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

wants it,) but would rather that the whole Of Ore
gon down TO 42o should belong 10 Great Britain
than to the United States. Yes, sir; this is the
South Carolina policy! Oregon on tinel policy
Identical In regard to that territory with tie Brit
ish policy itself
Great Britain has numerous forts south Of ago, or
in that par Of the territory which lies north of the
Columbia; and rhe even has one fort two hundred
miles south Of the Columbia river--For Umqua-
south Of Fort Astoria, or Fort George. Are gentle
men prepared to give up this territory south OF 4y0
Gentlemen say this subject should he left IN the
hands Of the Presidentthat 1t is executive con-
Germ. But, sir, the giving this notice will not take
from the executive department OF the government
its proper independent jurisdiction. That VIII re-
main where II ls in statu quo. "he'her any 'rea'y
Is - be ratified between this government and Great
BfJsn or whether my offers are % DO made On The
part Of Grss, Britain, know not, nor do care. !
will not interfere with hat question: w!ll not In.
guire nor anticipate what offer the executive would
receive or Great Britain make. | know not, nor
will | undertake TO ascertain. But II any offer
should be made, trust that the Executive will rat
ify no treaty that would not receive the sanction Of
tho nation, and accord with the just rights Of our
people | am willing TO leave that matter In the
hands Of the Executive, where this notice would
cave II, where II now is and with which we cannot
interfere.
Great Britain has manifested disposition TO con-
tend not only for tho territory north Of 40 degrees
we are TO contend for any part ofIhis territory, we
may as well, u the conflict is TO come, contend for
that north 40 deg for that between 40 deg and
the Columbia river
] believe our title TO the whole Of Oregon up TO
$40 40 is "elear and unquestionable;" and that be-
low 49o under no circumstances is an inch OF this
territory to be surrendered to the British govern
ment Whether the territory north Of 49o and
south Of $40 az is matter OF compromise, nego-
ua'iOn, and settlement between the two govern
ments, will not now undertake 10 say. IL "a suf-
heent fJr TO repeat the expression Of my belief
that our tile up to $40 iV is 'eear and unquesIion-
able"
Much has been said about the power Of Great
Britain, and the danger Of entering upon war with
her; that we must forego treaty rights, because
she is a powerful and dangerous foe; that her col
onies and her possessions encircle the world from
north TO south, from east 10 west; and that this
would be no little war, but contest between sys-
tems-a long, protracted, arduous, and bloody war.
Now, IL Great Britain enciTcles the world with her
possessions, IL only argues her weakness not her
strength. She has TO maintain large armies in the
East Indies and a military force in Canada. In all
her settlements 1t is necessary for her TO main
tain military Establishment; and, therefore, | say
that her extended colonies her vast power in that
respect, Is, IN fact, only her weakness. And " a
declaration OF war should eome-and If il comes at
all It must be from her and not from us-it will
be the signal OF her dissolution. Her restless
blow; and at this moment she is weaker than
she ever was ut any time since she became mistress
Of the The defeat Of her aggressive attack
upon the Chinese would have proved her downfall.
Let her once become engaged in war, and let Cana
da or Ireland eyince disposition TO regain their lost
independence, and the British empire will he at an
end She knows il. She is less ready to go to war,
and less able to maintain war, either offensive or
defensive, than either France, Russia, or the United
States. She has too many colonies. She wants
more concentrated power. The extended campaigns,
and the numerous conquests of Napoleon consigned
him to Punishment at ST. Helena; and the extensive
conquess Of Great Britain will be her grave
do not know that shall dread the conflict # it
come; and venture TO say that Great Britain breads
it more than the United States. Sir Robert Peel,
indeed in a speech made in the British Parliament
responsive to the inaugural address Of the President
clustered about war; but 1t was intended to operate
the weak nerves Of the American peopla and gov
eminent. He had tried this course OF action in the
case Of Mcleod, and in the controversy about
the northeastern boundary treaty, when other men
were at the helm Of this government; and he had
found that bluster and bravado had had their effect
upon the men then IN power. The British govern
ment was now resortlng to the same means Of in
timidation; but, thank God, they had to deal with
different agents on the par Of this P.pple
have no prejudice against the British-l mean
against the British people. | admire them; adj
mre those who toll in her workshops and her fields
Of agriculture; nay, If you please, | admire her
armies and her navy. like them for their bravery
for their love of berty-their virtue-their indus
try. Why should not! They blood Of oui
blood, bone Of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; we
speak the same language we are descended from
the same common ancestry. But | must hold
them, as ! hold the rest Of the world, friend:
in peace, enemies in war" But | draw a dis
tnction between the British people and the Brit
sh government. | abhor and detest the British
government. Would to God that the British
| al Liz tha he air and flf
Euglish--would rise up in rebellion, sponge ou
the national debt confscate the land, and sell 1t 1t
small parcels among the people. Never, In tht
world, will they reach the promised land o
equal rights, except through this Red ses
of blood Let Great Britain declare war, anC
ftrvenhy hope that the British people-at least III,
Irsh-wll seize the occasion to rise and assert the
| Independence. This was the sentiment of the Illus
| trious Emmett when, on his trial, he declared 81
the Fresch came as invaders, he would meet then
on the beach with a sword in one hand and g torch
in the other; he would raze every house and burr
every blade Of grass; and the last entrenchment o
| freedom should be his grave }"
! Such are my sentiments in relation to the British
| government and the British people In the contro
versy between France and Great Britain, or Russi,
and Great Britain, would rather that the British
government should triumph, than that she shoult
| fall; would rather see the British people the sub
ects of the British government, than the subjects
France or The serfs of Russia. l believe they
are better off under the British government, thar
they would be under foreign yoke. But agar
repeat, that abhor that government; abhor tina
purse-proud and pampered aris'ocracy, with it
boated pension list, which, for centuries past, ha
wrung its being from the toll, the sweat, and the
blood Of that people.
| Now why do we want Oregon 1t is large
country, extending some twelve and half degrees
north and SOUTH and some seven hundred miles If
breadth from to west, with a salubrious climate
and a fertile SOIL 1t is the key of the Pacific. L
will command the trade of the isles of the Pacific
of the East, and of China. We want Oregon
because it is contiguous to the United Satcs to es
tablish there the institutions Of freedom; to plan
there the Of liberty; to erect there our standard
and to wave there the starspanged banner upon thu
highest and most remote boundaries Of that terrific
ry in honor Of those institutions consecra,ed by the
blood of the revolution, and founded by our Wash
| ington, our Franklin, our Jefferson, and ou
Adams. We want it, sir, because 1t is ours W.
want because the British ,oant IT,; want 1t be
cause it will make happy home for unborn mil
lions who to emigrate from these States to th'
west Of the Rocky mountains; we want it becaus,
our people have gone there, wish to go there, ant
will go there, TO make permanent settlements, to es
/ a. a IL s.-.s., I.