The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-02

self
own declaration, 10 go for ~, If II is shown
that commissioners were appointed under the
treaty Of Utrecht to establish that parallel as u
boundary This assertion "a the whole foundation
of his argument, upon which the whole superstruc-
ture rests. fthe falls the other falls with it,
Now sir | not only never said So but the idea v
or occurred TO me; l never thought Of IT, And The
honorable gentleman has wholly misunderstood me,
either through my fault or his own.
MY position was this sir. Many of the members
upon this floor contend that the parallel of 49O Is
the northern boundary OF our claim IN Oregon.
Some directly so; and others because 1t was
sumed TO be such by our government IN the early
period Of our contr yersy on this subject with Eng
and To Us, therefore, who believe that our claim
in Oregon goes TO $40 40, it essential To show
there vas this subject that the treaty OF
Utrecht never extended TO the country west of the
Rocky mountains.
Mr. Greenhow, in his work on Oregon, had ex-
AHMED this question, and had endeayored to- show
that no comm ssioners, under the treaty OF Utrecht
had ever established any boundary between the
French AMI English possessions on this continent
SO far respects the general proposition, it is
mere question Of historical authenticity, not having
the slightest practical bearing upon our title to Ore
gon. Because, before our title TO Oregon could be
affected il must be shown that that line il estab-
lshed at all, must extend west Of the Rocky noun
tains.
Mr.. Greenhow, in his work, enters into the ques-
talent, industry, and caution; and requested gentle
men who had doubts this subject TO turn 10 that
work. and | thong ht that they would satisfy them
selves that such line had been established. did
not vouch for the facts conclusions. never ex-
amned the general subject in its extent stated
however that the result Of his discussion upon my
mind was that such line had not been run. ]
am still under that impression, sir, and nothing that
was said Yesterday has shaken its strength. Still
| do not hold myself at all responsible for Mr..
Greenhow's accuracy. should investigate the sub
ect with much more security than have done If |
were compelled 10 be responsible for any deductions
from IT,
The senator from Missouri says he comes here
not TO settle point which at all influence the
ton Of this body, have the slightest effect upon
the termination Of our controversy with England.
He saws he 'makes no application Of this fact re.
ferrng 10 his proof that the parallel Of 40 was
tablished somewhere by the treaty Of Utrecht. He
says al draw argument frSm It. do not apply IL
TO the question Of title. am not arguing title, and
will not do it; but am indicating history assaed
in vital point by the book which has been quoted
and endorsed. am indicating the intelligence Of
the American Senate, exposed to contempt in the
eyes Of Europe, by supposed ignorance Of a tren.
" which Is one Of the great political landmarks in
Europe and America" &c.
The senator will pardon me for saying that this
seems To me very much OF a tempest in a teapot
What does he profess 10 yindcae before the Senate
ofhe United States Not the rights of the coun.
try, but the alleged truth OF historical fact mis-
represented by Mr.. Greenhow, and youched for, as
the senator thinks, by Now, SIR it seems 10 me
that this solemn trial, before such a court as this
is hardly justified by the nature of the accusation
Here is an historical error. Be il so. Nobody con
tends that il affects interests our honor in the
remOtest degree; no more so than the parentage Of
Romulus and Remus This is not a lecture room
We are neither professors nor Students assembl ed
here to discuss the truth or falsehood OF historical
NH .k kay
Nor do suppose that, il even the assertion of Mr.
Greenhow, that it would ever he known or that our
national character would require the slightest ind
eaIon.
Sull sir, as this question is thus brought before
US, will proceed TO give a brief synopsis of it,
and leave honorable Judge for themselves
The senator from Missouri has brought forward
principal facts to prove that the parallel Of 40 was
established by commissioners under the treaty of
Utrecht. The first is despatch from Mr.. Madl-
son TO Mr.. Thomson; the second, a statement sub.
mitted by Mr.. Monroe to Lord Harrowby; the
third put them together, for the honorable gen
deman has joined them-Poseth waite's Dictionary
and D'Anvle's maps.
Now sir, the first reflection that strikes man is,
that if this line thus established, the proof OF
Of !. might have been go, forty years ago from the
tive and undenable evidence, and all short Of it is
ineoncusive, and such as no tribunal Of justice
would receive as final.
But what says Mr.. Madison The honorable
senator from Missouri says, ''the fact of commssa-
nes having acted, was assumed for certain" The
language Of Mr.. Madison reads far otherwise to me
As stated the other day, he speaks doubtfnlly upon
the subject; and repeat the assertion notwthstand
Ing the contrary averment of the senator from Mis-.
souri,. There is reason believe" said Mr.. Mad
lson to Mr.. Monroe, "that the boundary between
Louisiana and the British territories north of it,
was actually fixed by commssaries appointed under
the treaty Of Utrecht"
He then adds, that he sends paper, containing
the authority respecting this alleged decision but he
adds cautiously: but you will perceive the necessity
Of recurring to the proceedings Of the commissares
as the source of authentic information. These are
not within reach here, and it must be left to
your own researches and judgment 10 determine the
proper to be made Of them" If this is certain.
ty, should like to know what uncertainty is. The
honorable senator regrets that had not looked into
the original documents instead of depending OIL
Greenhow; and that if had done so, l would not
have said that Mr.. Monroe had not added anything
TO Mr.. Madison's statement and had left the ques.
ton as doubtful he had found IT. In point of
fact, Mr. Monroe added the particulars Of which
Mr.: Madison declared his ignorsnce-added the
beginning, the courses and the ending of the line,
and stated the whole with the precision of a man
who had taken his information from the proceedings
Of the commissioners. | do not see what particu.
lars they of which Mr.. Madison declared his
ignorance, and which Mr.. Monroe supplied. Mr..
and upon that point Mr.. Monroe does not say one
word
And may be allowed here to remark that Mr..
Madison doubted with precisely the same facts
which we have before us-t,.e map and book refer
red to by the honorable gentleman. And to this
day, not one single circumstance has been added
which could remove those doubts Where, then,
that illus,rous man felt uncertainty, may be per.
mtted to feel greater degree Oft in quenee of
the direct and tircumstantal evidence since discov-
cred leading to the presumption that such line
was established. But / repeat, sir, that in this in
vestgaton do not profess to come to any absolute
conclusion. 1t is subject on which men may diff
fer. The result of my examination impresses me
with the conviction, that such line was estab-
lishcd. Mr.. Monroe presented memoir to Lord
Harrowby, the Secretary Of State, and | will now
quote from the gentleman's speech that part of il
IN which he dwells upon showing "the beginning
courses, and end of the line, &C. with the precision
of man who had taken his information from the
proceedings of the commissares." will quote
also, the opinion Of Douglas the historian
of North America; and no doubt can ex.
lst on the mind of any man that Mr.,