The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-03-05


SO well, then; while, with every passing
year, we have been adting strength 20 GU
claims and possessions there, let US not haZ
ard every thing by the adoption of hast,
and hostile measures. 1t would be th'
extreme OF folly 10 cast upon doubllu
Issue The acquisition of that which the 81
lent and natural course OF things must in
evilably give 10 US. IL is not 10 be dis
gused, however, that the question has beer
involved in difficulty and danger, anc
wholly in consequence Of having mixed i
up with the party contentious of The day
and in consequence ofIhal staggering de
claration to The world that "our title 10 The
whole OF Oregon was clear and unques.
!ionable,' after our repeated concession;
Of the rights and claims of England by
our own solemn official acts. Can any
better or lruer reason De assigned for The
present vexed position ofths Oregon ques-
lion, than that it has resulted mainly from
an unworthy disposition to throw every
great question Of national interest into the
arena OF party politics and party strife -
from a ealous fear that one ambitious as
piranl for the popular favor will get the
starr Of another In turning The popular ia.
vor upon some great question OF ppbIic in
teres? There, too, | venture to affirm,
lies the reason and the motive for spring.
ing his question upon the public attention
at the present time. Texas has made one
President for US, and it seems 10 be deter
mined that Oregon shall make one or Two
more for us; and it is presumed that he
who gets the first start upon il will be the
favoHle of the people. ! put The question
10 the House and 10 the country, whether
this whole Oregon excitement, which has
been got up of late is anything more than
a preliminary scramble for the Preslden-
tia succession. Hence we have new tests
OF moral and political worth; new tests Of
ones attachment or Indifference, his love
or his GOODNESS, towards his country; and
new tests ofpoitical orthodoxy. He who
now cIamors loudesl for The whole of Or
egon is the best patriot; while he who
hals OF doubts is traitor, aye, a "Brilish
Whig.' He who most ostentalousiy
vauuts his courage is the brnvesl man,
while he who has TOO much modrsty aud
common sense 10 act the bravado, lacks in
spirit, and is parasite and coward.
am free TO admit, that consider the
question now before the House out flime,
out Of place; and ont Of order. However
expedient it might be to give the notice;
legitimalely and consltulionaIy, We have
nothing TO do with il. 1t is prerogative
which properly and legitmately belongs
to the Exec utive department of The Gov
ernment. This House is 20! constituted
an advisory council to the President
Such advisory power, il | may so call il,
belongs 10 the Senate, as co ordinoto
branch OF the Executive department in the
tren,y,making power. 1t could not have
been contemplated in The treaty that any
Legislative action would be required. in or.
der TO invest The President with authority
to give the notice, whenever, 10 his ludg-
men, the public interest should require the
abrogation of the convention.
agree with gentlemen that this Ore
gon question is one of national character
and interest,"; that it should be considered
aud discussed, when considered and dis
cussed at all, in liberal and national
spirit. For this reason, it is matter of
regret, as i, was an act Of folly, that the
attempt was ever made to adopt it as the
peculiar creed, aud 10 identity /, with the
action of ci her Of the political parties of
The country; and whoever would be con-
trolled or it fluenced in his action upon il
by any narrow, sectional, or parts III con.
sideralions would prove himself recreant to
his obligations as 40 American statesman,
as an American citizen. | believe APP
precate as highly as any gentleman The
importance OF that country TO us in com |
mtrcial, political, and national point Of
view; | believe, with The learned and ell
oquent gentleman from Alabama, (Mr
HILLrARD,) that the day is not far dis ant
when railtold will span this continent,
uniting tho A!lanic and P"cfc shores,
and which will thenceiorward become the |
great highway aud IhurCughfare Cf the
commercial world. If differ al all with
the loudest mud ferccst champion Of Ofe-
gon, it is only as to the extent OF oui title |
there, and os the best and surest mode Of !
if not immediate y, Obtaining
exclusive possession and control of what
righ'tuly belongs % US. fIhe qrcsli' II
of title O: boundary should 6naly be Set
lied by negoialion-a corsummaIion de-
sou,Iy to be wished by all good paro's--
and the 49,h parallel should be fixed upon
rs the line Of division, doub' not it would
be entirely satisfactory to The American
people. The possession Of the country
south of that line would give us all the
practical advantages we should derive from
the possession up to 50 degrees 40 min
utrs. Besides, fear not TO say, ii would
give US all 10 which we have my clear
title. While am satisfied that We have
The better title to that portion OF The coun-