The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-01-08

establishment, think should get my diff
cultes, especially if disposition should be mani
tested by Great Britain TO take offence at the mea-
sure | have just mentioned. All our military
preparation must depend on notice to Great Brit
ain we must not have our hands and feet bound
the obligations of joint occupancy must be dissov
ed and we left free TO act according as the inter
ests of our country may require.
believe il will not be necessary for me to refer
to any other part of this subject. There have
been, as understand, two applications made to
this House by fellow citizens Of ours, settled be-
yond the Rocky mountains, for the protection of
this Government. The chairman of the commit
tee on foreign affairs (Mr. G.. j. IngersolD pre-
sented, as think. one memorial, while aaU,her
from different quarter is also before the terrific
rial committee-possibly it is a copy of the same.
Mr.. G. j. Ingersoll.-No; they are different
memorials, from different persons.
Mr.. Adams.-I think il is time this House
should consider what our duties to our country
men there. confess that know them very i'm
perfectly. | have of course seen the reports Of
Lieutenants Wilkes and Fremont they contain
much valuable information but that sort of nfor~
nation which we now want it was not the object
OF these expeditions 10 obtain. | am in favor of
protecting these persons as far
believe have said all that is al present
necessary. | have said perhaps more than
should, and certainly more than intended an,
wished to state is, that TO give notice should be
our first measure. Then let us protect our emf
grating citizens, and our own frontier, by stock
ade forts and such an increase of military es-
adjustment as may be necessary ; but | am against
all other measures unless that is done first.
On Saturday, in the House
Mr.. G. j. lngersol, the chairman of the COM
mittec on foreign affairs, took the floor He ap
plauded the speech Of Mr.. Adams yesterday, and
said it could not fail to exert an immense pacfi-
catory Influence on both sides of The Atlantic.
He, Mr.. L., agreed most fully with the venerable
gentleman, that at present there be no fear of
war, nor can there he until the termination of the
joint occupancy. Our only plan was TO 90 on and
give the notice, and leave the rest 10 the women
and children. (Cries of what do You mean
Why, said he, what mean is this When DR..
Franklin was at the British Court and he found
that all hope of peace an end, he turned
10 gentleman near him, and said there is no
safety now but IN the women and children. Our
success all depends upon them, therefore 90 home
and tell them all 10 go 10 work and make children
as fast as possible. (Roars of laughter) Yes,
continued Mr. L., our only safety les in a proper
obedience To the population laws let us give the
years notice, and the women and children will
attend to tie rest. (Renewed aughter) He
went on to say, that he had been told by friend
that the recommendation of DIR. franklin tuas
being fully attended TO in Oregon (R,ars of
laughter.) he repeated that in giving the years
notice, there was no fear of war. 1t was, ON the
contrary, emPhatlcally a measure of peace, and
IN this view he was sustained by the English pa
per published in New York. He furthermore ex
pressed his belief that in the course Of few DAYS
the committee on foreign affairs would report in
favor of giving the notice. He then referred To
the fact that there are already in Oregon seven
thousand American citizens with their wives and
children. These men had, too, American rifles,
considering the immense difficulty which Great
Britain would have in sending troops 20 900 miles
these seven thousand rifles were able to hold the
country, and Great Britain well knew it, If,
however, on the giving of the notice, Great Brit
ain should think proper 10 declare war on that &C
count, as some imagined, it would be war which
both God and man would condemn.
Mr.. HARRISON, in reply to the remarks of Mr.
Holmes yesterday, said, that the committee in
reporting this bill for two regiments of rflemen
had no view to any expected hostilites The bill
was simply reported for the completion of our
peace establishment
MIR. DaHagh, with reference to our Oregon
difficulty, took the ground that nothing is to be
gained by delay. He thought we had delay ed
the assertion of our rights long enough. He al
luded to the rumored preparations of Great
Britain ever since the first cloud rose in the hori-
zon relative to Oregon-and why, he asked ought
we not 10 take the same course? Ever since
1923. Great Britain had been adopting measures
for the protection of her settlers in Oregon-and
what, he asked had we done He was for dali
lying no longer.
Mr.. King was glad the negotiation had end
cd. He thought there was nothing to be gained
by it.
Mr.. Winthrop made cOnclliatory speech, and
conended that it was our best policy, if we desi
red to procure our rights, not to give the notice
at this time, but to permit our settlers To swell
the population. BY this means we should, at a
future time, be in much better condition than now
to enforce claims, should they be disputed
Under all existing circumstances, he was Of opin-
ION that the giving of the notice at this time would
precipitaie us into war. He did not see how il
was TO be prevented. He advocated peace, and
held that the difficulties can all be settled by ar.
bilratlon, if not by crowned heads. by the other
diSinerested parties.
Mr.. Owen gave history of the Oregon qnes
ton, and dissented from many Of the views Of the
last speaker
Mr.. Baker went the whole figure for Oregon,
and declared that he loved every grain Of sand
that glittered in her moonlight and every pebble
on her shores. If England should go to war, he
protested that she would very speedily be swept
entirely from this continent.