The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-08

ment, IA honor OF the 9th OF JANUARY.
The committee then resumed the consideration of
'the joint resolution OF notice To Great Britain
annul and sbrogate the convention between Great
Britain and the United States Of August Oh, 1897,
relative 10 the country the northwest coast of
America westward Of the Stony mountains, com
monty called Oregon"
Mr. COBB (who held the right to the floor from
Yesterday addressed the committee. IL is not my
purpose, sir, (said he To deisn the committee with
heightened argument upon the Oregon question.
fee however, that, under the peculiar eircumsIan-
ces by which this subject is surrounded owe il TO
myself, and TO those whom represent upon this
floor, 10 submitto the House the reasons which have
induced me TO that course, which | intend To
pursue in reference to this question Il is my mis-
fortune, perhaps, upon SO grave and important u
question, involving so much for veal or for wo TO
our country, TO differ with many Of my political
friends from the section OF The country from which
came, and TO differ with a distinguished southern
stalesmail--a whose voice Is generally eoaSid-
cred expressive Of the feelings of the southern por-
tion Of the country; and may be permitted TO re-
mark for that indiyidual--for his patriotism as a
man, sod his ability a Statesman have ever
entertained, and still do entertain, the highest
gard. Bur when considering a question OF this
character, am compelled, by sense OF duty | owe
TO myself, and TO my own constituents, 10 disregard
every consideration, that Of the honor and tho
interest Of the country, 80 far they involved IN
The issue. alone am responsible to that coHstitu-
cir " lof uccouISc may pursue mere. III u Niiicr5
from that which others sec ne 10 take thoy psIlakO
not OF the responsibility. ID falls alone upon my
shoulders | assume H. MIR. Chairman. Tue pOli-
cy / conceive it 10 be the duty Of this cnuntTy to
pursue IN reference TO the subject brought forward
by the resolution reported by the Committee on
Foeign Affairs, is already indicated to the B0uge
by the fact, that have concurred in the proprsty OF
that reports And my purpose Is now 10 submit TO
this House and 10 the country, the reasons which
have induced me 10 believe that that policy must 10
carried out or The interest oftho country weakened
II will not say destroyed =, ~ p '.. ... ..a
At this period oftn,e, Mr. chAifinsn, should
consider l was indlcting upon the House an
necessary and an unpeleable argument, IL were TO
aitemptio sustain the title by which this country pos
sesses and holds just claim TO the Oregon terri.
tory-io The tuhois Of The Oregon territory. Whatever
opinions may be entertained in other portions Of tho
civilized world; whatever opinions may be enerain-
ed by that masersplrt Of the nations of the other
world, with whom we now thrown into
test on the question--n this country but one voice
falls upon the ear--but one deep, wel-iounded opin.
ion exists. No doubts remain on the mindS
Of American Statesmen, that the government oftho
United States holds clear and unquestioHable tide
TO the whole of the Oregon territory.
propose not to discuss it; but | desire that this
proposition may be considered admitted; that il
shall 60 before the country In conneNion with the
argument propose to make in favor Of the policy
suggested by the resolution your table; that Il
may 60 10 the country the admitted and indspu.
table opinion Of American statesmen with gclTcsly
any--if, indeed, any-diSsenting voice; and that
this title TO the Oregon territory is thus considered
by uR, clear and unquesiionabie.
There is another proposition, Mr. Chairman,
which l will not stop 10 discuss; but dcglrc to
place IT, like the one TO which have just alluded,
the footing of automatic fact, that the import
ance Of this territory TO our government and our
people--whethcr il is considered ia reference TO Az
riculture, TO manufactures, or to conimerce-ia no
longer debatablc issue. Not that | consider u a
subj ect commanding the clear appreciation aud the
warm feelings OF tho West in It's behalf but dc.
sire to raise IT higher and to place 1t loler pm
nacc. Ii - national question, side by side with
that important national questionable annexation Of
Texas--which has already received the sanction OF
this government. For myself, then, and my con-
stituens, lenter solemn protest against the opnlonS
which may have been advanced here or elsewhere,
that the question Of Oregon is a western question,
any other sectional question. II is uno IN which
the whole nation feels deep and lively interest,
and onc upon which the whole nation WILL sooner
or later, speak with voice approximatng unannll-
ty, If we, sir, do our duty.
| do not propose, Mr. Chairman, to dctam you,
either, with recital of the long-pcndlng neso-
t,ation which has been carried on between the
British government and our own, IN r"ic-,
, TO the adjustment Of this perpcX ng AMI ,uA.a
question. desire however, as rrcnIuJy -
the FIRST, and perhaps the most important reasoh
which shall submit to you for my support OF
this measure, to refer very briefly 10 the state
of the negotiation it now stands between
| this government and Great Britain. In 1878 orr
government and the British government entered
into a convention, by which il was agreed thai,
for certain purposes, each of these governments
should be entitled to equal privileges within this
disputed territory; whether you term il Conven-
ton for the purpose of joint Occur alton, for tho
purpose of commerce, navigation, and settlement,
las that is the language of the convention) is i'm
material TO my purpose. Subsequently to this
vention of 1918, which was to expire by its own
limitation in ten years, the convention renewed,
and the convention renewing the former one con-
tinues it in force forever unless the the other
government, by giving twelve months notice Of its
desire to do SO, shall terminate it. During the pen
dency of this convention there have been efforts made
to settle and adjust this question The claims Of tho
British government have been urged with great
power by her statesmen; the claims of our govern
ment to the title have been discussed also, and salts
factory CONCLUSION has been reached in the minds
of American statesmen. What are these PROPOSE
tons? Our government has proposed, on more than
occasion, to divide the territory at the 49th de-
gree of north latitude. Some years back, we did in
connection with this proposition, agree to grant TO
Grcat Britain the navigation Of the Columbia river.
This has been repeated twice, if not oftener But
few months ago our government proposed that this
question should be settled the 18th degree, but
withheld any. offer as to the navigation of the CO.
lunba river. During that same period of time, the
British government have submitted to our consdera-
ton proposition on which they are willing to adj
just this difficulty. Tint proposition, recently sub
mitted to our government, is proposition which
takes the parallel of 40 degrees until you reach
certain point on the Columbia river, and then sho
travels down the main stream of that river TO the
point where it enters the ocean. When the propo-
sition last submitted by the government of tho
United Staes land submitted, sir, az ! believe, and
as the country believes in the utmost good faith,
and with sincere desire on the part of our govern
ment to settle and adjust the dificuty) when that
proposition wss submitted to the British minister,
il was not by him referred to his government, but
the reply was made that the British government will
wait for more liberal proposition to proceed from
the American government. And here we have
reached the crisis as conceive it, in the adjustment
of this Oregon question. We have here presented
before us the grounds on which England has pro-
posed 10 settle The Oregon difficulty; have before
Us the proposition on which our government
has heretofore agreed to adjust This difficulty. The
refusal, and the manner Of the REFUSAL on the part
of the British government, will leave doubt,
l IN me on he md of Of thato