The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-31

triet and man stood between him and his eonstit-
uents
Ii had been said that Texas and Oregon were the
cry at the late election for the Presidency He trust
ed that no President would ever be elected that had
not some other qualifications than mere cry; yet
he voted for Mr. Polk, and he did so account OF
his integrity, honesty, and capacity, and Of any
party cry Mr.. w had not voted against Texas,
he said, because he hostile TO the South, as had
been supposed. He had no such motive, though
he had seen the time when Il was proposed as a
sine qua non recommendation for tho presidency
that the candidate should be Identified with the pc
eulisr institutions Of the South.
In regard to a distinguished member Of the late
cabinet who had been referred 10 In this connexion
he said he would give him great credit for many adj
mrable qualities, and he believed that the position
which he now occupied was for the time distinctly
dehnsdi and he was willing TO give him credit for
sincerity IN opposing the notice.
He (Mr. W. did not suppose, however, that the
notice would lead 10 a war he believed rather that
the "masterly Inactivity" as Il had been called,
would lead to war. Why this activity had been
called nasLery he could not imagine, unless il was
the policy Of masters, and very young ones, too.
lie would not discuss the question Of tile; but
he would merely lay down some positions in regard
TO il, without recourse to the musty records which
others could examine as well as himself Every
one, he believed, had conceded that England had
some claims to the country Of Oregon. Whether
treaty, from the explorations Of Mackenzie, from
proximity, or eontiguity, or from our own eonees-
sions, Il was immaterla TO consider. He believed
that our own title south OF forty mine unques-
lionablei and II the position Of the gentleman from
Indiana MIR. Owrsl was trae-and he believed IL
was-it was good 70 fory-nins hflyi because Spain
had settlement, at the time OF the convention, at
that point and tina, Great Britain had abandoned all
claim 10 any territory south Of that point
He believed that We had claims founded upon ex-
ploraton and discovery which, putting the Spanish
title out OF the question, would carry US up TO
forty-nine. Some had claimed that went little
further-tO hfty two. Mr.. Rush had claimed thar
We had clear title up to SO. What, then, Is the
question at issue-whstis the matter at stake, which
- TO plunge two great nations, the most civilized in
the world, into a war;
IL was a strip OF land Of two degrees. Sir, should
we fight or negotiate for two degrees the north
west eoastl
Three times had we offered iso, and that was the
line which marked out by the treaty Of Utrecht,
and slso by proximity and e0ntguity. Would
We be justified before God and tho world in madly
seeking a war upon such quarrel Gentlemen
here had talked Of the great value Of the country
north OF 49o, and some OF them had even said that
without il, or portion Of IL, Oregon would not be
worth rush; but Captain Wilkes, who had ex-
plored that coast, did not 20 beyond ago and had
yet found very valuable hsrbors. South Of 40
was the most valuable portion OF the country.
Pugets sound, Hoods canal, and Admiralty in
let were all south Of ago.
The gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. JoHssosl
had said that the territory actually in dispute be-
tween the two countries between AGO and
49o. He had never heard this before. II had
been said that American enterprise could not
succeed in Oregon until the British were driven out
This was a reflection upon the American character;
for whoever heard Of an instance in which Amer
leans, placed side by side with the people Of Great
Britain, any other nation, could not compete with
or outstrp them in any enterprisei All that Amer
leans asked for was good ports, and with them they
could rival any nation in commerce without the
protection OF any powerful Incorporated company,
or the patronage Of the government. Contrast this
city (ssid Mr.. W. and its badly regulated concerns
with those cities which depended on themselves,
and mark what a difference there is between them.
The popularity Of the President Of the United
States depended not on his SO 40, but upon his
moderation and wisdom, which were the true
causes Of his popularity. He regretted to see reso-
lutions offered In this House rejecting upon his
course, and compliance with which was to be the
price Of his forgiveness, by certain portion Of this
House. II the notice were given, and negotiations
were not opened, he supposed that Great Britain
would fill Canada and Oregon with troops, and
make great naval preparations at the Bermudas and
Halifax. But she would not strike blow. She
would await our action; and IL sws-ysoceeded 10
annex Canada, or take the whole of Oregon, then
we would have war to the knife.
| But he had too much reliance on the moderation
and patriotism Of the President to suppose that he
would take such a course. He supposed that he
would settle this question by the law Of nations and
not by the law Of popular reclamation. He believed
that the good sense of both Nations intimately con-
nected as they were by commercial relations, would
prevent them from rushing madly into war mere
ly for the adjustment of title which could only be
settled by negotiation at last.
Were we 10 go into such war we would soon
find that there vast difference between defend
ing our own country, and carrying on war of az
| gression upon another.
But if we anticipate such a war, what were
we to do' Why did we not strengthen our for
ufcations, and furnish them with cannon if
| teen hundred pieces of which would be at least
wanted Why did we not reft our navy and pro-
cure materials for steam marine? The truth was
| that public opinion was opposed to war, and we
might cry in vain Till we were black in the face
and no war would come so long as popular opinion
was opposed to it. IL our measures should be car
RED out after giving the notice, would be inev
table. He was for giving the notice, but not for
pushing the Interior measures to such an extreme
IA TO put the question beyond negotiation. Should
he be mistaken TO the result of our counses and
war should come, it was not by mpulsive courage
that we could carry 1t through. War now
science. This war was not to be fought with rifles
behind coiton-bags, but it to be fought amid
the crossing of bayonets the thunder Of cannon the
roaring of Paixhan's, and Kissing of shells. 1t was
to he fought on the wave, man to man, gun to
gun 1t was not impusive courage which gave US
our triumph even in the war of the revolution.
The privations and pestilence of the camp broke
down the courage Of the most enthusiastic patriots
even in the first and second campaign. This was
not to be that was to be decided by single
battle or q single campaign and as in the revolution,
we would have at last to rely upon the cool and calm
courage and Fabian prudence which then distin-
guished our commander-in-chief. And trust me,
Concluded Mr. w. that before three years Of the
war shall expire, every man in the country-ex-
cepting those vultures and hyenas which hover
the battlefield and batten on the canage-al those
who do not want war for the sake Of war-wl ar
IDENTIFY wish for peace, and its advent will be hailed
by both nations as the best gift Of Henrsn
Mr.. JACOB THOMPSON obtained the floor;
and, on bis motion, the committee rose.
SEVERAL THINGS.
Mr.. RAMSEY, on leave, presented a resolution
Of the legislature Of Pennsylvania, relative to Nc
Adamized national road from the United States
senal at Ptsburg to the harbor Of Erie. Also reso-
lutions relative TO the rates Of postage. Also reso-
Iaons relative to the piers in the river Delaware at
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