The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-27

will not 20 into the discussion Of this question, hut
will invite the attention Of gentlemen TO the fac
which they will find, by examination, that thu
treaty with Russia fixing the boundary at $40 40 d
not treaty OF boundary, not treaty for the &c lie
ment OF territorial limits but treaty of navigation
and trade with the Indians, precisely the same Al
l the Nootks Sound treaty--almost word for word
ana letter for letter, the Nootka Sound treaty re-
| peatedj and any man who believes the Nootks
Sound treaty not binding, is impeed 10 the concu-
sion that we have right to give this notice and TO
terminate the treaty with Russia, fixing the boun
| dairy OF sag Nv any day we please. do not now
intend to raise that question, but would do no ac,
which will compromise our rights in future for the
purpose u II becomes necessary TO assert that claim
70 Keep Great Britain oil the northwest coast then
say, will raise il, and l can demonstrate our
rights beyond that line, and far enough TO exclude
! Great Britain from that coast.
Sir, the value Of the Oregon territory is not to be
measured by the number Of miles upon the coast,
whether II shall terminate at 400 or at $40 40, or
reach 10 6lo and the arctic IL does not de-
pend on The character Of the country nor the quality
OF the soil IL is true that consideration is not I'M
wortho of attanton but the great point at issue the
great struggle between and Great Britain is for
the freedom Of the Pacific ocean, for the trade Of
China and Of Japan, Of the East Indies aud for the
maritime aseendency on all these waters. That is
the great point at issue between the two countries;
and the settlement OF this Oregon question involves
all these interests. And in order 10 maintain these
interests and secure all the benefits resulting from
them must not only 20 to $50 4O', but we have
got to exclude Great Britain from the coast in toto
Our Spanish title is valid enough, il ia broad
enough, and long enough to cover the whole coun-
try and accomplish that object. Sir, do not pur-
pose to argue the Spanish title. There is anolh.
or principle which has been advanced by this gov
eminent as the settled policy Of this country which
is sufficient for my purpose to settle this whole aues-
Ton allude TO the memorable declaration Of Mr.
Monroe, that "he American continents" ARE
heneefoIh not TO be considered as subjects for flu
ture colonization by any European power" and to
the repetition Of that declaration by Mr.. Polk To
which wish particularly to call the attention Of
gentlemen-'that II should be distinctly announced
70 the world as our settled policy, that no future
European colony or dominion shall, with our con-
sent, be planted or established any part Of the
North American continent" Sir, when | saw that
declaration in the Presidents message was willing
TO forgive him from The bottom Of my heart for the
offer Of the 18th parallel in August last-when
saw that he Withdrew that proposition after il had
been rudely rejected by England, that he asserted
our title TO the whole country that he recommended
the notice, the extension Of laws, the establish-
ment of FORTS the raising Of mouu,ed men, the
establishment Of ma-nes and, what was better
than ALL thai he laid down the great American prin-
clple that 1t should be distinctly announced to the
world as our settled policy, that no future European
colony or dominion shall, with our consent, be
planted or established any part Of the North
American continent" To what did the President
refer in this declnatonI Why he says he re.
fers to the NORTH American continent" What
part OF III Certainly not to Mexico or Cali
foma, for they are not European colonies; GER
talnIy not to Canada, Nova Scotia, or New Bruins
wick, for they old colonies long since establish
cd, and the President says that "the existing rights
Of every European nation should be respected"
certainly not to the Hudson Bay Company; if he
did, 1t would then extend the principle little fur
Their or TO the Hudson bay well as to Oregon.
To what did he refer Why evidently to that part
of the North American continent which nov re-.
mains vacant and unOccuped; for he says that no
future European colony" shall be planted, with our
consent, on any part Of the North American CONT
nent IL he had referred to the old colonies, he
would not have spoken of culture" ones; if he had
referred To those long since planted, he would not
have spoken Of colonies hereafter TO be planted. He
then, referred to the vacant aud unoccupred part II
North America; and the OF the Rocky noun
ains Is that vacant and unoccupied part in referepc.
TO which he says "no future European colony or
dominion shall, with our consent, be planted or e..
tabhshed" there or on our northwest coast. And
here let remark that thore is no chance for equiv
ocatlon, for evadIng the position, because England
has now no colony on the northwest coast. She
says she has colony there. IL you look into the
act Of Parliament extending her laws there you will
see she uses very emphatic language. She says 1t
is an Indian country.
[Mr. d. read the extract from the act Of Parlia-
ment referred 10.
over Oregon, of it being an Indian territory MOI
within the Canadas, not within the Hudson Bay
Company's jurisdiction, and not within any Of the
British colonies in North America; and this is the
very section Of country to which Mr.. Polk refers
when he says that "no future European colony or
dominion shall, with our consent, be planted or
established on any part OF the North American con-
tnent." Now, suppose your formed treaty on the
line Of 49o establish that the boundary, is that
not giving sour consent" to the establishment of
British colony on our continent Suppose you agree to
$40 4W, do you not thereby give "our consent" to
the establishment of a future European colony"
north of that line and yet upon the North American
continent Clearly, sir. Any treaty Of boundary
on the northern part Of Oregon would be an act
solemn act of consent" by this government to the
establishment of future European colony on this
continent But the President has announced dis
tinctly to the world settled policy, that that
consent cannot be given. Sir, he who knows the
character of the mamie who knows the stern in
tegr,y ofhis political Characterize who knows the
consistency OF his whole public life-he who knows
his fidelity to his principles, must know that, du-
ring his four years. this setled policy" will not be
unsettled by him. Sir, he is not the man to put
the distinct declaration forth to the world in the
name Of his government Of a settled policy, and
then to sneak back from il, TO violate it, to disgrace
himself and his nation during that very presidential
| term in which he gave the notice. Then, say,
that during these four years, it is settled, irrevo-
cably settled question, that treaty fixing bound
airy for the northern part of Oregon, can be made.
Sir, the making Of any treaty fixing boundary,
would be palpable violation of the very principle
the President has put forth in his message Bearing
this point in mind, gentlemen will easily understand
the meaning Of the President IN all his recommends
ftons--when he said that compromise of this quss
ton could be made which the U. s. ought to accept
when he said that he reasserted claim to the whole
continent, and maintained it by irrefragable facts and
arr un,ents---when he said that the notice must
given and the exclusive possession regained--when
| he said our laws must be extended there--when he
said that at the end ofthe year the time would have
arrived when we must either maintain our claim or
abandon the whole oft.
| But gentlemen say we must not assert this broad
doctrine--this principle of American independence
of all European crowns. because they say it will
lead to war Well, sir, as | before remarked,
know not whether it will produce war not; care
| not whether it will produce war, so far as it will
have an influence upon our action; although am
not for war, prefer to the abandonment o
duty and honor. Did our forefathers abandon their
resistance to the stamp act because it would lead 10
war; There was panic party in the country then
l.. Al .a.l--.