Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-04-09
NUMBER 3 3.

eminent and Great Britain, If we carry out all the
measures we propose in relation to Oregon. To
suppose otherwise, would be TO suppose that the
mistress of the seas has lost her pride and her
proves, that her spirit and her power have depart
ed. If we will not stop to count the cost Of a war
with England we may at least ask ourselves what
we shall be likely to gain by it. We should not
gain Oregon by war with Great Britain, most GER
tainy. No sensible man, think, can entertain
an idea ridiculous and absurd, as that we can
take and hold possession Of Oregon in the event Of
a war wsth the English nation. We have neither
army or navy TO maintain position at any single
point in that vast and distant reion We shall have
occasion enough for all our forces at home, Be-
sides, it would be utterly impracticable to march
an army through the immense and totally barren
deserts which intervene between US and that terri
tory. Every American citizen would be driven
from Oregon, and the silence Of its boundless will
derness and desolate plains would be broken only
by the howlings Of the wild beasts and the
wild huntsman perhaps, for other centuries to come.
! do not not fear that England will conquer this
country any more than we shall be able 10 conquer
England. Nobody dreams Of this. But she
destroy our commerce, she can lay waste our cities
and villages and she drive US, in spite Of all
we can do, from Oregon. Gentlemen may affect
to sneer and scout they please at the idea Of ne
gotiation, as though there were something submits
sive and humiliating in it, or as though they feared
our dplomaiists would be overreached by the supe-
rior tact and skill of those upon the other side
Let me remind them, that when they shall have
provoked an unnecessary war, when millions of
treasure shall have been expended, and an untold
amount Of human life has been sacrificed and Ore
gon lost that very war must be finally terminated
by negotiation, by treaty and Oregon itself, if il
be restored at all must be restored last by nego-
tiation.
Mr. Chairman, am decidedly in favor Of Ore
gon TO the Of our clear and Just rights here
as those who urge most extreme measures for our
immediate and exclusive possession Of the whole
Of it. 1t is for this that opposed TO any
measure which, in my judgment, will hazard a
peaceful settlement of the controversy, and throw
rights and interest there upon the issues of
But suppose that all efforts at settlement Of these
| conflicting claims between this Government and
Great Britain fail, and things remain as they have
for the last twenty thirty years shall we lose any
thing by it! Have we lost any thing by il thus fart
| Not at all, sir. But. on the other hand, we have
been the gamers by it, and we should continue to
be the gamers by it, ifdemagogues would but
to sgtate the question for political and sinister
! purposes Let this question, affecting our foreign
relations remain as il did during the adminstra-
ions Of Mr. Monroe and Mr. Adams, Of Gen Jack
son and Mr. Van Burren, disconnected with our
domestic strifes and it will be well enough. The
natural progress of events the steady and increas-
ing flow of emigration, would ultimately and surely
secure to US the sole possession and controle of
that country In that sense, and in that way,
will agree that Oregon will be ours by the "decrees
of destiny" While we have been doing well,
them while, with every passing year, we have been
adding strength 10 claims and possessions there
let us not hazard every thing by the adoption of
hasty and hostile measures. II would be the
IRENE of folly 10 cast upon doubtful issue the nc
QUESTION of ihatwhich the silent and natural course
ofthngs must inevitably give TO us. II is not TO
be disguised, however, that the question has been
involved in difficulty and danger, and wholly in
al he
contentious Of the day, and in consequence of that
staggering declaration TO the world, that "our
title 10 the whole Of Oregon was clear and un-
questionable" alter our repeated concessions of
the rights and claims Of England by our solemn
Official acts. Can any better or truer reason be
assigned for the present vexed position Of this Ore
gon question, than that it has resulted mainly from
an unworthey disposition TO throw every great
question Of national interest into the Of party
politics and party strife, from jealous fear that
ambitious asprant for the popular favor will
get the start of another in turning the popular cur
rent in his favor upon some great question of pub
lie INTEREST," There too, venture to affirm, lies
the and the motive for sprnging this ques-
ton upon the public attention al the present time
Texas has made one President for us, and it seems
to be determined that Oregon shall make one or
two more for US, and il is presumed that he who
gets the first start upon it will be the iayorite of
the people. put the question TO the House and
to the country, whether this whole Oregon excite
ment, which has been got up Of late, is any thing
more than preliminary scramble for the Presiden-
tial succession. Hence we have new tests Of moral
aud political worth; new tests Of ones attachment
or indifference, his love or his GOODNESS, towards
his country and now tests Of political orthodoxy.
He who now clamors loudest for the whole Of Ore
gon the best patriot; while he who halts or doubts
Is a traitor, aye, a British Wing" He who most
SYSTEMATICALLY Vaunts his courage is the brayest man,
while he who has too much modesty and common
sense 10 act the brayado, lacks in spirit, and Is
parasite and a coward.
am free to admit, that consider the question
now before the House out Of time, out Of place, and
out of order. However expedient it might be 10
give the notice legitimstely and consttutonaly,
we have nothing to do with il. Il is prerogative
which properly and legtmately belongs to the Ex-
ecutiye department OF the Government. This
House is not constituted an advisory council TO the
President Such advisory power IL ] may SO call II,
belongs 10 the Senate, a coordinate branch Of the
Executive department in the treaty-maklng power.
II could not have been contemplated in the treaty
that any Legislative action would be required, in or
der to invest the President with authority TO give
the notice, whenever in his judgment, the public
interest should require the abrogation Of the con-
venton.
agree with gentlemen that this Oregon question
is one of national character and interest that 1t
should be considered and discussed when consider
ed and discussed at all, in liberal and national
spirit For this reason, il Is matter OF regret, as
il was an act of folly that the attempt was ever
made TO adopt il as the peculiar creed, and 10 iden-
tify il with the action Of either Of the political par