New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-01-08
THE OREGON QUESTION.
.,..o. o,uon l. n Ciddipgs, of Ohio

oresen,s in respec: TO the motives which influence
MANY of the Loco Foco politicians of the South In
their course on the Oregon Question:
Mfr GrpD1yGs said that owing 10 the difficulty
,,,bicl he had experienced heretofore in obtaining
the floor he was induced 10 avail himself OF his pre-
sent position to indicate the considerations that
you'd govern him in voting for the resolution re-
| nortcd from the Committee Foreign Affairs 1t
is due 10 myself said Mr. g. say that, in former
/ Congress- | was opposed 10 terminating the joint
| occupancy OF Oregon. That vote was given under
| the circumstances which then surrounded us. Now
we are placed in totally different position. Since
! this subject was before Union has been
changed in its essential elements and its funda
! mental principles have been overthroWn- Inc
! Union founded by our fathers has been su6verted,
| aud new slaveholding Con.edcracy has been
formed, giving to the Southern portion the balance
OF power and subjecting the free labor OF the North
the dearest rights OF the tree States 10 the tender
mcrcies Of a slavehoding oligarchy. They now have
! The entire direction Of the Government The peo.
plc of the free States have been politically bound
head and foot and delivered over 10 the siaveho!dng
interest and il is now worse than mockery 10 talk
of maintaining the manufacturing interests of Penn
syyania or OF New England. They are now under
! the inexorable power OF tine South.
This then is our situation, we are all perfectly
conscious. The nation has been plunged without
my aid into this condition, but against my will.
have believed and still believe, that this policy Of
acquiring territory must inevitably, II carried out
suhver, the Government and dissolve the Union.
Mr.. CHIPMAS called Mr. G. 10 order, and was un-
derstood 10 say that to speak Of the dissolution of
| the Union was irrelevant, and was throwing fire
| brand into the House.
MIR GiDDiSGs proceeded was stating our pre-
sent situation, and the liability of this new Union 10
fall asunGcr from its own weight, when this system
of extension shall be carried out. And it is under
these circumstances that l am called 10 express my
opinion of the proposed policy. | am led 10 the
conclusions 10 the irresistible conclusion that war
with all its horrors and its devastation of public
moral4, is infinitely preferable to supine, inactive
submission 10 the saveholding power, that Is 20
control this nation, if left in its present situation.
| wish 10 be distinctly understood that | have
seen enough of war TO form opinion OF lis effects
its miseres and the extent OF lis curse. Yet sir,
greatly prefer Them, for few years TO the quiet
apathy which has already subjected US 10 change
of the Government, formed by our fathers.
Here | will take occasion to say that differ from
nv venerable friend from Massachusetts as to the
probability of war am of opinion that If we take
the whole Of Oregon, 1t will produce war. say
this although have heretofore in nine out OF
ten. found myself mistaken when have differed
from that venerable statesman. The consequences
! OF a war havs not escaped my consideration.
1t mus, inevitably produce great destruction to the
commercial wealth of New-England Here let me
| saw to tue gentleman from Massachusetts, MIR.
! WINTHRoP,) who the other day made so eloquent
an appeal in favor OF peace and who represents the
! commercial interests of that State that | fully APP
preciate his motives and feelings But, sir, this
! situation is one Of his own choice He was among
the first distinguished men of that State who gave
! in his adherence the change of Government and
the leading commercial men Of Boston were the
first in that State 10 declare their submission to this
new slaveholding confederation with Texas. This
was done with full knowledge OF the policy which
had been adopted of extending territory. That
State had declared her people underpo obligation TO
!, ('s,t1
gress Then held and still hold the action OF this Gov
eminent imposed obligation upon my State either
political or moral enter into this new con!edcracy
No, air, if she come into II, as she WILL Ii Will be the
choice ofour people, and not from any obligation rest
ing upon her rcusou Joint resolutions fCon
cress And if nv colleagues conceded with me in
opinion, no Representative from Ohio would retain
seat in this Hall beside those OF Texas. upon such
terms as have been imposed upon us. But The gen
tleman from Massachusetts voluntarily preferred TO
have his State become party 10 this new UNION
| hope the people of that old commonwealth did not
intend in going into it, 10 stop this policy OF adding
territory to our present Coniederacy. They could
not have desired remain under tue despotic sway
OF the slave power They must have expected that
the balance of power was 10 be restored by the adj
dition of territory at the North to counterbalance
| Texas. They ought not now TO oppose the regain
ing of those rights which have been voluntarily sur
rendered by the North. And this destruction OF
their wealth will be merely the legitimate conse
0ucnce Of their submission 10 the proposed policy
But sir the manufactures OF New-Engand, and
New \ ork, and Pennsy lvana will be promoted by
a war The agricultural interests OF the West will
not be likely TO suffer Indeed, our principal bur
den will no, be the defence of ourselves or the
taking of CaAada; but the protection o. the South
the weak, helpless Slaveholding Sonth. That por
ton of the Union must suffer most. | have seen
the horror manifested by Southern papers The
! Cotton interest say they, must of course suffer-
| Slave labor will be rendered worthless, and Slave
property deprecated. True; but this policy of ad
ding territory 10 our original Government Is the Oil
| spring OF the South They have forced il upon the
! Northern Democracy The objects Of the South are
! now answered. Texas is admitted They have al
tanned their Interior designs, aud they now require
the party stop short 10 face about and leave the
power of the nation in their hands. They now see
| before them the black regiments OF the West India
| Islands landed upon their shores. They now call
| TO mind the declaration OF British Statesmen that
| a war with the United States will be war OF
| emancipation They now see before them servile
| instructions. which torment their maginations.-
| Murder. Rapnc and Blood now dance before their
! airighicd visions. w ell, sir say 10 them This
! is Your policy, not mine. You have prepared the
| cup and will press il TO your lips until the very
| drecs shall be drained
| Let no one misunderstood me. Let no one say
| that desire slave instruction; but, sir, l doubt
not that hundreds of thousands OF honest and patri
Otto hearts will laugh al your calamity, and mock
! when Your fear comeih. No, sir; should servle
Instruction take pace-should massacre and blood
mark the footsteps OF those who have for ages been
oppressed my prayer 10 God shall be that justice
stern, NayefiHS. and un0itera6te justice 7nGy De
acardcdi 10 tie master and 10 the Stare. Then sir,
we shall have the scenes of 1850 again acted over.
when South Carolina sent 10 the Continental Con
eress delegation TO inform that body that II requir-
ed all Der troops 10 protect her people against theig
slaves and tina, thai chivarous State must depend
| on her Northern sisters for troops to defend her
IL T-..n ~
Of Ohio will be compelled to so to the South. TO
Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Texas,
protec, them from the emancipated slave: OF The
| West Indies. and the desperation 10 which their
own servile population will be driven. Sir, our sons
must 90 there and bare their breasts in defence OF
the slave institutions OF those States Then. sir the
people of the North will be compelled 10 look this
institution in the face; they will see the degrade
| ton 10 which they have become subjected by this
! Hefo Siaccholdtag Coatedcracy.
And, sir no twelve hundred thousand dollars will
be likely 10 be paid to Southern Shareholders by the
Cnl,r tpfy