The North-Carolina standard., 1846-02-25

Tor us to show 1t is; if so 6ve-scvenths of the
American people would, with one accord, saw
assert your tile and take itn With question
OF such magnitude to the American people be-
fore you, to sit with closed DOORS to conduct your
deliberations in secret, and give your judgment
IN darkness, would be melancholy sight for this
country. fear it would be the prelude of scenes
even more deplorable in this chamber (The ex-
act words of the speaker were here lost to the re-
porter, owing to depression of the voice of the
senator) Sir, is it possible any question involv-
ing the territorial rights of this country cannot be
discussed openly, or that there is any who would
not wish TO make known to the public the fuIl
merits of an intricate question like this2 lfthere
be, cannot concur with them Sir, there was
another point in the remarks of the distinguish
ed senator from Delaware, which formed a theme
on which he dweIt at length, and in which did
not concur. believe both he and myself are
willing to put this country in the most effective
state of defence l have in all our conversations.
so understood him. He does not stop with
faltering tongue; but what l have heard of the
maritime power of England held up here, felt
satisfied it was for the purpose of acting on the
feaIs of the American people; but it is in vain to
make such exhibition with the intention Of
forcing them to a surrender of what is their own
II is right and proper to examine the question
first but 1t is also right and proper to have
own Sir, the American people cannot be alarm
cd or awed by any exhibition of British power
All her fleets, though concentrated into one mass
would not strike terror into the American people;
because they have read that, sixty years ago, the
whole American navy consisted of one frigate;
and with that single frigate, j. Paul Jones crossed
the ocean, swept the English channel, ravaged
her coasts, and sacked her cies returning home
in triumph They have not forgot the names of
| Decatur, of Perry, Nc Donoueh, Barry, &C.
They know that, although Engl4nd may have
hundred guns to our one we have reliance
equal to her on the brave and high-minded, and
honorable men who serve the United States,
which has given them the rank they are cnti'Ied
to occupy. The senator from Delaware, who
quoted the great English moraIst, certainly did
not learn the rules of warfare from Henry V.
He might have learned his duty, however. from
the conduct OF that prince in case not dissimi-
lar to the present When Henry the " found
that his good, that the title to Il dis
puted territory clear, did he hesitate to carry
the war into France2 No the order was TO
march to the renowned field of Agincourt-a field
which can never be forgouen-the most glorious
England ever saw-where her forces fought one
TO ten against the French, and conquered them.
Nor does the senator learn his rules of warfare
from the first of Romans and the greatest of
:, men, the great Julius, who had he been govern
ed by such rules. would have left the gIorics of
Pharsalia to Pompey. Had such principles gov
crned Scipio, or Alexander, or Napoleon, or our
ONH never WOuIu
have participated in the deeds of glory that a.
dorm their history
'Mr. President on looking over the course
which has been pursued by the distinguished
senator from South Carolina on this question,
must confess that | find some Inconsistencies
which cannot easily reconcile. Three years
ago last mou1h--the 24lh Of January 1S43-
he opposed measures 10 take possession of Ore
gon on the ground of the expense. Hear him:
Pr1fu bti,o bo
not exceeding one or two hundred thousand dol
lars. Let not be deceived What this bill
approPriates is but the entering wedge Let il
pass, and no one can tell what it will cost. 1t
will depend on circumstances Under the most
favorable, the supposition that there will be no
resistance on the part of Great Britain. it would
amount 10 millions; but if she should resist and
we should make it question Of force, hazard
nothing in saying it would subject the country 10
heavier expenditures, and expose it to greater dan,
gers than any measure which has ever received
the sanction Of Congress-"
Yes, sir, he opposed the measure on the
ground of the expense that would be incurred
The proposition was that the expense would not
exceed some 100000 or 100000, but the scna.
tor estimated it at millions; and then he, in order
to obviatc that proposed the very measure which
he now opposcs-the extension oc our laws over
Oregon. [ cannot for the life Of me understand
what this course on the part of the senator from
South Carolina indicates, unless it be decided and
deadly hostility to the requirement Of any ter
rtorial rights in Oregon, beyond that naked title
which we hold-opposton to the reduction to
our possession of any portion of it. The senator
from South Carolina, with that great ability which
usually characterizes him. presented, on the oc-
casion to which have just now alluded, mos
graphic view Of the financial condition Of the
country at that time. He truly represented it as
being on the road to ruin-embarrasscd at every
point, and sinking deeper and deeper at every
} step. One Of the chief causes of that depressed
condition was represented by the senator, and pro
perly Represented, TO be an oppressive system o
taxation But different state of things exists
: now. Happily for once, the predictions of the
senator have not been realized The nation i
!, now in state of unexampIed prosperity, and th
cause of that is to be found in the salutary condition
Of the currency, just as the reverse the cause
, of former prostrasion. Well then, if the giving
of the notice VAS the proper course IN 1S43-if j
I should necessarily precede the adoption of mea
sures to take posscssion-why is it that we can
> not promptly give the notice now2 The senator
from South Carolina suggests different plan
It He prefers leaving it to the operation of time
to the silent and quiet encroachments ofour hardy
L and enterprsing people to acquire that possession
for u.s. and does not every gentleman know Thai
r while our hardy and enterprising people pres
a sing on according to the plan of the senator on
, South Carolina, they exposing themselves Il
p great difficulties without the protection of Ameri
d can laws and American rribunals2 If that stat
&c ~; IL ,i1o