The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-19
CON EssIoSAL.
SPEECH OF Mr.. CALHOUN
OF SOUTH CAROLINA,

giving notice To Great Britain Of the abrogatlof
OF the convention Of Joint occupancy
Mr.. CALHOUN, being entitled TO the floor, rose
and addressed the Senate: r..-.H -r l.
The question under consideration il, wheth
er notice shall be given TO Great Britain, that the
convention Of JOINT occupancy between us ana pc,
.Asu terminsie a tho md a. tho year. To thai
question, and those Immediately glowing out OF H.
I shall conhne my remarks, ! shall say nothing
in reference 10 the title 20 Oregon Having been
connected with the negotiation in It's early stages
il would be indelicate on my part TO discuss the
subject Of title. shall abstain from all personalities
and everything calculated TO wound the feelings OF
others; but shall express myself freely fully, and
candidly on nil subjects which may touch, in
tho course OF my remarks. With these predatory
observations, shall proceed at once TO the discus
sion Of the question OF notice. There In one point
In which all must be agreed; that great change
has taken place since the commencement Of this
session IN reference to notice, in It's bearings
upon the question Of peace and war. At that time
notice was question Of the first magnitude, on the
DECISION Of which, TO all appearance, depended the
question Of peace war; but now IL is Of COM
psratyely minor importance, and may be decided
either way, without any decisive effect on either.
The cause Of this change win be explained in the
course of my remarks. So great, indeed, has been
the change, that it has not only rendered napplca-
bic the reason urged in the message, recommending
notice to be given but has altered materially the
position of the Executive and that OF the several par
ties in the Senate to which it has given origin,
shall next proceed to show.
That the Recommendation ofthe message is found
ed on the conviction that there hops Of COM
promise of the Difficulties growing out Of the Ore
goo question: is too clear to admit Of any rational
doubt. Its language is express. IL states in so
many words the conviction, that no compromise
could be effected which ought to be accepted. On
that conviction il announces that the offer which had
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troversy on the 49th parallel Of latitude had been
withdrawn amer It's rejection, and our title to the
whole asserted. On the same conviction, IL recon-
mends TO Congress 10 give the notice in order 10
null the convention, with the view 70 remove all i'm.
pednents to the assertion Of RICH, TO the whole
Of the territory. Assuming, then, that there would
be no compromise, it informs us that at the expira
ton of the twelve months period would arrive
when our title to the territory must be abandoned
or 6rmly maintained and that neither our honor nor
our interest would permit to abandon il; in other
words, that we must then assert our exclusive sov.
riepty to the whols, to the exclusion Of thai Of
Great Britain, unless the latter should, in tho in.
tsrya abandon in claims 70 the territory Through
oil thc whols Recommendation there 10 not the
alishtsst in6mationths any compromise ie expect
ID: On The contrary, the very opposite Is con-
SANITY assumed -, ;,-ss .y'S,s-s..- 5-.a
But il is alleged, that the reasons for believing that
thsre could Be no compromise was derived from the
evidence which the negotiation itself furnished, and
especially by the rejection Of the offer to compro-
mss on 4so. Such 4 admit 10 be the case, and also
that il may be fairly inferred If England should re-
new on her part the proposition rejected by her min
ster or one Substantially the same, our Executive
would accept the offer, and settle by compromise
the conflicting claims to the territory. But the
message intinntes nowhere the slightest expectation
thar suchAn offer would be made, or if made, that
any compromise could be effected
Such Is the view which have been constrained
to take, after most careful and candid examna-
ton Of the portion Of the message recommending no.
tce; and SUCH infer, is the view taken by the por-
ton Of the Senate who believe title to the whole
territory to be clear and unquestionabe. On no
other view, can their warm and decided support OF
notice be explained. They not only believe tina,
our title is clear and unquestionable to the whole
but also that the honor of the country demands that
il should be asserted and maintained by an appeal
to arms without the surrender of any part. Acting
on this conviction il is manifest that they can only
support notice on the belief that it would not lead to
compromise. On the opposite, they would be COM
PEELED to oppose it.
? Bach, also, would seem to be the view taken Of
the message by the community at large at the time
il We may Judge from the tone of the public press
or what perhaps ia still truer index-the conducl
of our intelligent business men. The message had
amost decided effect in that respect Stocks OF
every description fell, marine insurance rose,
manned inactive at the wharyes,
Such also was the view taken by great MAORI
~ Of that portion Of the Senate who were opposed
70 giving notice, and among whom include my
self, We opposed 1t on grounds directly the re.
verse of those, on which those who believed our
rights to the whole territory to be clear and unques-
fionable supported it. They supported notice, be-
cause they believed there neither ought to be, or
would be, any compromise. We, on the contrary,
opposed il because we believed there might be- and
ought to be, compromise. They opposed COM
promise because, as has been stated, they believed
our title to be perfect to the wholc while we sup
ported it because we believed the title of neither TO
the whole to be clear and ndispuable and that the
controversy might be adjusted by fair partition OF
the territory. With such impression, we believed
that two such powerful and enlightened countries
as the United States and Great Britain, would moi
resort to arms to settle controversy which NIGH
be peacefully and honorably settled by negotiation
and compromise. h.G sa.
Entertaining this opinion, we were compelled tt
oppose notice, because it necessary to proven
an appeal to arms, and insure the peaceful settle
ment Of the question. By defeating it. breathing
time would at least be afforded to both parties fol
calm and mature reflection, under the influence o
which, II was hoped, that negotiation might he re
newed and the difference honorably compromised
Or in Gaze that should fail, things might remain az
they have been without resort to force. In tina
case, the territory would be left open emigration
and the question, to whom II should ultimately be
long, would be decided by settlement and COLOMBIA
ton, unless Great Britain should give notice on he
part, in order to prevent 1t. If she should, W,
would at least gain the advantage Of transferring
the responsibility from US to her, should war en-
sue. sH-
Another portion Of the Senate appeared 70 be il
favor both OF compromise and notice Their view
were not explicitly expressed but, as far as the,
were developed, they, too, seemed to think that on
title was not so perfect as to exclude an honorable
compromise; and appeared to anticipate it in oppo
sition to the message in recommending il on III,
three following grounds: first on the ground o
the general declaration Of tho President in the latte
part of the message, that he hoped an amicsble ar
rsnsement may be made ofthe question in dispute il
connection with declaration OF MIR. Buchanan to III
same effect, in one Of his letters 70 Mr.. Pekenham
Ills impossible for me-, with every disposition h
support the recommendation Of the President il
favor Of notice, TO concur in the opinion that
general expression Of the kind, and insisted Of
in another portion Of the message, even when backe
by a similar declaration Of the Secretary OF STATE
could be fairly construed TO override the opinio
clearly and explicitly expressed by the messag
IN recommending notice, that no compromise whic
ought TO be accepted could be effected. ! cannc
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