Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-04-04
SPEE~H OF
Hon. w. F. GILES, OF MARYLAND,
ON ME OREGON QUESTION.

DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REP
RESENTATIVES, JAN. 8, 1896.
The resolution from the Cummttee or
Foreign Affairs, requiring the Presiden
to notify Great Britain of the intention
Of the United States to terminate The
joint occupancy OF Oregon, and TO abro-
gate the convention of 1897, being I'M
der consideration in Commute of the
Whole
r.GlLEs, who was entitled to the floor
rose and said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: There are some cues
lions whose Importance and whose great.
ness are such as TO swallow up for time
all others, to chain the minds of men to
their consideration, and TO compel them to
yield their undivided attention. such q
character is the subject which we are
now discussing.
Its importance is co-eXtensive with the
American continent, and lasting as the
American name. lis interest is felt, and
lis decision anxiousIy looked FOR, upon
every spot where live the principles of
American liberty. The merchant in hi:
counting house, the mechanic at his daily
toll, the farmer as he tends the field oil
promise, the hunter as he presses over the
boundless prairie; even the traveller, as
he pursues his solitary way by the banks
of the Columbia, feels its interest and
looks anxously for our decision.
But, sir, its importance goes further,
AS it relates TO peace or war, it effects al
,Chrlstendom. As II may involve two OF
the greatest commercial nations on the
earth in war, it interests and effects eve
ny man, every civilized man, on whatever
spot he may dwell. To-day, sir, our com
.merce whitens every sea. The industry
and the enterprise Of our countrymen
have been made known in every part Of
the habitabe globe. Our Christian phil
.anthropy has planted the institutions oil
redeemlng mercy in the centre Of The grea
continent Of Asia, in the isles OF the Pa
cifc, and even on the dark and dreary
coast of western Africa, so cursed by
"man's lnhumanity to man." Am | in
error, then, in saying that this question
interests every civilized man? Or is ii
tIlub uu iiilSICot ollOulu uC CACllCu
in this Hall which tetokens the grea tness
and importance OF the subject, and that
even beauty should forsake, for season.
her grey and aowery walks to smile up
.on our deliberatons?
1t is question which outrides all party
distinctions, which sweeps away all party
and shows US that upon all great questions
of foreign policy, we are, as a people, one
in sentiment, as we are in history, and
shall be one in destiny. believe that
when this great question comes up Tor IL
nal action, this House will be found unan-
imous in the pursuit Of such measures as
may be deemed necessary to meet the
exigencies of the occasion.
However we may differ as to the inltIa-
tory steps proper for the assertion oil our
title, land these are points on which
know there are honest differences oil oPn'
ion amongst men OF all partes,) yet when
no other resource is left-when all nego
tiations fail-when all hope OF settling the
matter by treaty shall have passed away,
and men come to consider what course
we ought 10 take for the maintenance OF
that tile, they will throw OFT the 'aded
livery OF party and put on the uniform oil
our common country.
Sir, the debate which we have had IN
this Hall has been gratifying to every
American heart. There was only ono
portion of the argument which regretted
| did deeply regret that the honorable
man from Ohio, Mr.. GIDDINGs,l who mrs.
addressed the committee, should nave
permitted himself 10 turn aside from TINS
lofty theme, and hurl shaft at one oil lht