The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-12

proper 10 adopt Tor the security and protection Of e
and for the maintenance Of our just title to that territory
In adopting for this purpose care should be taken
that nothing he done 70 violate the sPuauonS oil the con
Vention of 1871 which Is still IN ioreo.'
Again:
AT the end of the wear, notice should Congress think
it proper to make provision for giving that notice shall
have reached period when the national rights In Oregon
must either be abandoned firmly maintained That they
canuot be abandoned without sacrifice OF both national
honor aud interest, is too clear to admit Of doubt
"OTegon is part OF ths North American continent 10
which Il confidently affirmed the title Of the United States
is the best now In existence
The proposition of compromise at the parallel
of 40 degrees, he says distinctly, was by his
order Withdrawn and title 10 The whole territory
asserted, Immediately after the contemptuous rejec-
ton by the British minister of the offer of COM
promise.
And this fact and these opinions he communi.
Gates in his public message to all the world. Ii
would seem easy matter TO determine which
proposition that Of the senator from South Carolina
or the one which | submit, Is in accordance with
the views and intentions Of the President declared
in his message II is evident that the resolutions OF
that distinguished senator intended for but one
result He goes for all the President has done that
is in the grave and against all his present and living
action. He intends TO drive the President from the
unsnswerable assertion Of our ute to SO 40, to
bring him back to 4go, and TO force him TO the re-
linqushment Of the whole Of our territory above
this line.
| said, sr-or il ! did not, | say it now-that in
stead Of meeting the question which is presented to
the Senate by the resolutions which had the honor
to submit the resolutions ofthe senator from South
Carolina are directly an evasion Of the question
which is there presented. | present the whole
question Of title. The senator from South Carolina,
instead Of replying to that proposition comes for.
ward with some most ingenlously-drawn resolu-
tons, neither asserting nor denying tile to one
foot of the country but insdiousy draws attention
from the main fact for the purpose of making an
issue on what lawyers term an immateral point.
neglected speaking in reference TO this point to
allude TO the language Of one whose powerful intel
lect penetrates To the bottom of every question he
investigates. do not introduce it for the purpose
OF proving that which no man here will deny, but
simply 10 show that long since in this chamber our
situation this question has been boldly and fear
lessly defined. II is extract from the speech OF
tho great senator from the West, Mr.. Benton, ]
delivered here pending the Ashburton treaty-thnt
treaty which surrendered at summons our whole
military frontier on the northeast. He fully main!
taIRs the view have taken Of our title to Oregon
and every inch Of Oregon:
The fate OF Maine has doubled the dangers OF the Co.
lumb!a and nearly placed u IN position 10 choose be-
tween WAR and lNFAMY ia relation 20 that river"
And sir, Just succeeding this, the senator from
Missouri addresses the Senate in the following en-
phatIc language:
mouth Q! the Columbia and to that degree did Spain
aud maintain her title against Great Britain 1900 But tat
not the extent Of her assertion Of that right Against
the British she asserted TO the whole extent Of the
against the Russians tho only real claimants with
selyrs In that quarterly latitude s. Thus deriving
from Spain our title is good against England through
the cosst against Russia TO latitude IS deriving und,r
ana settlement Is good against all the world
umbia We discovered the river from It's mouth 20 M,
source took possession OF as territory and accord.
to it."
Sir have been startled occasionally in this cham
Der by expressions which have heard from esti-
mable and distinguished members Of this body In
relation to the territory OF Oregon. heard dis
unguished senator some few days since, (it may
have been owing to the excitement OF the moment
in the warmth of debate, but its effect upon the
country viii be the sam. ~ heard distinguished
senator speak sneerneiy OF contest for what he
was pleased to call the possession of a piece Of land
at the end of the EARTH Does that senator know,
the value, the position, the soil, the power of this
piece of land at the end of the earhi Sir if we can
credit tho statements of those who have visited it,
there is no finer region Of the earth on any portion
of it's surface: there is to be found within its limits
every lnducement which can he held out to enter
prlsing man. We have the highest authority for
the fact that the island of Vancouver in the
month of April the grass already foot high,
the temperature delightful that in all that month
the mercury, according to Fahrenheit, never sunk
below as, rising during the day to from 65 to 10.
II Is u Wcll-hHOWn TACT tnat the western slope OF
both Europe and America possesses a far milder
perature than their eastern slopes The western coast
of America has the advantage by some five degrees
oyer the western coast of Europe. The highest point
ofVancouver's island does not extend as far north as
Dublin and Liverpool, with the additional advan-
tage Of this milder climate under the same parallel
of latitude.
The Pacific coast of America IS miIder than the At
antic coast by some twelve or fifteen degrees. And
it is in this region between the parallels of ago and
$40, that exist on both faces of the Atlantic in
natural combination, the harbors with depth Of
water and convenient shores for marine arsenals
and depots; the timber for marine construction;
the fisheries to create and nurse maritime popua-
ton the high tides of "A northern latitude for docks.
But all these are enhanced above anything on the
Atlantic by the high temperature Of the winter
climate the generous tranquility Of the Pacific
ters, the great SIZE the grand features and the SUBJ
lime scenery which there blended in harmoni-
Gus unison with the grand ocean on which they
look out. God and nature point to Oregon as the
main column of this mighty empire 3 =. --.1
Mr.. MANGUM here desired to set Mr.. HANNEGAN
right, if his alusion, as he supposed was intended
for him.
Mr.. HANNEGAN having replied that his allusion
was to his remarks few days since
Mr.. MANeUM said, have taken occasion to ex-
press no opinion on the question in relation to what
might or might not be the value Of that country. In
truth, the opinions upon the subject so conflict
ing that have not been able to form satisfactory
one. Some have represented it as steril country,
without water and rain. Others again, among whom
is a friend of mine, member of the other House
from Ohio, say it is adapted to the production of
sugar and cotton, even far up the 6lst degree
Mr.. HANNEGAN. II it was adapted to the pro-
duction of sugar and cotton, 1t would not have en-
countered the opposition it has met here; its pos
session would at once have been secured, for that
very opposition would have composed It's warmest
support. Sir it is not good for the production of
sugar and cotton, nor is it destitute OF rain; for If
the honorable senator will examine the account Of
Lewis and Clarke, he will find, that during the win
ter months they were nearly drowned out.
1t is good for something better than sugar and
cotton; for Nootka sound commands the north Pa
cfc ocean, and will in lcss than half century, be-
come the grand emporium for the commerce of the
Oriental world. A compromise upon the 49th por-
allel is continually urged upon us. AS live, and
as shall anower to my constituents, would rather
give away every foot Of it. The island of Vancou-
is the power of Oregon and four-hfths of it, in
Guiding Nootka sound, lies above the parallel Of
49o. Let England possess Nootka sound, the finest
hatbor in the world, commanding as it does the
straits Of Fuca and consequently the access to Pu-