The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-13
CoNGRE SsIONAL.
SPEECH OF MR.. HUNTER,
OF VIRGINIA..


tive TO the Oregon territory.
Mr.. HUNTER rose and addressed tho Hous
as followsi
i Mr. CHAIRMAN: was one Of those who regrette,
that this debate should have arisen when II did.
regarded II as premature and unfortunate, and
feared that il might add 10 the difficulties in the Wa,
Of wise and dspassionate settlement Of the ques
ton before US. But, so much has now been said
that yet fuller development OF the opinion of thu
House is perhaps due 10 the cou4iry and ourselves
For myself, have been the more anxious to sx'
press my opinions at an early stage OF the debate
because foresaw that | should be separated from
many, perhaps from most OF my political friends
upon the question before us. sm happy to believe
however that the differences between US are not
WIDE and deep TO be ireconcileble. This differ.
ence relates not 50 much the end which all desir,
to attain, to the means by which il is To be pur'
sued. From what have gathered Of the opinions
Of this House, | believe thsl N desire the pos
session Of Oregon not only up to me parallel Of 49o
but to that Of $40 40. Nearly all, so far as | am
informed, believe that our title To this country ID
good, not only to the 49h parallel, but up 10 that o
$40 40L !, for one, entertain that opinion. The
whole question between US is as 10 the best and
wisest means Of attaining end which we all equal
ly desire. Mr.. Chairman, have expressed the
opinion, that, without regard to the distinctions OF
party or Of sections all Of desire the possession
of the whole territory in Oregon, TO which we are
entitled. There is man with an American heart
pect of planting our flag and our settlements upon
the shores Of the Pacific. There is no such bosom
which would not swell with emotions Of hone and
of pride at the prospect Of the influence commercial
political, and military, which we should derive from
a position on the shores Of Oregon and California,
should lie so fortunate 10 be able TO obtain the
last by just and equitable means Looking to the
map Of the globe, and taking the world over with
a view to its social and political relations and TO
physical characteristics, there Is no such position
for military strength and commercial supremacy, a.
we shall occupy If our settlements should cover the
whole breadth Of the continent from the Atlantic TO
the Pacific ocean, under present form Of govern
meHt In the centre, lies the vast valley Of the Misss
sippi, destined to be not only tn. hive, but the
siorehouse of nations and impregnAby secured be.
hind the Alleghanles on the side, and the
Rocky mountains on the other. Ia time oil
war, Il mighty reserve, ready 10 debouch on
either the Atlantic the Pacific slope, to over
whelm with irresistible force any foreign invasion,
| and able in time of peace-teemng, as II will he,
with people and resources-to cherish and sustain
u vast commerce on either sea. From the Chesa-
peake northward, our harbors ard rivers, commu-
nicsting with vast inland seas, give US the most
commanding commercial position the vast basin
Of the Atlantic, which receives the waters and the
commerce Of most Of the large rivers OF the world
! With Oregon and California our position on the
Pacific would be nearly as commanding. We should
hold the advanced posts on the line Of commercial
ucN"ttn INC CNlllZtu poTtlOn Ol Ant
world, and most Of that which is semi-civlzed OF
barbarous; and we should probably become the
centre of commercial transit between the two seas
The possession Of Oregon, and the peaceful acqui-
ston Of California, would place this Union in pc.
ston Of impregnable strength and stable greatness
with one arm on the Atlantic sea and the other on
the Pacific shore, ready to strike either direction
with rapidity and efficiency not to be rivalled
! by any nation on the earth
! know that these specuations on the future are
uncertain and often dangerous; but IL would seem ia
be next to impossible that with this position, and
with all these elements of military strength and oil
political and commercial greatness, we should not
be able, not only to command the largest sha Of
the commerce of both sens, but also te protect and
advance the march Of civilization throughout the
entire extent of this continent. With these views
of the subject, how could be insensible to the i'm
portance of maintaining our claims to Oregon' Bu
shall we best promote our purpose by adopting the
recommendation Of the Committee on Foreign AZ
fairs in relation to the notice? With great defer
TO their matured and, perhaps, better opinion
| must say that | think not To determine thi,
question, il will be necessary to ascertain, far
possible, the probable consequences of either course
may give, refuse to give, the notice for tn,
termination of the convention of joint occupancy.
! Let us, them Mr. Chairman examine this ques
ton calmly and dispassienately. Let us view thi
subject under none of the Authorizations of natona
pride; let approach il in no boastfnl or braggar
means of fatteriug national vanity Let us COM
to in that higher spirit which conscious strength
should inspire--wth the feelings of those who ar
too well satisfied of title to the respect Of tn
world and of our ability to hold our own, to be
lieve that 1t can either be necessary dignifed L
deal in extravagan pretension or exaggerated asser
ton. If there be such spirit Of inquiry in this bod,
to which may address myself, would ask, wha
to be the consequences I'VE give the notice. fifth
notice be given the best result which possibly flow
-. Al
ty, upon the basis of a boundary the 49h parable
Of latitude. Under existing circumstances, we cal
expect no better treaty, and it is manifest that W
will take nothing worse Ii ia absurd to suppos
that Great Britain will offer to give us more thai
we have agreed to take. IL this matter be amicabl,
adjusted, 1t Is evident, under the existing state o
the negotiations, that we get nothing beyond tn
10th parallel Now, Mr.. Chairman, such an ad
justmcnt, in my opinion, would be far better tha
the doubtful chances of war under the circum
f stances which at present surround US. But SHOULD
certainly prefer the whole country up to $40 40,
there be means compatible with the peace and homo
Of the nation, as | think there are, by which W
should probably obtain the whole territory. Blu
how do those gentleman stand who support thi
resolution as peaceful measure, and yet main tail
that we can take nothing less than our whole CLAIM
on Oregon. If the measure be peaceful, is il no
manifest that, by adopting it, they essentially nban
don the whole country north Of the 49th parallel
If they adopt it as the Of obtaining the Who'll
country, they can only do so upon the suppostio
that it is to lead to war, and that thus we shall oh
tain the whole. shall presently endeavor to ascer
tain what would be the probable consequences unde
that conjuncture Of circumstances. But here mus
pause to say, that | do not mean 10 disparage o
disapprove the proposition made by the administra
ton to settle the question amicably upon the basi
Of a boundary along the 49th parallel. Under tn
circumstances, and from the course Of previous ne
gotiatons, the President could have done no les
than TO have made such offer. II was due Il
public opinion at home and abroad it was due t
our national character, and the great interests o
, humanity, that he should manifest desire to d.
much for an honorable peace. The terms which h
: offered would have been considered by each part
to the dispute falling short Of the full measure O
their just claims, but in the more impartial, but per
haps, less informed opinion of the residue Of tn
civilized world, they would have been regarded a
fair, equitable, and honorable to both countries ii
would have done much, too, for the country il
thus securing, by peaceful and honorable means
an advanced post for our population up to the ACT
parallel. He would have acquired, as far as hav
been able to inform myself, much the most vauabl
portion Of the country, both for commercial an
lee 4 al.