The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-14

and he was at the commencement Of this debate, as
he was, ready and anxious 10 limit the debate
a single day. Gentlemen anxious 10 define
their positions, and therefore were delaying this
measure for weeks, and perhaps for months, when
they could but know that their votes, ay OF no,
on the question OF this notice, and upon bill ex-
tending American jurisdiction TO the Russian boun-
dairy, would be the best definition that they could
give. Early action this question, one way or the
other, was what the people expected, and what he
Mr. W. would labor TO promote. As was said
in the case Of Texas he would reterate as equally
applicable TO Oregon, the people have decided the
case al the polls after full hearing Of all the parties,
and II only remains for US TO execute their Judg-
ment.
One gentleman has proposed to take Oregon on
time. We'll, sir, we have been taking il on time,
or rather losing 1t on time, ever since 1918. When
we begun, We had twelve degrees and forty minutes
of territory. We now have but seven Great
Britain has about thirty forts there, and we have
! none. Such has been the result OF our work
ings on time. To give this notice, in the minds
Of gentlemen, would be TO declare war. To pass
airy Oregon bill, or TO send any troops there, with
out tho notice, would be TO violate national faith
Thus they place US in dilemma, the direct and
solo tendency Of which is 10 effect delay. Indeed
they say, some day take Oregon, but not now-for-
getting that an independent people will never think Il
too soon 70 assert their rights, when they find they
have them. Every gentleman who has spoken but
one Mr.. WMTHRorl hrs said that We had per-
|
Of the two, both being imperfect, the best.
When they said that much, they say enough to
make any further delay on their part inexcusable.
Having rights, the people will demand their main
tenance; and the more those rights are endangered,
and the greater tho prospect Of losing them, the
more clamorous will they be for the most decisive
action. Were our rights in doubt, delay would
be excused; but knowing them, and openly avow-
ing them and yet bringing up the fear Of war, and
setting forth the tcrrors Of the British force and British
1 IL
more nor less than national eowardice.
| When party cannot carry It's points IN ono way,
Il is apt 10 try another and have noticed that
the opposition here, when they cannot reach our
better judgments, from the weakness Of their argu-
niens, always try TO affect nerves by their pan
les; and il is but natural for them TO do so, since
they have failed in their trial Of all other means
But the venerable gentleman from Massachusetts,
has told us that there would be no war; and
he, from his superior knowledge, age, and exPe-
rience, should be good authority with them. So that
need not operate But war or no il not
the question, and il should not be considered for one
moment. Let US take Oregon now, and look TO war
when 1t arises IL is not for US TO fear IT, when the
people, who sent US here, and who will have tn lose
their money and lives IN consequence OF IT, bid US
onward in the execution Of their own will.
When the admission Of Texas was before us, "a
country TO which we had acquired no right except
by the will Of the occupants Of the soil who had re-
VOTED from their rghtful government the question
Mexico, how much Of Texas shall we have-but
all said the whole or none and we took 1t all; and
the story is that we took than all, by running
to the Rio del Nore, for the sake Of good boundary
This sanctioned with my vote; and now wi h,
and call upon my southern Texas friends 10 aid
me, to let my patriotism have full scope our
northern frontier it had on the South. If it
wrong TO cede away Texas IN 1919, is it not equally
SO To cede away any portion Of Oregon nowi And
If we have had such struggle, as Is too recent IN
try against the will Of the weak and distracted gov
eminent of Mexico, what will be the mighty strug
gle when the future inhabitants Of surrendered Ore
gon, grooming under British oppression, shall de-
mand this same just privilege And such demand
is sure to come. My doctrine is--"put not of the
evil day"-meet the crisis in the face-do justice
whilst it is in your power and leave consequences to
consequences.
l MIR. w. wanted to call the attention Of the
4 House-and indeed that was the main object of
his risng-and particularly Of the new mem
bers, to explanation Of the occurrence in the
last Congress, alluded to by the gentleman from
South Carolina, tMr. RmrTr.l Mr.. W. said il
was his opinion, and that of majority Of the
party with which he had ever acted, that II the
notice and the bill sent to the Senate sepa-
5 rately, one if not both would pass. There were
some senator's who would vote for one and not the
other. He was for both, and wanted that course
pursued that would secure both. But, if he could
not have one he did not wish prejudice the other
who voted against putting the notice in the bill were
democrats. After the notice in the bull, they
however did not forsake the bill on that account.
Now look at those who voted against the bill on its
final passage All their names recorded in favor
ofinserting this notice. Several democrats voted to
put the notice in the bill, because they did not wish
. be put in false position at home, where the cir
ta;n;npces could not be explained, bu, yet enter
it's doubts as to its ProPrety tor iesr Of
are the facts ali those OF the o here, .a, ,h
" notice in the bill, finally went Si, P ali hose
e who finally went against the bill, went Tor
a the notice The fears of lis friends were realized
8 and the bill was defeated in the Senate.
IT Mr. HOLMES called Mr.. w. to order
l. Mr. w. sat down. and demanded the point Of or
s der.
+ The CHAIRMAN desired the gentleman from
} South Carolina to state his point of order
Q Mr.. HOLMES stated, that 1t was out Of order tc
d allude to the Senate.
II The CHAIRMAN overruled him, and said tn,
gentleman abiding to the Senate of last scs
n sion.
: Mr.. WENTwoRT said that was the gentleman.
}. point probably. "De moriuis nil nsi boniun7"
d Mr.. HOLMES. ".Na mortuis''
g Mr.. WENTWORTH would leave the Latin
Q with the gentleman and go to Oregon again. Well
!, sir, after passing this House by an Overwhelming
majority, the bill was lost in the Senate by two vote
only and those two the votes from South Caro-
lina and he presumed there was not gentleman ir
this House but believed that ifhc two measures hat
Dcen hept scpdEdtt oHc VI poul Wouu nave pdSScu
On mature deberation, he satisfied that he pur
+ sued the proper course in voting to keep the tw'
e measures separate. No who went with hin
regrets it, whilst there those who voted to unit
= them who would not do so again if they had tn
# matter ts do over again.
q Mr. W.. alluded to the fact that the South ant
h West went together for Texas, and he hoped they
o would go together for Oregon. The West Ger
tainly so expected. If they did not go together
!. there was class of politicians who would maxi
70 great deal of capital out of it. The non
., slayeholding democrats had gone for Texas--Mr
W. among them. He was sorry there were slave
/. there. But Notwithstanding, he glad he vote,
If for it, Oregon was free from slaves, and he loved
y the more because il Now, after annex
y ing foreign slave community, what would b
said Of us if we give up five degrees and forty min
IS utes Of non-slavcholdng country, which ever,
n member knew who had spoken conceded to belon,
II to u.s. Already have certain politicians and paper
, begun to predict that the South, having used tn
n West to get Texas, would now abandon it, and g