Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-03-12
THE OREGON.
MIR. BENToN's SPEECH,
y THE SENATE, FEBRUARY 10, lSi6.

Il Mr. bENToN rose 10 address the Senate eu' NJ me
commencement. his rmarks WERE in great degree, IN
audible q the Reporter. lie understood to cay that
had not been h ntenon address the Senate IN relation
to our title to Oregon but he had intended 70 speak on
that branch OF the subject he should have enqushed the
purpose after stenng the vey able and lucid exposition
OF by the honorable Senator from New York, Mr Dix
That gentleman had placed the American ute 10 Oregon
on grounds that were mprcgnsbe. and on which must
forever stand speech replote with historical fact
evineng greater research crowded with pertinent
remark ana convincing Argument had never been his lot
TO hear and he could congrauaung tina
honorable gentlemen the important, service he had rem
dercd his aud the honor which he
had gained for himself
Mr. d. said that he would leave the question OF tte
where that Senator had placed and would his a,'en
ton to different branch OF the question. He would look
briefly at what had been done attempted by the able
sonstors who had employed themselves this Oregon
question for thirty years at what had been offered by our
own and refused by that OF Great Britain and
At the which had subsequently, nded
| by the President for adoption.
And here the outset he would take occasion to say
nat he had concurrcd what the President had done aud
IN what he proposed do After thirty years OF negoa
uon, progress had been made the question The
parties stood precisely they had stood lS4
the conclusion OF the treaty OF Client No advance had
since been made and the negotiations stand.
The ffeiden had communicated Congress all that had
thus Tar taken place IN the history of the negotiation and
now recommended such measures as IN his Judgment il
would Be proper adept Mr. H. concurred in tho recon
neadauVns which the President had made. believing them
To be no morc than what have right do and what
twas emi4enuy necessary and proper that should do
Mr. H. also coneurrcd in the proprety the offer which
| a
view to compromises and though had been rejected BY
the representative OF the BRUSH Governm mt had had
good effect at home had stimulated people, by
sicwl how sacrifices the President ready
10 make Tor the preservation OF peace. He happy TO
be able TO that, a people, were now uned at
| home. Come what might, happen what might, were
| this day united pcopc.
He concurred President once more in his reec-
ton OF the recent offer OF negotiation. w,h able
crtisy OF State, he did not think that territorial rights
silIed proper subject for arbitration Among crowned
be and ltsn had
been, submitted umpire; but nations ute
10 Us territory is claim to imperial domain its
soil never had been made subject OF arbitration did
he well how could be. lie entirely coucuried there
| fore, the p-opJiety Of the rejection.
lie eoneured with the President only in what he had
offered and Whli he had refused hut also IN the mea-
surcs he hal recommended The giving OF th. notice the
extension OF laws, the providing military protection AMI
the establishment Of mail with suitable stations, through
the wilderness and also TIC grants OF land tiers
As To The establishment OF military post that had already
been sanctioned by the bill Of last session.
The extension OF our laws had been proposed by the
o! 1871 and tie escort for a mail line was mere matter
OF police regulation TWAS usual provide for the safe
Conveyance OF dispatches through bbarOus country by
OF armed men, who should convey tie mail from
post post had proved that this the chea
pest the ard the safest mode Of securing regular
inercommunlcaton under circumstances Of dee cpton
Should be conveyed by ordinary eauier both the
mail and those who transported it would be exposed To
great danger. These Executive recommendations nseded
vindication.
Mr. B. had been practising LAWYER in ISIS At the Tim.
the convention with Great Britain in respect to Ofegon
had been formed and he occupied at that time position
which gave him favorable opportunity observe the prac.
cs working OF that celebrated treaty From the day OF
II. pro nuls he had distinctly It the elements
Of every evil which the experience c thirty years had since
disclosed and he had written them down the Tine and
published them the world. and it not for exposing
hmst 10 the charge otegotsm he would read the Ian
guage which he hal then written.
