The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-11

100 600 OF whom resided west OF the hhesnany
mountains and net more than 300, 600 weot OF the
Mississippi river. A steamboat was curiosity
and almost unknown upon the western waters
Tho only praciieabe route 10 Oregon was sup
posed 10 be by doubling Cape Horn at sea, and thu.
10 make the distance by sea from $1,000 TO O,Ooo
miles. and being situated more than 900 miles by
land from the mouth of the Missouri, the road ran
through a vast wilderness, over lmpassaole noun,
tains surrounded by numerous tribes Of war tkeand
savage Indians. Even down 10 90 late period az
1924 many Of our far-seeiag and abest statesmen
believed that the Rocky mountains must become
the Ultima hale -four republie and that Il was I'M
POSSIBLE that there should be other than an indie
pendent government on the other side. But since
thai time we have made the most rapid strides, both
in population and la our means Of quick and easy
intercommunies,ion. We have nov sdyan ced, 10
The year 1916, TO a population Of near 20 OOO, 600;
more than 5000, 900 Of whom were residing west
OF the Allegheny mountains, and about 500 600
were west Of the Mississippi Steam has been APP
plied> more extensively and more successfully IN
navigation railroads have been constructed and
distant places have beeu brought near 10 each other
We have discovered the South pass al the head OF
the La Pste; and, instead o. a voyage Of 2O,vV0
milss, we have seen our hardy pioneers OF the
West, with their stout hearts and .brawny arms,
without the aid Of government penetrating these
mountains, and through them opening wagon
way Gr their carts IN which they carry their little
all, and actually making settlements by thousands
IN the distant territory beyond them. At that time,
in 1878, we wanted the Oregon territory only for
hUnung, fishing, and trading with the natives. Now
we want Il for far different purposes-for agrieul-
tafe and permanent settlement; and 10 compass
these ends, we must have exclusive sovereignty
and sssasioni and during the continuance OF the
present treaty arrangements for the joint occupa-
lion Of the country, can we do any act which looks
TO the exerlion OF exclusive rights and powers over
the territory Of oregonl II we can, there Is much
pausIbhty and force in the position, that 10 give
the notice is wholly unnecessary and inexpedient.
But Mr. ADAMS, who was Secretary Of Stale at
the date OF the negouatlon Of this treaty, has al
ready favored US with his views. lie objects even
10 the use Of the term OF Joint occupation, and
sIrues The convention reserving TO our citizens
only commercial, trading, and navigation rights and
privileges, and Of forming settlements with view
Of carrying out these objects. Mr.. CALHOUN,
whose opinion always has much weight with me,
susiains this position, and emphatiealIy expressed
himself that this government has no mower, ill the
OF the treaty. eilher to grant, or to prom
ise grant, lands in that territory. In addition to
this the President Of the United States, Mr.. Polk,
expressed his opinion In the debate the Oregon
bill IN 1929 that inhibited by the treaty Of
1878 from establishing forts in Oregon, or making
grants Of land; and IN his annual message to this
session Of Congress, he refuses to commit himself
in favor of making promises of grants Of land to our
settlers in these words: Pending the years notice,
il is worthy Of consIde rHuon whether stipulation
TO this effect may be made consistently with the
spirit Of that convention" Moreover, after full
discussion in l643 on the right and power TO make
promises to grant lands, pending the treaty Of
lois, in the Senate Of the United States, that body
was nearly equally divided. Superadded to all this
the authority Of the last Congress- when it was
decided by large majority that we could neither
make grants or promises OF grants of land without
first giving notice, and terminating the treaty OF
joint occupancy. But still have another authority
before mo, which deserved much consideration from
search which the writer had used in compiling all
the authorities relating to title tn Oregon and
because his book had been published by the author
ity Of this House, thereby TO a certain extent en-
dorsed by IL. refer to Grpenhow's Oregon and Cal
ifosna. Neither Of the parties could be justified,
during the subsistence Of the agreement, in order
ing the erection Of forts the mouth Of the Colum-
bia, where they certainly are not required for pro-
lection against any third power, and in promising TO
secure large tracts Of land in that territory by patent
to its citizens subjects Had the bill passed by
the Senate in l843 become a law, the convention
would from that moment have been virtually and
violently rcscinded; and any attempt to enforce the
measures would undoubtedly have been resisted by
Great Britain" Here, then, we have the opinion
of our own author, endorsed by the Congress of the
United States, denying the authority for the
proposed to be pursued by those gentlemen who
profess so much fondness for peace, and avowng
that the inevitable consequence Of notice must be
war.
But shall not content myself with American au-
thorilies this subject, though think enough has
been adducod to make any member pause and hest
tate in his advocacy Of the proposed measures for
the settlement Of the country however clear and de-
cisive his own convictions may be to the contrary
have the Parliamentary Debates for the year
lS43, from which intend to show how the meas
&c laws md v,uhto Of
ment is viewed by the other contracting party, as
expressed in the Parliament of Great Britain. Lord
Palmerston--the acknowledged leader of the WING
party of England on all subjects pertaining their
foreign relatons-speaking in reference to the bill
passed by the Senate in l643 extending the laws OF
tiers grants of certain quantities Of land when the
title was finally vested in the United States, said;
"wha happened lately about that oregon> question:
Why the senate have actually passed bill Tor
taking orcble Of the whole Of that territory
ton that the American claim this territory would mme
diaely be acquiesced in by Great Britain IL it was only
urged In what pleased to call proper II IL
impossible conceive that this bill should pass the Other
branch of the legislatures but il it to pass and to be
acted upon would be declaration Of war 1t would be
tho Invasion and seizure OF territory in dispute by viz
vor.n .t-a
This speech of Lord Palmerston called out re-
ply from the premier--Sir Robert Peel-n these
wards:
"The noble lord says tho adoption OF that bin would be
case of will not discuss hypothetical of war
when as have said the executive government has sgni
fed its desire to maintain peace and to effect sasfac
tory adjustment Of the question OF the Oregon territory
the Of the executive and
VIII believe that viii give its consent to Legislative
at variance with these assurances" "a
Pass your laws, then, for the protection Of ou,
people in oregon--build your forts and man them
promise grants of land 10 the Settlers and thereby
secure them homes, and leave unrepenled in full
fprcs existing seass--snd instead Of peace you viii
hsse war instead of taking gradual and quiet pos
session Of the whole country, you will be called on
forthwith to buckle on your aruor and struggle IN
fierce battle for every inch of ground you retain. Al
negotiation must cease. The English government
after expressing the views above quoted, would be
dishonorcd, after the passage Of such act, ethel
to treat to entertain proposition to treat, till III
withdrawal or repeal. Then, il must be evident
that we cannot take this method Of securing Oregon
without meeting the British lion in our way, anc
without subjeeting ourselves TO the charge Of bad
faith, and indeed, without dishonor. insist, then
upon the proposition which | conceive has beer
most clearly proven, that those who pursue thi'
course of measures, and yet refuse notice, will in
yolve our government in certain, but most IN
glorious war.
There is but one other way left open, and in tina
al