Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-10
SPEECH OF Mr.. WINTHROP,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,
Housr or REPRESENTATIVES, JasUAnr 8, ls4s
ON THE OREGON QUESTION

HousE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, JANUARY 8, 1s45.
Mr.. WINTHROP having obtained the floor proceeded to
say that he understood the Chair to have decided that upon
the pending motion to refer the Committee the Whole
the state OF the Union bill for raising regiments Of rife
men, the whole question Of Oregon was open to debate The
House too had virtually sanctioned this decision by declining
To sustain the previous question few since Mr.
could not altogether agree in the fitness Of such decision
but unwilling to omit the opportunity which afforded
for expressing some views upon the subject
My honorable colleague (Mr ADAas) in his remarks yes
terday, and the chairman Of the Committee Foreiga Affairs
this morning, have alluded TO the pursued by them
year. and have told that they both voted for giving me-
date nstce Great Britain of intention terminate
the earliest day what has been called the convention of Joint
occupancy Though much humber member Of the House,
may be permitted to alude to the fact that voted against
that proceeding last year. and to add that intend do
now may be allowed also to remind the House Of series
Of resolutions upon this subject which offered to their cons
deraon days ago. know whether those resou-
tons will emerge from the pile Of matter under which
they lie buried upon your table. If they should how
ever am by means that shall propose lay
them down again without discussion. Nothing certainly
further from my purpose in offering them than involve this
House in stormy debate about peace and war; Such de-
bates am quite sensible, of most injurious influence on
the public quiet and prosperity, and have disposition
render myself responsible for renewal Of them desired
only then, and desire only now place before the House
and before the country before is too late, plain and
precise opinions which sincerely and strongly entertained
by myself and which believe be less strongly enter
regard the present most critical state Of foreign relations
desire to do this on many accounts and to do it without
delay An idea to have been gaining ground
quarters and to have been somewhat ndusousy propagaed
in all quarters that there is difference Of sentiment in this
House in reference the which has been pursued
which seems about to be pursued hereafter in regard this
unfortunate Oregon controversy. Now sir upon
points connected with it there may be difference of opinion
believe there none upon the point that the United States
have rights in Oregon which not to be rehnqushed
believe there is upon the point that if the controversy
with Great Britain should result in war; country and the
rights OF country both sides of the Rocky Mountains
are to be maintained and defended with all the power and all
the Ugor possess believe there is none either upon the
point that such Of this controversy at the present
men it to ourselves guardians Of the public safe
y to bestow something than the ordinary annual
toni might better say the ordinary annual inatenfion-
upon our national deences and to place country pos
ture of preparation for meeting the consequences which
may befai it.
So far Mr. Speaker believe there are common opinions
united thoughts and counse in both branches of Congress-
and indeed throughout the county, without party
But certainly there wide differences Of sentiment among
ourselves and among constituents upon other less
teresting and substantial points. And Of those
who believe in the necessity in the expedency of conceal
ing these differences have very little faith in the hush po
ICY have very little faith in the wisdom of keeping up
appearance Of entire unanimity upon question like this
where such unanmy does not exist for the sake of
stage effect and with view Of making profounder impress
SION upon the spectators Every body understands such
theatre of their presenment be side Of the Atlantic
or the other.
Because Sir Robert Peel and Lord John RUSSELL and Lord
Aberdeen and Lord Palmeston thought fit unite in
and concden expression of sentiment in the Houses
Of Parliament eight nine months ago. during the were
membered debate the Presidents inaugural address, dc
not know do not believe, that the people of the United
States were any the more awed from the maintenance of their
previous views and purposes regard Oregon than
these distinguished leaders Of opposite parties had exhibited
something less of dramatic unity and had INDUCED rather
freely those diverses Of sentiment which ordinarily
lend interest to their discussions Nor am Of opinion
the other hand that similar this side of the ocean
is to have any material influence the of the British
Government hold, at any rate that it is better for all
to speak minds to declare honest Judgments
and to look to the influence Of remarks upon
people and policy, than upon those Of Great
Britain.
may, add sir that in presenting these resolutions at the
earliest opportunity which afforded me- actuated by
the desire to put my views upon record before the return
ing steamers should bring back to from England the angry
ecrmnaons which the late message Of the President may
not mprobaby give OCCASION and before the passions of
people were inAamed by any violent outbreaks of British feel
ing, which that document is so likely to excite.
am perfectly aware Mr. Speaker that express the views
which entertain when may, shall not escape reproach
and imputaon from quarters Of the House. know
that there those by whom the slightest syllable of dissent
from the extreme views which the Administration would
recently to have adopted, will be eagerly seized upon evil
dence Of Of what they call patriotism and American
spirit spurn all such mputatons in advance spurn the
notion that patriotism only be manifested by pungng the
nson into war; that the love Of ones country
only be measured by ones hatred any other country Sir
the American spirit that is wanted at the present moment
wanted for highest HONOR wanted for dearest interests
is that which daes TO confront the mad impulses Of
fetal popular sentiment and TO appeal to the sober second
thoughts Of moral and intelligent Every schooboy can
decam about honor and war; the British lion and the Anne
can eagle and II is Of that the camest Of
have hearstrngs which may vbate for moment even
such vulgar touches But thanks to the institutions OF
education and religion which fathers ounded the great
mass of the American people have also intelligence and
moral which will later respond appeals Of
higher and nober sort if will only have the nness to
make them II was remark Of old English courtier
century and half ago, who threatened to take the
sense Of the people important question: that he would
take the of the people and beat him twenty to one
And might have been something better than good Joke in
relation the people Of England the time il was uttered
But am not ready regard applicable our own ntei
gent and educated American people at the present day. An
appeal TO the nonsense of the American people may succeed
for hour but the stern Of the country will soon re-
assert ITSELF and will carry the day in the end
But Mr. Speaker there other reproaches beside those
Of my opponents to which may be thought to subject N.Y.
self by the formal PRONUNCIATION Of the which enter
tain this subject II has been said in some Quarters that
not good party policy such doctrines that the
friends Of the Administration desire nothing so much as an
for branding the Wings Of the Union as the peace
party and that the only for in the minority to pur
TO Drag about readiness for war with those that
bag oudest Now am entirely sensible that il an oppo-
nent Of the present Administration willing to make
party instrument Of this Oregon negotiation he might
find in It's most recent history the ampest materials for throw
ing back upon the majority in this House the mputaons in
which they have been heretofore ready indulge How
easy and obvious would be for ask where where was
the heroic determination Of the Executive to indicate our
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