The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-20

| Joint occupation neither party could ALLEVIATE the
soil. This company is in the Olympic district
| and II will be Of public and political importanc,
| that no foreign company should be established
| there; II 10 on the waters OF Pugets sound
| and IL 10 Of the same importance foreign com
pany should Re there. The Olympic district is de
| tached from the valley of the Columbia-s fertil,
| and picturesque-a square OF mountains and valley
| on the seacOast--and will make fine American
settlement Of about one hundred miles every way
Pugeps sound and its waters will afford select pO
stions for naval stations; but it is too far inland
has TOO little country dependent upon il, and tou
long an approach through straits and channels "a
be commercial position; and since the excellence
OF the mouth of the Columbia a harbor has been
| vindleated. IL is not needed for such purpose. A
naval station, especially for large ships may be
tablished there; and in that point Of view il may
be CT public and political importance that no foreign
company should be there. II The article had been
simply for the confirmation Of their lands to the
company l-should have had great objections to it:
but the option of taking them at valuation removes
the difficulty.
In my high and responsible character of e0nstitu-
tional adviser to the President, gave my opinion in
favor OF accepting the propositions which constitute
this treaty. now advise It's ratification. The irsl
article is in the very terms which would have
used and that article CONSTITUTES the treaty. With
me, II 10 the treaty. The remaining three articles
are subordinate and Incidental and only intended b.
facilitate the execution OF the hrst The great
question was that Of boundary On that point hung
the Issues Of peace or war That being settled
statesmen do not permit subordinate and aeeessoriai
matter TO balk the great conclusion. In this SPIN
| the British ministers have acted. They have not
made their proposition ulumatum; they leave 4,
open 10 our objections, and Of course to modihca-
| tons. | have no doubt the three minor articles
might be modified to my entire satlsfacIioni but the
question with is whether the difference worth
III al. A. "a "a.
whole business OF the country requires the political
relations Of Crest Britain and the United States 10
be settled. The country has suffered too much al
| ready. Not farmer but what has suffered IN the
price Of his produce; not merchant but what has
| suffered in his commerce; not a business man OF
any character that ID not now in doubt and uncer-
tainty as TO his operations. Many have been ire.
trleyably runedj many trembling upon the brink
OF ruin. Rumors OF Oil the land they have
hled Il SINCE the beginning Of the session
and although these rumofs do not Kill men, YET
they kill confidence, enterprise, and credit. They
Kill business, and that "a a thing which we wish
TO revive and PerPeuate. Until the treaty is ac
tualy concluded, the stngnaton, uncertainty, and
ylcissiudes of business must continue. The coun-
try must continue TO suffer- and can advan-
Iage IN any possible modification Of the three minor
articeseyen in their total exclusion from the treaty
which could compensate the country for the two
three months Of further suffering which the delay
Of the notifications would involve. This OF itself,
would be a sufficient indueement with me TO terml-
nate at the present disastrous state Of things
by taking the treaty il is. This would be enough
of itself But another reason, equally strong, comes
in aid Of the same conclusion. We have war with
sister repubc-the first Of its kind in our history
which every dictate Of humanity, every conside-
ration OF policy every calculation OF interest, re-
quIres to be brought the most speedy termination.
The expectation of war between the United States
and Great Britain so long pronounced on this floor
H. h.s had lis in
auence on the spirits OF our neighbor. The con-
unuanee Of that expectation must continue that en-
couragement; and nothing but the broad fact OF a
treaty ratified dispel the Illusion under which
Mexico now abors with respect TO our British diff
| culues. She expects war between US, and conse-
quent triumph to herself from the junction OF so
powerful an ally. Let the treaty be ratifed-let the
news Of the ratification 90 to Mexico-aDd the IT,
dngs Of that event will do than ian army with
banners" to turn her thoughts upon peace with the
United States. Peace will then be her policy; and
the smallest fraction of time gained in the restoration
Of peace with that republic will be worth more TO
in the mere item of expense saved, to say nothing
Of the interests Of humanity, policy, and commerce,
than all the British rights in Oregon, under the trea
ty, can be worth in money to them, or in dam
uge u.s. Forty-6ye days is the shortest time IN
which we could expect an answer from London, in
reply to proposed notifications; and the amount OF
the expense Of the Mexican war for any one-haf
day of that time, or, at the very outside, three
quarters Of day. would be sufficient to purchase
out all the navigation claims of the Hudson Bay
Company--al the possessory land claims of the
company or of indviduas--all the Nisquully claims
Of the Pugets Sound Agricultural Company-ant
send the whole of the claimants singing and rejoic
ing, all the way up to "ffty-four forty" For this
reason again, and merely to shorten the war with
Mexico, | would vote for the treaty it stands;
putting all the together-the settlement of
forty years controversy with Great Britain-the
equity of the main nrtice-the insgnihcance Of the
minor ones--the relief Of the business community
from the evils of suspense and uncertanty-and
the accelerated progress of peace with Mexico put
ting all these reasons together and give my vote
for the ratification Of the treaty with mind clear Of
doubt, and heart full ofhope. The great question
of the boundary is settled, and if any difficulties
occur in the execution of the small articles, trust
and believe that wise men will be found in each
country to settle these trhes amicably, wise men
have now been found in each to settle the great
point wisely and Justly