Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-04-03

promise. ana In reply 10 tneth IuIIheF, say
that he ought not, and my convictions are as
strong as death itself that he cannot, will not,
disgrace himself and his Administration, by
refusing his o,cn offer, should it be returned
upon Misunderstanding, mean, to entertain it
repulsing it, and rashly putting final termi.
nation to his negotiation for a peaceful COM
promise and madly forcing his country into
a war, without even consulting his constitu-
tional advisers, the Senate; who are this day
assembled. Yet that is said of him day after
day in this Senate. ,rar for whatl Why,
Mr.. President, war between two great Chris
tinn nations upon-the meaning of the word
settlements in the Nootka convention! A war,
perhaps, of twenty years, to determine which
of these Christian Governments shall enjoy |
the privilege of cheating the poor Indians ont
Of the largest portion OF. Oregon. No, sir; no,
sir. The President will not do that. AS he
loves his country, and values his own fame,
he dare not think of it. ...
But have said the President did right in
offering compromise of this controversy.-l
Other friends Of this Administration have said
he did wrong, particularly the Senators from
Ohio, Mr.. Allen Indiana, Mr.. Hannegan,)
and Illinois, (Mr. Breese.) Friends and enc
mics, Gf he has an enemy here,) will you
hear another friend in his defence! 1t is a
serious charge, if it be true. What are the
facts Let him be tried by these. and there
can be no doubt of the decision. Hear them.
He found it in our own history fact. an
Fundenable fact, that, so long ago as forty
years, in negotiations between this Govern
ment and Great Britain. the United States had
maintained and asserted that the frue line Of
our national rights. west of the Stony Noun
tans, was at the 49th parallel en- the north,
in virtue of the treaty of. Utrecht. and of our
treaty with France in 1903. He found that it
was urged by our Government upon the oppo.
site party as a fact, too, that commissioners
had been appointed to designate the line west
of the Stony Mountains, constituting the south
boundary Of Great Britain and the north boun-
Diary of France, who sold US Louisiana; and
that that line had been settled at 49o; and this
fact was assumed as the basis Of very impor-
tant negotiations at that time in progress be-
tween US and Great Britain. He knew that
this was in the days of Jefferson and his COM
patriots.
Nobody, IbeHere, euer suspected Jefferson Of
being "British!''
He found that in subsequent efforts to ad.
just this long pending controversy. TO wit, in
1917, the American Government had proposed
this same compromise line at Ago, (substan-
tally, I mean, not in all its details.) And all
though our Ministers were instructed to insist
upon It, they were unable to get the consent
of Great Britain; and that negotiation fnally
terminated in convention for what we call a
Joint occupancy Of the whole territory, entered
into, believe, by our request. and certainly
done with our consent, which convention was
to contnne for ten years and no longer. That
convention was sent to the Senate, uaM all the
corr ,spondence. and it was ratified and approx
ed by vote of ayes 80, noes none-aH Brit
ish ~
| He found that this convention was not sat
isfactory; but the Government of the United
States grew anxious to settle and adjust the
line of division betweenu us and the European
Governments claiming territorial nights west OF
the Stony Mountains. Russia and Great Brit
ian both asserted rights there. Russia furnish
ed pretty strong signs Of the Emperor's inten-
! ton to maintain hers against all the world.
The American Government (aftera long delay
growing out OF FOUR policy towards Spain whom
we did not wish to offend by setting up oul
claims prematurely) finally acceded tn pro-
posaI Of opening negotiations with Russia and
Great Britain abont 1924 for line Of compro
mise. Our Ministers were instructed to ge'
this line adjusted upon compromise will
both nations at the 49th parallel, and We
hoped at one time to unite Great Britain with
us against Russia. But Great Britain, al
though "joint occupant with Us, managed
he, diplomacy better than that: and after tht
United States had agreed with Russia TO aban
don all our rights-viz. "not to settle" NORTH
of the parallel Of $40 4O>-his Majesty tht
King of England, &c. made separate treaty
with the Emperor Of Russia land took to him
l. oh,r of bof Ind I'D
| (Our $40 40 friends ought 20 60 forit all bacl
lagain, according to their doctrines, and perhaps
England with Russia to help her, would favo
Ius with fight, and that something. In ou
negotiation of that convention with Russia, ant
lin our attempts to negotiate at that time with
Great Britain, the American Government vie!
ded up her claims between $40 40 and 6ls
unto Russia. (What an unconstitutional ant
Idlsgraceful ACKNOWLEDGMENT And the same
old compromise line, substantially that which
1.-The President re-offered in l945, was rendered
Ito Great Britain and declined-urged and re-
fused! lHow ones american blood boils a
the thought Of ceding an inch The treaty
with Russia, which, in view of Senators, 81
ldishonorably and unconstitutionally dismem
Ibered the national domain, (for the benefit o.
lcrowned heads too!) was submitted to the
iAmerican Senate, and with a full knowledge q
: the correspondence. the Senate approved it all
Iby vote of ayes al, no
r.. Who was it!" exclaimed several voises
I"Where was he from ~
.Ans. r. Island. His name was D'Wolf.
All IS British" save one
| In passing, the Senate will suffer me to say
that this treaty with Russia was made within
the very year succeeding the famous declara'
ton of Presidents Monroe's message against
new European colonies on this continent
Made by him! 1t is ofitself a contemporane
Gus construction Of the meaning attached tc
that declaration. Attention is due to the
names of the FoRTY-oNE Senators who approx
led of it. There are illustrious names in thai
list; but | have not time to go into soch de-
tails, and, if | had, the Senate would hardly
lhave natience TO hear me through.