The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-02
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marks: at was clear, by the treaty OF Paris OF
1853 her territorial rights Chose of Great Bntain)
were bounded west by the Mississippi"
IL is not among the least remarkable incidents oil
this remarkable controversy thal IN inc hmeIioah
Senate the existence of this line, west OF the
Rocky mountains, is so peremptorily asserted that
all who but doubt and call for evidence parties
10 ps pOudTs iTlsuTeeti0n, puddle lane rebellion
which spreads from clerk in The Department Of State
TO this dignfed body, having organs big and lille
Happily for the truth Of history sit now dies says
the honorable senator, "lhe death Of The ridiculous
And yet the two governments, who conduct and are
responsible for the negotiation, totally discredlt and
disregard this line, not only by a most contemPtu
Gus silence, leaving II out OF the discussion, but by
asserting pretenslons utterly inconsistent with It's
existence. Many weapon has recoied, and many
anticipated victory has been turned into defeat.
King Priam is not the only man whose spear fell
without effect Tslnque iRbsils sine ietu e6njseit
Let not him that grdeth on his armor boast as he
that putteth II OIL"
On the 18th of August, lS42 the honorable SEN
ator from Missouri delivered speech in this body
on the subject Of the Ashburton treaty in which he
entered at some length into the consideration of our
title to Oregon. In that speech, he stated that the
line of 49o was established by the treaty of Utrecht
a line between France and England, and that we,
the successors of France, were entitled to the
benefit oft against England. He did not at all
slider this line as limiting to the north; for he ex.
pressly says that, "pliOui giving US pha os pas
titled 10 by the right Of discovery and the successors
Of Spain, you'd still take from Great Britain all she
IGdntsd."
NOotka in latitude 90 being four degrees north Of the
Columbia and to that degree did spain assert and maintain
extent Of that right Against the British she asserted to
the whole extent OF the coast against the Russians he
only real claimants with ourselves in that quarterly TO lat
ituds 90" War TnT BErT,H CLAM sow
This is certainly going Jam up, or do not GER
talnly know what lammlng Is.
Thus as claiming from SPAIN our title good against
England throughout the whole coast against Russia, to
Our title ia clear that Of the British null She up
nonei that Is she states derivation Of Il There not
paper upon the face Of the earth in which British minister
has stated title, claim They have endeayored
obtain the country by the acts OF Diplomacy but have
never stated title, nor ever state one"
No, sir, Great Britain relies on her own auhaety
and our mercantile love OF peace Her title her will and
On the I'd of February, lS43, the honorable sena-
tor in debate upon the Oregon bill, says 81 grant
that Great Britain will take offence at US, but that is
not the question with me. Has she right 10 take
offencsi That is my question, and that being decid
ed in the negative, neither fear calculate con
sequence Courage will head her of. Fear will
bring her upon US. The assertion Of our rights will
command her respect; the fear to assert them will
bring us her contempt"
In speech in the Senate on the 18th of January
lS43, the honorable senator said, as fact, that
treaty, (the Nootka Sound treaty. nullhes all British
claim on thSnorhwest coast, a law, (if not abro-
gated by war; it would still conhne them to the pur
which acquired all the Spanish title north Of 400
has given US all the benefits of the Nootka Sound
treaty, both as fact and as a law; and tested by
either, the British excluded from the northwest
coast of America, for all the purposes Of settlement
or colonization"
Now, sir, | thank the honorable senator because
he does not gel angry to iyotr tortiss Ii is not
for reconcile these views with the position he
now occupies | confess | am too simple for that. |
And though | take the nostrum recommended by |
and. IL \
comprised with darkness visible. | suppose It is
because cannot distinguish beiicssn things and rcords
On the 9th of May, 1927, Mr.. Gallatin an.
nounced to the British commissioners Ia fact have
already referred to, but which must again intro
duce in this connection, even at the hazard Of re-
peution) that his government did not hold itself
bound hereafter in consequence of any proposal
which it had made for a line Of separation between
the territories OF the two nations west Of the Rocky
mountains; bui could consider Itself liberty to con-
tend in their fullest aren for The claims Of The United
States"
lfthis does not that the preceding offers Of
49o and of $40 were offers Of compromise, claiming
less than we were entitled to, then language has lost
It's force, or my power to comprehend il.
In the session Of Congress of lS27-l52S, a bill
reported in the House of Representatives as.
serting our jurisdiction to $40 4N.
On the Goth Of August, l545, the American Secre-
tary Of State, in despatch to the British minister
says:
Upon the whole from the most careful examination
which the undersigned has been able bestow upon the
subject he satisfied that the Spanish American title
held by the United States embracing the whole territory
between the parrees OF - degrees and degrees
minutes is the best title in existence this entire
gion."
Now, sir, who has a right to say, that since
1918, any one administration of the American gov.
ernment or any member of that government, has
considered the parallel of ago the extreme north
ern limit Of our claim 1t is obvious that that line
has been offered line of compromise, of conces-
sion, of Cancellation, and not recognised exist
ing boundary.
Well then, sir we claim north of Ago.. We may |
differ in estimate of the Of this claim and
of the strength of our title. To some it may appear
so clear to justify assertion of it as a bounda-
ny at all hazards. While to others it may appear
doubtful and proper subject for negotiation and
compromise. l do not object to this. But l do
part Of the Senate to discredit this claim, whatever
1t may be- 1t seems to me unwise, impolitic in
deed unconstitutional, if not dangerous. The Ex-
ecutlve, in his negotiations with foreign govern
ment for the settlement of great question of boun-
dairy, asserts our title TO a given limit The matter
is sub lite, to be settled by the pen by the sword
Does it become Congress to make formal declara-
ton for such, IN fact, the proposition of the honor
able senator amounts to- that Ago is our northern
boundary, and that the President and his predeces-
sors have demanded more than we are entitled To-,
For 1t is obvious, that when the senator proposes
TO establish the boundary by treaty but that till it
is so established the parallel of AGO shall be regarded
as our northern limit, all the country to the north is
at once abandoned. England comes ago by our
act and proposal for ompromise will be for her,
In effect proposal to divide the region to the south
So far she is She has the best Of the bargain
for we begin by cedng her one-baf of the terrific
ry without the slightest consideration on her part
The disposition Of the other half must abide
events.
This is not the way in which men conduct their
affairs in private life. We should form but poor
estimate Of the wisdom OF the man who, claiming
a tract ofland, should commence controversy by
saying to his opponent, This whole land is mine,
but will begin by yielding to you one-haIf Of it. !
Now, let ns go TO work to make compromise for y
the other half But the proposition of the senator,
Il understand Him, is to be Legislative umatum b
IL is direct interference with the Executive func- :
lions We had better leave the matter where the :
constitution has left it, and where it can be much
better managed than by congressional interference.
But what could be gained by this course underl ]