A voice; RE d it."l
Nh B. said impossible for him TO do So bat he had
II before him. and bore the fact that he had
stated. lie had then with the utmost cearness that
the authors of that convention had committed great geo
graphical as well political blundrr. The convention
sp he u maklGg the commerce and navigation both ma
uoas free all the rivers creeks buys and harbors in that
st there hsd been great multi uies of rivers
there, some o them belonging England aud some to the
Ined States whereas all the while there but
en- and that belonged 10 So spoke about all the ha
oors being free, while there but harbor and that
vas ours. \ laugh England wanted of this TO
export her ur ard Pey, and import her goods for the
Indian trade free OF duty In like manner the convention
poke OF all the territories while there teri tory but
one, and that the yCey Of the COumba that too
was ou's twas gross geographical bunder speak as
many rivers and harb1rs and territories were claimed by
each OF the parties Ard the political bunder was as great
as the geograpa cal The declared object the conven
ton make all Oregon free 10 the people of both na
lions, IN oder prevent disputes between them Ii was
an mmcn misake wei. in the knowledge Of human
nature as IN acquaintance with the lessons history
to suppose that two descriptions ofpopua,ion like those
which would nhab.t rsgOn co1lo exist tremendously to-
geheT IN tue possession oi equal rights and without gov
eminent Why the parlrchs could not live peace ably to-
geh"r Ter such crcumslances "a lao h) let alone the
British and Americans. Mr.. Z. had seen III from the first
and hid written 1t down. lie predicted that the conse-
quence OF such state OF things would be total expu!
Of the Amrcr ns and that, it would REQUIRE the nest
vigorous efforts either Of policy Of pos
session.
In 1925 when the convention was renewed and inds6
ney extended, Mr.. b. had IN public life and had
been literally in the chair He then made head against the
renewal Of the convention he stenuousy opposed It and
his name may be found the records OF the Senate
IN opposition to the measure, Standing nearly Il not quite
solitary and alone" "a augh There were lust seven
who voted with hun agansit Cuhberi, Rowan. Johnson
Name, Eaton, and Ellis. making with himself seven in oil
the totaliiy OF the phsunX which stood OF that d,y in
oppt Jn 10 that convention, the continuance Of which
was now uniyersay condemned. The convention was re
newed and Indefinitely extended snd effects had been
pure unmTed mischief 10 the United States from that day
10 this IL had worked q manner directly contrary TO
what had been intended and expected by It's authors La
continuance has been bad from he be inn g and IL now
the treaty Of Client BY the fret article Of that tree'v W.
were entitled 10 the restoration Of tie whole valley Of the
Columbia. Within i6u months afterwards and while
| Nj Madison's Administration sull continued lao con-.
nenced measures for It's recovery. lie applied 70 Mr.
Baker, the British Charge d'Alarcs for an order for the
delivery U the settlement Of the Columbia river 10 the L.
states Mr. Baker excused Limelf f,um compliance on
ihe groand that ne ad orders 10 that effect from his
government Application was then made the VI ni-tfy
IN London. Some delay occurred but At length an order
arrived Tor an unconditional surrender OF the whole tenn
tory Of the Columbia valley, with decaration dated on
the 18TH February, 1915 by Lord Casere,gh that he &c
know lodged 70 the ampest extent not only our 10 have
the country TO ed, but the party in posses
yon While negotiating on ne question OF uv and until
tue completion OF such negotiation. In August British
smpo war was despatched to make the stipulated surrsn.
d wosnn honorable act Of good faith But at The very
moment thus got back Oregon under the treaty Of
"hen our ncgotators were here giving II all back by
Heay oi Joint occup1uon While were lust acquiring
possession With one hand we throwing Is away win
the oihef Tho treaty Of JON, thought to give tho
ENGLISH equal rghts IN tho territory with ourselves
From that day 20 this that treaty or convention OF Joint
use hlL risen up against us adversary in our path
u nulihed the treaty Of Gheng gave back To Great
bnn what she had Just surrendered our hands, II
put her Tot, possession Of tho valley u the Columbia and
u puts us out Of posso's Il deprived us of the right 10
exclusive pcsses'i0n, which Lord Caseeagh had ack
LEGGED under bis hand that were entitled 10 while
treating about u'e. Bat FOR This convention, tho whole
country would have been delivered up 10 us The Adj.
mnsiroon would have tx posses ion Of the mouth Of
the ryer IN token Of possession Of die whole valley
IL would al have been FREQ without question On the
part u any Power We might have given laws &, OREGON
81 we % ''onor portions oi our iomoy und disposed oi