Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-07
Q wentp-Nintb Goneres s,
Speech Of MIR. wick,

American settlers IN the oregon territory
The House being in committee of the whole the
State Of the Union,
Mr. Wick addressed The committee as follows:
Mr.. Chairman-When. a former occasion, | adj
dressed the committee Of the whole House on the state oil
the Union upon the notice resolutions, declared 10 DC
my pun pose speak 'to the country, IS the Gus
tom here but the House, and to the House only On
this occasion would willingly speak TO the House, II the
House here, but it (the House) is not here, but
has gone the other hall 10 be Gin at the death Ito wit
falling Of the curtain the close Of the notice
drama enacted there-I certain but that will
for once follow the fashion, and speak "to the country
from the hall of legislation. am the inclined to
take this course because upon the occasion to which
have alluded avoided the discussion Of certain topics oil
delicate nature, concerning which would have been
glad TO have spoken the voice Of those represent al
lude to topics involving title to or IN oregon the
Of diplomacy pursued and proper yet to be pur
sued in reference to the recognition thereof by the Pres
dent and the natural results of the legislation recommend
ed by the Executive thought then that it was in bad
discuss those topics here. in the other hail. ex
cept session. upon the consideration of treaty
and have not changed my opinion But, SIR since then
these delicate subjects have been rudey brought into the
halls Of Congress and literally tomahawked into shreds
This nation has a single diplomatic which i'm
pudence here could disclose aud the rudet efforts have
been unsuccesfuy made to drag forth and expose The
opinions and intentions of the Executive.
Those opinions and intentions have been guessed at or
inferred every gentleman guessing nferng to suit him.
self and the result of those guesses differences have
been openly proclaimed IN the face OF the country and the
world Sir far lay in the power of members of Con-
gess the delicate of national interest have
been pacarded upon the walls, and a gaping world has
looked in wonder at the ndiscetiOn. Subjects have
been openly heraded which the interests Of the country
require should be left in hands where they could be deli
caely and shrewdy managed-in the hands which the
constitution has assigned them-I the treaty making
powerthe President and the Senate in secret session.
Our title Oregon has been logged in, by the head and
shoulders, be questioned deprecated, might suit
al - haaa
spoken into the GLORIOUS uncertainty of law suit The
concerning Oregon, recommended by the Execu
tse have heeH arragned unwise and tending pro-
duce and the loss of Oregon as the result OF the dis
ard defeats of that In the conflict of power
fol minds, and ye, powerful Wills assuming to speak
of the present opinions and intentions of the Executive
things have been said which might lead the casual heare
reader to infer that Of these opinions and inen
tons are known than the Executive communications to
Congress have disclosed that those communications
fairly susceptible Of duplicate meaning.
Now SIR propose to speak briefly Of title TO and
in Oregon, justify the action the subject of Oregon
both of the party to which belong and of the Executive
and to defend the same against the charge Of inconsistent
cy and ndiscreion, the action o inacton of this Con-
gress only excepted.
Weak as well as mischievous minds often delight them
selves finding prOfundiy where all is plain and easy
marvels where all common intricacies where all is
straight in dreaming of and making differences from,
imagined facts in taking metaphy steal view of subjects
to which common sense only is fairly applicable; and in
converting ducks and geese and such like CATTLE into
witches and warlocks, and lang nebbed things Ii is
that weakness to this pervesencss that is to be
trbuted much of what has been said written, thought
supposed. believed, imagined concerning Oregon, our
title therein thereto and the action of the Democratic
party and of the Executive in reference thereto NO one
will imagine (of course) that speaking OF what has
been sid, &C., in Congress these subjects. I am
speaking of things which have been said, de- in a very
supplementary and uncongressonal sort of way.
To attain my object. need only give a statement of
facts A sDla tale will all avilI
God gave Oregon together with the rest of the world,
In process Of time, a church dignitary resident
Rome be recognized by all Christian nations
Gods viceregent EARTH and such, authorized TO
vey and grant portions of the earth unoccuped by any
Christian nation his pleasure He granted Oregon
the king or kingdom Of Spain will not pause to CUES.
ton establish the power of this dgnitary make the
grant II is sufficient that such power then recognized
by Great Britain who prOhted thereby and took Ireland
der similar grant, and acquesced in the grant Of Oregon
TO Spain. This estops that power from Directing for the
validity Of grants made by this dignafy and his sole
right partition The world contested, until
king England who, because of his able pie
Nv and exemplary characterize not having been famous
for wickedness except the small vice of adultery and wife
murder-he a connoisseur in wives-and perhaps a
small matter OF frarcide-was declared defender OF the
faith and because the Pope would allow him to kill
another wife, he up kind of opposition line in the
religious world and was declared Tor declared hmse)
head of the church. and assumed the right make grants
of portions of the earth to himself
Spain was in the occupancy Of Oregon, Cat Nootka.
successor of that king of England already designated
touousIy, unIawfuy, and with force and the
LAWYERS write -enteTed upon this possession of Span
probably pretence of grant to himself and his
cessors made by the aforesaid English monarch Spain
"threw herself upon her wed rights, and withou;
much ceremony retook Noolka. This was enough for
England With that spoiler of Gods earth, that
universal depreato upon the rights of nations whose be-
nevoence is proclaimed by itself Trades against domes-
~, slavery as IL exists directly and avowedy in the Unit
in InIia in fhah of HIM
dred nations swept from exstence-in China in the blood
of fighting defend themselves against the
sion of poisonous drug which forced upon them that
British commerce might faten and thrive-in her own
home dominion in code of laws the result of which is
slavery not the less abhorent to God and that is
accomplished by fraud and is indirect in fOrm-and every
where in a thousand acts of arrogance, cruelty, and
wrong-I saw with that power, forcible entry, or
fraudulent one is material out Of which to begin title,
TO be perfected by diplomacy by force circumstances
nav require treaty forced upon Spain, in virtue
of which England acquired the acknowledgment Of her
right to occupy Oregon jointly with SPAIN In this ai
ude Of affairs the United States purchased the right OF
Spain, and superadded as to the valley OF the Columbia
river the nchoae title resulting from The discovery made
by Capt Gray and the exploration Of TINT valley by Lew
is and Clarke and the expedition under their command
of course purchased the territory subject 10 the in
cumbrauce created by the treaty Of Ont occupancy made
BY England with Spain. This ncumbrance is more seri-
Gus as a difficulty ia title than if it held by
ton less aggressive and arrogant than is England
what similar incumbrance recognised and continued
by treaty. on our pat with England made in 1873 and
again in 1927 extended till party the other should
give years notice Of its abrogaton. Thus the matter
rested until meeting of the democratic convention
Baltimore in 1914. In the time, British subjects
had occupied "al Of Oregon they had an undoubed
right to do under the treaty, a hunting and trading
ground and position, and bad added to their trading
Adjustments detached agricultural positions, which they
occupied without question our part Our citizens, in
great numbers had also emgated to Oregon, and made
i fho oil ~