The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-01-10

But will again advert to the Morn
| ing Chronicle, to showthe spirit ofthe
dis cussion in tho British Parliament,
and the views taken by the British
statesmen of their own claims 10 Ore
gon and ours. a9 al1e 81
Lord John Russell said: G
i" The President of the United States has made,
as have aIred7 read to the House, peremptory
claim to the whole of this territory. He has clai-
med the whole possessions of it for the United
States, and has, in an unusual manner, called upon
the people of the United States, with their wives
and children, to occupy that territory. That dis
rict Is becoming. account of the forts on the Co.
| lumbia river, more important every year. After
that statement of the President of the United States
consider it impossible that her Majesty's govern
ment should not endeayor TO obtain speedy solu-
ton of this question. | am sure they will feel il
impossible to allow the present underlined an unset
tied state Of relations between the two countries TO
continue without danger; that the people of the
United States; acting upon the suggestions of the
President, may endeavor to disturb British subjects
in rights which they hold in virtue of existing trea-
ties, and may produce state of things dangerous
| to the peace of the two countries. For my own
| part, will say in all moderation, that am not
prepared to say that this country ought to put for
ward any arrogant pretensi0ns do not pretend
to defne--what II properly belongs to her Majes-
ty's advisers to de6ne-tbe diplomatic proposals
| that should be made. | will not pretend to say
what line ought to be laid down; but this will
say, that do not think we can make any propoe al
which will be less than the proposal made by Mr..
Canning, (that was the line on the parallel of 40
deg to the Columbia near its mouth } with any re.
| gard for our own interest or our own honor
! TCheers.] ] may be told that it does not matter
If this rocky and barren territory should be claim
ed, or occupied, or taken by the United States
| Yes, sir, must say it does matter. (Cheers) 1t
cannot be matter of indifference that large ter.
rtory, to which we have better and juster title,
should be yielded to what I must call clustering
announcement on the part of the President Of the
United States. 1t Itcannot be matter OF Indifference
that the communication between that country west
Of the Rocky mountains and China, the East In
dies, and the whole of South America, should be
surrendered at once to foreign power; but, above
all, it cannot be matter of Indifference that he tone
of the character of England should be lowered in
any transactions we may have to carry on With the
United States. "
Sir Robert Peel said:
(" As this subject has been brought under dis.
cussion, trust not improperly by the noble Lord.
feel it my imperative duty on the part of the Br-
tish government, TO state in language the most tenn
perate, but, at the same time, the most decided,
that we consider we have rights respecting the ter
ritory Of Oregon, which are clear and irresistible
We trust still to arrive at an amicable adjustment
of our claim; but, having exhausted every effort
for the settlement, if our rights shall be invaded,
we are resolved and we are prepared to maintain
them" Loud and continued cheers from both
sides Of the House,
Lord Clarendon said in the House of
Lords: .aals.
"No assertion was, believe, ever made with
more truth than that our is free from all doubt"
Lord Aberdeen. the Foreign SsGe-
tary of State, said:
4" Should it be otherwise, I can only say that we
possess rights, which In our opinion are clear and
unquestonabls; and by the blessing of God and
your support, those rights we are fully prepared
to maintain" Loud cheers from all sides.l
Under these imposing circumstances,
we may we'll ask Of the watchman, what
Of the night? We may well inquire,
what we ought to do? | take it for
granted we shall give the notice rec
commended by the President; for if we
do not, we shall leave the people of
Oregon without a government, or with
an impracticable one; and, in either
event, the country is lost to US, and
the notice being given, lin twelve m onths
without an abandonment of large por-
ton OF her claim, we shall find our
selves involved in a war with England.
And it will he no common war, Mr..
President; it will be war not merely
OF interest, but of strong and stormy
passions, growing out of the relative
situation of the two nations, and out of
the very points of resemblance, which
will but render the separation of the
parties the wider, and the struggle the
longer and the bitterer. 1t will do no
good to shut our ewes to the prospect
before us. Danger can neither be
averted nor avoided by indiference,nor
by presumption. Let US look our diff 1
ficulties and our duties fully in the face.
Let us make preparation adequate to
the conjuncture. Let us exhibit to
England and to Europe the spectacle
Of an undivided people, anxious for
peace, but ready for war. In the lam
Mr.. Madison, s'let US put the
United States into an armor, and an
attitude demanded by the crisis, and
corresponding with the national spirit
md expectation" a2a tsam s9a ~
One war has already found us unpre.
oared. And what that condition of
hings cost in blood and treasure, and
disaster, those ofus who went through
he struggle can well remember; and
hose who have come upon the stage
# action since that period, may learn
rom the history of the times. And
perhaps to certain extent this must
'e SO, and always will be so. We are $
il opposed to great military establish I
cents in fitne of nnaca Thoy ,ra nc r