Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-02-26
Speech of j. q. Adams.

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Tile Speech Of Mr. Adams. pending the
"N"ltce Resolutions is the most unique
affair We ever saw in the shape Of Con
grrsslonal speech. Of course he was in
lavor Ct giving the notite. lie highly
appla"ded The manner and the ability with
which The discussion had been carried on.
lie noticed the different WAYS bv which
llIle might be acquired - discovery, ex
ploraiion. continuity and coniguiy-
none Of these he said gave a perfect tile;
netting gave that but .aclual possession.
and that is all we want to have clear
aud iadispn,able title TO Oregon. We
want ossession-ocenpa,ion He also
alluded 10 the several grants and tltles
given by kings and by the pope, which
he considered valid as far as they went.
la the first part Of his speech he called
upon the Clerk of the House TO read The
26h, 27th and 23th verses of The first
Chapter Of Genesis. After they were
read "'rha,. said Mr. Adams. in my judg-
ment, is the foundation of our title 10 Ore
gon, and Of all Tie title we have TO any
Of the territory we possess. All wonder.
ed how he could make that out, but when
lie came To the close of his speech every
thing was made clear, whatever Great
Britain may think Of il. Short as we are
for space we mus, give his apple ONT
Let me observe, then. said Mr. A. what
was Grea, Britain's. In tina, negotiation.
and in The subsequent negotiations, and
even 10 this day, Grea, Britain has claim
ed no exclusive jurisdiction: she does not
now claim any. She says she has no
title to it: she pre,ends to nene; bat then
she says also that We have none, but tina,
Oregon is an open country as
Gar as j, is occupied) by barhasous people
only. She says the country is open 10
all: she dues not claim exclusive jurisdic.
son. Blu; promise you she will before
all is done: she will claim any thing you
will let her have: she vii! claim in
the end, exclusive jurisdiction over the
while territory. She now claims TO keep
the country open for the purpose of hunt,
ing: to keep i, in a barbarous state, as a
hunting ground. Ii will be of no bene6
10 her from the moment ii shall be settled
oy people who till the ground; from the
time the country is cultivated by persons
f,,r
her claim il good for nothing; j. is abol.
ished. There is lie difference between
the British claim and ours: we claim Ore.
gon that we may improve the country
and make It's desert ID blossom as the
rose We claim II thli we may establish
laws, till the grouud: that we may 'sub-
due the earih," as has been commanded
by God Almighty. She claims it 10 keep
IL open as hunting ground-that she
may hunt wild beasts in it: she claims it,
Of course, for the benefit of the Wild
beasts Taught as well as the savage
nations who roam over ii.
Il want Oregon for our Western Pio-
neers | want il as a theatre for the dis.
play Of tina, characteristic Of our people
which Is embodied IN the phrase ''go
ahead" | want j. that il may grow into
great nation like this, and become free.
independent. and sovereign Republic; in
stead Of remaining a hunting ground for
beaver and buffalo, or savage desert"
Mr. Adams was cut off in the midst Of
his interesting speech by the close Of the
I. III L, I'LL
give full extracts from i, hereafter.