The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-02-24
SPEECH OF Mr.. WINTHROP OF
MASSACHUSETTS.

After preliminary remarks, MIR. w. went
on TO say: / maintain
l. That this question, from its very nature,
is peculiarly and eminentIy one for negotia-
ton, compromise, and amicable adjustment
9. That satisfactory evidence has not We,
been afforded that no compromise which the
United States ought to accept can oe eflec-
ted.
3. That, if no other mode of nmicable set
Element remains, arbitration ought to be resor
ted to; and that this Government cannot re-
lieve itself from its responsibility TO maintain
the peace of the country while arbitration is
still untried.
| perceive, sir, that the brief time allowed
us in debate will compel nae TO deal in the
most summary way with these propositions,
and that | must look 10 other opportunities
for doing full justice either to them or TO my
self. Let me hasten, however, 10 do them
what justice | may.
There are three distinct views in which
this question may be presented. as one pecu-
liarly for negotiation and compromise. In
the first place, there is the character of the
subject matter of the controversy. Unques-
tionably there may be rights and claims net
of nature to admit Of compromise. and as to
which there must be absolute and uncondi-
tional REIMBURSEMENT on one side or the 9TH
er, or a conflict is inevitable. l may allude
TO the impressment of our seamen as an cx-
ampe-a practice which could not be renew
ed by Great Britain at any moment, or under
any circumstances, without producing imme-
diate hcstilites. But here we have as the
bone Of our contention, a vast and vacant ter
ritory. thousands of miles distant from both
countries. entirely capable of division, and
the loss of any part had almost said of the
whole, of which, ould not be of the smallest
practical moment to either Of them-a terri
lory the sovereignty OF which might remain
in allegiance for half century longer without
serious inconvenience or dstriment TO ANY,
body, and in reference TO which there is Gel
tainly not the slightest pretence of necessity
for summary or precipitate action. We need
ports on the Pacific. AS 10 land, we have
millions Of acres of better land still unoccu-
pied on this side Of the mountains. What a
spectacle il would be, in che sight of men and
angels, for the two countries which claim 10
have made the greatest advances in civilian
tiop and Christianity, and which are bound
together by SO many ties Of nature and art.
of kinGrsd and of commsrce, each Of them
with possessions vast and various, 10 he
seen engaging in a conflict of brute force ( r
the immediate and exclusive occupation of
the W hole Of Oregon! The annals OF barbar-
ism would afford no parallel TO such scene /,
In the second place, sir, there is the char
actei OF the title to this territory on both sides
| shall attempt no analysis or history OF this
title. ! am certainly not disposed to vindi
Gale the British little; and as to the Ameri-
can, there is nothing 10 be added To the sue
cessive exposiiOns of the eminent statesmen
and diplomatists by whom it has been illus
traIed. But. after all, what title i, is To
fight about Who can pretend that it is free
from all difficulty or Doubt Who wouli
take an acre Of land upon such title as all
investment, without the warranty of some
thing more than the two regiments ofrinemen
for which your bill providesl OF THAT is the
title made up! Vague traditions Of settle
ment, musty records Of old voyages, conilic
ting claims Of discovery, disputed principles
of public law, acknowledged violations of the
rights of aboriginal eccUpants-these are The
elements had almost said the beggarly ell
ements-out Of which oor clear and indispu-
table title is compounded. declare 10 you,
sir, that as often as / thread the mazes of this
il seems 10 me 10 be disput.
as TO the relative rights Of two parties 10 a
territory, TO which neither Of them has any
real right whatever; and | should hardly
blame the other nations OF the world for in
sisting on coming in for scot and lot in The
partition of it. Certainly, five should be so
false to our character as civilized nations as
to fight about it, the rest Of Christendom
would be justified, if they had the power, in
-. II. .,I al.
age tribes of our own continent, and turning |
US both out altogether.
Why, look at single fact in the history Of |
his controversy. In 1918 we thought our
lille to Oregon as clear and unquestionabe
rs we think it now. We proposed then to
livide it with Great Britain, without the
slightest reference to any third party in inter
,st. Yet at that very moment Spain was in
ofthose rights ofdiscuvery. which.
ince they were transferred TO us by the trea
! Of Florida, we consider as constituting one
If the strongest elements in our whole case.
L is most notable incident that in the dis
.ussions of 81 8 not word was said in regard
,iiher to the rights Of Spain or to the Moot
IA convention. Yet now Great Britain and
he United States are found placing their
principal reliance on these two sources Of IL
lie. Is there not enough in this historical
act 10 lead US to distrust our own judgments
nd our own conclusions, and TO warn us OF
he danger Of fixing our views so exclusively
IN our own real or imagined wants or inter-
SIS as 10 overlook the rights Of others!
Let me not be misunderstood, Mr.. Speak
r. have no hesitation in saying that ]
ones,Iy think. upon as dispassionate review
f the correspondence as | am capable of,
nat the American title to Oregon is the best
ow in existence. But honestly think also
nat the whole character Of the title is too
onfused and complicated to justify any arbi-
AIRY and exclusive assertions OF right, and f;
lat compromise of the question is every
ay consistent with reason, interest, and hon. I
r.
There is one element in our title, however,
hich I confess that have not named, and :
which may not have done entire justice.
mean that new revelation of right which
as been designated as the right Of our mani
st destiny 10 spread orer this rhote continent
has been openly avowed in leading ad-
inistration journal that this, after all, is the
.st and strongest title one so clear so pre- A