The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-04

cpally all the views of gentlemen who had spokel
on this side Of the subject; and have transmttet
many OF thsir speeches 10 my constituency, there
by, in the main, endorsing their views and making
my own known.
| am determined To claim all Oregon, and am res
dy to claim all the continent, upon tho principle Q
manifest destiny urged by the gentleman from I'LL
nois Mr.. Basal and my trsnscendentsl friend
from Pennsylvania MIR. Laws. .. "
am not accustomed TO deal in poetry, and there
fore gentlemen must excuse me for not introducing
any in my remarks but | am perfectly willing q
take all tho poetry thai has been recited here, good
and bad applicable OF not, and whether new or old
aequaintances. So IN regard 10 oil the declarations
which have been made IN the debate against the
abominaiions Of the British government | adopt
the whole Of them; and, moreover, hope that then
authors will consider that amer having done their
best, were | 10 launch out on that subject, they
would be most signay outdonc. r1.s
Sir, do not believe that We shall take the whole
world, but II We do not our principles will. Our
principles are extending all over the world. The
last war I'd much to extend them, and another will
extend them further. We have seen gradual en-
eroaehment on the monopolies and governmental
abuses OF the Old World, and we have Witnessed
the Concessions made by Them TO popular rights.
lately we have witnessed the yielding OF British
ministers TO the progress Of liberal principles; and
oh! how grudgingly do they make any concession.
All this is the result of the American principles in
favor Of equal rights and popular selfgoyernment
becoming gradually known TO the world. The ultl
mate triumph Of our principles, such ns progressive
democracy will make them, is sure, and u will come
in Gods own good time.
We started at the late election with our prin ei-
ples--the reduction Of the tariff, Texas, and Ore
gon. One Of them has been carried triumphantly
through, and the tariff reform and Oregon remain to
be disposed or presume that few democrats
will be found missing when we come TO the VOTE on
the Oregon question. Well, I hope there will be
enough democrats efl to carry the measures and we
DESTROYS 10 carry it independently Of the action
Of our political opponents We would not desire
To be, like distinguished wing member in ls4l,
MIR. WISE, obliged to appeal to our adyersares to
save Us from our friends, :" aud to look around us
TO hunt up republicans. | see public opinion rally
ing around this question, and that democrats and
wings are sending up their prayers here for Ore
gon, their country, its integrity and honor. am
glad to see that, on this truly American question,
our political opponents here instructed by their con-
stiinencies, are, many Of them about TO give their
voices to us upon this question; but | Would be
yet more delighted 10 the party 10 which be-
long unit now as heretofore.
In the northwest, we 60 for all the issues NJ 1874
regret TO soc that some portion OF the party IN Con-
gress is hanging hack; perhaps IL is expected to
save the tariff Of 1912. ] hear Of drag on that
point, Of some impracticable Ponnsylyanians who
will not sustain US in carrying out all the principles
il we should find Pennsylvania "fxed fact" in the
way of our tariff reform, you cannot laugh at us for
1t. So If South Carolina should be "fxed fact" in
our way on the Oregon question, you need not jecr
us. Our opponents cannot laugh at US even should
we fail; for we have gained Texas even should we
more than you gained. What did you get Ivy your
victory in lS40i Nn,hing but the distribution law
which We repealed in few months after. But You
cannot repeal the annexation of Texas. | am glad
To see that We have many honorable friends on the
other side OF the House, who, although at tie late
election they considered Oregon a humhug, now
find themselves parslized by the will Of their con-
stiIuents; and ] would not discourage them from
taking that course which they now found expo
diert, even by tnunt which am incapable Of Ut
tering,
have said that believed this treaty to be strict.
ly commercial in its character and therefore, care
mot what we may do, il will not violate its prnv-
si"ns so long we leave the British in possession
of their stipulated rights. think that we can do
all under il that Great Britain has done, and some
thing more. We may organize Territorial govern
ment in Oregon and even admit it as State of the
Union. We may take military possession Of it for
the purpose Of defending our settlers there from the
Indians and all this we have right TO do before
we give the notice. II the President had not re-
the notice, | should not myself have
it. would have waited until the presence
Of the British suit jects in Oregon and their enjoy
ment of the privileges secured by treaty had become
uncomfortable to our people. The British Away
professed that they valued the territory merely for
its commercial privileges and for nothing else, and
we have a right to take them at their word. BY
giving the notice, as it seems to me, make quasi
admission that we have not right to take the
steps above alluded TO without FIRST giving the
notice These are my opinions, and am not pre-
pared yet to renquish them; but the President has
had the subject under his eye, and has given to it
He, ~ ,pl :
may, and probably WILL turn out that he is right.
In where no practical principle is involved and
where the question presented is one Of expedency
merely, will sustain my party friends, and the ad
ministra,ion created by them If you ask why |
will do this will say that it is necessary in order
to harmonic party, and that it is the only way
to keep our whg friends beaten But | have an
other reason for going for the notice-that am in
structed positively by my constituents to go for it,
There is not one democrat and but very few wings,
among my constituents who would not unite in in
structlng me to that effect H- r''
Some gentlemen cay that they will not vote for
the notice for fear it should result in war. Some
have even said that the notice will be- per Sc, cause
of war But the British negotiators never consider
ed that it would be cause Of war. How was il
possible that those who framed the convention
could have provided for the notice, it was to be
the cause of war; But others say that it is no
cause for war, and that, on the contrary, il will
probably fair view of the subject Some say that
it will irrtate Great Briain--tbat il will wake her
up, and alarm the Hudson Bay Company, because
ii threatened their valuable privileges, and induce
them TO strengthen themselves in Oregon. For the
sake of peace | would yield the British subjects
their present commercial privileges for good time
to come; but this would be on condition of a full
recognition Of our right to Oreson and would sus-
tain the President in making such treaty after the
notice was given. $50. ..
But admit that the notice may tend to war, and
very probably lead to 1t when shall be carried out
by the adoption Of measures for taking possession of
the territory, and practically asserting our rights by
establishing Territorial government, granting lands
to settlers, and controlling the Indian tribes But
shall this prevent from asserting our tiel Ia
that the attitude Of the American peoplei Shall VIC
look across the waters, and ask Great Britain
whether we shall be allowed to take possession of
our own soil, on our own continent OF course she
would answer, No. In my opinion, sir, we shall,
at the end Of the year. If before, take possession
of Oregon; and that may bring the matter to the
issue Of war. think so because | believe that the
pretencc of Great Britain that she wanted Oregon
merely for hun,ing-ground is false; but that she
places the highest value il accoun, Of its COM
facilities Csre,t Rr.;n had al,.a,,.