Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-03-31
Mr. Calhonn's Speech.


.. IL is characterized by great clcarness
!. statement, force Of reasoning, and modcratio
> o' tone. 1t will be read throughout III
: length and breadth of the country, and wi
have favorable influence in repressinc N
already tagging spirit of War, and preparin
the country for peuceable settlement Of ,h
Oregon difficulty.
Mr.. Calhoun commenced by reviewing I'M
progress OF The negotiation in all its stages
ana the opinions Of parties in relation to it,
he paid high compliment to the distinguish
Gu statesmen who had negotiated and perpst
,afea The treaty Of joint occupancy-Monroe
hush, Clay, Jackson and Adams-becaus,
.nat treaty preserved our tile inviolaie Il
mH territory averted war in 1918 and 1927
ana kept open to ns a territory on our Dor
aeIs' twenty thousand miles Of ocean-near
inc circumference Of the globe-dis,an
from England.
! Inc president believing, as stated in hIs
message, that no compromise would be of.
fered by England which he could or ough, ,o
accept urged the giving of the notice to
terminate The Joint occupancy, preparatory
10 maintaining our title by force. Since that
'iine great change has taken place. Public
opinion IN this country and in England had
| spoken decidedly n favor Of compromise, and
oga'nst war. Here, too, tho same change
mas been manifested. inasmuch that hazard
no'h'ng when say that large, a very large,
majority OF this body is al This moment in ia.
'or OF compromise; On honorable compro.
mise"
The language and conduct of The British
government clearly demonstrate that il, too,
IS 10 faVor OF compromise, substantially on
the terms we ourselves have offered. The
language Of the Premier did not appear us
censure upon the British minister in this
country, but an assurance Of a desire TO make
just and fair compromise. The question
ought now to be settled. The highest public
interests demand its settlement. Mexico is
now calculating on our going to war for Or
egon. But settle the Oregon question and
Mexico will speedily settle every pending
question between her and the United States;
ana then, trust we shall deal generously
with her. She is weak; feeble in the ex.
IRENE and trust we shall adopt no harsh
measures with her."
! Ihe whole position of the question having
changed, the President himself and all par
ties had changed their views and now that
'"'' uppcdTo tO Ue dDOut TO lCnu TO
compromise, those who were in favor of it as
war measure would not surprise him Mr..
,CJ should they vote against it, Suppose
our tile TO be clear, is no, something due to
the new position IN which we find the cues
ton? Will party men divide their own par
ty on this question ? AS to the notice. he
would vote for MIR. Colquitt's proposition, ifI
Tor any, to keep the question from running
into the prnsidant;al olo
preserve peace.
promise, and how far | am for giving the no.
tice. vote on both subjects under circum-
stances in which | find myself placed, and
for which am not in the least responsible
! am doing the best ] can where find myself.
and not what might have done under dli-
fcrent circumstances. repeat that for these
circumstances am no, responsible. | early
resisted that state Of things which has now
come to pass. In 1913 this question for the
first time assumed a dangerous aspect. ri
then saw, or thought | saw what was com.
ing, and | examined the question under all |
its aspects. five should only adhere
strictly to the convention, the progress of |
things would eventually decide who should |
have the possession Of the territory. Our
tain its actual possession, was far greater
than that of Great Britain. --.- Of all The
spots on the face of The earth, presenting to
her the possibility of colonization, Oregon
was the most remote. There were hundreds
Of colonies that lay nearer, and presented a
better soil and climate Even New Zealand
was nearer to the shores of England. All, i
therefore, that we had to do was TO stick to
neither for notice nor for compromise, 50
ong as we could persevere in what | con.
,eive to be the true American policy. Hence
did not resist tho bill Of 1913, in common
" ith many able men in both Houses. II
passed here by an equvocal majority of one
,ote, (the Senator voting under instructions
n the aiiirmatIve,) but / was lost in the other
House. Since then the proposition for no.
ice has been repeated, with a view to take 4
possession Of the whole country And so (
low we are where we are--u position which L
III ought TO have foreseen- where we must
or fight say. then, if there is
my responsibility attached to the circum-
tances in which find myself stand nc
ullted from any participation in it. The re.
lies among my fiiends on the
ight. ] doubt not they acted patriotically, i
ut impatiently-in obedience 10 the impa. {
lence Of their people. They have suffered {
themselves to be pushed into their present {
ositon without due reflection. ~
But this whole measure is subordinate to c
igher end, viz: the preservation Of poace a
nd the settlement of our difficulties without C
resort to arms. My vote in regard to no. (
ce will rest on the question whether the no $
ce will advance that end or not. And b
hall, therefore, reserve myself until | shall t
G satisfied on that point.
] go for compromise and against war. Al b
rough wars may at times be necessary. yet C
eace IS positive good and war is n positive II
wi and cling 10 peace 50 long as /. can u
c preserved consistently with the national n
,icIy and honor and ] am against war so Il
,ng as It can be avoided without a sacrifice b
either. am opposed to war in this case, a
cceuse neither of these oxigencics exist, It Ia
,av be, as conceive. avoided without sac o
fcng either the national honor or tho na. "
onnl safety. But II these dangers did exist, c.
certain extent, war IS still highly mex I,
cdient because our rights IN Oregon eau "
G sustained with more than an equal chance u