Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-03-19
SPEECH OF HON. SOLOMON FOOT,
or VERMONT,
ON THE OREGON QUESTION.
delivered IN The House of Reps. IL 8 M q ,e.c

~ ""9 "SO"9t uhcondltonal notice." Mr.. F. on.
posed such notice on the ground that negotiation
was not then at an end-that there was nothing in
the question to prevent an honorable and satisfac-
tory settlement without resort to arms-tbet such n
notice might provoke war, unnecessarily provoke
war Since negotiation is especially the province
oil the Executive, he urged that it was improper for
inc mousse TO interfere; at any rate that it was ex-
extremely unwlse to do so while in ignorance of
facts which the Executive might possess-while
left by the President literally to prope in the dark
upon the question of war peace. Rash and n-
considerate counsels we're deprecated; and as if
foreshadowing the policy which the Senate Seems
about to adopt, Mr.. Foot urged that the house
ought first TO let negotiation and COMPROMISED
have its perfect woik. Both nations made strong
claims to different portions of Oregon each nation
seemed to him to have the better clam-the y. s.
to the Columbia and Great Britain to Frazer's riy-
err; and the establishment of the line of demarka-
ton was peculiarly matter for negotiation Thus
much for the general scope of the speech We
now invite the attention of the reader 10 the fol-
lowing extracts, indicating the style and force
with which Mr.. Foot gave his views of the matter:
| Mr. Chairman, whence and wherefore all this sud
|
are they that have become so camorous all at once
for the whole Of Oregon, and who would declare
general war of expulsion from the American CONT
nent of every nation who may chance to have
foohold upon any part OF it? Who are they that
agltae The public mind. and appeal to the popular
passions and preiudces; who denounce as treason
against our own Government all suggestions of ne
gotlaton and compromise, and who would prefer
the fearful alternative of war to any treaty arrange
ment? Who are they that ever mouthing
their Oft repeated professions of sublimaed patr-
otism, though it were anything more than the
| frothy defamation of full grown demagoguism,
which evaporates with the breath that utters it?
Who are they that arrogate to themselves the priv
/ ilege of denouncing the conduct and impugning
the motives of the advocates of negotiation and
compromise, and who denounce enemies of their
own country, and the allies of foreign power,
those who would avoid the issues of war, and who
would maintain the peace which now blesses our
land and the world, by all means and measures
consistent with the integrity and the honor Of the
country: Whence comes, ask, all this sudden
storm of patriotic fury, of Wanting arrogance, of
vindctive denuncation, of empty and senseless
gasconade? Not, undertake to say, from the in
dustrious sober, and rejecting portion of the A
merican people; nor yet indeed, from the best
friends and ruest patriots of the country. Divest
this subject of all extraneous and improper infu-
ences; remove from it the nstigations and inauen-
ces of selfish and designing men, of a corrupt and
hireling press; remove the instigations and nfu.
ences of iobbers in stocks and obbers in politics;
remove the nsiigatons and influences of aspiring
demagogues, of cuckoo patriots and Tom Thumb
heroes Of President makers and Of embryo Pres
idental candidates of those who would raise the
whrlwind that they might ride upon the storm; of
those who would fire the city that they might revel
in the plumber of its ruins: Do this, and your Ore
gon controversy might be settled, peaceaby hon
orably' and forever in less than ninety days.
Mr.. Chairman | am as decidedly in favor of Or
egon, to the extent of our clear and Just rights
there, as those who urge the most extreme measu-
res for our immediate and exclusive possession of
the whole of it. 1t is for this reason that am op-
posed to any measure which, in my judgment, will
hazard a peaceful settlement of the controversy
and throw our rights and interests there upon the
issues OF war. But suppose that all efforts at q
settlement of these conflicting claims between this
Government and Great Britain fail, and things re-
main as they have for the last twenty or thirty
years: shall we lose any thing by it? Have we
lost any thing by il thus far Mot at all, sir. But
on the other hand, we have been the gamers by it,
and we should continue to be the gamers by it. if
demagogues would but cease to agitate the quest
ion for political and sinister purposes. Let this
I question, affecting our foreign relations, remain az
it did during the administrations of Mr.. Monroe
and Mr. Adams, of Gen. Jackson and Mr. Van Bu-
ren disconnected with our domestic strifes aud it
will be well enough. The natural progress of e.
vents, the steady and increasing flow of emgra-
ton, would ultimately and surely secure to us the
sole possession and control of that country. In
that sense, and in that way, will agree that Ore
gon will be ours by the "decrees of destiny."-
t While we have been doing so vel, then while,
: with every passing year, we have been adding
strength to our claims and possessions there, let
t not hazard every thing by the adoption of hasty
, and hostile measures. 1t would be the extreme of
folly to cast upon doubtful issue the acquisition
of that which the silent and natural course of
things must inevitably give to us. 1t is not TO be
disguised, however, that the question has been in-
f VOWED in difficulty and danger, and wholly in con-
sequence of having mixed it up with the party
tentions of the day, and in consequence Of that
staggering declaration to the world that our title
to the whole of Oregon was clear and unqrestion-
able" after our repeated concessions of the rights
and claims of England by our solemn official
acts. Can any better or truer reason be assigned
for the present veXed position of this Oregon quest
iOn than that IL has resulted mainly from an I'M
worthy disposition to throw every great question of
national interest into the arena of party politics
and party strife; from jealous fear that one am
bilious aspirant for the popular favor will get the
start of another in turning the popular favor upon
some great question Of public Interest? There,
too venture to affirm, lies the reason and the
tive for springng this question upon the public at
lentlon at the present time. Texas has made one
President Tor us and i, seems TO be determined
, that Oregon shall make one or twa more for us
and it is presumed that he who gets the first start
upon 1t will be the iavore of the people, | put
!, the question to the House and to the country,
whether this whole Oregon excitement, which has
been got of late, is anything more than prelimn-
airy scramble for the Presidential succession. Hence
we have tests Of moral and political worth; new
tests of ones attachment OF indifference, his love
or his GOODNESS, towards his country; and new
tests of political orthodoxy. He who now clam
ors loudest for the whole of Oregon is the best
patriot; while he who halts or doubts is traitor,
aye, " British Wing" He who most osteniatl-
ousiy yaunts his courage is the bravest man, while
he who has too much modesty and common sense
to act the bravado lacks in spirit, and is parasite
and coward
4 Something has been said in the progress of this
debate, of the chivary of the south something has
been said OF the vaor Of the west | choose rather
to say of all the people of this nation whether
they reside in the east or the west, whether their