The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-01

direction subsequently, toitdrao, aud our title TO Inc
ChOis territory asserted, and Is believed Biai'antd
BY iryofrsgabls taeis and Arguments"
Here we have the declaration that the President
feels himself bound by the acts OF those VINO mao
gone before him, az the acts of his country, and
binding upon him its chief executive magistrate
and in the despatch in which is made the Oder OF
the 18th parallel compromise, the Secretary OF
State says, that "hs Presdsh does because ne Jew
himself embarrassed not committed, BY the acts Of hi'
prsdseessors," As much stress has been laid on The
Presidents claiming the whole territory, and assert
ing that the claims Of Great Britain are extraordi-
nary and nadmissible will turn 10 the language Of
his predecessors, and we shall whether, in the
use Of this language, he has not been following the
example Of those who had handed down to HIM this
question, with the landmarks so clearly defined thai
he could neither mistake, msunderstand, nor over
leap them.
Mr.. Clay, when Secretary Of State, in his de-
spaieh to Mr.. Gallatin, dated June Is, 1896 says;
ut Is not thought necessary add much the argument
advanced this point In the Instruction. gwen to Mr.
Of his negotiation to support tiils aehvsd ir.a
prior discovery selsnent At me mouth Of the coin
bs and from the treaty with spain concluded on the Sd
Of February 1919 That Argument 10 believed TO have con
cu'vsy e.tsblished our ttle on both grounds. Nor Is
conceived that Great Britain has can make out, even
colorabls title any portion Of the northwest coast"
"Ey the rsnuneiaiiOn aud transfer contained in The
treaty tcih Spain Of 1879 right Eritndsd 10 The GOA
degree Of north lafiiuds" This Mr. Gays opin.
ion officially expressed Secretary Of State, OF the
validity Of our tile to the parallel OF CO., prior to
the treaty with Russia. Are there any ex'
pressions in the Presidents message stronger
Than these either as to the invalidity Of the title
of Great Britain, or the validity and strength
of our own TO the whole territory of Oregonl
In another despatch Of Mr.. Clay dated Februa
~ "a, 1927, in chsracterizng the claims Of Great
Britain to the territory of Oregon, he uses Ian
guaRe almost identical with that Of the Presidents
He aneaka nf fhese claims a "nStD and
extraordinary" and says "that they certainly have
not vet produced any conviction in the mind Of the
President Of the validity OF the pretensons brought
forward, raised any doubts Of the strength and
validity Of our own title" Mr. Clay further says
in speaking Of the offer Of the 49th parallel that ~
is conceived IN genuine pirt Of concession and con-
eiIiaiion" He also instructs Mr.. GallOtin TO say
that the 49lh parallel ''is ultimain, and you may
so onn0unes a." When the proposition was decn-
ed, Mr. Clay directs Mr.. Gallatln to declare "that
he American government does not hold itself bound
hereafter in consequence of any proposal which II
has heretofore made to agree to the line which has
been so proposed and rejected but will consider it.
self at liberty to contend for the full extent OF our
ust claims" (Which decla aton," he says, "you
must have recorded in the protocol of one OF your
conferences, and to give it more weight, have II
stated that it has been done by the express drec.
ton Of the President"
When the proposition Of compromise was rejected
by Mr.. Pakenham, the President directed Mr.. Bu-
chanan to withdraw 1t, and assert our title to the
whole OF the Oregon territory; and claims that "the
civilized world will in these proceedings a spirit
Of liberal concession on the part of the United
States" and that "this government Will be relieved
from all responsibility which may follow the failure
to settle the controversy" Is there anything, Mr.
President, in these declarations in the claims on
the part Of our government to the whole territory of
Oregon, stronger more extensive than had been
made by those who preceded the President in the
high Office he now ills' And II must be borne In
mind SIR that these claims had not only been assert
ed in the dispatches of our negotiators, but they
had been published to the world ask, then, in JUS
tice to the President he could, consistently with the
honor and dignity Of the country, have claimed less
or gone further than he has done, m "a spirit Of lib
eral concession" to settle this controversy What
party in this coun try, what senator on this foor
what President would dare go further To have done
so would have lowered national character before
the nations Of the earth and been insult to the ma
tional pride Of our own people. When the Pres-
dent of the United States was elevated to his
present exalted station, he found himself charged
with the conduct Of this negotiation involving the
questions of peace and war; the lives and fortunes Of
twenty millions Of freemen, and the honor OF his
country The responsibility fearful; and, in the
language of the legislature of the State which have
the honor in par, represent, "his efforts to adjust
the controversy were marked by spirit of liberal
concession, frmness patriotism, and signal ability
In fact, sir it was the sentiment Of the whole
trv and no message has ever been promug ated in
my time which was received with such universal
shout of appreciation. You remember, Mr.. Pres-
dent our pleasure in listening to the just and patr-
otto remarks of the distinguished senators from
North Carolina [Mr. MANcUM, from Virginia,
Mr. ARcHER,1 and Delaware, Mr. J. M. CLAY
TON in the debate upon the resolutions moved by the
senator from Michigan, Mr.. CAss. Why, sir, are
we divided now, when all harmony them In that
discussion there not dissenting voice in regard
to the Presidents course upon the Oregon question.
very different opinion seems TO have grown up in
this discussions readings have been given to the
Presidents message and new and very different OBJ
jects discovered in his recommendations. On one
side it is made test of willingness to discover the
Union for a senator to avow himself in favor Of
compromise, and test Of patriotism to go for
81 4O; and on the other side TO be for the notice is
to be for war 1t is from discussions such these
that our present want Of harmony proceeds. If
senator's give to the message a construction which 1t
does not warrant, surely the President Is not re-
sponsibe for it.
In connexion with this part of the subject will
ask the secretary to read the resolutions OF the State
of Mississippi
Resord bv The LEGISLATURE of The Stat. of Mssispp That
action Of the President Of the United States in his efforts
adjust the Oregon controversy is marked by spirit OF
liberal concession, rmness patriotism and signal abil
y, which meets the hearty appreciation OF this egsla
R,,r,d That while this legislature commends the exer.
else spirit in subsequent negotiations it is their
deliberate opinion that every consideration Of regard for
human progress the advancement of liberal principles
and the Of the national honor demands that
rights the territory should be asserted and
upheld
Rssorcd That in the catalogue of national calamites
second only to national disgrace; that if the be
necessary avert the other, let II come and it'll
the invocation OF the Divine blessing upon righteous
cause this legislature pledges the State of Mississippi in
men and money to the support Of the general government
asserting and defending It's rights to the territory Of Ore
| gon.
These resolutions, Mr. President, not the res.
olutlons Of party, but of the whole legislative
body, irrespective Of party, and were adopted with
but one dissenting voice in the House, and unani-
mously in the Senate. From these resolutions
which are, perhaps, true and faithful expressions
of the sentiments Of the people of the State was
ever given by legislative body | infer most
clearly that they approve Of the "Iiberal conces-
sion" which has marked the past course Of the
President, in his efforts to settle the Oregon
controversy, and commend the exercise Of the same
spirit Of bera concession" in future negotiations;
| and that they look upon "war second only IA
national disgrace" Concurring entirely with the
legislature in these sentiments, and approving what
the President has done and recommends in relation
to this matter, | shall consent to nothing that will