Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-03-14


independent Of the rights Of Spain, the
United States proposed to extend the line
along the 49th parallel, beyond the Stony
mountains, to The Pacific. Why did the
United States at that time agree to such a
proposition, il our commissioners suppos-
cd that we had an exclusive right to the
territory over Great Britain? If, at that
time, they believed Spain to have rights
there worthy of respect, why were they
willing 10 surrender their rights lor the
49h parallel Of latilude2 BY that very
conyention--you acknowledge existing
rights in Great Britain; and, as before
stated, not a single statesman in the cCun
try ever asserted an exclusive right on our
part to that territory, until some where be-
tween 1885 and the present time Mat.
tiers incident 20 the occupation Of Oregon
were frequently brought before this and
the other branch OF Congress, between the
years 1920 and 1880; and have now be-
fore me a most able speech, delivered by
the senator from Missouri, on my left,
upon bill to occupy the mouth of the
Columbia river. In those days we had
no idea OF asserting an exclusive right 10
the territory, but simply to occupy dis
tinct but isolated portions. | have READ
that Speech with serious attention, and
feel satisfied that it will repay every mem
Der who may fee! disposed to poruse it,
In that speech the author contends cor
rectIy, and with his accustomed energy,
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TO our citizens, and TO establish our Law s.
TO the same extent as had been practised
by Great Britain; but at the same time, il
was carefully avoided TO assert any claim
10 those portions Of the territory now in
dispute, rhe gentleman is present, and
can say whether | am correct or not.
Mr.. BENTON. You are right,
Mr, SPEIGHr proceeded. To be brief on
the subject, let me ask what are the PIE
texts for a war with Great Britain? Has |
she asserted a right to the whole terrific.
ry? | have heard il declared on this
floor more than once, that Great Britain
had claims to the whole Of this territory !,
But how -? Does she lay claim 10 actual
sovereignty oyer the whole OF it? ap {
prehend not. She claims a right to the
whole of it, in joint occupancy, with the 5
United States. But she is willing to de. f
fine that right and divide the territory |
upon fair and equitable terms, in which /
our concurrence, Of course, is required a
It is not necessary TO my purpose, nor S
would it be proper at this time, TO enter I
INTO a discussion Of the several points Of t
International law supposed to be involved h
IN the present issue, as ii may regard the r.
title Of discovery and occupation. do S
not think, however, the task difficult to I
show that Great Britain has rights in Or. [
egon, which, according to the law of ma C
lions, we must respect The eminent
statesman (Mr, Gallatin,) to whom have t
alluded, takes ground broadly ana distinct t
Iy, that by the treaty OF Nootka sound b
The right to sovereignty over the soil was n
transferred from Spain to Great Britain. t
am aware, Mr.. President, that our Sec. d
rotary of State has, in a most elaborate t
manner, taken different view Of this S
part of the subject to that of the eminent '
statesman TO whom have alluded; but,
it was too late. 1t was af- 6
ter the door of negotiation was closed {
and, therefore, may be said TO be Gloves
labor lost"
| have intended saying much more
on this branch Of the subject; but /
must bring my remarks to a close.
have remarked that the bill presents 1t,
self to us in two aspects-frst as a PEACE
measure, and secondly, as IvAR measure
If we are 10 have a war with Great Brit
ain for the Oregon territory, | must be
permitted to tell my honorable friend that
the provisions of this bill are far from
being commensurate to'the crisis. CON
slider 1t trliiing with the American people .
to tell them in one breath that they are .
10 engage in war with one Of the most
formidable naya powers Of the earth, and
in the next that they shall rely upon the
inefficient aid Of ten steam ships that can
neUcr he sent beyond the coas: ofMe United
STATES! II the question Of war with Great
Britain is setted-ir it must ensue before T.
our difficulties with that country can be
honoraby ad usted, then let the honora.
bic gentleman from Maine bring in bill |
10 build FIFTY VESSELS OF WAR! When l.
find that time has arrived, my vote shall
be chcerfulIy given; but until it does take
place, this house shall, byno act of mine,
give a loose rem to expenditures Of the
public money for the increase OF our naval
power, and saddle the tax payers of this +
nation with an annual outlay Of ten or
t7celce millions Of dollars. What is the
object Of all this? Why it is all mere
preteXt, sir, under the guse Of which it
Is proposed to levy an immense TAX upon
the laboring classes for the support of
the aristocracy and moaeyed moaopoiasI
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