The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-22


would not sustain him in war for $40 4O, he hav-
ing il In his power 10 adjust upon latitude 49c. The
Brush minister has means Of taking knowledge OF
public opinion here; and il he be as wise man a.
he Is gentlemanlike and good looking one, he will
oresee, that II his government desires pesce and 10
tofore repeatedly made, from our side, must be
ceded to by the British side during the existence Of
the Congress now IN session. For this question is
4 progressive one, as all similar questions are in
republic In the next Congress $40 40 men will
abound in this House, and by degrees the Senate
will be conformed 10 public opinion IL progresses.
My belief is, that the President will look to the
halls of Congress as the sxponents of pablo opin-
ion. II he finds there resolution To fight for $40
40, he wal, doubt not take his stand accordingly.
II he finds there a disposition 10 secure peace by
yielding portion, suppose he will act according
lly. Az the war-making and means-furnishing
power il not In his hands, but is vested in Congress-
/ do not sec how Inc act otherwise than as 1
have prcdicated. IL, therefore, while the evidence
Of pubic opinion remains IL 10, the Presdeoi
shoud adust the matter tins footing Of the prop
osiiioa heretofore repeatedly made shall not
assume 10 he either his advocate or his de-
nouncer, before my constituents. They are his
constituents, as they are mine. | being their
sole representative here, and representing them on
y, my duty is plain. But the constituency Of the
President IS manifold, and of various shades Of
opinion and Of diverse interests and there is dan
ger of portions Of IT, melted by selfish and ambitious
men, becoming little heady and selEwilled. NV
constituents, know, "like the man," and they are
also for $40 40. | believe thew will construe
"Young Hickory" charitably
OF him, (the President) in consideration Of the
difficulties of his position aggravated az those diff
culties by president making instincts and ambi-
tous desgns,) all have TO say is, "God send him
safe deliverance." The country will be more Just
to him than are "the politicians
Al ~ Il. 4. n
of a series Of measures recommended by the Presi-
dent in reference to Oregon Its object is to extend
the laws Of Iowa Territory over our citizens who
have emigrated TO Oregon, until the termination OF
the Joint American and British occupancy thereof
and afterwards indefinitely. To terminate that joint
occupancy, this House has passed the resolutions
of notice. The Senate has cupied many weeks in
considering those resolutions; and IL is understood
that, in a day or two they will be returned to this
House altered, but, as | think, not amended | am
prepared TO believe that when a common sense
world shall compare the labor and time expended
with the product will be ready to excaim Mons
aboriiiu, produeitH mus" | trust that, in some
available shape, those resolutions will finally pass
both houses. But let their fate be what Il NAV,
this bill, after being perfected ought to become
law. IL the notice resolutions are to be defeated
by the efforts Of madBess and faction, it is the
more necessary that our laws should be extend
ed over our own citizens in Oregon; that emigra-
ton TO Oregon should be encouraged by a
promise of suitable grants of lands to settlers that
TO protect emigration to- and emgrants in, Oregon,
and to overawe the Indian tribes, forts should be
erected, and armed, and manned, and Indian agen-
cies established, on the route 10 and in Oregon;
and that communication with Oregon be secured
by means of mall-route. Such will be the effect Of
this bill with the pending amendments.
But, sir, am told by the honorable member
from Pennsylvania, Mr.. J. r. INGERsoLL,l in his
tod hat our pov in in dpt,,
bound TO address note to the British minister ex-
pressiye Of its desire adjust the Oregon controver-
sy. Sir, that desire has been expressed in every
Communication from our government TO the British
minister. Why repeati4 That an opponent ofthe
present administration should thus csv n not DO
wonderful But when hear so-called democrats
(they are few in number, thank God y say the same
thng--when see them captious as to forms of
words, having no more meaning than the words
"your very humble servant" at the close Of cha-
Ilenge-when find them sticking upon trucking
preambles and "parenthetical Stockings inn in re-
publican legislation, aoknowede that my faith
sometimes fails me | shall await further develop
ments before make up my mind to believe aega-
tons of ."punic faith, !" OF will TO ruIe or ruin, -
and of desire defeat all legislation upon topics
Of public expectation, so as thereby to dsorganize
the democratic party, and, from the elements Of po-
.ca revolution, build upa local party, for the graf
ication of individual ambition. Sir, will only.be
lieve these things when am compelled to see them
But will say now, that if such things are, the
American people will see and rebuke them. Those
engaged in such projects, il such there be, WILL in
all time stand, with Millions devil "on bad emf
nence"
Sir have said that my faith sometimes fails me.
will tell you why. | hear gentlemen declare tina,
they will cast their votes here to incur war in de-
fence Of our right to Oregon south Of latitude 400
The British government is authorized to SUPPOSE as
have already shown, that an offer coming from
that side proposing latitude ago as boundary will
be accepted by our government. Now, if gentlemen
ready to fight for latitude Ago, and if the British
government has right to suppose, as have said il
has, why the necessity Of sticking about forms of
wordsl Why is thisbill, or the notice, in a simple
and republican FORM stripped Of all verbosty, likely
to be offensive, to produce war, when the British
government has right to suppose the power in its
own hands to end the entire controversy any day.
or any hour? The British government has right
to infer that war can be avoided by accedng to an
adjustment upon the basis Of latitude AGO; and there
fore, iii really desires to avoid war, will make that
proposition, without waiting for action, to hunt
for of offence therein If the British govern
ment, on the contrary, desires war, to rub out old
scores, or to grasp Oregon south of latitude ago,
then those gentlemen who stand for latitude ago are
pledged to take part with in the fight The result
is that those gentlemen are either shor-sighted or
timid, or that their professions of willingness to
fight for latitude 400 as boundary, are insncere,
and that, in point Of fact, they do desire to de.
feat the American claim to Oregon, to subserve To-
cal interest We in the West are not addicted to
intrigue and we abhor it in others. We are watch
ing developments. And if we should be forced TO
believe what we now sometimes fear, we SHALL per-
haps, say but little; but shall understand our
selves, and our friends At present we are puzzled
Our western logic gives unfavorabe results. We
shall consider the logic Of actions We shall see
whether great measures are to be defeated for the
sake of a form of words We are not Jealous. We
are anxious. And we are resolved not be humbug-
ged.
Mr.. Chairman, hasten to conclusion. have
endeavored to answer the charge of a want Of cohe
between democratic declarations and democrat
ic action, and to demonstrate that it il our duty to
carry out the recommendations Of the Executive, on
the subject Of Oregon. 1t only remains for me to
say, that our action ought to be prompt and speedy
The action Of Congress- thus far has been ndeci.
sive and hesitating--''like a wounded snake drag
gng its SLOW length along" The people are exam.
ming the machinery of government to find the hand
that locks the wheels. They justify the Executive
His recommendations have been apt and proper. The
responsibility rests upon Congress. The Presi-
dentis, this day. more popular in many of our dem
ocratic districts than we ourselves are. The peo-