Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-04-10

The venerated man whose image hangs con-
stanly before US, and whose name should ever
be his enlogy in an American Senate
GEORGE WASHINGTON-in his last
words to the country, taught us that ''the NO.
ton achich INDUCES toavards another hnbitusl
HATRED is in some degree sLkvE;' and the
Declaration of American Independence has
sanctifed it has a political maxim of this Re-
public, 'to hold Great Britain as ace hold The
rest Of mankind ENEMIES [only in WAR hut in
peace FRIENDS" There is nothing that has
tempted me to forget, and nothing shall drive
me to violate, the counsel of my conntry's ia
Their, nor this fundamental maxim Of free
American institutions. Neither will l teach
the people to do it. Good men could not ap-
plaud the Senate for it. Heaven wonld not
excuse its practical application, nor fail per-
haps to visit the consequences upon the na-
ton itself.
Without going into our title TO the territory,
/ (Which, if the Senate choose, can be done
hereafter, and whenever the bill for taking ju-
risdction over Oregon, or ''ary portion Of it,"
comes up for considerations | will tell you
in very few words the ground Of rights upon
which Gf there were no other) | would put
my vindication. / believe it is the political
RIGHT of my country to stretch itself, with
out any interruption by foreign Governments,
from the Atlantic to the Paciffic-from sea 10
sea on this Notwithstanding as We our
selves shall Judge it expedient or not. That
we acquired that RIGHT upon this continent
when our INDEPENDENCE was establish
ed, subject only to the provlso that We must
not do it 40 as to deny the like privilege to
our neighbors, nor interfere with settlements
permanently made before our independence
was established, nor with similar rights be-
longing to or acquired by them ; nor act with
injustice to the aborigines. What we claim
RIGHT 10 do we must not deny to the CANADAs.
1t is a sort of a national presumption right to
both. Great Britain cannot righteously COM
plain so long as we do not deny TO her. as the
mother country of the Canadas, the same right
equally with ourselves. She cannotrightfully
interrupt our enjoyment of that right. And if
she does, then we CANNOT SUBMIT TO
1T. Our dividing line is at 400 on this side
of the mountains; and if is strai gened to the
/, Pacific on the other in harmony we ought to
, be satisfied. In settling that line between the
two Governments. the greet law of ''love and
good will to man" requires concessions for
equivalents, to be agreed for by mutual con-
| sent and they shonld be mutually made for
the convenience of each other; and such are fit
t subjects for friendly negotiation.
; This Senate. Mr.. President, are more famil-
r lar with the doctrines and the learning Of
books about contiguity and continuity than |
profess to be; and they might we'll complain
t Of me if enlarged on those topics. My con-
stituents are plain republican people, who
generally do not care to be enlighted by such
treatises.' AS many Of them as do will read
for themselves. By the Constitution they
> have entrusted the making of TREATIES
with the President and the Senate. They are
satisfied with the Constitution as 1t IS, and pa
trlotically disposed in all parties to take sides
with their country. | mean ''the People,
!, are. They will feel and understand this as
serton of our right to grow and multiply when
in the providence of God the country wants to
do it; and | doubt not it will vindicate me.
, AT any rate, they put me in this Senate to act
on questions of this sort, questions Of treaty.
nuking, and to advise the President according
] to my best judgment upon the responsibility
of my own conscience, and shall govern N.Y.
r self accordingly; accountable to God that my
\ motives good to my associates that my
4 speech he frank, to the people only that | Do
e RIGHT.
t What the end of these things may be, if the
Senate shall come to the same conclusion with
= me must depend upon the course Great Brit
t ain may pursue, or may not pursue, upon the
4 subject ola compromise. OftbAt know moth.
e ing. only know what she OUGHT 10 do, & thai
h trust in God she will do. One thing is Ger.
S tahiti will bring us to the end. II it does
not aid negotiation it will not hinder it.
: believe Great Britain desires peace because il
!, is her interest to do it, Her Minister is still here
" the Minister of Peace-the Minister of Peace
l. from Christian people and Christian Govern
d ment Why should we doubt the result H,
" will hardly leave before he has at least told u
n what Is that " FURTHER PROPOSAL MORE COSsIs
e TENT WITH FAIRNESS AND EQUITY" which h,
e trusted the American Government would make t,
t. him. up. IL, 69) Sir the civilized world woult
ID execrate the Minister of both Governments if thi
re negotiation should be terminated upon any poin
" OF personal or diplomatic ETIQUETTE. Christian
N lands not to be involved in wars at this da,
ID for the personal pique of their agents Minister
" of peace do not seek occasion for quarrel but
n If really inclined to compromise they would b.
= looked upon as miserable 6uneLers, when eithe
n or both of them cannot find in their own cores
h. pondence, or elsewhere, reason pretext 70
II making any offer that would prove acceptable t.
both. If THERE ANY SUCH, leave all that t.
them, and there let the responsibility rest undivi
ded by US.
~ ~ This matter can be compromised. if the twt
III Governments are willing to do it, If Great Bri
% tain does not intend to compromise, we ought t.
know it; let her not have the excuse for it tina
~ the President was against " all compromise" bu
CT in favor of ''al of Oregon none." She shall no
n be permitted to say that that misconstruction
IT, the American President, although proclaimed il
Ia the American senate by some senator's vas Meth
er refuted nor contradicted by any other.
~ This notice is no threat at all aud do not 81
or pect it is either to intimidate Great Britain
e, offend her. But hitherto neither of the two Go,
ks ernments to have fully realized the necessit
,s of terminating this last cause of dispute betwee
them and of opening the way wider for the Gu
/ tivatlon of permanent national concord
lte Whatever may be their course their cond
ny ton, it seems TO me that WE longer left