The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-27
CONGRE SSIONAL.
SPEECH OF Mr.. ROBERT SMITH
OF ILLINOIS,

the State Of the Union, and having under eonsid'
Grafton the Joint resolution TO terminate the con-
vention of 1927 for the joint occupancy OF the
Oregon territory, and the various amendments
thereto
Mr.. SMITH addressed the committee as fol-
Iowsi
Mr.. GRAMMAR In rising at this late siOge Of the
debate on the proposition before the commit.
tee have neither the vanity nor the egoism TO sup
pose that can say much that il new, or that will
be interesting TO those who may hear me- ard
could be CERTAIN that the resolution introduced by
the honorable chairman Of the Committee Oh For
slgn Affairs would pass this House without any
amenlments, and that It would he followed by
the passage Of appropriate bills 20 protect ard Sc
cue our rights and those Of our ssleis in Oregon,
and all WHO ate disposed to emigrate thither, /
would content myself with simply voting for all
such measures and refrain from troubling the com
miItee with a speech at this time. But 81 some
doubt seems 10 exist in relation To this matter feel
il a duty owe both 10 myself and to those who
gave me a seat in this House, 10 express my views
6OLy aud fsUiessy this great American question.
| agree with the venerable gentleman from Massa-
shusslls, IMr. ADAMS, and other gentlemen who
say that this il one OF the most important questions
whichever has, or ever wilt come before M Amer
lean Congress. And, sir, let me tell gentlemen
that such is the magnitude OF this question,
AID so strong and deep are the convictions Of the
people throughout the length and breadth Of this
country, that the whole of the territory called Ore
gon (ncludsd within the parallels Of 40 and $40
40 north lautude) belongs TO the United States: and
that the settlement and occupation of that valuable
territory Of the utmost importance TO the pros
psrty and harmony Of the whole Union, and 10 the
pernlanency Of our republican form Of government;
that il will, like mighty avalanche, oyerwhe or
politically bury, all who obstruct or oppose the meas
ur,s necessary for the contamination Of this great
object
come. sir, from one Of the Oldest settled portions
ofthe great valley Of the Mssisaippi-from that
beautiful and fertile country irreSitd from the mono
policing grasp of Great Britain on the 4th day Of
July ITS, by that bold daring and chiyalrous SOL
der. George Rodgers Clark, Of Virginia, and his
intrepid followers. These brave men succeeded in
capturing the British post at the ancient town Of
Kasksska, and compelled the cross OF st. George
to give place to the stars and stripes of our beloved
eonfederacy. But for the sagacity, enterprise, and
patriotism of General Clark and his gallant associ-
aies Of the fairest and richest portions of this
Union might still have been dependency Of Great
Britain. The people Of that region and of the
northwestern States will ever keep in vivid re-
membrance that they owe the blessings Of the
liberty and freedom which they now enjoy to
the success of Gen. Clark's expedition They par
ake largely of that spirit of adventure which cha
ncterized the actors in that noble enterprise They
know WELL sir, the perils and hardships incident to
The settlement OF new country, and to their defence
against the depredations Of savage foe. Many of
Them, too, while fighting under the command Of the
immortal Jackson and the gallant Johnson gained an
experience that enabled them to bear witness that the
tender mercy Of British and Indian warfare is cruel
ty refined but, sir, they would hur with scon
from the high places Of power any public servant
who would shrink from the maintenance of the
rights and honor Of the nation, OF from the defence
to the very last-of every inch of territory which
fright blongs to US; even though it were a barren
rock or steril sands. Our right and title to the
Oregon territory has for years occupied the attention
OF our wisest and most enlightened statesmen and
lursts. They have spoken, written, and published
the result Of their Investigations upon the subject,
| and spread them abroad throughout the land. The
people have read and maturcly reflected upon this
question: and they have deliberately decided that the
territory is ours, and should be defended, if need be,
n the language Of Jackson,) at the "cannon' s
mouth"
The question Of title. has been so nbly and fully
discussed, that will not go into an elaborate expo
Ahon of it. As it is acknowledged by ALL that
Spain first discovered the northwest coast of Ameri-
ga, and as we, by the "Florda treaty of February,
1913" came into possession Of the Spanish title, |
will go back to period earlier than the discovery
OF Sir Francis Drake, by virtue Of Of whose discov-
cries Great Britain lays some claim to this terrific.
