Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-27
TWENTY-NENVH CONGRESS.
SPEECH or MIR. COBB,

II he H,a1 nf Representatives., JanuaryS, 1916
On the RESOLUTION OF notice 10 Great Britain, Il
abrosale The convention oil joint occupancy re
la,ive 10 the Oregon territory.
Mr.. GOES (who held the RICH, 10 The 6ool
from Yesterday addressed the Committee. Il is
not my purpose, Sir (said be- to de;aiI Inc Gem
mittee with heightened argnmenl upon he Ore
gen question. | feel however, that, uncer The pc
cuar circumstances ~ which his subject IS sur
rounded, owe i, 10 myself. and 10 these who'n
represen, upon this tloyr To submit, TO The House
the reasons which have Induced me 10 i:at course
which intend 10 pursue in reference 10 This ques-
lion. l; is my misfortune, PERHAPS, upon so grave
and important question, involving so much 10!
veal or for NO TO our country, 10 differ with many
OF my political friends from Tie section OF coun-
try from which came, and differ with dstin-
guished Southern statesman-a man whose voice
is generally considered expressive OF The icehngs
Of the Southern portion of the country; ana may
be permitted 10 remark, for that indiviunai-Ior
his patriotism a man, and ms apiiiy az
sta,esman-l have ever entertained, anu still DO
entertain the highest regard. But, when cons-
,lerins question Of This character, | am COM
PEELED ny sense Of duty owe 10 myself and TO
nv own constituents, 10 disregard every consiie-
ration, save that Of the honor and the DereSt oil
the country, 50 Tar as they are involved in the IS
sue alone am responsible 10 ,hal constituency
for the coarse may pursue here. III II oilers
from that which others FIJI 10 take they par.
take not of the responsibility. II falls alone upon
nv shoulders assume il, Mr.. Chairman TIE
policy conceive il 10 be The duty Of this country
10 pursue, in reference 10 the subject brough, for
ward by the resolution reported by Inc Commit
lee on Foreign Affairs, is already indicated in
the House by the TACT, that have cuncurred in
the proprie,y of that reports And my purpose
is now to submit 10 this House, and 10 The coun-
nv, the reasons which have induced me 10 be-
lieye that that policy must be carried out, or The
interest OF the country weakened-l will not say
destroyed.
AT this period oftime, Mir Chairman, should
consider was lnficiins upon ihe House an I'M
necessary and an unpala;able argument, if were
10 attempt 10 sustain the title by which this coun-
nv possesses and holds just claim 10 the Ore
s)n territory tel The Wsne ~ The Oregon territory
Whatever opinions may be entertained in other
portions CT The civilized world; whatever opinions
NAV be entertained ty that masler-spiri oihe ma
tions Of the other world, with whom We are now
thrown into a contest on the quesliou-in tnis
country but one voice falls upon the ear-but one
deep, we'll founded opinion exists No doubts
now remain on the minds OF American statesmen
that inc Government OF the United States holds
clear and upques,ionable title 10 the whole Of the
Oregon territory.
propose not 10 discuss il, but desire that this
proposition may he considered as aGmilied that
itshall 90 before the country in connection win
the argument propose 10 maze IN FAVOR OF 'iie
policy suggested by The resolution on your table;
ina, i, NAV 20 70 the country as The admitted and
indisputablc opinion OF American statesmen,
with scarcely any-if, indeed, any-dissenting
voice and that this title 10 The Oregon territory is
thus considered, BY Us, clear and naQueA'ona6ie
There is another proposition, MIR. Chairman,
which will not stop 10 discuss; but desire 10
place il, like the one TO which have just lluded,
on The footing of an automatic fact, that The I'M
portance OF this territory TO our Government ana
our Peope-whether it is considered IN reference
10 agriculture, 10 manufactures, or 10 commerce
il no longer debatable issue. Not hat consi-
der i; subject commanding the clear apploba-
lion and The warm feelings Of the West in lis be-
hall, bat desire 10 raise il higher ard 10 place |
il on loer pinnacle. II is d national question, |
side by side with that important national ques- |
tion-,he annexation OF Texas-wh.ch has al |
ready received the sanction OF this Government |
For myself, then, and my constituents, enter {" |
solemn protest against the opinions which may |
have been advanced here or elsewhere, that the |
question of Oregon is Western question, or any |
other sectional question. II is one in which The |
whole.nation feels deep and lively Interest, and |
one upon which the whole nation will, sooner or
later, speak with voice ap2roximaiing nnan-
nifty, il We, sir do our duty.
