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


interests there, as to "great American question"
The convention asserted that our ute to Oregon
was clear and unquestionabe; and ne VINO was de-
signated by that convention as the democratic can
ddate for the presidency, having been called 70 the
chair Of State, repeated the declaration IN manner
for which be and the democratic party are respon-
sible
Subsequently, in the course Of negotiation, the
Executive 10 secure peace and having as inducements
the extingnishment of the membranes upon our
Oregon tite, and operated upon by the moral force
Of propositions previously made by his predecessors
in the chair Of State offered 10 divide the territory
oforegon with England by extending the line be-
tween the United S.sses and Canada, upon the 4sth
degree of latitude to the Pacific ocean. This propo
sition was refused by the British minister, and then
Withdrawn by the President
This action Of the convention, and Of the Prcsi-
dent instead Of receiving at the hands OF our polt
cal opponents that liberal consideration which a
common American feeling ought 10 begv. and
which invariably in the British Parliament upon the
discussion Of similar external and psVsodc qoes-
tions, analogous to this Oregon question with as,
brings the sternest opponents OF the administration
to the standard Of the minister and OF the country
has been the subject Of muck illiberL criticism and
unmerted reprpsch II has been represented that
the convention and the President, in saying that our
title is clear and unques,iopsble have said too mucb
for that the same is encountered by the Eng
lish night Of joint occupancy for commercial pur-
poses and by the English claim to Oregon for be
il remembered that upon the footing Of the forcible
entry upon Spain, of which have spoken and OF
the commercial occupancy, secured by treaty, as
well also because Of the contguity Of Oregon TO the
British possessions in America, and other pretences
less formidable than these, the British government
has set up claim to Oregon, or part thereof j I'M
deTstand the claim TO be made 10 all that they
get, by any means Of fraud or force which grasp
ing policy may dictate, without specification Of
meles and bounds.
Let us examine this criticism Of our opponents.
Give to the assertion Of the convention, reiterated
by the President, a construction sanctioned by com
mon parance, and what is It's score Does the
holder OF a fee simple, in common pnrance, hold
his title to be otherwise than clear and unquestion
able, because 1t is incumbered by right Of way,
other privilege Does he hold il TO be other than
clear and unquestionable because some one, without
right, sets up claim TO III Surely net. And yet a
right of way is an incumbrance; and claim is
quasi incumrrance, because il ISLANDERS the title.
Ii was but the other day that, in this discussion,
the honorable member from Tennessee, Mr..
BRows,l by strange perversion Of the words and
meaning Of his colleague, Mr.. JOHNSON, represent
ed that colleague as having, in some sort, ad-
mltted that the declaration Of the President
as to our title to Oregon, and his act in Of
fering, as an adjustment, a division Of the
territory upon latitude forty -nine inconsistent
the with the other, and that the declaration was
made to please the democracy, and the act done TO
please the wings. And by a peculiar, and in small
way, somewhat ingenious adaptation Of bis own
sentences, the honorable member Mr.. BRowsl
contrived to give the endorsement of his own judg
ment to this sentiment so grossly imputed TO his
colleague. Verify this criticism OF the honorable
member smacks much more of the Justices court
than Of the equity forum. II sayors not ofthe chan
cellor. What James X. Polk shape his acts to
gather golden opinions among or of wings? Why
fhaxy NATL ,,tt Tha,, bad x.h.h ats
and "held thermanhood cheap" that perforce their
"great embodiment" must soil his nobility by
running on the same political course with this same
james X. Polk. Does James X. Polk expect
wing pen to write his life and times' Does he, the
advocsse OF snte rights, Of strict cos~sructiou Of
the constitution and Of trade unshacklea by a0ght
but taxation absolutely necessary for revenue, and
the firm opponent Of bank monopoles, appeal to
atitndinarians, federaliss. proteconists and bank
ties to inscr be his eptaph and write his history
Sir, there s no discrepancy between the declarations
and acts Of the President Our title is clear and
questionable; but it is ncumbered, and 1t has been
slandered Who recognised the incumbrance' An
Executive belonging to the same party of which the
honorable gentleman from Tennessee Mr.. BRows1
is distinguished member-a party which, in pow
er has brought upon our country more political
evil in twelve years than the progressive democra
cy" can remedy in the same period; and which, out
Of power occupy their leisure and talents IN COM
cabes, and all other fractions, factions, and fig
ments, TO defeat popular will and veal. Who SLAM
dered our title to Oregon, and taught Great Britain
to hope for q division thereof President Of the
same party, who offered djustment more favora-
BILE to Great Britain than that offered by Mr.. Polk.
There is not a lawyer in this House but knows the
fatal effect, upon his cause, Of an offer of compro-
mise made by his client publicly in the courtyard.
Bad as the proposed compromise may be, he is
constrained generally, to advise his client to repeat
the offer. His cause is slandered. So the Presi-
dent found our title to Oregon slandered by the offer
of partition made bya precedent wing administra-
ton, written down with the pen, and published to
the world over the name Of the "great embodiment"
and he constrained to repeat the offer. ..l
Others have hazarded not only indiscreet guesses,
but also bold assertions upon the proposition wheth
the President would now or will hereafter accede
to an offer for adjustment by division Of the terri
tory upon latitude ago, in manner, and to an ex-
tent, which relieves from all considerations of
delcacy in reference to speaking to that point. Sir
American statesmen have to the best of their abili-
ty, eviscerated our republic of its last diplomatic
secret this subject. ! also will guess, lest it
may be inferred that ! have a personal motive for
being guarded on this subject as has been infer
red that others have been led by personal motive to
indulge in surmises and declarations upon this most
delicate topic. Prick up your ears, therefore; for
the secret, as understand it, is about to explode
am about TO guess, solely on my own judgment,
and am pretty sure that shah guess rightly. The
President does mol kno,v hai he ,oil dol Like other
wise men, he holds himself up to be controlled by
circumstances, and at liberty to carry out the be-
heats Of public opinion, that opinion may be
modified by time and circumstances The last prop
osltion for adjustment by nsgoiiaon ennanaed from
our side. The next, as suppose, rsust come from
the British side. OF course the President does not
know what it will be. When it comes, he will con-
slider of it. Now, sir, we know that in this coun-
try, public opinion is the ruling power. II there
fore becomes important to consider what public
opinion is no,o, and how it may probably be modi-
fed hereafter. The American people have right
TO resolve to undertake a war in defence of that
which they assume Gas they have right to do,)
to be theirs, and they may compromise disputed
rights without dishonsr. Public opinion, as indi-
Gated by the representation in the halls of Congress
now, would not justify war for that portion Of
Oregon between the parallels Of ago and $40 40
The number Of those in this and the other hall.
who would undertake such war, is small indeed,
large majority Of either branch Of Congress would
yield up that part of Oregon north Of latitude 49o,
in extinguishment Of the incumbrance and claim
held and made by Great Britain, and to secure the
blessings Of peace. But there is not one member
Of this or the other house, believe, who s not