Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-03-21

still further change besides that Of their position trust they
begin that here doubts in regard 70 our
title To the whole Of Oregon. That is unquesonabe they
cannot now say for has been questioned with great ability
In their presence this floor know indeed that their
convictions have been honest they have been strong
But admitting that title seemed TO them clear, is
something due to the changes which have since taken
place Is nothing due to the fact that majority even Of
their political friends think that title is not 50 clear
but that compromise may be honorably effected Is
thing due their opinion And does not the mere fact Of
such division Of opinion among perfectly honest on
both sides present the strongest why the dispute need
not and ought to be decided by force appeal 70 thess
Senators PATRIOTS wise and prudent to say, when
contest is with great Power whether they viii
ling TO hazard all for question which the opinions Of good
and honest all their country are undeniay divided
appeal to them party TO whether they will
insist pushing 10 such extreme as to divide
their party
As the other portion Of the Senate, Tin which consider
myself ncluded it is undeniabe that great change has
taken place. feel myself Nothing could have in
duced to consent the notice recommended by the Pres
dent but now II is very possible may give my vote for
modified notice in some form.
And this brings now length, to the direct question
Shall give to Great Britain the notice proposed shall
not The question is not free from doubt i4tJ III
One in its favor is that il will prevent the continued
agitation Of this Oregon question being kept up in the country
and carried into the next Presidential election. The mea
Of notice, properly qualified, will trust keep aquiet
until the year has EXPIRED and that then therew be
for any further difficulty. IA
Another reason its favor that in all probability Great
Britain will not make final move until Congress shall have
acted the subjects that should possible,
do something in the If il not for the force Of
this consideration should be for postponng the notice for the
present.
And now to the question: in what form the notice shall be
given will vote, under circumstances, for naked abb
soute notice. The circumstances Of the have greatly
changed We in the state of things which
listed when the Executive message first in and cam
under the impression that there will be
gone for the notice under that hope that motive has now
passed away. Ea lg5a sa@ EG III ha8aeQ
Nor for the resolution which has been sent US
from the House Of Representatives have two objections
to it. It is equivoca in its meaning. If 1t means to de-
clare that the President may settle this difficulty by compo-
mise it nothing, for the President has that right but
if it hint to him to negotiate for compromise
then am for speaking plainly. am most decidedly
against all equivocaon matters Of state policy Let us say
plainly what say. If we mean compromise let
say compromise and not send the President resolution
which he may just any Interpretation that suits him.
If give this notice all think it should be given sub
sanay has been proposed by the gentleman from Geo
gia If consent to the notice. it will be, as have said 70
keep this agitation from running into thencxt PRESIDENTIAL
election, and finally to terminate the question and we give
il ALL let give precisely intend expressing the
opinion that the difficulty should be settled by compromise
So much feel inclined to vote for.
But this whole is subordinate 10 higher end, VIZ
the preservation Of peace and the settlement of difficulties
without to arms. MY vote in regard to notice will
rest on the question whether the notice will advance that end
not And SHALL therefore, reserve myself until shall be
satisfied on that point
have thus stated why for compromise and how far
in favor Of giving notice. vote on both subjects under
in which find myself placed and for which
in the least responsible doing the lest can where
find myself and what might have done under different
circumstances repeat that for these circumstances am not
responsible early resisted that state Of things which has
pass In s43 this question for the first time
sumed dangerous aspect then thought saw, what
coming and examned the question under all its aspects
After the matures reflection to the conclusion which
then stated that there two routes before us one
OF was adhere to the convention of 1927 do nothing
to terminate it. and to adhere strictly and gdly to its prov
sons that although for time that convention operat-
ed benecay for Great Britain yet the period was al hand
when would to derive its benefits It's opera-
lion threw hands the whole fur trade Of that REGION
and stood by while the whole that rich harvest
ed by her subjects but that would soon derive the
most important advantages from the provisions Of the treaty
esstess increase Of population and the gradual pro-
ess of their enterprise bringing them fast TO the foot Of
the Rocky Mountains The great South Pass had been dis
covered and that the settlement of Oregon by Ame-
rican citizens rapidly approaching. 5g
IL should only adhere strictly to the convention, the
progress Of things would eventually decide who should have
the possession Of the territory Our TO populate the
regon and thus TO obtain its actual possession, lar greater
than that of Great Britain Its distance from far less
the to through open grassy country and to
active and hardy Western pioneers the journey
presented comparatively but small difficulty whereas to reach
Oregon from Great Britain required circumnavigaton OF
UlfeS-a
conference Of the globe OF all the spots the face Of the
earth presenting her the possibility of colonization, Oregon
the There hundreds Of colonies that
lay nearer, and presented better soil and climate Even
New Zealand nearer to the shores OF England. ALL
therefore, that had do stick the convention
observe all its provisions with the most scrupulous fidelity
and then let the question Of title be quietly and gradually
settled by the actual occupation and possession Of the country
To this there but impeachment Great Bril-
tain might give the notice. But had such fear for had
read the discussions Of this question her side and thought
clearly that she placed great value upon Oregon,
permanent possession of the British crown but rather
ed to conclude that from its geographical position the United
States ultimately get the whole Of it. But her
calculation otherwise there great mpemens in
the way Of her giving notice to terminate the convention
She could do If she pleased could this
express provision of the treaty, and could not ITSELF be
considered hostile movement either side But there
another convention which Great Britain contends 10 be
still in existence but which insist has EXPIRED and that Is
the convention Of Nooka. This treaty Of Nootka is in strict
analogy with convention Of 1875 and she should give
notice, could not be set aside unless its provisions
violated We had observed the terms of convention
and this recosed her from the possibility Of such
II seemed then, to clear the light Of heaven that il
would not do for to make movement Of any kind We
might indeed give people facilities in reaching the
country and when they got there might extend laws
over them personally, but not teoraly. doubted them
and still doubt the expedency Of going far that
but most clearly could not up laws there terrific
rally because the moment we should do that es-
absh house, and levy and collect duties and if
there any thing that ALLEVIATE the affections of those peo
ls fran viii be the collection OF high duties Our peo
pie have gone there their fathers TO New England
at the beginning and important end they seek is the
joymen OF free trade. They will contend earnestly for
the free enjoyment Of the trade Of the Pacific their
tors did for that Of the Atlantic before the Revolution If
levy high duties their infant trade, they will find