The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-09

mighty matter in dispute that We are TO agitate this
whole nation from end to the other, and, II may
be, rush into conflict What ia IL The senator
from Michigan says sit is no less than twelve OF
thirteen degrees Of latitude" and think the Socre
tary of State says there is land enough for nine large
States Of this Union. Why, sir, do not look up
on il at all. What 10 the matter really in dispute
between the two governments Great Britain, long
ago, offered as boundary the 18th degree Of lati-
tuoe till il strikes the Columbia river, thence down
that river TO the Pacific ocean, giving US all south OF
il, and retaining the northern portion herself On
the other hand, we have offered, several occa-
sioAs, to Great Britain, to take the 49th degree,
and on that degree TO cross the Columbia river
down to the Pacific, giving her the posts on the
northern portion Of the coast. And what is the
matter we cannot settlel The small portion OF
coast between the Columbia and the 49th degree
of north latitude from where that degree intersecs
the stream down to the Pacific, about $50 mica on
its northern boundary, and containing, ss far my
calculation went, about $1,000 square miles Of the
steril and worst part Of the whole territory.
That il the matter which remains IN dispute, and
but for which we should have arrived ere this at
settlement. 1 think, this being the case we are
nearly at H. and | have a right TO say so, Judging
from all the information on the subject. believe
if negotiations had not been terminated in August
last we would have been able TO ad Just these mat
tiers on the 49th degree, If the navigation Of the
Columbia had been offered with 1t, or some equiv
alent like 1t. Then, il that be true the only matter
that would divide would be the navigation, and
we could come TO a settlement but for that excep-
ton; and upon this we are TO take these prompt
and decided measures, and perhaps rush into the
hazard Of a collison-for what? The right TO nav
gate what | must pronounce to be an unnayigable
river. and one which, even were II otherwise, nei-
Their OF us wants for perhaps century TO come;
and we to fight and die before giving il up, and
which, IL in their possession, neither party
wants for more than half a century 70 come. And
do
this, to make speeches. and plunge their country
in the calsmities of war. Now am reminded of il,
the senator from New York. in his eferyescent
and boiling-hot patriotism, said he would fight to-
day to obtain the country, mot for the citizens OF
this country,) but a spot where the poor and OPP
pressed Of Europe should 60 and find refuge.
Now if they want such to-day, it is and will be
open TO them. Not one to obstruct their pas
sage to it, the plain highway Of nations is open TO
them, and they may occupy 1t 10 their hearts con-
tent. know the predicament in which we stand; ]
have already referred to IT, but it shall deter
know we, on this side Of the chamber, are TO be
charged, on the one hand, with being Indifferent TO
the rights Of our country, If we do not sustain the
most extrayagant propositions entertained by some
here; il will be said, too, in the British inter
est; and but this morning we were admonshed Of
what we are to do. do not know but these asper-
sions and caumnies may have their effect There
are persons base and proAgae enough to make these
unfounded caumnles the ground Of accusation and
vituperation; and there may be those who are fools
enough to believe them. What Of that, SIR Are
public men be Influenced by these considerations
or are they to be regardless Of these Impressions
Now, do not desire to be placed in the condition
of sitting quietly here giving acit sanction TO the
statements daily made of the clear and unquestion-
BILE nature Of title, and that il beyond the reach
Of all doubt much that he who faIters is a rec
reant to his country. | will not be placed in this
Postion, although in expressing my doubts of it |
II =. -
because | don't agree with the senator from
New York that we have such claim, that cannot
90 TO such an extreme to support it; | do not find
anything TO warrant me in that conclusion; and |
must say, while | have listened and read with much
attention, however tedious and harassing il must
be, the most, If not all, that has been said on the
other side IN defence our claim to the whole OF
Oregon, do not think the real difficulties have vet
been answered | agree with the senator from
Georgia. We should examine and meet these diff
cultes; that 1t ought TO be wish see our coun-
try in the right, and able to show it. do not see that
the difficulties and objections in the way of our title
have been met in such way to exclude all nego.
tation. Those who have been engaged in discuss
ing our rights here, have too much confined them.
selves to general topics and considerations; thew
have not taken up the real principles and difficulties
involved. There are great questions of public law
to be considered as well as grave questions of fact
and history. IL is not enough, when such is the
matter to be considered-when questions of law and
historical truth at ssue-to tell me the Baltimore
convention, or any other, not having the time or
means of investigating this title has ''resolved and
therefore the title is clear and indisputable This
is not enough for me, we must stop and examine il
our claims well founded before we rush into war
with one of the most formidable nations on the
earth. say 1t ia not for us, situated to adopt
such conclusions, no matter how large the
multitude or numerous the assembage announc-
ing 1t. Sir, there are great difficulties in the
ha H.
they cannot; but it seems me that those who de-
end our title have admitted their inability to do So
We derive our title to this northwest coast which
gentlemen choose to call Oregon, Gas if Oregon con-
tained the whole territory there we derive our IT,
tie from three sources; first from the discoveries
that were made from the sea of the mouth of the
Columbia, by Grey, III 1899, and by Lewis and Clark
in 1893; that Is our title by discovery. We then
claim to have title from Spain, and also that we
have title by the cesson of Louisiana by France
in 1904 that is the second. BY the first is be-
lieye admitted that we are entitled to no more than
the Columbia and the country drained by it; this
will go 49o much less $40 4O so far as that
is valuable, it can be used only to support our claim
to the Columbia and the adjacent country drained
by it, from its mouth on the Pacific following it up
into the interior. BY the cessien of Louisiana, If
we have any title, we have obtained it up to 49o not
beyond that But then we have third source
Of title, the grant of Spain in 1919, commonly
called the Florida treaty, conveying to u.s. it is said
the whole northwest coast, excluding Great Britain
once and forever. agree with the senator from
Georgia that there are grave questions affecting these
sources of title which ought to be discussed, and
which we ought to see the nature Of before we can
pronounce that our title is, some gentlemen now
say, clear and unquestionabe.
Mr.. E. went on to say, that, in his opinion, these
titles were Of different degrees of validity. That
founded on the aession of Louisiana, he thought,
was the strongest. He had no doubt that GRAY
was the first American navigator who entered the
mouth Of the Columbia river. That fact was es-
tablished But then the argument based upon it
was not 80 clear The general principle was laid
down, that the discovery Of river gave title to
the whole country drained by it. Then came the
particular questions bearing on that general princi-
pie In the first place. the coast had been discov-
cred long before Gray's visit He did not discover
the coast. The very promontories at the mouth of
the river had been named long before. "Cape Dis
appointment" had been seen and so named, and
Deception bay" was the name given to the mouth
of the river. Long before Gray was there Span
ish navigator had coasted along, seen the mouth of
,hox aH "a ,b.o Al.