The North-Carolina standard., 1846-03-25
avorite President settled it in his negotiations q

taVorle President settled it in his negotiations IA
laugh] -
Mr.: REID Then the gentleman is with the
President and the President says, our title to the
lleVed, maintained by rrefragable facts and argu-
ments" The genteman's location arose from
this eonnexion: him and myself were members
OF the legislature at the same time; he had fa-
vorlte PROJECT for the improvement of Lumber
river; and from his zeal in favor of the measure,
ne became associated in my mind with the name
OF the river, so that Thought Lumber rirer GER
taIniy must run through his district IA langh.l
Mr. DocKERV. The gentleman mistakes the
patriotism must be confined to his own district.
Now, l am willing to improve North Carolina
in any part of it; and just so feel in regard to
the United States
MIR. REID resumed. I am happy to hear of
the gentlemans patriotism, and l shall be still
more so, If, when it comes to the VOTE he shall
show that his patriotism, which has already reach
cd Lumber river, is found sufficiently expanded to
e1temd to Oregon! hope that we shall look on
this as great national question My feelings are
with the South-my destiny is with hers; but l
will suffer no local or sectional views to influence
my course on this important measure. 1t was
with extreme reluctance that heard the remark
made by member on this floor, that whatever
might be the fate Of this question: he should have
the consolation to know that he had not followed
in the lead of the gentleman from Massachusetts,
[Mr. Adams.l regret that it should be thought ne
cessary 10 invoke existing preudces against in
dlVldualto operate against great natlona measure
But, sir, in reply to that remark, might with
equal proprirty, say that we who support the no.
tlce Will have the consolation to know that we
are not following in the lead of Great Britai in
But such declaration would not be an argument
for against the notice. 1t has been said that the
member from Ohio MR. Giddngsl is for the no.
tice, aad that he is actuated by motives unworthy
g by T5 5R! % hs sh not % dser
lieve TO be right l might as we'll be told because
one of the chosen twelve was traitor, and be-
trayed the Saviour, that therefore must reject
Christianity. follow in the lead of no man. l
go for my country. We are :old that must
not act lest a ensue Has it come TO this that
our government can carry out no important meas
ure connected with her domestic or foreign policy
without the cry of war being raised and held up
as n terror us2 War and ruin panics have
alternately prevailed ever since the commence
ment of our government, and if we wait for them
to cease before act shall never do anything.
If attempt 10 procure indemnity for spoliations
on the property of our citizens by foreign coun-
try, the war cry is raised If we attempt 10 an
mex Texas, war IN all its horrors is depicted as the
cons'qucncel-a when we attempt to assert our
claim to Oregon, we are told an unjust and SAN
culinary war will be inevitabIe! The horrors OF
war have been described in so vivid and forcbe
"a manner that one might almost imagine that they
saw the British steamers darling from point TO
point along our coast-lhat they heard the thun.
dering of British cannon, and beheld our cities
with their temples of justice and their temples OF
religion wrapt in flames! But in the midst of
this gloomy picture, the reflection rises in my
mind, that whatever may have been the devastat-
ing effects of past wars, it is nevertheless certain
a portion of mankind are so constituted that they
grieve much about wars that never happen; and
such, hope, is the character of the lamentations
of the gentlemen we have heard on this occasion
l am for peace; l love peace; l appreciate its
effects upon commerce; and, above all, l admire
its happy influences in moral and political point
Of view. But while say this, l must be per-
mitted 10 remark, that l would scorn the idea Of a
peace that had TO be purchased at the sacrifice of
the interests and the honor of my colntry. The
territory claimed by Great Britain on this con-
tinent is greater in extent than our own with Ore
gon included; and ought we TO surrender TO that
government any portion of our soil No, sir !;
we have none to spare. II has been with deep
regret that l have heard remarks on this floor
more disparagIng to our claim to Oregon than
anything that have ever seen in the correspond
ence of the British minister himself 1t has al
ways been unfortunate for this country that in
all Of her controversies with foreign govern
ments sentiments have been uttered here which
were calculated to misead other countries in re-
ation to the state of public opinion in the United
States, and thereby to render the subject of dis
pute the more difficult to adjust: Such, fear,
will be the case in the present controversy. Sir,
1t is time we had learned 10 stand on own feet
Great Britain is year after year, by the force of
her diplomacy, and the power of her sword, bring
ing nation after nation to bow to power and DOM
nion, until her possessions dot your map over a
considerable portion of the globe. With our love
Of liberty we could not withhold our sympathy
from those whose misfortune it has been, from
time TO time, to fall within her grasp; but we
have stood by and beheld all these things in
silence, adhering TO the policy no: to interfere in
foreign disputes in which our own safety docs not
require US to take part But when she comes
upon our own shores, and seeks to pr ess her
self of part of our territory, every considera-
ton of interest and of patriotism requires that
we should resist her arrogant demands in the
spirit Of freemen who know their rights, and
dare maintain them. If the preservation of our
rights did not require it, such a course would
then be absolutely necessary even to command
the respect Of Great Britain herself In all the
pictures that have been drawn of the horrid re-
suits of war, gentlemen have taken, it for grant
ed that we are to bear all the loss and make
all the sacrifices, and that Great Britain has
nothing to lose. But such is not the fact Dis
astrous as such conflict might prove to us, she
has more to fear from it than ourselves She
It