Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1846-02-11

TILES. Representative from Ma
ryland, 81
On the 9th ult., in Committee Of ths
Whole, upon the joint resolution Of notice
to Great Britain to abrogate the treaty o
joint occupancy Of Oregon.
Mr.. Chairman: There are some question:
whose importance and whose greatness
are calculated to swallow up for time al
others, to chain the minds of men to tfeil
consideration, and to compel them to yiele
their undivided attention. Of such char.
acter is the subject which we are now dis
cussing
Its importance is co-extensivc with the
American continent, and lasting as the
American name. Its interest is felt, and
its decision anxiously looked for, upon ev-
cry spot where livethe principles of Amer
lean liberty. The merchant in his count
ing-house the mechanic at his daily toll
the farmer as he tends the field of prom
ise-the hunter as he presses over the
boundless prairie-even the traveller as
he pursues his solitary way by The banks
of the Columbia-feels its interest and
looks anxiously for our decision.
But, sir, its importance goes further
AS it relates to peace or war, it affects all
Christendom. As it may involve two OF
the greatest commercial nations on the
earth in war, it interests and affects every
man-every civilized man-on whatever
spot he may dwell. To-day, sir, our COM
merce whitens every sea. The industry
and enterprise Of our ccuntrymen have
been made known in every part of the
habitatle globe. Our Christian philan
thropy has planted the institutions Of re-
deeming mercy in the centre of the great
continent of Asia. in the Uses of:he Pacif-
ic, and even on the dark and dreary coast
of western Africa, SO cursed "by mans
inhumanityt to man." Am in error, then,
in saying that this question interests eve
ry civilized man? Or is it strange that
an interest should be excited in this Hall,
which be,okens the greatness and impor-
lance Of the subject, and that even beauty
should forsake, for season, her gay and
fowery walks, to smile upon our deliber-
atoms?
1t is question which outrides ali party
distinctions, which sweeps away all par
ty lines. and shows us upon all great ques-
tons of foreign policy we are, as a people,
one in sentiment, as we are in history,
and shall be one in destiny. l believe
that when this great question comes up
for final action, this Esuse will be found,
as the American people will be found,
unanimous in the pursuit of such mea-
sures as may be deemed necessary 20 meet
the exieencies Of the occasion.
Sir, the debate which we have had in
this Hall has been gratifying to every
American heart. There was only one por.
ton of the argument which l regretted
| did deeply regret that the honorable gem
tleman from Ohio, Mr.. Giddings,1 who
first addressed the committee, should have
permitted himself to turn aside from this
lofty theme, and hurl shaft at one of the
institutions of tie country. But, sir, dur
ing this debate we have heard voice,
might almost say, from the past. The
venerable gentleman from Massachusetts,
T MIR. Adams has spoken out; and / for
one rejoice TO see that, although his Locke
are bleached with The frosts Of more than
seventy winters, vet that the fires of pat
rioism still burn brightly on that ancient
alter.
Mr.. Chairman, [ was one OF those who
were in favor of postponine the discus
sion of this great question, as proposed
bv the honorable chairman Of the Com
mittee on Foreign affairs, Mr.. c. J. In
ger soil l wished to see what would be
the effect in England of the present aspect
of the question, as it is presented in :hs
late correspondence, which has brought
from the archives Of diplomacy, into the
full light of day, the fitness and clearness
of our title--a correspondence which will
add to the heretofore wide spread fame of
the Secretary of State; a fame whose lau-
rels time, which corrodes and destroys so
much Of human achievement, will, year
after year, only freshen and renew. AZ
ter that correspondent, if we must 90 in
TO this contest, we shall feel the Iull force
of the sentiment .s. ....
"Thricc is lie armed who hath his quarrel just"
\ X
Mr.. Chairman, after the most careful
consideration which | have been able to
give to this question, l cQnscientiously be-
leve that, if war is TO come, it will come
whether you give this notice or not. | be-
iieve that we have now reached a point in
the history of the Oregon Territory Which
will no longer admit Of this joint oocupa-
ton. | should like to know from British
statesmen how long this chrysalis state of
civilization-this inchoate system OF Gov
ernment-is, in this state OF things, to last.
1t was very we'll in .lSlS-it was well in
lS27-when this greet country was used
only as place 70 receive from the Indian
tribes the iurs they collected, and as a
place at which our whalemen and other
ships might water. Ii was very well
whilst Great Britain and ourselves mere
ly used the territory for the purposes of
commerce, without reference to actual SET
Element. But, sir, in pursuance, l sup
pose, of that d s;iny 10 which my elo-
quent friend from Indiana referred the
other day, whose onward progress we can
not resist, our people rapidly have passed
10 Oregon, not for the purpose OF CON-
merce, not to obtain the furs of that vast
country, but TO settle, to build houses, and