The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-03

title dates further back il is Of prior date il come
from period before Adams dust was fashione,
into man. We received our rights from higl
Heayen--from destiny, if you please. Ia the cours
Of eyenis--in the bringing forward anu carrying GU
this desiiny--one Christopher Columbus was sen
across the ocean 10 survey out partially this coun
try; and here we have taken posse ssion; here w
have established the seat Of empire where the prin
| eiples of pure republicanism and democracy shal
] finally prevail. Well; further on, in the course O
Time, there was one George Washington; he cam,
forward, and located his family on this land; an,
we contend, from this location-from this early set
Element, under the guidance Of destiny, we hav,
the right TO every inch of this slsnd-ii you pleas,
TO call so or, other words suit better, this con
npent We have The right from high Heaven to oil
of it--eyery inch of il. ... ...
| Now there are several things considered argu
mens in this question. ! have been trying for tht
last two or three weeks occasionally 10 get the floor
but owing 10 my extreme honesty, being a very
modest man, do not like TO enter into the arena
and resort TO those means which are necessary ia
order 10 get the floor Other influences have brought
themselves up TO prevent me from getting the floor
! One Of them Is this system Of explaining speeches
which need explanation, by which the morning
hour IL consumed by gentlemen in making explana,
lions, eliminating and terminating each other. A
great deal Of time is thus consumed. | do not ex-
Peet TO consume my hour; and have tried for the
last two or three days 10 get the floor 10 move that
half hour be occupied beneeforth by gentlemen
who speak. Well, | hope this may be proposed
hereafter and adopted, discover there are certain
other ingredients besides talent requisite To get the
floor, and 10 obtain ascendeney in this House.
may be compelled, Mr.. Chairman, from the necessi-
~ Of the case, after | have been here a while to
adopt these same things. intend TO be heard. 4
have set Of constituents as independent as pro-
fess TO be; and they expect me 10 have my rights,
and shall have them, even il have to resort TO this
course Of proceeding.
There are divers ways now proposed by gentle.
men on this floor whereby the Oregon question may
be settled will not undertake to argue the consul
tutlonAl question, because certain gentlemen here
might say, as WAS said in olden times that A black
smith was not proper person 10 mend watches
and farmer has no business with his huge paws on
the statute book. For this reason, and Tor the fur
Their reason that It has been well argued will say
nothing on this part Of the question. shall then be
found replying TO certain arguments Of gentlemen in
my brief curious way of doing business.
The word "war" has come into every speech ;
and that appears to deter gentlemen from doing what
they would do, were il for the fear Of war with
Great Britain. Well that shall not enter into the
motives that will govern me at all in the decision to
which ] shall come, and in the arguments which
shall use. do not care one cent whether the Eng
llsh declare war against or not-not one cent. l
believe we are right. Thus believing, | shall pro-
coed 10 do what consider TO be my nght--to take
my rights, and TO maintain my rights, independent
OF future consequences.
The gentleman from Virginia, mr. LEAKE.1 who
was on the floor this morning, takes to task some
gentlemen Of the democratic party who have spo-
ken heretofore in favor of the notice. in relation 10
their votes on this question at the last session Of
Congress, and has shown that they voted against
certain propositions on the subject of Oregon.
will undertake TO show you, and that gentlemen
how it's, and why il was, that they voted against
these measures al that time; and ] shall do il by
quoting from the speech Of the honorable gentleman
from Massachusetts,, Mr.. WNTHRoP,l who spoke
IN the early part Of this debate. | have before me
the debates on this subject at the last session Of
Congress, and will read certain parts Of the gen.
teman's speech on that occasion, to show an argu-
ment that was all-powenul in this hail. and which
will justify the gentlemen whom the gentleman
from Virginia has arraigned, or any other gentle
man, for voting, as they did, against the notice and
against the bill at that particular time. The gentle
man goes on to say:
Indeed, sir this whole proceeding is In nv Judgment
emneny calculated to impede and embarrass the
uons in which the two governments are employed. We
have not yet failed that they still progress and that
communication in regard to them may be expected from
wait for this communication why insist on any
steps In the dark when in few weeks at the most
shall be able to act adyisedy and to clearly, the
ground on which we are treading"
That, sir, was the reason urged then by that
gentleman, and by several other gentlemen WHY
this bill should not be passed. and why this resolu-
ton should not be passed--becausc neg citations
were going on, and because a new President had
been elected, and this negotiation would, in all prob
ability be again opened; and twas folly disrespect
and madness, then to proceed so far in relation to
this matter when the proper authorities had il under
consideration. And with this view, many persons
voted against the notice. Again, the gentleman
says;
in this House, and elsewhere thing to be le come
rather than wait for the issue Of negotiations deserving in
my Judgment of the severest rehnke and eprobaon
every Christian patriot and statesman say lei NOT come
let ner come If any degree of honorable patience and for
bearance VIII avert protest against any course Of pro
ccedngs which shall invite or facilitate its approach
Thus that honorable gentleman goes on to give
the reasons why he should vote against the notice,
at the last session of Congress. He says further:
81 agree with him Mr A. " Brown in his two principal
positions iconcur with him. first in the opinion that II
patton until negotiations have been still longer pursued"
Again, he says;
at is fully well understood that there are as good
lands on this side Of the Rocky the other
tude is concerned"
Here, he passes a enlogy upon a certain dstin-
guished individual now in the other branch of the
national legislature:
"Mr Webster has dared preserve the peace Of thr
country by ahang something of our extreme territorial
claims the northeast aud he has earned the gratitude
all good citizens by doing So"
wonder, Mr.. Chairman, what gentlemen from
Maine, and from all the east, and northeast, will say
as to the gratitude" due to that distinguished indi-
vdual ,..-. .
Now, Mr.. Chairman, undertake to say that that
was the reason, rs before observed, why this bill
not passed at the last session Of Copgress---be-
cause this negotiation was then pending. Now, we
have the assertion of the President of the United
States, and we have the correspondence between
MIR. Buchanan, and Mr.. Calhoun, and the Brit
ish minister on this subject, and we are per-
fectly certain that no negotiations this sub
ject can now be had. What, then, is our case
What course is it necessary for us to pursue !,
Why these very gentlemen are willing that we
should take up TO the line of 49o and still they are
afraid Of wer if we give the notice We'll, put
this question to the gentleman from Virginia, Mr.
BArLr,] who spoke few days ago, and whose
speech has made much elimination and recrim.
nation in this hpll: You will go for 400; pass the
notice to that effect, and where 10 the offer of Great
Britain to assent TO that line' There is none she
never has made the offer WE'LL is she going to
back out with this notice and take 1907 ask gem
tlemen to answer that question. We have offered
49o; she has utterly refused il; and now You are
willing to give the notice and take forcible posses