The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-08


abused than the power Of tho President and Senate
make treaties Had been. Congress In 1882 per-
haps, resolved that they would not part with any
portion of the territory Of Maine, satisfy England
yet the treaty-making power had dismembered
Maine, transferred the allegiance OF tho citizens OF
the republic distant monarchy, and had, at the
same time, agreed 10 pay England for taking the
boon. He was for bringing the treaty-making pow
err, now comparatively irresponsible, near the
people as the constitution would allow and step
towards the object would be made in asserting the
right Of Congress TO annu Them when obnoxious
Againi Congress was vested with the power "to
declare war and grant letters Of narque and eprl-
sal" This power evidently carried with Il that Of
annulling treates for war and treaty of amity
could not exist at the same time.
Mr. McC. said he was in favor Of rpeak-yes, L.
giia!irs epeal-of the convention. The President
had recommended, 10 bis message, that notice be
glvenj and also 'lhat provision by iai0 be made for
giving iir and he was prepared for one TO rake H.
The gentleman from South Carolina Mr. RHETTl
asked, the other day, what there for the
notice. Mr.. Nee. said there were many-some
OF which he would briefly recount. The FIRST Of all
was, that Oregon was ours-eyery inch ours--from
the ago to the $40 40 north latitude inclusive,
and being ours, under existing circumstances, the
honor and the interest of the country required that
we should exclude all foreign and antagonislical u
risdicton from IT, Ii fact that under the con-
yentlon, Great Britain was attaining all that she
could attain independent Of il. An idea was pur-
posely nculcated in Oregon, by the British authori-
ties, that the settlements Of the Americans south of
the Columbia would be acqueseed In by that gov
eminent hut that all such north of that stream
would be contested II needs be, at the point Of the
bayonet This idea was attended with the effect OF
restricting the settlements Of the two countries TO
different sides OF the river. While the Americans
selling the south, Great Britain as counter
poise, would oil up the northconyen her Temporal
ry Sediments for the purposes Of trading and fish
ing, uneer the convention into permanent agrcultt-
raj and commercial communities, and strengthen her
numersQe trading posts, by armng them for the
permanent occupation and maintenance Of two
thirds Of the country, and much the better portion
IN many respects.
Tie continued operation Of such causes would
dives, or tend 10 diyest, the American emf
grants Of all interest and concern about the jurisdc-
tion Of the country north Of the Columbia; and for
the snme reason that some Of the cities on the sea-
boad were opposed TO war, the loss Of property
wolld array their interests against any measures
for the exclusive appropriation Of the country which
might lead to war. Ii had been urged that time
would effect everything for US. Until now, II had
effected everything against u.s. The policy Of mac
tiuty u state OF rJ inertia, when understood by
Great Britain To be our policy, would avail nothing
against her more active means.
We might encourage emigration thither; but il
that should become the policy Of the United States
to save the country we must fail in the race Great
Britain granted chartered privileges, monopoles Of
trade, with more than bounties, TO stimulate and
augment emigration. We could not=-our institu-
tons forbade H. Neither would we grant bountes
Of money, rHe, AN axe, spade, &c. We were
too economical Tor that Nor would we give any
thing more than a promise TO give land when the
controversy was settled in favor. The induce
ments to emigration therefore, in the hands of
Great Britain ratier than in our own. What OF the
capacity for emignton' Our population was sparse
eaI nuar mai vie nF
try in most instances so comfortably situated that
they felt no immediate motive to emigrate. Not so
with England Sh, 10 blighted with a crowded,
starving population the hungering masses arc
struggling with mighty effort, with volcanic COM
motion, relieve themselves of their distresses and
she would, therefore, be consulting her domestic
safety, as well as extending her domnions and pow
er, by giving free passage TO her suffering thousands
10 Oregon. In 1914, the immigration 10 the United
States was estimated At eighiy-fye thousand souls
one-half perhaps of he number from the British
empire. With u small induccment, no doubt, con-
siderable portion ofthat immigration could have been
turned TO Oregon. the American settlers in Ore
gon had also petitoned in favor Of the notice.
They were tired and wearied with the excitements
and agitaons of the present state Fittings. Ii was
also objected by some that, daring the continuance
Of the convention, we could not, without initiating
against the spirit Of the convention establish mill
tary Notifications in the country-even for the pro-
lection Of our citizens there, who were surrounded
by numerous bands of warlike savages. We owed
such protection to them the consideration for
their allegiance; and if there obstacles to
tending il in the treaty, it should be terminated.
Why, then, not meet the question directly and
bravelJl Why hesitate to give the notice when so
many reasons concur in favor of ii The gentle
man from Alabama [Mr. YANcEY had said that the
convention agreed upon the Substitute for
war''as the alternative of war; and that to term-
nate it by notice was to bring war. He also admit
Al. of 4
exclusive. What, then, is the effect of his argu-
menti Nothing more, it appeared, than that we had
admitted England to the freedom of Oregon as the
condition of her peace, and that we should continue
to do so for the same object. This was buying
peace upon costly terms. We might be called upon
to concede the same freedom in regard to the Mis-
ssspp as the condition of peace; and yet could or
would we do it ... . ..
Mr.. McC. said for himself, he would have been
pleased when the negotiation for compromise was
broken Off by the rejection of the British minister,
if Mr.. Polk had said to him. Here, sir; we cannot
agree upon line let agree to terminate the con-
venton. Such course, it appeared to him. under
the circumstances, would have been consistent with
the Presidents opinion of our title, and with the
dignity and temper of the country.
The gentleman from South Carolina Mr.. RHETrl
objected to the notice because war would ensue---
perhaps inevtablyj and war had "landed" in fed
eralsm in the organization Of the government at the
close Of the revolution, and also in 1915 He dep
recated war because it strengthened the already toe
strong tendencies of system of government tow
ards Capitalization and consolidation. Without UNI
dertaking to deny these assertions, Mr.. McC. asked
whether they would not be equally operative against
any wars--whether against the revolution by which
we won Independence, or against the last war by
which we vindicated our flag upon the high seas
from national insult, and our seamen from impress
menti And yet, no gentleman would say that, be-
cause the government may have fallen, to some ex.
tent under federal influences after the revolution, OIL
because it cost us high taxes and national debt
it cost US too much. Nor would any one say that
because the vindcaton ofour national rights and hon
or during the last added to the pension list, ant
begat national bank, that for that it woult
have been better to have acquesced in the wrong
insult inflicted upon US. The true maxim is not 80
much to weigh consequences as to "be sure you ar
right, and then go ahead'--to task nothing that j
not right, and submit to nothing that is wrong"
Oregon was ours let have il, and not lose it be
cause, by securing it, we may elevate one party 0
another Negotiation, however, was the mean
upon which some rested their hopes to get the coun
Ma had oIr al rod h