The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-16
CONTINUED from first p.gs. I

faith IN him, and that he will act on this, and on
all other great occasions, in which the interests and
honor OF, his country involved, as 10 command
the unqualified appreciation OF those who have raised
HIM TO his present elevated position.
Considering, sir, the conugulty Of Oregon to our
western settlements, and as the only vent, westward
Of the vast surplus productions Of the rich basin Of
the Mississippi TO the shores Of Asia with her mil
hons OF inhabitants and its accessibility by rail
roads from the Atlantic States, bringing them
also into close proximity TO the same great mar
Ke's ana considering, also, that our republic
opens her public domain TO the oyerPopulaIed
Countries OF Europe, and offers TO all VINO may
seek 1t cheap fee-smple FARMS and the full en-
Ioyment of our free institutions, we cannot lie
charged, sir, ia desiring possess oregon, WIN
selfish or ambitious views, or with sPiril oil mere
territorial aggrandzemenE but the impartial and the
Just will see in ii desire only to extend more widely
the area of human freedom, and dltiuse more broad
ly the means Of human happness-as an extension,
sir, Of that grand theatre, on which God, IN his
providence and IN his own appointed time, intends
10 work out that high destiny he has assigned for
the whole human race.
But, Mr.. President, il is said the difficulty must
be settled by negotiation. The notice sir will not
prevent negotiations on the contrary, 1t will sumu-
late the parties to bring all differences growing out
Of thus controversy to a conclusion. There are
many things TO negotiate about, sir; many important
questions and interests which are fit subjects of ne
EQUATION; and among them those pertaining 10
the Hudson Bay Company. And ! believe, SIR,
Ihal all the difficulty, nearly all, which surrounds
lnls question, far Great Britain Is concerned,
ID the obligations she is under TO that corporation
growing out Of the renewal Of their charter 1885,
FOR twentyone years, IN which, by the way, sir, the
privilege was reserved TO Great Britain to grant, for
the purpose Of settlement or colonzauon any OF the
lands comprised within the limits of their charter
la the correspondence with the British colonial
rotary OF state which led to this renewal sir, the
ftNgI mr. fpF n hat ThaNyh .Np
eeded, after u and srpsnsirs competition
IA establishing their settlements, and obtaining dc.
,Idcd superiority, II not an exclusive enjoyment of
the trade; and that they occupy the country between
the Rocky mountains and the Pacific, by six perma-
nent establishments on the coast, sixteen IN the
terror country, besides several migratory and hunt
ing parues and they maintain marine of SIX armed
vessels, Of them steam vessel, on tile coast
They also speak Of their large farms, and Of other
projects, having reference TO export trade, and
the settlement Of their retired in the coun-
ny. All these things, sir, superlnduced by the act
IT Great Britain, tend doubt to embarrass her, as
she may, in Justice be compelled to answer over to
that company for any injury that may result TO
from surrender Of her pretenslons TO the country.
Now, sir, it would be manIfesdy proper for the
two governments TO confer together on these mat
tcrs, to negotiate about them, and perhaps sir, il
might be found to be cxpedent to indemnify this
company for their OUTLAWS there, and concede 10
them the use Of the Columbia river for few years
10 facilitate their exit with their property, from the
'1uatry, and as auxiliary TO winding up their af
fairs. So far as these and kindred matters are con.
cemed, sir, | hope negotiation will go on, but am
utterly opposed to 1t, If 1t is to involve cesslon Of
amy portion of the country to Great Britain am
opposed to that SIR, and will never sanction such
act by my vote. nation, sir, submitting TO a ne
gouaton which shall end in compromising claim
so valid AS ours, by yielding up part, when it ha
strength enough to preserve the whole, does IN my
Md ard
dIshonored, not only in the estimation of its own
people, but of the world will never consent to IT,
sir, Jet what may happen.
But Is sad sir, the matter should be referred to
arolta'Ion and that such a mode is strict con-
t"rmity with the law and practice of nations in |
like cases; and our government is censured, sir |
for not accepting proposition of this nature when
i1tely rendered by the British envoy The senator
from Kentucky Mr.. CRITTENDEN said the other |
day, that he did not know what right we possessed
to eXaIt ourselves above all law heretofore recog
nsed amongst nations and to say that territorial
disputes to be placed above all arbitration; and
rhen with great emphasis, remarked, "what glo- |
nous homage would this republic render to its own
best principles by accepting the arbitration Of trbu
nal composed of men distinguished only for their |
talents, knowledge, science, and moral worth" Sir |
| should be very much opposed to submit a ques
ton Of terri rial right 10 any power on earth 10
any hoard OF civilians, in whatever form it might be
proposed. There are TO my mind sir, insuperable |
objections to 1t, and 1t does not seem to me To be
Practicable according to the proposition of the
tor Leaving out of view all others, there is one fata
objection to such proceeding, and that is, the par
ties cannot be compelled to abide by the award |
there IS power by which it be enforced. In,
stead of settling the question finally, might render
1t more complicated than before; and IN the event OF
a refusal by one party to stand by the award, war
most probably would ensue. Suppose the Columbia |
rvcr SIR should be declared by the arbitrator as the
mo for tha
any one believe this government or country would |
ablde by II lfa monarch Is made the arbitrator,
would have his prejudices to encounter, and incur
the risk of his submitting the question to of his
ministers, secretaries chiefs of bureau; and
IN either case, would have personal know !
edge of some of the parties by whom the award is |
to be made. The arbitrators, whoever they might |
he, would not be required to be governed by the |
right OF the case, nor by the strict law of the
nor would they be thus governed. Other principles |
considerations of expedency, suggestions Of poll |
Y, and, whal, desire to give each claimant some
tnlng-woud naturally influence them. Sir, this |
could not stand single moment be-
fore the American people, if, by its act, by refer
ring question of this nature to the decision OF |
board of arbraors, the entire control of the Pacific
coast, and of the commerce with China, and the for
clSn export and import trade of the western States
now opening to them with the east shall be lost to
them No administration could stand a surrender |
of such important prospective interests Arbitra-
ton, sir, is gu, of the question. In controversies
between individuals submitted to arbitration, the ar
hitratOrs known to the parties, and power is
vested IN the courts to enforce obedience to the |
award but there is no tribunal to compel obedience
between nations. The whole thing is surrounded |
by difficulties Besides, sir there is really nothing !
here to arbltrate about for proposal to arbitrate
and acceptance. presuppose right exists to part
of the country which we deny. Where a right to |
co,crmnous territory is admitted to exist, but the
boundary underlined, it may be proper, in such
Ease, to refer the matter to mutual friends, cs-
tabhsh the line of boundary. That was the case IN
regard to northeastern boundary and it was re-
lcucd to the king Of the Netherlands and he instead
Of attending to the terms of the submission, and fol
loving the highlands, assumed the valley of the St.
Johns river as the boundary; which satisfied !
neither party. But, sir, it is unnecessary to say
anything about arbitration, as the government has
the most decided manner, rejected the PROPOSE
ton and there IL no WISH am sure, the part Of
thus country, that 1t should be accepted any fl-
lurc time. Whilst negotiating, sir, in 1918, upon
thus very question of Oregon, then called "the set
dement, on the Columbia river" reference of 1t to