The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-10

the present, all those old-fashioned, but beautiful
theories. Texas has done OREGON this much good,
9 If she never does any other. These gentlemen are
now willing to accept of Oregon OF part of Oregon
, provided il can be had by negotiation and without
: fight But they tell Us, and at the same time
Great Britain, with commendabe hankness and
candor, that they will not light for Oregon. Oh,
no, sir; not for the world. Fighting, they think,
a terrible business They tell Us a war with Great
Britain would ruin our commerce, and cut off our
comforts and supplies that 4 would stop i'm
movements in steam and in thunder and lightning;
and that, to carry it on successfully, 1t would re-
quire armies and two nAyiesi II would revive
the paper currency of which have just got dear
and at the end Of ten years. the period this war is
to ast) leave five hundred millions IN debt Morris
this all; we are TO have upon our hands, at the
time, they tell US, war with Mexico and our To-
dian lrbes with the opinions Of all Europe against
US; and, AT the end Of IT, civil war, conducted by
rival generals; and that Of them, in the subju.
CATION Of the others is TO succeed In overhrowing
| the liberties of the country by trampling our
q tuition under his feet, and seating himself in
executive mansion, "eyery inch king" And
when, and under what circumstances, Mr. Presi-
dent, is this gloomy prediction promulgated In the
chamber Of the Senate in open day, before the world,
in the presence Of adversary and in the face Of the
piciure Of the Father Of his country, which hangs
over you; and that, too, pending our controversy
with Great Britain about the Oregon territory.
Sirong reasons, indeed, are these. my countrymen,
to induce Great Britain to negotiAe. Nor these
the only ones with which we have been favored In
furtheraDce Of negotiation. With sort OF mock
gravity, they remind Mr. Pakenhsm, the British
minister, that Great Britain, like the United States,
is religious nation; they tell him 1t is breach Of
one Of the holy commandments to covet thy
neighbor's goods or lands, and that II is a sin TO
steal either; and therefore, for the salvation Of his
SOUL for the love Of God and out Of mercy to this
country, which cannot, under any circumstances,
fight Great Britain, they beg of him TO think Of
| nd Thsu ind Mr.
Pakenham that we are Of the English stock, and
that, unlike many Of our countTymen who
abroad for six months, we have not forgotten, but
sui on ordinary occasions, at least, speak the Eng,
lush language Great Britain is dearly beloved
grandmother and, oh, what crying shame, MIR.
Pakenham, for you TO insist upoa robbng your
grand children Of their blessed patrimony; but still
remember, Mr. Pakenham, if nothing else will do-if
you are memorable upon the subject Of Oregon
II robbng is your determination-why, in the name
Of your flag, the bloody of ST. George, take it,
for we will not fight you for it,
| Sir, these honorable senators will not vote for
this notice, because, for the reasons have noticed,
they think 1t unnecessary for the purpose of nego
tiaton, and aside from that purpose, it looks too
sVarliks, and smells too strongly OF gunpowder, for
their appreciation.
Sir, we were placed in the possession of the val
ley Of the Columbia by Great Britain in 1875 and a
few days after, lost the exclusive possession of that
valley by negotiation: we think 1t necessary to an
session To this possession we shall be entitled,
whenever this convention shall be removed out OF
our way But, the senator from Maine Mr..
EVANS inquiries, il Great Britain will, after the
abrogaton of this convention, give that posses
sion' In other words will Great Britain keep her
faith aad comply with her engagement He thinks
she will not and 1t may be, SIR that she will not;
and If she will not, the sooner we know 1t the bet
ter. bond, we know, that will never be paid, is
wisely disposed Of when flung into the fire, But
time, sir which operates upon everything, will give
as light upon this subject.
Sir, the senator from Massachusetts,, [Mr. WEB-
sTER, and the senator from South Carolina, Mr..
CALHOUN were but recently Secretaries m our
State Department. In that position 1t was their
duty to investigate and understand this Oregon
question. Both Of these gentlemen have mind
enough TO investigate and understand any question
Both presumed To be, and doubtless are, familiar
with it, in all its bearings. And yet in this chamber
as senator's, accustomed they to take the
lead upon all great questions of public policy, they
publicly declined to discuss our title to Oregon
The senator from Massachusetts has told US, in
his usually emphatic manner, that he would rather
have his tongue blstered, than to discuss this title
pending this controversy; and the Senator from
South Carolina Mr.. CALHoUNl declines to discuss
our title, because he deems it indicate in refer
ence to his position. King Richard think it was,
sir, told his minister his cousin Of Buckingham, not
to say it, but strongly to infer the basardy of Ed
wards children.
title to Oregon, not for the assigned by the
senator from Ohio, Mr.. ALLEN that the time for
such service had passed; that it was premature
inappropriate to the subect-matter of our delibe-
rations. However laudabe may be the motives
for their silence, however satisfactory to them, yet
it strikes me that their silence upon this branch of
our inquiry has thrown more doubts upon title
to Oregon, than all that has been said or written
against that title, on this or the other side of the
Atlantic. The manner of declining this discussion
by senator's of their high and commanding talents,
and but recently 80 Intimately connected with of
fcially, has done more to undermine, overthrow,
and destroy our title to this country, and to bolster
up, strengthen, and sustain the extravagant preten-
sons of Great Britain to it, than anything with that
view, have heard in this chamber, read OF else
where. 1t not for me- sir, to indicate the course
Of duty to those senator's; they will Judge Of that for
themselves. But still, will say, that it strikes me,
from the great confidence the public have in their opin-
ions, from their late prominent and present respon-
sbe connection with this subject that they owe 1t
to the country, as well to themselves, to speak
out, and tell us whether title to the whole OF
Oregon, or only to part oft, or to any part OF IT, Is
ill-founded. The American people will thank you,
senators, for your revelations upon this question
The American people are just and generous, and no
music on earth is as acceptable to them as that OF
truth, uttered in the spirit of frankness and candsr.
This truth, and the whole Of it, whatever 1t may
be, they had the right to expect from their dstin-
? guished senator's. They detest mystery and con-
e cealment upon great questions OF public policy
They want nothing but their own. Convince them
that their claim to Oregon or any part of it, is i'll
founded, and they will be the FIRST like honest men,
promptly, instantly, in the face of the world and
after all that has occurred, to give 1t up to Great
i Britain, and even to apologize, upon such convic-
r ton, to that power, for having unwiungly given
, her so much trouble about it. These senators owe
it to the country, to quiet the public mind upon this
exciting question: by enlghening that public mind,
by upsettIng (not their own, for that indeed, would
be indelicate) the arguments in support Of our title
= to Oregon, which have been urged with so much
force by our present able and distinguished Secreta-
c ny Of State, and by others who have preceded or
It followed him in this achievement. In the event OF
# collision with Great Britain, upon the subject OF
= Oregon, which have thought and still think, not
v unlikely, is it not something, senator's to have a
quiet conscience and to feel that our quarrel is just
2 [ think 80.
e The senator from South Carolina, when Secre-
tary of State conclusivey proved our title up to
a9o, and adds, in one of his able state papers, that