Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-10
SPEECH OF Mr.. billiard,
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,, JAsvAnr Q, Is4'
ON THE OREGON QUESTION.


Britain in regard the territory Of Oregon Il was well
known that several ues attempts had been made 10 adjust
the difference between them in relation to the sovereignty OF
that district country. but both Powers had at length agreed
10 adjourn the question over and they had mutually entered
into the convention 1915 by which treaty understood
that the parties enjoy certain privileges in regard
to that territory, which clearly specified and defined in
the convention itself In the summer OF 1927 provision had
been made pepetuate this mutual understanding simply
with the purpose preserving peace between the parties and
without Welding either side any portion Of the original
claim which had been respectively put FORTH was pro-
posed this House to terminate that conventions comfortably
to provisional article embodied in the instrument itself
Should that termination take place proposed, what would
be the relative positions Of this country and Of Great Britain
in regard this Oregon territory To that question
we were referred back the relation subsistng originally be-
them before the convention entered into. That
relation then be renewed, and the nations would
stand conflicting claimants before the civilized world for the
entire control the whole territory. Here then came in
the question to tlewheher founded discovery
and settlement by citizens resting the claims Of
Span for bought both title and the title of Spain
fory position when should competitor in the
presence of the civilized world Mr. H. would not enter on this
question titles had already been discussed with great ability
should only render himself repeating
which had already been placed in the ceaes light He would
simply state that the question Of title to Oregon his
lance the previous title of Spa although he was far
from undertaking the merit Of its discovery and settlement BY
our own enterprsng citizens He admitted these and duly
appreciated the hut he had sad his main reliance
placed the Spanish tlea title which did not possess
the time dispute with England arose. for was his be-
lief that had this title then been ours the convention OF 1918
would have had existence So long as this title re-
manned the hands of Spain, Great Britain treated with that
contempt which marked all her conduct towards that Power
Pitts rooted aversion Spain well known he had IN
hened from his father and made itself manifest IN all ms
public conducts yet that title its moral was just
the then now and it had been by our own
Secretary Of State convncngy, so rumphany pleaded
to have carried actual dsay into the British Cabinet and
had placed claim the country higher than 1t had
.Saolh afor npvvh
and with whatever contempt Great Britain might have felt
herself warranted treat il when in the hands Of Span she
would when it put forth before the world
the claim Of these United States Mr. H. did not speak
this boastfuly but because he desired that Great Britain
should know that Of rights and he thank
ed God able to maintain them.
Mr. H. would not be understood putting Of the ques
ton our own American title late Secretary Of State,
whose fame was with the extento civilization
The was understood Mr. CALHOUN, had placed this
American claim Captain Gray discovery OF the mouth OF
Columbia river, and that admitted principle OF national
law that by whatsoever nation the mouth Of river was dis
that nation belonged the whole OF the valley which
was drained by its waters Mr. HI. felt this claim to be of
great and he must confess that ne had felt the
greatest when in the debate OF Saturday, dis
tingushed gentleman from Massachusetts, (r. WISTHRoP)
had discIamed all reliance upon it. Rich as Massachusetts
was-and he acknowledged her rich in all that could give ele-
walton Staehe did not think her in circumstances to
abandon such honor this discovery. The gentleman
had come this House, Mr. H. understood, with large
inheritance of ame which he had largely added
wemered reputation Of his but If ne thought him
self entitled dscam and cast away this discovery by Cap
tain Gray Mr. H. would take up. If Massachusetts, cast
him off Mr. H. would claim him for the United States The
gentleman had said that Captain Gray, navigator in the
of the Pacific had had thought of making discove
behalf Of his country, adding any thing to her terri
oral claims but had simply been prosecuting little HARM
trade in fish and petry might be but still he
coasted those shores in of his own with national
flag waving over his head and according the doctrine put
forth and ably maintained by Mr. WEBSTER that American
ship constituted part and parcel OF the American sofia pnn
cpe which had been denied disputed by the cisz
ed world Mr. H. here read quotation from Mr.. WEB-
sTER's argument.
/ Mr. WINTHROP rose TO explain and the floor being
yielded him for that purpose he went to say that the
honorable gentleman from Alabama seemed entirely to have
misunderstood him. So far from disclaimng casting
this discovery of Captain Gray he had, the contrary ex
presy said that he considered it, after ALL our best resort
and containing itself the best claim could show to the
possession of Oregon and he bad added that Massachusetts,
and especially the people of Boston, felt proud Of Gray
CITIZEN and of his discovery shedding ustre upon
the city of his birth and the State Of which be citizen
Mr. billiard resumed, and said he glad to be set
right and he had inexperienced the gentleman have
that misapprehension corrected He certainly had not m
tended to misrepresent him.
1Mr. WINTHROP. Certainly not.
Still, however, Mr. H. must that the gentleman seemed
attach quite little value and importance to the title Of
any sort which held this country Of Oregon. Again
recurring to the language Of Mr. Webster he commended IT'S
ceaness and precision and avowed his hearty acquesence IN
sdered in the of international law, portion Of the
American territory. When Captain Gray rod the deck OF
his ship having the American coors at bis masthead, what
ever new territory he discovered discovered for us
the people of the United States and Mr.. H. congratulated
the people and the State Of Massachusetts, the fact that one
of her born had by his enterprise, added so much
spendor the records Of early discovery this Continent
Honored be the of Gray Mr.. H. was prepared to
stand by the title Of which he had furnished valuable an
element In regard to the gentleman from Massachusetts
Mr. H. could with entire truth say that he greatly admired ms
spirit and bearing most points they entirely agreed but
he could consent with the gentleman in any degree TO DIS
parape our title because to be set against that OF pow
erful and mperous nation Mr.. H. would not yield title
Of it, The gentleman talked sghtngy about musy records
Mr. H. did share in this feeling hereverenced musy re-
cords and held them precious With musty record he
could uptum the whole face Of human society With the
muy recd Of Magma Chara in his hand, he could evou-
onze the face of Europe could he present It to the minds OF
her population He trusted that should the dust of age and
of neglect ever gather the sacred volume Of Consu
on there would be those among descendants who would
be able call up from that musty record moral power that
should their liberties and resuscaie and bless the con-
dion Of society in this land On the evidence contained IN
musty records Mr. H. founded belief that every inch Of
Oregon ours There break in title from lat-
tude 400 to latitude SO 40 He did not say that he would
not arrange any portion Of the territory lying between those
parallels for him TO make any such arrangement
That had been placed by the Constitution in the hands OF
another branch Of the Government He not disposed to
commit the House that point But he held our title to be
so clear and 20 capable Of demonstration that but for the col
ossa power Of Great Britain and the haughness with which
she had been treat all other nations in her d
pomacy he could but believe that she would withdraw
from the contest overwhelmed by the force Of arguments
which she could not refue.
N. ~ .l., 10