tory. And in doing this, shall extract from the
able reports of Mr.. Gushing and MIR. Bayies, and
he writings of other distinguished gentlemen who
have examined thoroughly the early history and
settlement Of this territory.
without relying upon Dc Fontc, and giving away even
@sVoyagc Of Msdonado, have authentic proofs that
abro Tor ferreo) had explored to latitude 70 deg In
sS that Cali at 81 deg 80 min Il not at 81 deg 80
Sa IN 1852; that the San Augustn the bay OF San
Francisco in 1896 that Juan dc Fuca entered the strait now
earring his name in 1891 and that in i6o1 vzcaino Chat is
an de Agular) surveyed the coast Of California fa
the river of Aguiiar Besides which, the outer
~ dn,rna Ia, bx
orders Of Cortes and OF Mendoza to Cape Mendocno
Ind was repeatedly visited by the Manila ships-to provide
port Tor whom the expedition of Vzcnino was in part
Hicraken Aud upon these various discoveries and tn,
wNmty of their settlements in Mexico the government
make authorize settlements in New California MS Il
acquire all the territorial rights by which any European
government has obtained original claim to
,hc soil in America.
yet Great britain sets up claims OF sort on III.
northwest coast, in virtue of the voyage Of sir Frsnc
Drake who landed III 1879 at point the coast of Cali
'rna either in the bay OF San Francisco probably
mat Of Bo1ega, but II is not well settled which 81
anc Drake also approached the coast in 70 degrees
degrees north but without landing One OF the account
hn voyage indeed, (1hs Worid EncompasstdD says h
wen, to ~ degrees north but thi. Is incompatible viii
e parts OF the same book and also with another Of IN
the Sd Of June Drake in latitude "a degrees TIL
h he made land in latitude a. degrees but II had the
omc on cold and tcmpestuouS weather and he was com
ed to turn back and make harbor In latitude 80 dc
addition to which may be stated that IIackluyt place
ne unit OF Dmkes voyage at a. degrees, and Purchas
urgecs and that neither edyord Harris crTres hin
yond tn" limit Of Hackluyt tBaylisss R.pori p. l5)
although Sir Francis pretended to take Of tn
II ."ntFy aud 10 call IT NsD .9i5or this could amount 4
Ionng as against Spain, the prior discoveTer Englsnd
touching at New California conld not acquire any right
"aeVrr Cr whatever right such an act may he aeemo
he European conventional law 10 occur, had alrGai
IeCn Appropriated by Spain And Spain n,o proceeded
70 that which England did not do md which, by the sam
european conventional law. il deemed the Cou'ummato
ne mchoatc title gained by discovery namely, the form
%n OF settlements in the country discovered TO So
nhE therefore, OF the Hbsury Of claiming title 70
ngl9nd as against Spain by the piTptca acts OF proi
ns fate-such rs Sir Francis Drake, in most OF his e,
Entons along the American coast was--to say nothing
w'-i Sir Francis Drake had been n peaceful at an
ava lust explorer In behalf Of EnglnnA yet accordn
% 10 the most liberal Of oil tc rules Of nrfnational ln
pcohc 10 his case, his in reality conferred on hi
''e'nm.n' no territorial rights whsteycr in America"
II Don Juan rerez set sail from the rort Of San Bias
January, MA, Nv the corvette Santiago with Fsteban 10.
nez for pilot having orders rec onuoitrc th,
nom Monterey the Goth degree OF north latitude The
chored in the road Of Nootka in August INA fyH Of
LHoPsan' and called san Lorenzo. was fs,l, t,g
nnE Georges sound" humboldt. R0ur. Esp tom l.
The year following, Q775O second expedition snll,
om san Bias, under the orders of Don Bruno Hecea Dc
van de Ayala and Don Juan do Ia Bodega Qnadra II
uenh Of this voyage are known 20 English readers by
urnei 81 the pilot Mauree, published in Barringtor
scellanies They explored the coast up TO latitude
sees and were the first o. discover the mouth Of Il
per Columbia, which they called Entrads de Heceta.
V,an6eid, t-R. {, p 500
spain was the FIRST European power that doubled Ca