The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-30

man from Indiana, IMr. @. B. Ssrrn,l either in
their dangers or their honors, but he hoped he
should not be considered invdious, or disposed 70
pluck any Of the green aurels which clustered
around the heads OF gentlemen who had inquired 80
conspicuously in that war, II he should merely IN
timaie that he had never known so brilliant NH
tary reputation achieved IN a campaign 30 blood
less IN its results ......
He had one word more to say to his colleague,
Mr.. BAKER. IL was perfectly proper Tor the gen
tleman to set himself right 10 his political course
where he was not known but certainly II was
not necessary for him at home TO make the expla-
nation; man there ever supposed han TO be DEM
ocrst. But he Mr.. H. regretted that his colleague
was induced in his great zeal TO clear HIS skirts
of any connexion with the democracy, 20 ropudate
one of the consolatory texts of the Scripture
that text which announced to the unfortunate that
"whne the lamp holds out 10 burn,
The yilest sinner may return"
IA voice: ain what part of the Scripture do you
MIR. BAKER wished to explain, bu.
Mr.. HOGE declining 10 yield the hoor proceed
ed TO express his regrets that there had been attempts
in this House give this debate something ola sec
uonal, a party, and personal character; and he
considered In bad taste the attempt Of the gentle
man from New York, Mr. kRG,l to connect with
this question the name Of a certain distinguished
statesman, for whom he Mr. III. professed To enter
tain as high regard as any one from the gentle
mans own State. And he would tell the gentleman
from South Carolina that he was mistaken IL he
supposed that any personal consideration connected
with the elevation, or with the downfall Of any In
dividual had anythmg to do with this question II
might be, and he believed it would be, that the
weight of this great question in its onward progress
would crush individual aspirations, individual hopes
for no great national question In ts course to final
contamination had passed througha very graveyard
Of dead politicians Il might be the fate Of this great
question: but he tina, its bearing upon polt
clans would neither facilitate or impede It's progress.
He looked upon II as great American question
as the great question Of the day. He was further
convinced that no matter what might be the termi-
nation Of this discussion, what might be the vote
which they should finally give upon this resolution,
the matter is to DO terminated within twelve or
eighteen months, at all events, with or without the
notice, with or without any action on the part OF
this House. There was spirit abroad in the coun-
Try tina, would bring this question to an ISSUE
"peaceably If We can, forcibly If we must.n
MIR. III. referred to the general unaniu,ity which
had been manifested in the progress of the discus
sion-all being for Oregon, and for the whole of
Oregon now, and all agreeing the great political,
commercial, and military advantages Of that terri
tory, and all agreeing on the validity Of our title.
Even the learned and distinguished gentleman from
Massachusetts, MIR. WMrHRor,l who thought our
title came from musty sources, did not take his seat
until he had proclaimed that the superiority Of our
title over the British title would be pronounced il
the question were submitted 10 court Of Justice
But 1t was reserved for representative from the
great Commonwealth Of Virginia, Mr.. PESpLEros,l
IN the face OF the facts IN the face Of the arguments
fevcry historian orator, and dplomatist, who had
ever spoken or written upon this question, 10 lind
out that the territory OF Oregon was not worth
farthingi and was reserved to another equally dis
tnguishcd gentleman from Virginia, Mr.. BAYLY, to
hnd out but in the face of the uniform position which
this government had maintained for thirty years in
the face OF arguments OF the most acute diplomatic
ability, to discover that the title OF the United States
IN he fer pnffh of m MATS
straw. How changed was the position Of that great
State upon this question: so far her representatives
had been heard from.
Mr.. BAYLY interposcd, and remarked, if the
had only to say that he had entirely misunderstood
| his argument.
Mr.. HOGE resumed. That (he said) was his
misfortune Perhaps was certainly not owing TO the
want Of cearncss Of the gentleman; for he under
stood him to lay down his position distinctly, and to
sustain it by very ingenious arguments, that our
title north Of 49o was not worth straw. And the
gentleman followed by the gentleman from In
diana, [Mr. OwEN,] whose argument, with all due
Difference, he must be allowed to say, was more
specious than sound--who held that our title was
not good beyond 49I degrees.
Mr.. OWEN explained. The gentleman from IL
linois had wholly misunderstood him. He (Mr.
OwEs) had argued, that, according to the showing
even Of British-claimed documents, we had a per-
feet right Of territory to forty-pne and half; and
|
| allel u' o..
Mr.. HOGE continued. The natural inference
from the gentleman's own argument, as now ex-
planned, was, that title would not stand beyond
1870. The gentleman stated truly that we claimed
to $40 40; and he proposed, by a sort of compro-
mise, to fix the line at $50.
| Hr. II. was about to show the difference between
the position Of the modern patriotism of Virginia,
and that of its patriotism in former days. He read
an extract from speech Of Governor Floyd, of Vir-
| ~. 49,. he he i'll ,,ht -
MUM, in the House Of Representatives in 1929, in
reply las he sad) to arguments like those which had
been advanced by gentlemen here in regard to the
value of the territory of Oregon and to the danger
| of asserting onr rights. The"
| [NoTE-The reporter is disappointed in not be-
ing furnished with tho extracts in this speech and is
| hence obliged to omit them. Among other points,
this extract urged the necessity Of going forward to
inaexible maintenance Of rights, independent
of any declarations made by the British government
Sir, (said Mr.. h. that is the kind of Virginia
patriotism which like to see.
Mr.. BAYLY Did that gentleman 60 further
than the line Of ago.
Mr.. HOGE. That question not then in dis
pute at ALL but whether we should take the military
possession of the country-whether we shsuld asser,
| our rights to that territory.
Mr. II. did not like that patriotism which counted
the cost, which turned pale and trembed at the
sequences; which hesitaes faters, and doubts when
| great national questions are 10 be decided when
| great national interests at stake.
He referred to the speech Of Mr.. HOLMES, as hav.
| ing dwelt upon our entire want Of preparation for
war, upon the deadly blow which it would nfict
upon all our interests; and after having lashed us
round the world and cut off every hope, the honora
BILE gentleman (he said) had expired in blaze of
| glory which TO be achieved by the Sumters
the Pickenses, and all the other 'gnme cocks Of the
kingdom Of South Carolina. He congratulated the
nation the return of the State of South Carolina
tn Id .ba
to give us little admixure of prudence in her rash
counses. She was not now ready in defence ofa
mere territorial right to the hazard Of war. But
how long was it since South Carolina had been ready
IN opposition TO a law passed by this Congress
| ancient cnemy-ino foreign war, but a
war in which the hand Of brother should be raised
against brother of father against father Of country
man against coantrymoni How long was it--how
many moons had run their course, since distin-
qnished SENIOR from South Carnlina hnd alnod in