Arkansas intelligencer., 1846-02-21
SPEECH OF MIR. WENTWORTH.

Mr.. wentworth oi ILLINOIS, made an able aid
patriotic speech in favor of giving the notice 10
Great Britain, He did no, go into the discussion
of the question OF tile; that, ho had done before;
but proceeded at once TO tho question Of notice.
He thus summed il up:
"ln all this controversy there was bot one
question:, and that was, "ls Oregon ours?" If II
is, we but act the part of justice when We claim
our own; if it is not, then We should make no pre-.
tentons adversely to the party justly entitled to it
If it is all ours, then We should boldly but res.
pcctiully assert our right 10 it all; if not all ours
then we should only tako what is ours. Thi1
course would be alike honorable to Us as men, as
Christians, and as n nalion There was but one
hghmnded course TO pursue, uiid that vas I'd do
right, and leave consequences ID themselves, to bo
provided for as they arose."
Having alluded to the state Of ,ho Oregon ques.
lion, 10 reference to the decis on Of the people
upon it in the last election, he thus replies to those
who oppose giving the notice on account Of its
being war measure:
"One gentleman has proposed 10 take Oregon
on time. We'll, sir, we have been talking j. on
When we began, we hid twelve degrees and forty
minutes of terr!or". Wo now have bu, s,von.
Great Britain has about thirty forts there. and
we have none. Such has been The rcsult of our
workings on time. To give this no,ice. in ,be
minds of gentlemen, would be to declare war.
To pass any Oregon bill, or to send any troous
there wiIloat the notice, would be to violate M
tional faith. Thus they place US IN diIemn,
the direct and sole tendency of which is 10 efYc,
delay. Indeed, they say, some da, take OREGON.
but not now--forgeiling that an indcpenden, neo
Pile will ne'er l!.:as i. ;Jo som 10 asser, tier
rights when they lind they have them. Every
sehIlenian who has spoken but one (AIr. Wintbroo,
has said that we had perfect lito 10 all Of Oroon,
and that one has said that of the two, both b,.ina
imperfect, ours was The best. When thew saw
that much, they say enough 10 make any further
delay on their part Inaccessible. Having rights.
the people will demand their man,enanca and
the more those rights are endangered, and the
greater the prospect Of losing them, the more clo
morous Viii they be for the most DECISIVE action.
Wore our rights in doubt, delay would be excused.
but knowing them, and openly avowin. them,
and yet bringing up the fear of war; and settipy
forth the terrUrs Of the British force and British
name as reason for not asserting them, is nothinp
more nor less than national cowardice.
n. y" men party cannot carry its points in one
way, MS apt 10 try another; and have noticed
'na' me opposition here, when they canno, reach
our better judgments from the weakness their r.
gunents, always try TO affect our nerves bv their
Panics; and j is but natural for-lhem TO do 50
since they have failed in their trial of all other
means. But tho venerable gentleman from Mas.
sachusels has told us that there would be no war.
and he, from his superior knowledge. re. and .x'
Perlence, should be good authority with them. 81
ihat II need not operate on us. Bu, war or M wa
Is ho' the question: and II should no! be se.
ior one moment. Let US take Oregon now. and
look to war when il arises. 1t is moi for us IN 70,
IT, when The people who US here, and who will
have to lose their money and lives in conseouc,c,
OF 1t, bid US onward in the execution of their own
will" Wv"
Consideration of the subject will convince tho |
candid, that giving ths notice is not wal meosure.
Inc war measure, if any is adopted. mus, come
subsequently. year ago, in both the Brr,sb
press ana IN the British house of commo,s Tho
same question was discussed. in relation 10 q rso,
Britain and The grviag this rotce on her n"',
strongly advocated. 1et this s. IS not regarded as
measure. Why any more a war measure 70, ,h,
part of this countryl
Mf. wentworth takes q manly and ,,,,,,,-.
slanu IN reference 10 Tins question: and utlers
'na' we doubt cot will be corda,iy reseesiad to
rs well by his country as by his immediat. oo,,
Posi- and Press. 'N'' 'o''
'e"e'--h certain senator recently sent 10 :,
IN Washington; who is an intimate ~.
l.a'n'ance OF his, for caIhartic. The L,tar
VINO - iond OF Joke, sent back phiai on ,h;.,'I
was labelled "DoubIy Distilled Extrac, Of an 0'a
gon Sneeeh, THE Whole ar Nono,,v n "" Oie-