The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-23
CONGRESS AL.
SPEECH OF Mr.. HOUSTON

II f1OOolON ODthlHcu hOoiB "'N
dressed the committee as follows
i Mr.. CHAIRMAs! Ii was my expectation until q
asy or two ago TO have voted upon the resolution,
requesting the President Of tho United States TO give
Dotice TO Great Britain to terminate the joint con-
yenon between the United States and Great Britain,
in relation to the Oregon territory, without remark
my purpose not 10 participate in the debate and
would have adhered to that purpose, but for the
l sasng. might say embarrassing, Tcumstances
i with which am surrounded
find myself differing, widely differing from many
l Of my southern friends, as we'll as aporon OF my
own colleagues. Under these circumstances, feel
IL due alike TO them, TO myself, and, more than all,
10 my constituents, TO place before the country some
| Of the reasons which will influence and direct my
| course upon this occasion.
do not intend to contribute to the feeling which
seems 10 prevail 10 some extent, 10 make this par
ty or sectional question. And while totally dis
approve Of the remarks made at an early stage OF
| this debate, by an honorable member from New
York, Mr. p. kIs0 in the same frank and friend
" spirit, must be allowed TO e2pro5s my deep re-
Ire, at the observations in reply from the gentleman
from South Carolina, MIR. RmETr, as well az those
Of my colleague, mr.. YAscEr
This 10 a question which scars above all such
feelings and considerations; and It is with astonlsh
msnt and pain that hear gentlemen from any dIvl-
non Of the Union speak Of II IN any other light
Than as high national 9uSsliOn-ono involving the
interest and the honor Of the whole nation. Why
is II called western question: Can u be because
the controversy has grown out of western territory?
. will not do honorable members the injustice TO
suppose such a thing; they would sPurn the idea
| if directly presented to them. Are western
friends the peculiar guardians and defenders of
boaal honor dispute 1t for my constituents they
viii yield to no one in their faithful adherence TO,
and unhnchng defences Of their country and Its
| honor. throw back upon members who have "set
up" exclusive claim to thus question, the
imputaton which should arise from such claim If
acquesced in by others. This IL the country's the
peoples question: and oil Of their representatives
hsye the same interest In 1t.
Mr. Chairman, every great measure has indscreet
friends, who wish to control and direct it, who, in
the abundance OF their zeal to advance, actually OBJ
su.ct and retard IL. Texas had such frends-Ore-
gon has such now upon this foor-who either will
cannot act with proper discretion with prop.
er discrimination. Hence we hear gentlemen taking
10 task the entire South Indirectly censurng the rep
resentatiyes and their constituents because some Of
the representatives from that division of the Union,
IN the discharge Of their duty, as they doubtless
believe, think proper to oppose the giving o. this
nOtice--who censure whole STATE because part Of
her members do not act to suit them. Such pro-
scrplon is intolerable and regret to it; it is
unfair and unbecoming representative Of lntelIi-
gent people. IL act improperly upon this or any
other subject arTaign assa for il if you will
but let me ask that you have the bodhess to name
me; point out my dereiction do no. content your-
sell Win Sucn BenerdtSs as tnat all are
and thereby evade responsibility, as no one would
be justified in repellng it, without subjectng
himself to the charge of feeling his own guilt by re-
pelng an accusation which may not have been in
tended for him, Oregon would have been stronger
to-day had it not been for the rash and indscreet
course pursued by some Of Its friends.
! have not the power, and certainly not the dis
pos lon to read any one out Of the democratic
ranks every member ofthat great party who is honest
in his professions stands upon the same great
principle ofequay-upon the bass of democratic
repubicansm can claim fellowship until he
fails to square his political action by the republican
creed as expounded by the fathers Of the consttu
ton. If he should be derelict, it is not for me to
read him out nor for this House, but it is matter
which belongs to the people; they are the "church
members" (f may be allowed the use of the ex.
prcssion) who have the power to pass upon him;
and II, in their opinion, he is unworthy, they will
excommuncate him. While | would not consent,
therefore, for any other member to speak for my
constituents would not presume to speak for 9TH
ers. hold il to be the duty Of the representative
to exercise his own judgment upon measures as they
are presented TO him, and act as he may think the
interest of the people requires: If they express to
him their will, that should be his guide upon ques-
tons where the constitution does not interpose an
obstacle.
am well aware that jealousies and i'll feelings, at
times exist in all parties. We had a striking ex-
ample of this in our efforts, at the last Congress, to
annex eNaS 10 tnI3 UNION. vi lldl OCCbeiOil, ul-
fortunately as believe for them and the country,
some Of the prominent members of the democratic
party differed with the majority. They said they
were for Texas but not at that time "Vait achiie;"
"bide your time" They for ''masteriy inactir-
ity," which, in my judgment, seldom accompanies
any great good. They avowed themselves for Tex
Is, but not in the precise mode selected by their
friends. The consequence was, upon the wise prin-
cple that "those who are not for against u.s. -
they were "sct down" as unfriendly to the anuexa-
ton Of Texas, and condemned by the party over
the whole country. do not speak Off now for
the purpose Of justfyng or ecnsurng their course.
disagreed with them them and have not changed that
opinion. did not, however, denounce and abuse
them. Such has never been my course of action.
was willing to condemn and treat them as oppo-
nens on that question; but was disnclined TO the
policy of treating with extreme hdrshness those of our
friends who had served us long and faithfully upon
every other question except the then before the
country notwithstanding it was one Of vast, almost
vital importance. These "reminiscences are doubtless
dsagrecabe to all of us, and only allude to them
for the purpose of justifying my position on this
OCCASION | stand now where did then. We arc
again differing upon great national question. Some
of our friends found in opposition to the resolu
ton under discussion, and it so happens that ma
ny Of them were Of that number who were "ioudeSr
and most harsh in their denuncations of, and in
vectves against, the disagreeing members on the
Texas question. They can, and doubtless do, feel
the force of their own Censures upon others, and
can apply TO themselves such structures os they
then applied to their friends. They tell they
are for Oregon, but not no,c; they tell us we
must "bide time" ",oat aphiie," bring into
full use the "Amrican multiplication table," they
profess to be for Oregon, but not in the mode mitesO
and agreed upon Gf indications are worth any
thing) by our friends; they should not, therefore
complain too much if the true friends of this nous
ure should say to them that they had honest if not
we-founded fears, that those W no oppose the notice
are not in Truth friendly to Oregon at all. And, al
though do not approve it, yet am by no means
sstonished to see those who we're censured by them
then, turning their own "aritiery upon them" on thi.
occasion. Such is the fate Of war and cannot al.
ways be avoided, especially when our lot is cas
amongst those who lose sight Of, and disregard thai
sacred injunction which admonishes us to "do unto
others as VIC would have them, under like circum.
stances, do unto u.s."
cannot say that party feeling has had nothing ia
do with the subject before us. A gentleman from
Tennessee, MIR GESTRY,l seemed to labor to show
that this an administration measure, and Il
draw the party liHes upon it. will not say his op
position 10 twas Of party character. leave tina
10 the judgment Of the country but from the herc