The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-05

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serted. Ia making this snnunsialon, therefore, the
President did but respond TO the obligation imposed
on him. as he doubtless supposed by that convention
And he (Mr. g. Ihough that all those who had come
TO the conclusion that tile TO the whole OF Ore
gon was clear and unqnestionable had found the
proof Of that title In the resolutions Of the Bsltmore
convention rather Than in the facts and Arguments
Of the case.
What was the effect Of that annuneiaon by the
President We all know, We all know how il had
exzsperated the Engl ah nation. We all know the
response which had been made 10 IL on the
Aoor Of Parliament by the Representatives Of
the English people. We all know what Sir
Robert Peel, and what Lori John Russell
(lhe leader of the opposlionj had said. We all
know how the annuneiailon, 10 the effect thai Eng
land had rights in Oregon which she was deter
mined TO and maintain, had been greeted wilh
paudils from all sides. ... .. . .. ......-
Ia this view Of the case, and in order 10 determine
what effect the action they were called upon TO take
would be likely TO have on the question Of peace or
war, We musl look TO all the accompanying facts
and circumstances. The United States government,
after having made proposition to DIVIDE the terri
tory by the 49lh degree Of north latitude, which
proposition was rejected by the British minister,
huthshly withdrew il, and the President had then
sent n message 10 Congress, stating that the prop
osiuon having been Withdrawn, and the title OF the
United Ssaee 70 the whole OF Oregon having been
proved by irefrag.be facts and Arguments, he rec
commended the giving Of this notice the hrsi Of
series OF measures which were 10 eventuate in per-
feeling our title TO it. And, in this state Of facts and
circumstance, Congress was now called upon to
carry out that recommendation. And they were To
be compelled to act on the subject with no other
light Than that which had been shed upon by the
documents hitherto transmitted from the State De
partmenL They knew nothing more about H.
And he asserted that, judging Of the question
by these documents, this joint resolution was
the first Of series Of measures which must.
II adopted, inevitably eyentuate in war He
did not believe there any thing in the nature Of
the controversy which ought prevent its peaceful
djustment. He therefore opposed to the measure
because he believed il would be followed up las in.
deed, If adopted, It ought TO BEL by those uteror
measures limited at by the President, when hosds
elared that at the end Of the twelve months we
must be prepared either to abaadon OUT rights, or
firmly TO maintain them. And II this measure xas
so followed up war was inevitable. tie did not
think that We ought to 60 10 war for the msnte-
nance Of claim to the whole Of Oregon; for he
did not believe that we had a perfect lille to the
| whole. II he did so believe, he would be will
ling TO wage war in its behalf He cared not how
long, how disastrous, or how terrible the struggle
might be, he would 40 for such a war rather than
yield up one inch Of territory which was clearly
and unquesuonably ours; or, rather than purchase a
dishonorabe and alsgraeeful peace. But we had no
such clear title. We had by our own repeated and
solemn acts admitted that we had not We had by
our own acts committed ourselves irretrieyably 10
the fact that England had rights to that territory
as well ourselves. Should we be justified be-
fore this intelligent nation, In this age, and before
the nations Of the earth, in going TO war for the
whole Of a territory in regard TO which we have
| placed ourselves in such attitude
What was TO be the effect of this notice. How
would 1t operate on the English government Would
| It make that government negotiate with u.s. and ad-
just peacefully the controversy in such way that
our rights would be sufficiently maintained, and our
| honor left intacp What did il amount TOP To this
and no more, that we had a clear title to the whole
of Oregon; that we had agreed To joint occupancy;
| that the time had come when we wished TO termi-
hate IL; that at the end Of the year Great Britain
to march out and withdraw her claims; that the
territory ours, and we intended to have il; and
that IT, at the end OF the year, England did not give
il up, we would, il necessary, take ii by arms.
Was this suaslve argument TO TO Great Brit.
ain TO induce her 10 negotiate and adjust the dcul.
/ ty' Was there single page in her history which
could lead any sensible man 70 the conclusion thar
she could be induced by such "a course to make con-
cessions Would she make concession with the
sword OF coercion brandshed in her facel Would
she even do that which, in the absence Of such an
| argument, she would be willing to dor Did gentle
men desire put Great Britain in circumstances of
disgrace before all nations' Would nothing short Of
| such a triumph satisfy them And were they so
| well convinced that she would submit to be thus
disgraced, that they thought themselves safe in
bullying and busteringi Or did they really believe
that, after all TINS bullying. insult, and brug
gadocio, we could make a compulsory peace
with her, and that to them would belong the
high honor and distinction of having driven her
to that which Of her accord she would not have
conceded Was this the triumph that gentlemen
| desired Was this one Of those paltry and damna-
BILE political objects suggested by certain supporters
Of the administration He would not voluntarily
introduce such suggestions here but others having
d.. L.. L.I .,.xkt IL
these the motives Of gentlemen Were these the
high, and honorable, and patriotic objects towards
which the men who welded the destnes of great
nation should direct their attention. Was it thus
that gentlemen proposed to acquit themselves of the
high responsibility imposed upon them by the Amer
lean people! He hoped not. He hop,d it might yet
out to te true, that the President of the u States
was zealously, and ardeny, and patrioticly labor
ing to effect peaceful adjustment of the controversy
in such way US to maintain the just rights Of the
Union, and hold its honor inviolate. He would
give opinion on the subject until facts had de-
veloped what the true state of things was. He be.
lieVed that Of this kind was requisite to
induce England to desire speedy adjustment. She
well knew that that was her interest; for in proper
ton az the adjustment was postponed would her
chances of receiving any considerable portion Of the
| territory be diminished. Her statesmen were well
aware Of this fact II anything would give us the
| territory, it would be the combined operation Of
time and of that American multiplication table to
which the gentleman from Indiana Mr.. KENNEDY
had so delicatcly alluded. .. 49,. ....... :.
We had seen by recent adyices what the state of
public opinion was in England on the reception OF
| the Presidents message. Was there anything in
| these advices 10 induce a belief that England was
| not disposed to q peaceful Adjustment He main
tanned there not. For whist part of the mes
sage, as had been remarked by gentleman yester-
day, was eminently calculated to excite in the
| bosom Of every Englishman hostile feeling, there
was in another part savo calculated to nenlrs!ize
all injurious and resentful feelings. Mr.. q, here
adver,ed 10 the free trade propositions of the
| sage, to the British interests involved in tina,
contemplated policy, and the motives which it gave
England for compromise and concession, long ss
no issue involving her honor and high position be-
| fore the world was raised. II MIR. McLane was
now negotiating with her commercial treaty, tina,
| the revenue laws Of the United States should be SO
modified as TO give to England this great nation as
market for all her MANUFACTURED articles and thus
TO crush the rival manufactures Of our own country
which had grown up under the wise and benefceri
policy Of our ancestors, he was not sure but tina
England would APree To adjust the df6cultu IN nj