The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-09

: established on the continent most heartily asres
WIN the President IN all these positions, and shall
. yield him my Zealsus support in sustaining them
But gentlemen in The opposition tell that mus,
not advance this broad doelTinethis principle OF
, American Independence Of oil European Gowns,
because, they say, il wall lead 70 know moi
4 whether il viii or viii not produce war, do
care, far as that consideration is have any
fuenee our action, pnsfer peace 10 war boa IL
must be an honorable peacc--oae which will not
sacrifice the national honor territory. The ques-
n ton which ought 10 lie considered u not whether
these principles, carried into effect, whl produce
war, bat whether they are ngh, and ough, 20 pro-
II vail. Our forefaihers did not stop 20 inquire
whether resistance 10 the stamp sel would lead 10
war They did pause and Investigate the primer
pie Of taxation wlihOut representation" and de-
temined TO resist il, because il subysrsise Of
their hberes There was panie--a peace party
IA the country then, as now; but the prncipe OF
\ American Independence of all European powers
vas declared and maintained. Al a later period,
they did not relinquish their opposition 10 the I'M
pressmeni OF American sesmsn, because Il would
lssd to war. They preferred 10 fight the vsr Of
Independence over again 10 surrender OF thsr ma
tiooal rights and honor. Our country did not fitsr
on the French indemnify question. nor tho nght Of
search, nor the annexation OF Texas, because OF
d. ihssa6s e. ksssssy e sAsss sss~ss~kss
events shows that in every ersis the action Of
government has been characterized by firm sdhe-
renee 10 principle, winch maintains me NATIONAL
i rights and honor, and leave the consequences 10
take care Of themselves. Experience has shown
that the surest way OF avoiding In To lie fearless
in doing right and calmly wait the issue.
II Passing from this branch Of the subject, have
few words TO say upon the proposition TO settle the
controversy by arbitration, In the early part Of the
session had the honor INTRODUCES a resolution in
Opposition TO the series Of resolutions proposed by
the gentleman from Massachusetts, mir. Wis-
rHRor,l expressive OF my unwingpess To adjust
the question by arbitration. Arbitration n fair
and Just mode Of settling disputes only when the
parties can mutually agree upon disioterested and
, impartial umpire. The arbiter should not only be
free Of the bias OF interest, but Of prejudice, fear,
and affection. / know not where umpire free OF
all these Influences could be found TO determine a
political principle question Of territorial bound
AIRY between the United States and Great Butain.
The principle Of resistance TO future European colo
T nizson this continent which is involved in the
Oregon question is sufficient Of itself 10 array all the
great powers OF Europe against in this conrover
sly, while the smaller too weak and depend
( ent on England to be impartial Besides coun-
try occupies peculiar position, with feelings,
principles, institutions, and forms Of govern
ment peculiar TO ourselves and variant from
the rest Of the world. These conside ratons are
sufficient to dsquslify all the great powers Of the
globe from being impartial umpres, and the weaker
ones too much under the influence Of the strong
or to be selected for the purpose. But il has been
said in debate that We dare not, in the face Of the
civilized world, refuse fair and honorable mode
E OF settlement as arbitration Did not England re-
fuse the mediation Of Russia between US in the last
war Did she not refuse arbiirate the difficulties
between her and Spain in 1890 in relation to this
same Oregon territory And did we not, IN 1915,
refuse the proposition OF England tO arbitrate the
question Of our right to the possession Of the valley
Of the Columbia river under the treaty Of Ghenti
When did this doctrine Of arbitration become so
firmly engrafted on the laws Of nations that neither
party dare refuse accord III We tried il once on
the northeastern boundary and then refused to
abide the award, because of the pal pable injustice
done us by the royal umpire. II We should sgnin
: resort it we have no reason To anticipate an
: award more compatible with fairness and justice
/, The importance of Oregon to us is too great, and
> our right too clear to be hazarded by such ex.
pedient. ... ..- ...,. ~. ., XII. =. g.. FL .t 81
It's value il not to be measured by the number OF
miles on the coast and the quantity Of land; nor
does it depend upon the character of the country or
the quality Of the soil. These considerations are
not unworthy Of attentio but ia svest impossanss
results from its commanding position with refersnce
TO maritime ascendency on the Pacific. u has
been the policy of Great Britain for the last centu-
r ry to seize every important pont-maritime and
military-on the face Of the globe, with the view Of
T. controlling the commerce of the world, by MAIN
tanning her ascendency on the seas. The geograph-
ca position Of her own sea-gir isle naturally
: trolls the trade Of the Baltic and northern Europe.
Gibraltar Malta, and the lonian isles command the
' and western Asia, and convert the Mediterranean
into British lake. st. Helena and Gordon OF
fortified islands stand sentinel the western coast
! Of Africa. Cape Town and the Falkland islands
guard the only navigable avenues to the Indies.
Her possessions In the east numerous as
the islands in those seas-each q British fortress,
watching the channels of commerce, and allowing
no flag to wave except by her permission, Her
possessions in North America--the Canadas, New
= Brunswick, Nova Scotia, the Burmudas and Ba-
prescribing limits 10 our advancement, and terms TO
our intercourse with other nations All that is ne
cessary to make her system complete, rs the pos
session Of Oregon, with its nnumerable bays, har-
| bors, and maritime advantages. These are the
considerations which lend importance to the Oregon
Observation-Disclosures which induce England to
cling to it with tenacty which rejects all honora-
BILE compromise. What matters it to her whether
it consists Of ridges of barren rocks fertile plains
and rich valleysi What difference does it make to
her whether Gibraltar, Malta, St. Helena, or the
Burmudas, are seri rocks or fertile gardensi They
great military and maritime stations, commanding
the commerce of the world and protecting and sup
!, plying her nayies. They aid her to maintain her
ascendency upon the seas, and this is all she expects
or desires from them So it is with Oregon. That
is essential to the of her policy on
the Pacific az those are the Atlantic and in the
, Mediterranean. We have the means Of defeating
her schemes in that quarter and of setting bounds
to her future progress Hold on to Oregon, ex-
clude Great Britain from the northwest coast al
low her to establish future colony the CONT
/ nent, and open direct trade with China, Japan,
t the Indies, and all the islands Of the Pacific, and
the work is DONE This | understand to be the
policy of the President, as developed in his mes
sage, and am prepared, and believe the country
is repared, to sustain him in it, regardless of all
consequences. ... ,.. rn
!. EVENING DRESSES.--Just received this day
n Il of the latest importstions, viz: - .
i Needle-worked, tamboured, and open-worket