The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-03-05

Mr. Chairman, whence and Whcrpfor,
all this sudden excitement upon The sub
ject OF Oregon? Who are they that have
become so clamorous all at once for tn,
whole of Oregon, ard who would declare
a genera war Of expulsion from The Amer
lean continent of every nation who may
chance TO have foohoId upon any part o
h2 Who are they that aglale The public
mind, and appeal to the popular passion:
and prejudices; who denounce as treason
against our own Government all suggest
ions of negotiation and compromise, and
who would prefer ME fearful alternative
OF war to any treaty arrangement Who
are they tina, are Eliminating their anath,
emas against Great Britain, as thong
they alone were jealous of her power
and her designsl Who are they that are
ever mounting heir otI-repea,ed profess
sions Of sublima'ed patriotism, as though
it were anything more than the trolhy
defamation of full>grown demagoguism,
which evaporales with the breath that ul>
tiers i'll Who are they that arroga,e TO
themselves the privilege OF denouncing
the conduct and lmpugnlng the motives Of
the advocates OF negotiation and compro>
mise, aid who denounce as enemies Of
their own country, and the allies of for.
eign power, those who would avoid the Isl
sues Of war. and who would maintain the
peace which nov blesses our land and the
world, by all means and measures consist.
ent with the integrity and the honor OF the
country Z Whence comes, ask, all this
sudden storm of patriotic fury, OF wanting
arrogance, Of vindiclive denunciaton, OF
empty and senseless gasconade2 Not, ]
undertake 10 say, from The industrious,
sober, and refeclng portion of the Amer
lean people; nor yet, indeed from the
best friends and trues, patriots Of The coun-
try. Dlvcst this subject of all extraneous
and improper influences; remove from it
the insligaions and influences OF selfish
and designing men, Of a corrupt and hire
ling Press; remove the instigallons and
influences Of job5ers in stocks and jobbers
in politics remove the insliga;lons and
influences of aspiring demag ogues, OF
cuckoo patriots and Tom Thumb heroes;
of President makers and of embryo Pres
iden,ial candidates; Of those who would
raise the whirIwind thai they might ride
upon the storm; of those who would fire
the city that they nigh! revel in the pun.
der Of its ruins: Do this, and your Ore
gon controversy might be settled, peacea
bly,, honorably and forever, in il So than
ninety days.
| repeat, MIR. Chairman, that, in my
judgment, hostiities must inevitably en-.
sue between this Government and Great
Britain, il we carry out all the measures
we propose in relation to Oregon. To
suppose Otherwise, would be to suppose
that the mistress of the seas has lost her
pride and her prowess; tia, her spirit aud
her power have departed. II we will mol
stop 10 counl the cost Of Il war with Eng.
land, we may at ieas, ask ourselves what
We shall be likely to gain by it. W.
should not gain Oregon by war with
Great Britain, most certainly. No sens
bic man, Think, can entertain an idea so
ridiculous and absurd as that we can take
and hold possession of Oregon in the even,
Of war with the English nation. We
have neither army nor navy to maintain
position at any single point in that vast and
distant region. We shall have occasion
enough for all our forces at home Besides
it would be utterly improbable to march
40 army through The immense and to,alIy
barren deserts which intervene between US
md that territory. Every American cit.
zeu would be driven from Oregon, and
he silence of It's boundless wilderness ans
lesolae plains would be broken only BY
he howIiugs Of The wild beass and the
will bun|smen, perhaps, for other centu-
ries to come. do no. fear that England
will conquer this counlry any more than
we shall be able to conquer Englard.-
Nobody dreams ofihis. Bat she can des-
roy our commerce; she can lay waste our
lilies and villages; and she can drive, and
will drive US, in spite OF all we can do,
rom Oregon. Gentlemen may affect to
neer and scout as they please at the idea
as though there we're some>
hing submissive and Illuminating in ir,or as
hough they feared our dipIomalisis would
'e overreaehed by the superior tact aud
kill Of those upon the other side. Lei me
emiod them, that when they shall have
provoked an unnecessary war,when MIL
ons of treasure shall have been expended,
md a. untold amount of human life been
acrifced, and Oregon lost, that very war
must be finally Terminated by negotiation,
" treaty; and Oregon itself, If it be res'or.
d al al must be restored at last by ne
collation..
Mr., Chairman, am as decidedly in ia.
'or of Oregon. to the extent Of our clear
nd just rights there, as those who urge
he most extreme measures for our imme-
late aud exclusive possession of the whole
II it. 1t is for This reason tina, nm OF