The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-07

an acknowledgement Of pre-existing rights SPAN,
N effect, agreed by that treaty, that by disturbing
British commerce on the coast she had violated the
rights Of Great Britain.
Mr.. Jefferson, before he had heard the news Of
the conclusion Of the treaty Of Louisiana, sent an
exploring expedition into the territory of Oregon.
He could not have done this. il the Spanish Title
had been exclusive. Propositions to divide the
whole country had been made without the least re-
gard the title Of SPAIN and in the treaty Of 1919,
nothing was said about the title of Spain TO this
country. Mckenzie and Frazier had explored the
upper part Of the country OF Oregon When did
the exploration of Lewis and Clarke take placer
In 1905. Mr.. Jeferson's object was to ascer-
the Pacific and its trade, The British government,
hearing Of this, jealous Of the proceeding,
and sent out Thompson, who established post
in the valley Of Frazers river, which, with a
succession posts, have been kept up ever since He
asked il the right of the British was not o. good to
the valley Of Fraziers river, To the val
ley Of the Columbia This Frszer's river cuts the
territory north Of 49o into two nearly equal parts.
How could any assume that our title TO IL was
clear and unquesonabe' The President had said
that he had offered ago in deferepee TO his prede
cessors But he did not make the offer Of his pre-
decessors. Having departed from IL, he might as
well have abandoned the whole But at all events,
he was soon relieved for the proposition
| jected How could the President, as an honora-
Lle man, give away such tract Of territory to
Wnlcn we nhu an unqucsilonaDie uuef
He wanted Oregon, and he desired TO get rid Of
the neig hborhood Of British subjects, as a proud
and imperous people, much as he admired their
courtesy and the siurdme@s with which they Pur-
sued their aims. - .n ..
Why did the President desire that this notice be
given IL was to be relieved from all response
bility. This was either executive or legisla-
tive act and If the latter, entitled TO all the
information on the subject part Of which had been
sent in to-day.
The notice would abrogaie the treaty, and the le-
gslatiye power could not sbrogste treaty any more
Than il could make one.
| He had not heard solitary reason for giving this
notice He explained his vote Of last year. as given
TO promote the negotiation. Ii will be dlshonorabe
TO take less than 49o; he would wish any Presi-
dent to take less. But, IL il had not been for the
miserable policy Of forcing this question into the
arena Of politics, time and emigration would long
ago have settled il. Why should we give the no
tlce The settlers Of both nations get along peace
ably. He was told by gentleman lately there,
that the best thing to be done TO let the matter
alone. Afer a while, should have arms, and
mon, and provisions in Oregon. Show to him that
our honor demanded that we should fight Great
Britain, and he would agree to 60 into II, at any
rihce. But until then, let enjoy peace. Every
moment gained for peace was great object TO the
American people.
Mr.. REID obtained the floor and addressed the
committee in favor of abrogaing the conven-
ton Of 1897. He believed that the title OF the Uni
ted States to Oregon was good; that We had title
by settlement and exploration of our own citizens,
besides the title purchased from Spain and France.
We had been asked by the gentleman from Ken
lucky, [Mr DAvs,l who had just taken his seat,
why we should give this notice, and he was aston
lshed TO hear him say that in giving II, Congress
would exceed its powers. The gentleman could not
have heard the able speech which was made the
other day by the gentleman from Ohio on this sub
ect, or he would not have urged such opinion.
What treaty. IL was the supreme law Of the
land. Did the gentleman from Kentucky desire that
the President should take into his hands the repeal
of law Of the land IL he did that there would be
an outcry against him, and the gentleman from Ken
lucky himself would charge him with usurpation Of
authority. The gentleman had deprecated the idea
Of the connexion OF the question with the politics of
the day, but yet he bitterly inyeighed against the
President for having offered the compromise Of 49o.
He would ask the gentleman from Kentucky If he
believed that the interests and the honor of the coun
try would sustain the President in the offer OF
more liberal compromise than that He hoped the
gcnilemana constituents would ask him the
question. The gentleman himself said that he
was willing to Aght before he surrendered an
inch more. Why, then, should he assail the
President for having brought the subject before the
House, He (Mr. R.) would ask whether any gen.
teman in this House would have desired the Presi-
dent to make more liberal offer' He did not be-
eve that there was one: Why, then, had the gen
teman made this complaint 1t was no doubt for
political effect. 1t had been said that the notice
would be followed by war; he did not know wheth-
err il would be or not. But this he was certain Of
that if the Oregon question was not soon settled it
would lead to a war. In his opinion, the sooner
the notice given the sooner the question would
be settled. True, it had remained unadjusted for
long time and for the that while the country
was not settled by agricuturists, could get
along very well with the convention, allowing Brit
sh subjects the right to fish, trade, and hunt but Of
late wears our citizens had gone into Oregon for the
SGT ont md MI nFt hp md thp
state ofthings had essentially changed. The value
of the country was now twenty times what 1t was
ten years ago. and in ten years more it will appear
TO an hundred times more valuable than it did at
this moment. Public opinion demanded settle
ment of the question, and claimed the whole coun-
try as ours up to $40 4U. Mr.. r. was not here (he
sad) when the bill for the extension of urisdic
ton the Oregon territory passed at the last
session. He proceeded to read the bill and to
comment on its provisions, and the unanim-
ty with which it finally passed, en-
bracing it did the notice. How did the couh.
try receive il? He had not heard of n single ind-
vidual who lost his seat here by voting for it, He
repudiated the idea that the notice was war meas
ure, and he only regarded it as an inducement to
the adjustment of the question. Every one who be-
lieved that we had any claim to Oregon ought to
vote for the notice; for il did not fix any particular
boundary to our claim, and manifested only wish
to ascertain and define rights in the country
Mr.. r. enlarged upon the policy Of protecting our
be either British colony integral portion of
the United States. He would be the last individual
in the House or in the country to claim any terrific
ny not belonging to the United States; but he would
not surrender foot of Our territory to nppease
the Unsuitable thirst of Great Britain for plumber. Mr.
r. adverted to the opinions of his constituents on
this subject, and opinions Of the people Of North
Carolina generally, showing that they were In favor
of maintaining our rights to Oregon He argued
that ought not to be deferred from pursuing our
duty by the fear Of war. He would go for pace
on any question not involving national honor; but
he would spurn apeace which was obtained by the
sacrifice Of our interests and honor. We have had
these alarms Of war on former occasions, and they
had blown over. After all, Great Britain might be
disposed to be more liberal to us in the adjustment
OF this question than had been imagined For thr-
ty years we had been negotiating upon this subject,
and no American citizen would say that we ought
10 negotiate any longer. Mr.. r. expatiaed upon
the resources Of the United States for war, and is
abilities to sustain conflict with England should il
| become unavoidable. He urged the adoption of