The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-10

Ter, whether they believe our uue 10 oregon 10 oe
unquesonable; and if they do, whether they can
oppose any measure for asserting IT, IL they be-
llevc that II is not good then there is some excuse
/ for them IN opposing this measure. But, say these
gentlemen, no; we believe it TO be good. Then why
not pass this resolution for the purpose of enabling
| US 10 take possession Of what is our OWN
Was II not a burning, bliserng, whitening shame
that the cross of 81. George should be found floating
on American soiR
Here Mr. l.. IA SbIns exclaimed, Yes; and il VIII
| blister foreheads like the mark CAM Must
this reproach be endured, because, forsooth, If we
undertake TO remove it, We shall encounter the dan
ger Of war; IL you will give the people bayones,
| they will defend their soil.
This sir, is no western question ! rscollect that
we had one question before us here about yielding
up American soil, and, after declaring unanimously
that Il was ours we did yield II. IL was given up
! by treaty. The West submitted TO this alienation
of our territory, because the part Of the country
which was most Immediately interested IN II were
wiling TO give II up for dollars and cents. But such
will never be the case when western territory is IN
question The western people viii never yield
their soil They will not purchase peace by yield
ing their territory nor sell their rights for all the
gold that could be offered for them. All the mines
| Of Peru would not buy from them inch Of their
land, inherited from their fathers.
! Notwithstanding all that was said TO the dan
gers OF war, he had yet 10 learn that fit forced
upon us, the American people were not able TO sus-
tain II with vigor, and come out of with honor.
|
question, then ask that we may be the Judges Of
the course that ia to he pursued, That is what we
did when the South came here and asked US not TO
defend their soil, but TO admit into the Union
foreign tfrritory-an independent nation. u, up
on that Question, we had hestated, II would LA We
been said that we wished To back out. II we had
asked for postponement Of il, il would have been
considered that we had abandoned it You said this
is the golden moment We can now obtain the
country which naturally belongs TO us. IL you do
moi he is ayiSl IN,
back out. We have Just right to Oregon, as a
/ part of our own coantry. Then why give il up
You say that we cannot obtain il now without a
war, and that must wait. What propnety is
there IN postponing this question, when the other
was pressed to so speedy an issue' live IN coun-
try where the people not in the habit Of yielding
anything TO the arrogance Of foreign power. Sir,
! do not know exactly what is meant by national
honor, Of which gentlemen have been speaking, but
do know what In a national dishonor; and Il il TO
suffer the British government TO take Oregon, after
we have become satisfied that we have exclusive
rights in that territory. We say that Great Britain
has no right there, and why should we not now tell
her so by giving this notice,
see no propriety (sad Mr.. X in taking Oregon
by stealth II il is our own, why steal il But the
policy recommended TO us is to be quiescent to suf-
fer the country be settled, and then take posses
sion Of il. This is what called "a wise and
mastery inactivity" ! prefer more open and d.
rect course. know the people Of Oregon. The
same blood courses III ough my veins that is Pin
theirs. There some Of them who have
: warmed their feet at the came family hearth
with mine, and learned their letters in the
same log school-house. They do not ask you
; TO defend them, but TO unshacke their arms
: and unite their legs Dsentangle them from the
perpleXtes Of this negotlatlon-Of this convention
which gives rights there to British subjects Let
them protect themselves fall in the con-
hct. In such a conflict, sir, victory will be
certain, as we are assured by the deeds of their ia
4 theirs who went before them in the defence OF
: the frontier. These the people who went be-
: fore you, like the cloud by day, and the pill
lar of fire by night, rolling back the red men OF
. the woods TO give passage to civilization, as the
waters of the Red rolled back by the great
Jehovah, to give passage to the children of Israel
D These men had been accused Of desre to plunge
{ the country into They did not desire
war; all they asked was an opportunity to cultivate
5 alone to enjoy their rights. But if their rights
were invaded, they would be the last people in the
world to shrink from their defence. They scorn
all pretences They know little Of your diplomatic
hands, they viii let proud England know that they
are able to defend Oregon. But they will not take
possession of territory with the forms and preence
of peace, with view to fortify themselves for
They had read carefully everything that had been
written the subject Of the title Some Of them who
were not very good scholars, have had these doc
uments read to them by their fresides. They had
thus become we'll acquainted with the subject. They
satisfied that Oregon belonged to US, and it
no longer a question with them whether you should
give this notice. The question of title being settled,
there remains but one duty for to perform, (said
Mr. X Ito pass this notice ending Tie joint occupa-
ton
The Executive made proposition to Great Brit
ain TO compromise this question by dividing the
territory by the 49h parallel. l disposed 10
censure the Executive for having made such propo.
sition, SUR Ounded az he was with embarrassments
growing out OF former negotiations, and the posi-
ton in which he found the question when he came
into power; but am free to say that congratulate
him, not only for his sake, but that of the
country, that his offer was rejected Yet venture
TO predict, that such an offer will never again be
made and, situated as we now are the country will
never sustain any executive in making it, No en-
barrassment can be thrown in our way to prevent
from holding our claim to the whole country up to
$40 40 unless the British government should dis
own the act Of their minister in rejecting our Offer
and propose now to accept it. This, ! think, that
government will not do; and, if not, we shall at
length find ourselves clear of the shackles of nego-
tiation, and free to exercise Our full rights.
But, at all events, the President has
mended that we give this notice Suppose we do
not do it, Will it not be intimation to the Brit
ish government that Congress does not concur with
the President in his views to the validity Of
our titleI and will it not convey humiliating
acknowledgment, that did not feel ourselves able
to vindicate our title' Great Britain was now in
the possession Of all the right that she claimed that
of Joint occupancy; and until this notice given,
she would never settle the question by negotiation,
because negotiation wonld not probably so ternii-
nate to place her in better condition. 1t is
my opinion that, if you will end this convention
the question will then be brough, up with an inten-
ton TO do something with Il; but, until then,
negotiation will be all twadde. The gentleman
from South Carolina [Mr. RpErrl hac rgued
& against this policy Of taking any steps, at this tme
which might lead to war with Great Britain
lest we should be considered by the nations Of Eu-
rope as propagandists, and thus bring upon our
selves the hostility of all the world. But we have
no desire to 60 beyond our own territories. We
confne ourselves to our own soil; and ought not
to inculcate principles and establish our instu-
tons there, fearless Of consequences 1t was our
duty to see our own country covered with our own
institutions; and it privilege to admit other
communities to participation with US in the bene-
fits of free government regardless Of any combina-
tions that might Inc forn,ed bv N, str,nole