The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-14

those measures which arc recommended TO US, and
which gentlemen say they will pass, that the Brit
ish government will regard il as an indication on the
part OF Congress- at least that the territory south OF
40 degrees as well north Of 40 degrees, is mat
ter for negotiation, for compromise and for division.
Now, is there any gentleman on this floor who s
prepared to say that the territory south Of 40 de-
grees does not belong 10 ua And is there any one
on this floor prepared 10 intimate 10 the Executive
or to Great Britain that the territory south Of that
parallel is open for negotiation ! trust mott and,
having submitted these views, yield the floor.
Mr.. BRINKERHoFF next obtained the floor,
and addressed the committee;
Mr.. CHAIRMAN; When declare that Il 10 with
great reluctance that have brought my mind TO the
conclusion 10 take part at all in this debate, and
that, consulting my own feelings alone should not
have attempted to do so, II will probably gain very
little credenee here. IL 10, nevertheless, true
design, however, to say a few words, and but
very few words on tho resolution before the House,
and that solely for The purpose Of placing the ground
Of my action upon n question which IL admitted TO
be one Of 50 much moment before my own lmme-
diatC constituents
Throughout the whole course Of this debate here,
sir and in all the discussions on this Oregon ques-
ZION which have occupied the public press through.
out the country one gratifying fact has manifested
itself and that is the entire unanimly OF Congress
and Of the country as 10 the validity OF the Amerl-
can title 10 Oregon.
From the venerable gentleman from Massachu.
sets Mr.. ADAhs,l who has with so much spirit and
energy advocated giving notice, 10 the gentleman
from South Carolina Mr.. RHErr,l who with such
impassioned vehemence opposed It, on every hand,
and upon all sides il Is not only admitted, but insisted
that the American title to Oregon is "clear and I'M
questionable" indicating that whatever may be the
consequences to arise from our action here, wo shall
present to the country and TO the world united, an
unbroken front.
| have Just risen from somewhat careful reading
fIhe correspondence between tho plenipotentares
Of the two nations in regard to this controversy had
been ,od previous TO the reading Of the triumph OF
the American negotiator-of the conviction amount
ing almost TO absolute demonstration, which his
clear and mastery expose OF our rights was ealeu-
lated to produce, Of the perfection OF our title as
against Great Britain TO that country; but, must
say, like the queen Of Sheba, when gazing on the
architectural wonders OF Jerusalem, that | had not
heard the half Of it; and believe that any UMPIRE
JUDGED man Of any country, or OF any party, who
will read that correspondence, must feel that the
honor Of our country is enlisted in the Mantle
nance of our possessions there, because-and that
is enough-bseaUss that country Is Of right our
oicn. ! agree with the gentleman foom Indiana
tMr kEssEDY,l upon this point-and not upon
this only, but upon many others may say upon
oil other points agree with hm-that when, for all
the purposes Of this debate il is admitted that Ore
gon is ours, we may make ourselves easy as to the
consequences that are follow from the assertion
OF our title; for whatever these consequences may
be, we who take the responsibility Of that &C
ton may fall back with consciences quiet and ca
sy, upon the consciousness ofhaying been aetuated
by OF duty, and by regard to the rights
and the honor Of the country.
| 90 for the notice. sir. i have all along been OF
the opinion THAI the notice should be given; but
will say that | am extremely grathed to find my
self IN this position, W the company with which
am surrounded. | was extremely happy to learn,
frnn h. Of m. heh.ts this Hnnr (for /
hal the pleasure Of listening to the gentleman,
that the venerable gentleman from Massachusetts,
had taken that position. Firm are my own con-
yictions, confess am glad to fortify them by so
high authority; and am glad further, that the re-
pToach which had begun so extensively TO be insln-
uated through the country, that all this movement
is the result Of the action Of hair-braned, hot-head-
ed young men, trying to play the statesman, has
been removed by the stand which that gentleman
has taken upon that question. IL is not these hair.
Drained, hot-headed young men alone that advocate
this measure. IL has the advocacy Of sage expert
ence. II man, who literally stands in the midsI o.
posterity, whose life is in the past whose only am
bon 10 not for the future, but for the correct dis
charge of those responsibilities which attend the
close of human existence.
But although il is admitted throughout that tn,
American title to Oregon is "clear and unquestiona
be," yet the fact of the joint convention Of 1927
lists. We have by the terms of that convention sd
mted Great Britain to kind of partnership in it
she has recognised tenancy there which can only
uo s.sir'aIeu ny vsTv ySai "oaN1, anu inc ques
ton is not to the original propriety and policy o
this convention. 1t exists and the question is, shall
we dissolve this partnership Shall we get rid o
this tenancy, by giving the other party notice Il
quit II is said this is a warkc measure Blu
repeat what others have said who hav
spoken before me, that cannot discover anything
Of that character in it. We dissolve the partner
ship sir but we do it in strict conformity with tn
stpuatons of the articles Of partnerships we give tn
tenant notice to quit but is in accordance with tn
express provisions Of the lease So far from violating
any treaty-which everybody knows would be
cause Of war-we are, in giving notice, acting il
strict conformity with the provisions of treaty, an
| are carrying out a measure, foreseen, anticipated
provided for by the treaty which is to be abrogated
| 1t is not then warlike, it Is a treaty measure,
peace measure, and nothing else.
| But" ask gentlemen, "why should the partner
ship be terminated? Why should the convenrio
be ahrogated' What reason exists for it" w
might properly ask them TO advance positively whs
re tsons exist for its continuance. They have give
no satisfactory reason Of that kind-at least no sal
isfctory reason to my mind. | will, however, stat
briefly the reasons why am in favor Of abrogatin
the convention. And, in the first place, am in ia
vor of tin favor of giving this notice ecaus
! Great Britain, matter OF fact, has under TIN
convention all she asks. Great Britain has offere
to compromise on the line of the Columbia river
! We have offered the line of 40 degrees. Who ha
the intervening territory between these two points
| ask you, sir Have WEI II, as matter Of fac
we had the possession and occupancy and the usu
fruct of the disputed territory between the Colum
bia river, which was her offer, and the line of 4
degrees, which was ours, then there might be caus
for continuing the convention in force. But she ha
it, as a matter Of fact and thus she is actually
possession Of all she claims and all she asks. w
have small population in that territory, ! gran
| but none Of it north Of 46 degrees We have nc
solitary family north OF the Columbia river
They are excluded from it by the circumstance
of the case, by the British occupancy of tn
northern bank of that river, by the advers
influences which are brought to bear on America
settlers there. The fact stated by the honorable
gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. OWEN that al
American settler, who had undertaken to plant him
self on the northern bank, had been bought out by
the Hudson Bay Company by the payment on it
part, Of liberal sun, that fact speaks volume,
on this subject 1t is true that the gentleman from
South Carolina [Mr. RHErrl undertook to ridcul
this, when considered as an Objectionable fact b,
intimatiDg that il was a favorable speculation 70
the settler. But suppose that you admit that it wa
advantageous to the individual settler, the question
| is, whether il is policy for to permit such nau
enccs to exist there' 1t may be favorable to the in
I A