The North-Carolina standard., 1846-03-11


she is determined to retain any portion of 1t, will
she not prepare do it at once at the point OF the
baYonet and the cannons mouth 10 expect
anything else, is, 10 calculate largely upon the
blindness or tame submission OF that naughty
power. The gentlemen appear, themselves, to
have some apprehension after all that their plan
may not work. so peacefully and quietly; and
they attempt to prepare and reconcile us to the
war which their plan my bring about by telling
US that it will make Great Britain the aggressor;
and they ampify most eloquently upon the mani
fold advantages of being in the defensive. Il am
willing TO ad nit that there are great and manifest
advantages in being on the defensive IN any con-
troversy, whether it be of Warllke or other
character. Butt would seem to me that no war
will possibly grow out of this question IN which
Great Britain wilnot necessarily and unavoidably
be the aggressive party. Even If the notice is
given, and war should ensue, she must begin it,
All will admit that we can populate that country
more rapidly than she can The gentlemen who
propose to get the hole country, If the notice be
not given count largely if not entirely on our su-
perior advantages for coonizing that country. So
long, therefore, as we can do that, and thereby
secure by our majorcs the control OF the coun-
try, what more do we ask2 What is there to
fight for2 Nothing certainly, on our part Our
position would give US every advantage. So far,
therefore, as the question of war is concerned the
practical results of both plans would seem to me
10 be the same. The one may bring it on little
more speedily than the other, war is as likely 10
follow the one as the other, and in either case
Great Britain must begin it. . . .--.....
| am, therefore, in favor of the notice, because
believe thai there IS disposition the part OF
almost every member OF this House TO take pos.
session of some portion of tkat terriory-to en-
courage our citizens 10 emlgrate there ana 10
make permanent and exclusive settlements, and to
extend our laws and institutions over them. This
cannot be DONE in my estimation, consistently
with subsising treaty stipulatlons, until after the
notice is given and the treaty abrogatcd The
notice is the only way in which we can in proper
faith rid ourselves of our obligations TO Great
Britain And this course is as nCct ssary or those
who think our claim docs not extend beyond The
40 deg. as for those who would be satisfied with
nothing less than the whole. For the subjects of
Great Britain have the rights of ingress and
egrcss and of trade into every portion oil the
terrtory-to the south as well as 10 The north OF
40 deg and to the south as we'll as 10 the north
Of the Columbia To curtali or destroy these
privileges by any measures which shall operate
either directly or remotely TO produce such re-
suit cannot Justly be done without first putting
an end to the treaty of 1927. And very much
doubt whether we shall be able to get the sigma
ture of the President TO any laws, the immediate
or remote effect of which would be to exclude
Great Britain from any portion OF The country
when once concluded are invested by the con-
stitntion of the United States with the force and
name of laws, and by that same instrument the
President is bound by his oath TO see that the laws
are faithfully cxccuIed-taithfuily is the word
according 10 their direction, their spirit, their let
ter, and in other way.
! Again | am for the notice, because, II we are
to take exclusive possession OF any portion OF
the territory, to proceed with the notice is more
! nd obo hoor6 IN
Nv to get possession of the country, would carry
with it the appearance of effort to deceive-an
attempt secretly to undermine, which could really
deceive no one, and which is equally against good
! faith and fair dealing. Our country should al
ways remember to fulfil, with scrupulous exact
ness, all her obligations-her contracts-all the
pledges of her faith, whether they relate to the
payment of money to territorial rights or to COM
mcrciaI privileges To keep them to the promise
and TO break them in act and in deed, is unbccom-
ing our frank, our manly character, as people
To proclaim the inviolability of treaties at the
same time that we are secretly and sneakingy y
seeking 10 empower ourselves to violate them
with personal impunity, if may so speak OF a
government, is very near akin to that 1aIh which
has been ingloriously immortallzed as PumaeG
fdeS-Judas Like, it sautes with kiss that it may
the more completely deceive and betray.
Again: I am in favor Of the notice, because
believe that the giving of 1t nOU holds out the only
plausible means of preventing war between the
two countries The postponement of the notice
from 1927 to this time has increased and multi
piled the difficulties with which the controversy
was originally surrounded. And it is difficult to
see what else could have been anticipated. For
the interests of Great Britain have been and are
now daily increasing in extent and permanency.
making all the while stronger and stronger ap-
peals to her pride and avarice TO maintain them.
At first she had but the moving tent and the tenn
porary stockade Now, she has the permanent
dwelling and the bristling Notifications. At first,
she had but the roaming hunter, as wild and un-
settled as the game he pursued. Now, she has
the fixed agriculturst and the settled farmer. Now,
she has there a scattered population In a few
| years this population will be doubled, adding con-
santly and daily TO- the difficulties of satisfacto-
ry and peaceablo adjustment. Never was the ap-
plication of that holy injunction, to agree with
thine adversary quickly, whilst thou art in the
way with him." more appropriate and pressing
than it is in relation to this present controversy.
Let US profit by it. The notice is all-important
as leading rresistibly to settlement of this mat
ter in some way IT,. g.-....- 81 -g.-
There is still another consideration influencing
nv mind in favor of the notice, growing out of
the history Of this Oregon question. In 1918
this question was brought up for negotiation and
compromises; and so intimately connected with
the peace of the two countries was it then regard
ed, that its agitation was attended with the most
Injurious effects upon the commerce, upon the
n. n ;aJoaJ ,non aI tho va rious nursuitS