The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-12


falthless Il he yielded one-haf one-fourth, or any
portion Of that land al the claim of those parues
The President Of the United States had declared our
title 10 the whole of Oregon clear and unquestona-
bic, and that people were going there TO insure
and confirm that title. When he said that the
whole Of the democratic, and large masses OF the
wing party, threw up their caps and followed him
The announcement made by the democratic
presses throughout the Union. The President made
that declaration IN his inaugural and relterated II
three times In his message. At time he says
our title TO the whole of Oregon is the best in exist
ence. Again, he says with this conviction, the
proposition Of compromise which had been made
aud rejected, was, by my direction, subsequently
Withdrawn, and our title TO the whole Oregon ter
rltoTy asserted, and as Is believed, maintained by
lrrefragable facts and arguments" There was no
necessity for Telteraung three tunes that the title
clear and UNREASONABLE; but he goes further,
absolutely further than was anticipated. He says:
"Near quarter Of century ago the principle was
distinctly announced to the world, In the snnual
message OF one Of my predecessors that the Amer
lean continents, by the free and independent cond-
ton which they have assumed and maintain, are
henceforh not to be considered subjects for future
colonization by any European power" Now, after
that he (Mr. A. understood the President to say
that there TO be no European colonization IN
Oregon for he knew Of no other wild unoccupied
country on the American continent. Did he, then,
mean Oregon Had we title to it or not, or did
he mean California Did he mean to say We are
TO yield up any portion Of this country TO which
ne said our title is clear and UNREASONABLE !
No Did he mean TO say that poor imbecile Mex
leo might not have It in her power 10 transfer TO
England, or any other European power, California II
he did, he went a step beyond what was expected.
The very moment he gave any portion Of Oregon
every honest man would condemn it. He confess
ed he entered into the views which the senators
from Indiana, Ohio, &c, who composed that small
eorporaPs guard, entertained. But that was unim-
portSnt Ii made little matter if he stood alone
He would leave that part Of the subject, merely
observing that IL he believed the President desired
the notice, with view Of surrenderng any portion
Of the Oregon territory, TO which they had an
doubted night, he would prefer the Of the strong
arm Of force or the mastery inactivity Of the
senator from South Carolina. Although the inquiry
was a very proper one, he would then state It was
not his intention TO 90 into the question OF title
Oregon that had been done by the senator from
Soath Carolina when Secretary Of State, by the
present Secretary Of Stats and by the tor from
New York, and after this able illustration of it, he
would do himself injustice to attempt it. But fur
Their proper inquiry was, "to what portion OF Ore
gon are we entitled [" Now, If he knew himself,
! II he believed England had the better ute
| to il, no man in the Union would agree soon
er TO yield to it. IL her title to any portion OF
that territory good, he would say let her have It,
As TO the propnety Of discussing the British title
there, he would give opinion; but thing he
| ing an opinlon--he would infinitely prefer having
the British title illustrated by facts and arguments
than the course which had been pursued. Now,
| lie thought il the duty Of those senators who
believed England had the better title, to enlighten
the country and the world the subject, lest ig-
norance Of it should lead TO unjust measures. That
| old MOTTO "to ask for nothing but what Is right,
and submit to nothing wrong" ought to be written
in letters Of gold, to be read by the whole world.
| He approved Of the course of the senator from
Maine. One senator had said he would allow his
tongue TO blister in his mouth before he would
speak, while the administration were engaged in
| pending negotiations. He might be right; but II
/ he (Mr A. believed that England had better title
than we To any portion Of Oregon, he would allow
his tongue TO blister in his mouth before he would
deprive her, or any other power under the sun, OF
their just rights he would think it duty he owed
his country to illustrate it, lest it might lead to
unnecessary and un ust war. The senator from
South Carolina had construed the language OF the
President favorable to compromise; but he thought
the offer TO do so made against his better udg-
ment, and in compliance with acts of his prede-
cessors. That is his apology to the Ameri-
can people; but upon the rejection Of the
offer by the British minister, he wiihdraws it, and
speaks in the language Of EMULATION. He says:
| with this conviction the proposition Of compro-
misc that had been made and rejected, was, by my
direction, subsequently withdrawn, and title to
the whole territory asserted, and as is believed,
Il
Now, was not that The language Of exultationi But
the Senator from North Carolina said, that had the
President claissed more than Ago he would have dis
| graced himself and dishonored the country; and
worse than all, he entered into attempts prove it,
And what were his reasons, That he was bound to do
what his predecessors had often offered TO do Now
he would take clear principle of law and common
sense, which was applicable between indvidu als,
and apply it to that before them and he saw no
reason why a sound principle Of common sense
should not apply to the case Of nations as well as
| individuals. A proposition is supposed to be
made by to B to compromise dispute,
whether in relation to personal real property
The difference Is not adjusted, and the parties
go to law Now it is settled principle that
| nothing that was said in reference to the matter
While the efforts at compromise were pending could
be offered as evidence in law Now, why should
that not apply to nationsi If efforts were made in
1918 and 1927 to settle this question amicably--if
propositions We've made by either party in that
viewthen could It properly be said that the nation
Is at ms nme Do pound ny those propositions He
with the case. 1t was, he believed the case that
during early negotiations on this matter the propo-
| stions which were made were Withdrawn by both
parties, under protest that they not to affect
their respective rights That made the argument
for him still stronger, and for the senator from,
North Carolina still weaker. But again: he toak
another ground, and said the boundary line as de.
| fined by the treaty of Utrecht between France and
England went no further than 400. For consid-
cradle time, and until yesterday evening, he had
not gone much into the subject He then
read tho treaty of Utrecht, which was good
as far it went. Now, Notwithstanding the
assertion of those who favored the British views,
that by the treaty commissioners were to be a,-
pointed by the two governments to prescribe the
line on 49o, it is doubtful whether they were ever
appointed, and there Is no mention of ago in the
treaty at all. He regarded Greenhow as very good
authority, as every facility was given him BY the
State Department, and every encouragement held
out 70 hm to collect facts; he says that if they
appointed, there is no evidence that thew ever did
describe the line, and he thought he proved con-
clusvely, by the strongest testimony, that the line
never was described. But suppose the line was run
in westerly direction across the Rocky mountain.
or down to the Pacific: would it not show the super.
ative arrogance of England in claiming territory south
OF that incs He had been unable to see on what prin
clple the 49th parallel was proposed as dividing line
Suppose that conuguity did give title, it extended
from south to north as well as from east to west.
The title Of the United States was based on that of
Spain-he discovery of the river bv Gray-,h. ~