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

0 each had offered and would split the difference 4
: the ninth part Ola hair. They would assume tina
the American claim goes to the 49th parallel and tn
British claim 10 the Columbia river; and they woul,
add, and subtract, and multiply and divide, iii al
this process would end in ioerably equal partition
f; of what no one upon this floor denies, and wha
every American, or almost every American, as frm
Ily believes makes part OF his country, does thu
tomb al Mount Vernon, or the grave al the Hermit
age, where countless generations OF men will com,
as to places Of pllgrimage-not indeed to worship
but to think upon the days and the deeds Of III,
patriots and warriors who sleep below. You could
not find sovereign nor a subject, State nor CHI
zen in Chrisendom, who, in such a controversy be
tween two great nations, would not rather decide
with the dividers than with the titles. We'll, sir,
agree fully that IL we wish TO get rid of all this
ter without regard TO the why or the how, we may
! safely commit ii 10 the custody Of arbitrators
Their decision, though we should know il before
hand, might be considered plaster for wound.
ed honor. A poor one indeed, which would leave
la most unsightly scar. But, in reality, sir, this
course Of action would be open and obvious our.
selves and To the world Its motives and its results
would be equally palpable. We should lose much
in interest, and much more in character. For my
self, would far rather divide with England this
portion Of the territory than commit rights TO
duration. There would be some magnanimty in
such procedure. But, TO take shelter behind this
form Of trial, is to resort 20 miserable subterfuge
which, under the pretext Of an equal adjustment,
would be but a surrender. II, then, we seriously
believe in own claims even to 49o and sincerely
desire 10 maintain them, we must unite in approx
ing the rejection by the President Of this pacific
means of transferring TO England valuable part of
/ our common country.
i Mr.. President, the honorable senator from North
Carolina, not now N his seat, called those who be-
eye our title 10 $40 4W 10 be clear the ultra friends
Of the President, and, understood him, he claimed
10 be his true friend, saving him from those impru-
dent ones. As ! find myself in this category, |
am obnox ous to the charge, and with the natural
instinct Of selEdefence, desire to repe IL We are
ultra friends, because we do not stop at ago have
already shown that there is no stopping place on
that parallel; no true rest for American foot.
The senator himself considers title To that line
clear and indsputsble, and understood him that he
would maintain il, come what might. Well, if il is
found that the treaty Of Utrecht mere extended
TO Oregon than TO the MOON whatever other bounda-
ry may be sought found, u cannot he that purely
gratuitous boundary the parallel of 49o. And, as
the senator from North Carolina must leave il,
where will he find better barrier than the Russian
possessions But he says, Also that, though IL
tie TO the country north of 49o is not indisputabe,
still tits better than any other title NowI will appeal
10 the senator's chartyno, not TO his charity, that is
not necessary-bu will appeal his Of justice,
TO say whether such difference Of opinion ex-
lists between himself and this subject can just
y be characterized az ,dtraism on my part Our IT,
tie, he says Is the bes-not indsputable, but still
1
conviction in his mind produces a stronger one in
mine, and this is the tribute which every days ex-
perience pays to human faIlibility. We are differ
emily constituted, and differently affected by the
same facts and arguments. While the honorable
senator stands upon the parallel Of 49o, as The
questionable titles meet, there are many, and
! am among the number, who carry our
our unquesiionable title to the Russian boundary in
one direction, and some perhaps, though have not
found one, who carry it IN another direction to the
Columbia river. II to me in bad taste, TO say
the least Of H. for any member to assum, his own
views as infaIble, and to say to all the world who
differ with him. whether on the right hand or the
| left, my opinion is the standard of orthodoxy,
and every one who departs from it is a hereto and
an ultra. Thus to stgmatze large portion of the
Senate, is not, am sure the intention Of the
tor but such is in fast and effect the direct tendency
of his remarks. We ultra, because, to
som EVIL hat quaint but forcible apothegm zoe ,piu
not measure our corn by his bushsi. Why, sir, we
have each bushe of our own, given US by the Gre
ator, and till the senator's is sealed and certified by
Il higher authority, we beg leave to keep own,
| and to measure our duties by it.
| did not understand the precise object Of some Of
| the remarks Of the senator from North Carolina,
though had less diff Guilty respecting the remarks
themselves He told the President nowhere
claimed TO $40 4U and presume he thus commended,
| in order to show that the President might consist.
emily accept any boundary south Of that parallel.
| again dsclaim all interference with the President
in the execution of his duties. do not think that
what he will do in gratuous case, should furnish
| the subject Of speculation upon this floor. know
what will do, and that il enough for me; and as
took the opportunity, three years ago, in public
and printed address, at Fort Wayne, to define my
position in this matter, before became member
Of this body, my alusion to it here cannot be
deemed the premature expression of my opinion.
then said: .i
off he Rnc XIV
ppdenable right to Bunkers Hill and New Orleans
will call in question title 10 these bloodstanet
feldsl And trust it will be maintained with vigor and
ptude equal its Justice Warts great evil but not
great national dshonor Little is gained by yiedingte
first territory than the last Far better in dealing
England resist aggression whether of impTessmen
of search, Of territory, when first attempted than TO
yield the hope that iorbsarance will be met in just
spirit and will lead to amicable compromise Let
to the integrity Of our just claim. Ana if come be II
so, do not believe it will be long avoided unless pre-
vented by intestine difficulties in the British empire And
be II aater ourselves it can he arrested by
any system OF concession OF all delusions this would be
the most fatal and should awake from dishonoed
| if not ruined people"
Now the Oregon claim, is all Oregon, and no vote
of mine in this Senate will surrender one inch OF u TO
| England. But the senator from North Carolina
| saws that the Oregon the President claims Is an
Oregon of his own, and not the country which now
excles the anxious solicitude Of the American peo-
pie And if it so, is it the duty Of friend,
| NAV almost say claiming TO be exclusive one, to
hold up to his oountrymen the wo rd of promise of
their Chief Magistrate, thus kept to the ear but not
| to the hope? But it is not so. The honorable SEN
ator has been led into an error--a papable error.
The President says the British pretensions could not
he maintained to amy portion Of The Oregon territory
He says ALSO that title to the rrhOle Of The Ore
gon territory maintained by irrefragabe facts and
arguments. He says British laws have been ex-
tended throughout the ,ehoie Of Oregon. Now, sir,
has any man right say that the President falters
| in his purpose by talking of the whole Of coun-
try when he does not the whole of III No,
sir; the idea occurred to him, never crossed
| his mind. When he said Oregon, he meant so; and
| | have no more doubt, than have Of my existence,
that he believes firmly in the American title to it,
as he believes he is now the Chief Magistrate Of
| the United States.
IL it were possible that this proposition need
| ed support, it would be easily found The
communications of the Secretary OF State, are
the communications Of the President, written
\ by his direction and submitted for his appro-
| baton, and never sent without his supervi-
| sim and very SELDOM | imagine, without emenda-