The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-27

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their acts seemed 10 Impose afford satisfactory s,ldsnc
that no eompIomse which the United States ought 10 AZ
eept effected With this conviction the pfoaosto
hich had been made and rejected was
my direction, subsequently, wiihdrswn and our title
maintained by arsirssable 6cts ard aIgunsnts
The civilized world viii sac In these proceedings
spirit OF liberal concession the part u the United
aud this government will relieved from all ssponsil
~ which may ioow the ALLURE TO settle the
IAN attempt. at eomPromis.s having avn Jailed become
proper adopt Tor the security and Protseion oi eli
inhabltng who may hereafter inhsbii Oregon
and for the maintenance Of Just title TO st territory
Ia adopting this purpose should be take
hat nothing he done To violate he stipulation. 81 the
venton Of 1897 which sl In force The faith OF treaties
IN their letter and spirit has ever been and trust viii
ever be- serupulousj obsersdby the United States tnds
either party to the other before ont
terminate. and before either nshlly ssssrt
hi. notice %oua IN ny sds@sni be proper q sS
and reeommend that provision be made ny Law fot gyns
iiseeerdngly and ,eminaiing In this manasr the
81 viii become proper Tor Congress 70 d-tsrnins wha
Legislation they can il the mean time adopt wou, VIC
Lifting this sntion. Boy nd all qnesoa The
Of our laws and our jnrisdieton civil and criminal ough
They RsVs he'd % ssspsn y our ns
IN this rsricuisr aud hsse In consequence he's compel
led for their security and pnotsrtoa 20 esetish
PROVISIONAL Tor themselves. strong IN their al
lsgiance and ardent in their attachments TO the United
hsy are eSiou. Ea our laws Should b. ssiended owe,
them and recommend that this be done by Congress with
e delay possible, in the full extent TO which the
British Parliament have proceeded In regard 10 Brh sub
eets In that territory by their act oJuly the seroni 1874
for regulating the furnde, and establishing criminal
and civil Jurisdiction within certain parts VI Norh Amer
lea"
Whilst, Mr.. Chairman, | do not consider this a
party question, hut great American question, am
free to confess that do not like To II sngie dem
ocrat against giving the notice. and, at the expra-
ton Of twelve months, taking possession Of the
| country; for, disguise lt as you will, all who OPP
pose these measures will be pronounced by the
,snpla tn ha ha Hrittsh aida Of he --fin
And while would urge upon tho wing sid, Of this
hail. the considerations Of patriotism and love of
liberty which should actuate every American free
man, To go for extending the area of freedom over
the whole Of Oregon, feel that all these eonsIdera-
lions must operate with greater force upon the
democratic portion Of the House. The democracy
believe that tho people have virtue and intelligence
enough to govern themselves, and that the epresen-
tatve oftke people is bound TO obey their will, or
resign.
Now, Mr.. Chsirman, am convinced that Mr..
Polk owes his elevation TO the distinguished station
he now so honoraby fills, more to his opinions on
the Texas and Oregon questions than TO oil other
considerations united. And, sir, in his election, !
consider that the people decided both these great
questions in the affirmative. What were Mr. Folks
views in relation Oregon Let extract from his
letter ofthe 23d April, 1874, written from Columbia,
Tennessee, answer He says:
LET the Fixed policy government be, per.
NIT Great Britain, any other foreign power 10 plant
colony hold dominion any portion Of the people
or territory Of the Uhited Sites
The President in his inaugural address," says:
Nor will become in less degree my d,ty to ass-ri
and msfd, by all constitutional means I'll, right Of the
United states TO that portion Of Territory which lies
beyond the Rocky mouEains Our title to ne country Of
their wives aud children /. To Is belong, the
duty Of protecting them adequately wherever they may
upon our soil"
But, Mr.. Chairman, we are asked Why this shot
hGsit"' They urge US To let things remain they
arc-to "bide our tme"--and we willget the whole
Of Oregon. In answer, have only to say, that
those who believe in the right Of Instructions have
no discretion in this matter. The sovereign people
are calling upon their pablic ocrvanp to settle this
vexed question by giving notice TO Great Britain of
our iu,entionto Terminate the eosyeplion. of August,
6, 1897, and 10 rke active ana en-, rgetic measures
to protect our citizens AID to secure the territory.
And if war results from this course, on whom does
the calamity fall' Is it not on the peoplel Who
fight the battles Of our country! Who defend the
national honor? Whose blood, and whose treasure,
have been poured out like water, in times past TO
defend the nation against the expressions Of proud
and naughty Epgland' And whose will again be
poured out in the event Of war; TIE peoples yes
the thousands who remain at home in time Of peace,
quietly and industriousy ,illing the soil and impro-
wing the country,--it is this class upon whom all
this great responsibility and calamity Cf such shall
result will fall. And, sir, they not to have the
poor privilege Of directing their public servants what
to do in this natter j, sir, am one Of those who
believe that the "sober second thought of the peo-
pen is seldom wrong; and l firmly believe that
tbree-fourths of the people of this nation if they
could vote on the resolution now under consdera-
tion would be found voting in the affirmative.
l am not, sir, for extending our laws sim
gle inch Of territory that does not belong to us;
and the alternative of would not deter
me from going TO the very last inch OF
what is rightfully our own. Gentlemen may
| u. Il
braggadocia--and whatever else they may think
becoming. | am responsible only to my con-
s,ituents and to my God Ibeeve know the will
Of those whom l represent, and | dare to do it,,
come what may. And to Him who rules the
destnes of nations and of men, believe that He is
as He has done in days that ere past. Experience
the best light in which look at the future. In
all the wars we have thus far been engaged in, He
has thrown His shield Of protection over us, and
blessed our arms with victory; and trust. il we are
again compelled to hazard a war for the mainte-
nance Of our rights in Oregon, we shall again expe-
rience the same happy result.
Gentlemen all contend that ours in one of the best
governments on earth. Is there, then, a man who
enjoys the peace and privileges, the happy security
and freedom which distinguish the inhabitants of
this land who is not willing to risk something
to confer the same blessings on the thousands who
now, and the millions who will hereafter inhabt
Oregon? He does not deserve the name Of an
American citizen if he would not. A man so selfish
and 90 dasardly i'll deserves the rich blessings he
enjoys.
deprecatc oil idea Of calling this party question.
II should not be so considered treated. In my
own State it is not party question. My wing
colleague, who represents truly the wing population
of the western States and Territories "A willing to
go as far for Oregon IA he who goes farthest He
goes for the last pebble that reflects the light Of
Oregon moon. This shows what the feelings Of the
great West on this question.
! might adduce still stronger proofs With the
political party with whom am in the habit Of act
ing, the distinguished gentleman from Massachu.
sers has not heretofore been very popular. They
consider him eminent and profound statesman;
some Of his public acts they applaud, but there
are more which they dsapprove; but now they say,
with one accord, that if he continues his present
course in relation to our rights in Oregon, his life
will terminate in blaze of glory. With them, this
| is question which overrides all others.
1t has been said, however that this strong feeling
about Oregon is assumed for political effect and has
been gotten up to aid the fortunes Of particular
candidate for the presidency; in word, that the
Oregon question is neither more less than grea