The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-28
CON EssIoN AL.
SPEECH OF MR.. STARKwEATHER

Il
| OF OHIO,
IN The House of Representatives. february, 1876
4 % the Oregon question:
4 The House being in Committee Of the Whole on
the state of the Union, on the resolution authorizing
The Prssdsnt to give notice to Great Britain OF the
sbrogation Of the convention of joint occupancy
Mr., STARRWEATHER obtained the floor, and
addressed the COMMITTEES as follows;
| Mr.. CHAIRMAN In entering on this discussion,
wish to state, before approach the subject, (and
this speak more for the Information Of my con
sutuens than that Of the House,) that on the Tex
as question, have not voted, not because wished
10 dodge the question, but because | was absent
IRON the city when the question was taken, on i'm.
porant business, and thus lost the privilege of re-
eording my vote. | may be allowed TO premise
this for the Information Of the people of my dis
trcl, though Il viii not be without its bearing the
\ remarks am about tn submit TO the committee
/ should not (said Mr.. g. have attempted 70 adj
dress the committee at this late hour, had no,
thought had discovered, ia some quarters, Ked
determination TO degrade this great national question
| 10 mere sectional and westecp measure. When
The debate opened, the gentleman from Alabams.
Mr.. fAscEr,l and the gentleman from South Caro-
lima, Mr.. RHErr, followed by another from ''olI
Virginia" who "never tires" in sounding her own
praises, charged expressly that this was a western
| measure. The gentleman from Alabama seiii ~
beg OF our friends Of the West that IL some Of US
Of the South are disposed to put earb hisho i'm
| ptiuosiy, we shall not be deemed their enemies on
| this great issue" Again, he says: care we pre-
pared for this issue OF arms From the psry West
tohieh seeks 10 iip0Lps The country ia lis piessiidts
and horrors, has come a long and continued oppos-
ton any such increase OF our gallant and glorious
| navy the wants OF the country, II seems TO me,
| imperatiyey demand" Sir, | TeDeat, il has been
charged that this is measure and that uest-
srn members seeking 10 inUoips our beloved country
| ia all the Vieissiludes and horrors Of war. Sir
had not the West, which adopted me Us one Of her
soma, been thus aSsated, should not perhaps, have
attempted to speak on this occasion; but could not
consent TO sit still and hear unmerted aspersons
heaped upon the West without saying ono word
in yindication Of that country which adopted
me as hers when youth, clothed me when naked
aud consoled me when dsconsoate. The gentle
man from Alabama Mr.. YAScEr, further said; "At
this very time too, when wars dread horrors are
laughed at by young Members Of this House fall Of eour-
age, doubtless, but with no experience, even now
when we about To dare Old England to cross
swords with US, serious opposton is mode to pass
ing bill providing for the raising Of single regi.
ment OF riaemen," Here, sir, in this is contained
the charge, that those who 60 for the notice are
young and inexperienced men, ready and willing to
plunge this country into unprepared and dis
graceful war. As this sentiment fell from the lips
Of the nex perienced-I ask pardon-the experienced
gentleman from Alabama, Mr.. YAScEY, heard, or
thought heard, my young and inexperienced friend
from Massachusetts,, MIR. ADAMS, who is a friend
Of the measure, in the language Of the great phos-
opher Of poetry, inquire show much older art thou
young man than thy years'p
This western measured Does Oregon belong TO
the Vest No, sir; it belongs to the whole Union,
and to the West only in common with her Il is
true, SIR il war should grow out of this notice. (of
| which have no fears,) the hardy sons OF the West
would, at the first bugle note Of war, unyoke their
horses from the plough in the haftarned furrow,
| and harness them for the shock of battle. Wherev-
| er glory was to be won, or deeds of valor to be
achieved, whether the plains of Oregon, in the
frozen North, the sunny South, there, sir, would
they be found. b.. ...,-.. . '.....
Let Inc not be misunderstood. am a lover Of
peace. Strictly and emphatically am peace man.
all its beauties and appreciate all its bene-
fits. | well know that civilization, science, the arts
religion, and general social prosperity-ali flourish
under the reign OF peace Peace is the goddess |
worship. would purchase it at any price but the
price Of cowardly fear or national dishonor These
are too high price to pay even for peace ITSELF
One year SINCE private citizen, living in the
midst ofmy constituents. We READ with deep ankle
ty the debates on the Texas question, and watched
with solicitude every step taken thereon for one
was anxious, if the deed to be done that il were
done, and SO were my constituents. A large ma.
jority in favor of the annexation of Texas in
| some form, that 1t could be consttutonally done
and without dishonor. The deed was done. The
| West went with the South, and the lone star now
| WITH neT blstefB. leXaS WAS admitted
into this Union State, not reannexed. That
argument is to me, like the tale of an IDIOT signify
| ing nothing She was taken into this Union be-
cause she, like our revolutionary fathers, had won
her liberty, and, being free, had right to contract
| have said that Texas is now in this confederacy
The broad flag of this Union now floats over her
giving her an assurance Of protection and peace.
| Sir, Oregon and Texas were twin sisters born al
a birth; Oregon the elder and for while she did
seem to outstrp her sister; but suddenly at single
bound, Texas sprang ahead, and where now le,
me ask is Oregoni Left to all the dangers of an early
and perilous orphanage. Sir, we have protected
that which was not ours, and forsaken that which
is. Why is thsl | will not answer the question
| will leave it to others. But this do know tina
some gentlemen, who now seem to turn pale In
contemplating the power of England, her warliks
preparations, and her prowcss, who now are clam.
orous against the giving of this notice. because Eng
and possibly. may object, but one short year ago
with rash and fiery hand, were for plucking tn.
golden fruit--Texas. Then was the hour. Tn,
golden pear was ripe, and that was the momen
to gather it, or it would be lost forever. vs..
England protested against the anne xaon of Tex
as, and Mexico set up her claim to it. War wa,
anticipated with England then. The distinguished
gentleman from South Carolina, Mr.. RaErT, j who
now informs US that before can acquire posses.
sion of Oregon, 1--WE must fight in every region Of
the world, wherever British commerce extends
British power ID felt and British strength is accumu
lated; that we must tear down the pillars which sup
port the vast structure of the British empire--th
most magnificent the world ever behed, :" then ex
claimed, "the annexation Of Texas would be
proclamation to England to come on, if she chose tc
go to war on that issue."--[See Congressional ZIP
pendir, page l66. ....7s' Win.
What, IN one short year, hath caused change il
the spirit Of these gentemens' dreamsi On wha
hath this British lion fed that he hath grown 81
big' When Texas to be annexed, we wer
taughtto believe that he was but mean cur, which
a woman with dagger Of lath could whip ba * IL
his Kennel Gentlemen who then were as brave Al
Cesar are now ready to fawn, and cringe, and yelt
submissive homage TO any who may please to de-
Inand it. ..... - ...
Why, sir, the whole argument in opposition L
this measure has been addressed to the fears, ant
not the patriotism, of this House. When Texa.
was to be annexed to this Union, we hard nothing
from the gentlemen who now oppose this measure
Of the horrors Of war--nothng ofdelav for erepara
ion--nothing Of burning and sacked cities-nothins
lof ingorous defeat--nothing of the groans OF III,
dying stricken down in battlenothng Of the crush
ed heart of the widow-nohng OF the teats and suf
fering Of the orphan Then all was glorious victo