do not propose, Mr.. Chairman, TO de.ain you
either with recital of the long pending negotla-
ton which has been carried on between the Bti-
tsh Government and oar own, in reference 10 The |
adjustment OF this pefPlexins and reSet cues
ton. 1 desire, however, as preliminary 10 Tie
frs;, and perhaps the most Important reason
which shall submit ID YOU lormy support oithi>
measure, 10 refer vecy briefly 10 The state OF the
negotiation as il now stands between this Govern
men, and Great Britain. In 1873, our Govern
mcnl and the British Government entered into
Convention, by which il was agreed that Tor Ger
tain PURPOSES, each ot these Governments should
be entitled 10 equal privileges within This disputed
territory; whether you term II Convention Tor
The purpose oiloint occupation, or Tor the purpose
OF commerce, navigation and settlement, (as that I
is the language OF the C2n:enion) isimnaierai I
10 my purpose Subsequently 10 this Convention |
OF 1913 which was 10 expire ~ rs own linn d |
ton in Ten Years, me Convention was renewed |
and The Go veG.ion renewing the former onc, |
continues in force forever, unsss the one or The
other Government, by giving twelve months no
tice of lis desire 10 do SO, shall Terminate II. Du-
ring The tendency OF This Convention, there have
been efforts made 10 settle and adjust his question.
The claims Of the British Government have been
urged with great power by her statesmen; the
claims of orr Government TO The tile have been
discussed Also and a satisfactory conclusion has
been reached in the minds of American States
men. What are these propositions2 Our Go
vernment has proposed on more Than one occa-
sion, 10 divide The territory al the 49ih degree OF
North latitude. Some years back, we did, IN
connection with this proposition, agree TO grantto
Great Britain the navigation OF the Columbia
river. This has been repeated twice, il mol
ol.ener. But few months ago our Government
proposed that This question should be settled on
The 49,h degree, bu, withheld any offer as 10
the navigation of the Columbia river. During
that same period OF lime the British Government
have submitted 10 oar consideration a PROPOSE
lion on which they are willing TO adjust this diff
Guilty. That proposition, recently submitted to
our Government, is proposition which takes the
same parallel of 10 degrees until YOU reach
certain point OF the Columbia river, and then
she travels down The main stream OF that r.
yer 10 the point where 1t enters the ocean,
When the proposition was last submitted oy Inc
Government OF the United States, (and submit
ted, sir as believe, and as The country believes,
in the utmost good faith, and with a sincere
desire on the part Of our Government to settle
and adjust The difficulty when that proposition
was submitted 10 the British Minister II was
not by him referred 10 his Government, but
the renly was made that the British Government
will wa tor a more liberal proposition TO pro-
coed 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 proposed TO settle The Ore
DON difficulty; we have before US the proposition
on which our Government has heretofore agreed
TO adjust this difficulty. The refusal ard the
manner of the refusal on The pate Inc British
Government, will leave no doubt, as it seems 10
me- on The minds Of any of US, that our PROPOSE
ton, which, 10 say the least OF it. is The uh'maf@m
beyond all dispute, Of the American Government,
will never receive the sanction of the British Co
vernment II has 50 been declared 10 the British
Government by the Executive OF this Government
thatthis is the ullimatum, beyond which we can
not go.
Now, il you refuse TO carry out ihe recon-.
mendation of the President 10 give notice to Gt
Britain to bring 10 close this joint occupancy. o.
the Oregon territory desire 10 call the attention
of the House to the inference and conclusion
which mus, inevitably be drawn by the British
Ganarnmenf Ynnr President has declared tha