American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-04-07

MIR. MCDUFFIE's SPEECH We would
gladly publish the whole of this admirable
speech had we room; but we are compelled to
restrict ourselves to short extract-sulticient,
however, to exhibit the ground which the
Senator occupies. 1t is as follows:
"My position is, that the claim of Great
Britain in Oregon is not founded on the Moot
ka convention; for that gave her no title at all,
and rather marred any that she had; but it is
founded on her discovery and settlement of
Frazer's river, which happens to run to the
parallel of 40 deg. IT, then, we claim on the
ground of having discovered the Columbia
river, Great Britain has claim equally good
on her discovery of Frazer's river. If our dis
covery gives US tho valley of our river, her
discovery gives her the valley of her river.
| will now go further, and state my views as
to the possibility of an a iustment of this ques-
ton. Ihope our Senators and Representa-
tives, and the entire people of the United
States, will all take this matter into serious
and solemn consideration, for | regret to be
compelled TO say that believe that we are at
this very moment in more danger of war on
this miserable question than we ever have been
before. shall be most happy to hear any ar
gument which goes to make our title stronger;
but, if my view of the whole ground is worth
ANYTHING, with title such as ours, taken in
connection with the repeated offers we have
made for compromise, ask ifany Senator can
believe that England will ever lust thisqucs-
ton on any thing short of 40 as a boundary!
| The Senator from Arkansas MIR. Sevier) had
the candor to admit that he did not think it
possible that Great Britain would ever recede
up to 81 40; if so, then we must make up our
| minds either to settle this controversy on the
parallel of 40, or go to war. | hold that this
is distinctly the question of peace or war
The question should plainly be put to the peo-
pie whether they are willing that this contro-
versy should be settled peacefully and honora-
bly,, by agreeing to that boundary, or whether
we shall go into war, which God Almighty
alone knows when or where it will terminate.
For one, most sincerely believe that if clear
and brief view of our title, as it really exists,
were presented to the people of the United
States, and the question could be put to every
man whether he would give up the country be-
yond 40 deg. or 90 to war, ninety-nine out Of
every hundred would declare in favor of 49deg
Great God! am shocked at the cold indife
renee with which some gentlemen have spoken
of war | admit that when the national hono
and the national liberty are involved, where
any national right entering into the clements o
liberty is concerned, should never think 0
sitting down and counting the cost The ma
tional rights must be preserved, the nationa
: liberty defended, But is this such question
Is this question of national honor Where
and how? If President Polk should tomorrow
} make the same offer as was made by Mr.. Gal
attn in 1926, how would the honor ofthe Unit
: ed States be involved in it? Should we max
a sacrifice of that honor by standing where w
: have twice stood beforei Must the men G
this day utterly disregard the ground taken an
, the offer made by those who were at the hea
of our affairs in 1912? To me it seems lik
3 putting forward undue and unbecoming preter
sions; and should not much wonder if Grea
Britain should feel her honor somewhat invol,
: ed in this attempt on our part to extort tror
: her more than we ever demanded before"