The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-23

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by him, invited and recommended.
These considerations had great influence upon
that vote. Ii will also lie remembered that, at the
time Of that VOTE there was Joint resolution pend
ing in Committee OF the Whole ON the state OF the
Union, directing the notice to be giyeni and It was
the wish of many of the friends OF Oregon that the
Two nIeasures--the bill and the notico-should be
Kept separate; and am assured that many who
were then for the notice voted, against putting II IN
the bill because they feared mat poth measures
would be thereby endangered. They wished tdeh
to stand separate from the other, ana upon It's own
merits, so that the one should not JeoPu OF PreJu-
dice the other,
In eonnexion with this point of the case, hope !
may be allowed to refer TO speech made by the
President in 1929, when member OF the House Of
Representatives, the subject OF oregon. u might
be wise in the friends Of Oregon to look u that
speech; they may possibly find enough in il TO
make Them doubt at least, the fate OF such terrific
rial bill as we might prefer. greatly desire 10 sec
sons Efficient beneficial legislation on this subject
want 10 see our eitiEens there enjoying the full
protection Of our laws. How shall We accomplish
that purpose know Of but one srrs way, and
that is tbe notice as first step. Let u~dyest
selves of the shackles OF he treaty, and teh con
legslate without the fear Of violating treaties. We
never can organize complete government there
cntil the treaty is abrogated. You may pass bills
which viii do com. good you can now extend your
laws over the citizens OF the tsrritory, saving and
excepting Dflllbn buuJtNN6t anu JOu oHbih
lection to the emigTant on his way TO Oregon But
il Is thought by many able statesmen that you can
not give bin home after he gets there while the
treaty exists, though | ES!leye we can give him
lands prospectiyely 10 vest absolutely, after the
line shall have been run between the tvo govern
mens, or the one yields all TO the other, IN winch
event no new line will be necessary. But II there
Is serious doubt about it, let US solve that doubt
by abrogatng lhs treaty II must finally come TO
that IN any reasonable contingency.
II we should pass a complete territorial bill, our
chances for war, | apprehend, would be increased
Lord Palmerston and Sir Robert Peel have both de-
cared that such u bill would violate the treaty. In
debating that question IN the British Parliament
Lord Pamerston said
what has happeasd lately about h,t Oregon 1deston1
Why the Senate ba7o s,tusy ras.ed ~ f0L immediately
taking orcble possession OF s whole Of tina: teoy and
the senator who brought in that bill eSprSEStd b' tonyc
that the American clam this territory would Imme
dstely he acquiesood IN by Great Britain it only
impossible conceive that this b should pass the other
branch NJ the legislature but II TO pass and TO be
the Invasion and seLurt OF tArritory 10 dispute by
Of decree made by Of the parties IN ~ IA
vor"
To which Sir Robert Peel replied
The noble lord says the adoption that bill would he
ofwar will not discuss Hypothetical OF
wEer, have said. the executive government has sign
factory OF the question Of the Oregon territory
trust IN the assurances Of the executive sosetnmsp, apd
VIII not bCllcNC that II " III give consent 10 aNbkId
tive measure al variance with these insurance."
They are not alone in the opinions they then
advanced; many of our own Statesmen entertain
similar views In the discussion in the Senate of
the United States in l643, bill known as Linn's
bill, Mr. Calhoun said:
Even who believe that the present ministry Is dis.
posed to peace that the recent mission 10 this country
originated in the spirit Of peace and that Sir Robert Peel
in the midst OF splendid success and therefore to be
rusted-dO moi doubt she would resist should adopt
this MEASURE"
Ia that same speech MIR. Calhoun further said:
81 however nj opinion that Great Britain would
direction ut time no too ssgacious
slider the treaty al All end and take possession adverse
us, il not oil the whole territory, at least Of tho Co
s sns SS 's ed 5,
respccabe garrison and leSVe TO us totecide whether
acquiesce under SUCH circumstances would be virtual
Of the territory To negotiate with adverse and
torcble possession against US would De almost as hopeless
he Such IN my opinion, would be the prob
able result, should this hill bs passed"
do not intend TO be understood asserting to
these opinions. | voted for the bill OF last Con-
gress under the belief that did violate treaty
with Great Britain, nor do | think it would. | am
endeayorng TO show however that some Of the ables
statesmen in England, well in the United
States, entertain the opinion that a territorial
bill would violate the treaty, and that war
wOulu De inc consequence war WHICH WOuu,
in the minds Of some, at least, carry with it
the odium of bad faith on the part of this govern
mcnt-of pal pablo violation of subssting treaties.
wish to avoid that lmputaiion; wish to avoid, if
possible, even the suspicion OF breach Of faith. II
we have to fight, let us do it in a clear case; let
us cut loose from the restrictions Of the treaty,
by giving the notice conformably to its second
article and then can legisate for the protection
of our people, and the advancement of the in
terests Of the country. Such are my views
on this branch Of the subject. And while do not
abandon wrong the position assumed by the
House of Representatives of the 2Sth Congress-
while totally repudate the idea Of conforming my
opinions to the opinions Of the President, or any
one else-ye sir, in the fear that, by persistng, we
might fail to accomplish any hing, and with view
to concentrate tho opinions, and joint harmonious
action of our own statesmen and people, and, fpos-
sible, to avoid war, | am willing to yield for the
present the doubtful features of the territorial bill
until we can abrogate the treaty entirely. Let us
then give the notice, and pass the best bill we can
for the efficient protection Of citizens; one in
which all reasonable men can unite being in
strict conformity to the treaty. and when the twelve
months expire, we can do the rest.
! have another extract from Mr.. CALHoUN's
speech in support Of these views which had for
gotten to read at an earlier stage of my remarks,
but which beg the indulgence of The committee for
permission to read at this time:
"Mr. CALHOUN said: But if our finances in ever
u
strong 1t could he made by administration
standing at the head OF powerful dominant party and
population had reached the point where could sue
cessuy assert and maintain claim against the adverse
claim OF Great Britain there would still remain decisive
objection to this hill The mode in which TO do
is indeensihe. five displeased with the existing
arrangement which leaves the territory free and open to
the citizens and subjects Of the countries five Of
the opinion operates practically disadvantage Or
that the time has arrived when ought to assert and
into effect claims Of exclusive sovereignty the
territory the treaty provides expressly for the
thorres either party by giving years notice to terminate
its existence whenever IL peases and without giving
Why has not this bill conformed to this express and
plain provisonl Why should il undertake to assert
elusive ownership TO the whole territory in direct violation
Of the treaty. Why should it, with what we all believe to
be good title part involve the country in conro
about the violation the treaty In which large por
ton II not majority OF the body believe that would
he in the wrong when the treaty itself might easily and
in short time be terminated by our own act and the
charge Of its violation he avoided Can any satisfactory
reason be given these queons ask the author OF the
measure and its advocates for an answer has been
given yet aud venture 20 assert will he attempted
can imagine but that can be gtvenha there
those who will for the bill that would not to
give the notice under the dcusye hope that assert
our exclusive ownership and take possession without vio
latng the treaty enlnngerng the peace Of the county
Their aim TO have oil the benefit Of the treaty without be-
ing subject to its restrictonsan aim in direct conflict 18th
the only object Of the treayto prevent conflict between
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