL probable that with their dispositions that
government will he the more inclined 10 accept ouI
offer on account OF the threat which il may suppose
70 be implied by our giving the notice. II she re-
ally designs 10 20 TO war, rather than compromise
upon the terms which We proposed, is there any
thing unreasonable in supposing that she might
think the present time and circumstances ayora-
bic as any likely 10 occur for striking the blow Ii she
really attaches the imporaneet 20 her whole claim
Oregon which many seem 10 imagine, and regards
war for IL inevitable, will she think that the
sooner she strikes the blow the better for herr Or IT, on
che other hand she is anxious settle the question
q amicably, and desires nothing more than terms
which may be regarded as honorable by her own
people and by the world will this spirit be
by our giving the notice. and by the circumstances
under which IL will he giyen' To sum up the whole,
II It not manifest, on the one hand that II this step
should lead TO wer, we give TO Great Britain, in
stead OF reserying IL TO ourselves the advantage Of
choosing her own time for IL IT. on the other hand
this be designed as peace measure, is il not more
likely 10 defeat, than TO encourage renewal OF
gotations in a sensitive and high spirited people,
Such seems to me to be iu probable ten
dences and unless Great Britain should think
this disputed territory TO be OF little value
to her, however important it might be to US,
and unless she entertnns strong desire for peace,
can other result to flow from this notice 30
probable as that Of war. One thing is perfectly
clear; this measure must either lead TO settlement
on the basis Of a boundary along the 49th parallel
or It must produce war. Our western friends say
that they will be content with nothing less than the
whole extent Of our claim; and il this be So is not
war inevitable, under present circumstances IL
Is to be the mode Of settling this question at last,
would seem TO me that It would he far wiser pre-
serve the present state of affairs, that may be
able to choose our own time for fighting, and select
h period when we were better prepared for the
test and when the attendant circumstance might be
more propitous. Let US look, Mr. Chairman, into
the circumstances under which this war would now
be woged, and ascertain, If we can, its probable
sequences Have we made any Of the military
preparations necessary for such an event Would
one, even two years, suffice for the preparation
proper for such contest IL war be inevitable, is
not internal condition such as TO make delay
desirabe' The whole country is Just recovering
from a deep financial depressio Many Of the
States either unable, barely able, TO pay their
own debts. They not in a condition TO bear
the weight of internal taxation, which must be one
Of the main resources Of the war. A few wears
hence different and favorable state Of things
might be fairly expected, What, let me ask, would
be position in the public opinion Of the world
We break off the negotiation because our PROPOSE
ton was not accepted, and we give the notice under
circumstances which proclaim that there must be
war; unless she will settle the question upon our own
terms. She has offered a mode Of settling this
dispute, now universally regarded amongst civilized
nations fair and honorable method Of adjusting
national controversies mean arbitration. This
, we have already refused; nor do | disapprove OF
that refusal, under the circumstances then existing
n She will probably offer it again. and we shall again
refuse it. do not stand here, Mr.. Chairman, as
f the advocate Of arbitration; upon that question ]
have nothing to say at present; am merely deal
ing in facts, with view to the consequences.
We shallagain refuse arbitration, Mr. Chairman; and
whyi Because we say there none of the nations
Of the world whose governments honest and inn
partial enough to decide this controversy between
This may all be so; but will refusal Of arbitration
for such reasons be likely to win US much of the
sympathy of the WORLD Under these circum-
) stances, am wrong in supposing that the world
will be apt to regard the aggressori The pub
lie opinion of Christendom would be thus defed at
} the time when Great Britain has better under
standing with the continental states Of Europe tn ian
she has enjoyed at any previous period of her
5 history, so far as l am acquainted with II. The
cordial understanding" between herself and France
her ancient enemy and our former ally, is notorious
Q throughout the world Under these circumstan-
ces, what chance should we have for either sympa
thy or assistance from any of these powers in the
G event of u war; But this is not the whole view Of
the existing state Of our foreign relations, and its
= connexion with our prospects in war If we have
0 a war with Great Britain about this time shall we
: not probably have Mexico also on our hands, Ii
known that she is sore under recent occurrences
/ and it is equally notorious that she is much under
e British influence. We should probably have a wal
v not only for Oregon, but Texas also. The Indian
: tribes beyond the Rocky mountains known to be
i under the influence of the Hudson Bay Company
n and it is probable that most of the western Indians
would take sides with Great Britain in the event OF
c a war between her and this country. Under these
circumstances, what would become Oregon, and o.
v our infant settlements on the Columbia believe il
f is the opinion Of our best military authorities and
indeed, the very general opinion that, during the
. war, Oregon itself must be abandoned, and that we
should have to strike in anada, and upon the seas
: And yet gentlemen coolly demand war, or what
d will lead to war, as duty which we owe our peo
Il pie in Oregon when is manifest that the very first
= step of that would be to abandon them unpro
e tected to British troops, to the Hudson Bay Com
pany, and their savage allesto war, unless they
at once made terms for themselves likely to be
n signalzed by NIL the circumstances of barbaric
atrocity as any ofwhich we have account. Those
1 unfortunate people might well ask the chairman Of
Foreign Affairs If this be what he calls "uackng of
L his friends'' In such contest is it not probable
that Oregon would be lost only to be recovered, il
n ever, by another war; to be undertaken at a more
= suspicious period Ifthis struggle were now to be
: commenced, do not believe that there would even
r be effort made to send troops to Oregon. II
i would be regarded wnste of men and means, at
time when, with Mexico to the southwest with the
Indian tribes western frontier, with British
and Canadian troops on our north, and with British
fleets covering the eastern and southern line Of
: coast should be encircled with wall Of FIRE.
8 doubt not but that should emerge from it victo
o rious IL is not on the soil which we occupy that
0 we can be conquered, or be worsted. have
n full faith in American spirit and patriotism. But
do not believe that should pass unscahed through
c that fiery trial, ought we to task too highly
those great qualities Of people by exposing them
n to unnecessary difficulties as we should do il we en-
gage in war before prepared for it, or if We
make to attain what might be had far more GER
$ tainy and honorably by peaceful means. That W,
should come out Of such contest with honor, Dc
not doubt; but that should lose as much or NOR,