The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-05

there some duplicty ia the movements against
this bill. For himself he must say that no one
who knew him, in his private or public capacity,
could accuse him Of seeking his objects by any but
Mr.. KING here remarked that he had but spoken
merely OF rumor
MIR. RHE1'f. | will tell the gentleman what ru-
NOR says OF him. Rumor says that this question Is
sgitated for The purpose OF political ambition; that
IN this pursuit of Office and emolument the gentle
mans friends are trafeking with the life and liber-
Ties OF the people That, sir, is one OF the runnors
A voice "Who is to Lave the benefit Of all this
agitation,'
l do not like (said MIR. r. to name any one who
Is not here, and for whose benefit rumor says
fermentation is raised in the West on this question.
Rumor, who says that New York Is somewhat dis
affected, in consequences Of the defeat other favor
lie son at the late election, and that she is will
ling to seek an occasion to revenge herself upon
that quarter Of the country to whose inerposltion
the defeat her candidate was owing. They wsuld
repay the South by sweeping II with desoation.
playing furnished talisman which had led TO the
discovery Of his whole policy. He has double
game to play, by which aspiranra may grasp at the
power Of the government, and, at the same time,
pun the South. ! know (said Mr.. RI that my
people think that this policy Is dictated by those
who, at all times, have manifested the most dire and
unmigated hostility against the South. Do gen
tlemen here suppose that the people whom ] repre-
sent, " there be nothing TO Justify war, viii go
into ~ When war comes, whether with or with
her assent, she will be found in the front rank,
where the battle In hottest; and where the flag Is
proudly waving, there will she be found. Bat we
are Christian men; government 10 based on peace
spd Justice Ambliioe which has a all times, Civ
en- the impulse to war, ought not 10 enter into our
councils. War is a corrupt expedient Of legislation,
resored TO by those who wish 10 make themselves
of the deslinies Of their country. No nation
retained It's liberties, If led into wars OF aggres-
sion. All history tells but story this subject.
All who have left their own country to make war
upon another, have, IN the end fallen under the do
mInion of tynnts ] call on this House TO pause be-
fore they plunge us into such career. | wish not
such a destiny for US. have been struggling for
nine years to restrain this government within its
proper and constitutional limits. war would
break down all limits. ] consider this government
competent for all the purposes for which II was Gre
ated But | wish not TO give up lightly all the
glorious triumphs Of peace, all the results Of wis
dom and experience, 10 follow the headstrong i'm
pulses of personal ard political ambition. Let no
one suppose that | intend TO intimate that the
South will alone suffer in the war, that the West
will have ttle share in its calamities and sacrifices
know that no people will he more self-sacrihclng
than the West But we the seaboard have
more to suffer Than they. Still II Is not from that
We shrink from a war but we would not
encounter its dangers without some substantial
reasons. yak. .......
have said nothing concerning the negotiation
nothing in regard the question which il concerns.
do not, however, believe that the negotiation is
ended. The negotiation is not at an end. am
shall be left with the President. l would not take
the matter Of his hands and pursue such course
of measures as would lead to hostility and war.
After Mr. RuErr had concluded -
Mr.. L. III. SIMMS obtained the floor, and adj
dressed the House on the question. He ought prob
-. H.. l.ana
ing their attention. But on the other side Of the
hall he colleague who, with himself, resi-
ded the western frontier of Missouri, in the re-
gion which was nearest the Oregon Territory; and
il must be conceded by gentlemen that those who
lived in that quarter took deep interest in this sub
jec IL might be recolected, too, that the people Of
Missouri, and their representatives here, had ever
taken anxious interest in the Oregon question.
He would be wanting in his duty, therefore, to the
people Of Missouri, if he failed to make some re.
marks though he did not profess to be able to en-
tighten the House on this important subject.
Sir, the first proposition which intend TO consld-
er, I will put in the form Of an interogatory.
I ask this country and nation, whether Oregon is
ours or notl He had seen no man yet who dared to
say that we had no right to Oregon. Now, SIR, if
we have a right to Oregon up to the 18th parallel,
we have the right to it up TO the Saith. 1t might be
true that the people of his district felt warm
affection for Oregon than others in this nation. He
could not help feeling for il the warmest affection IL,
therefore, (said he) should say any thing calculated
to wound the feelings Of any who hear me, assure
them that il is not my intention. have witnessed
the tears Of the mother in parting with her son, or
her daughter when they took up the travel for Ore
gon, which was said by gentlemen to be route no
impracticable and so full of dangers. And here
sympa,hize in the feelings of the aged father when
he has seen his children depart for that country
where they were TO find home on the borders Of
the Pacific. .. n .r..-........ .. . ....
will notice what the gentleman from South Car
DINA said if it be in order, to this country being
the refuge of liberty and free to all from
ry nation, who suffering under tyranny and op.
pression and was surprised that he was willing to
| let Oregon alone, and thus close it to those
| who may seek, under our protection, home
in that country. He would leave our rights in
J Oregon the subject of negotiation with nation
| which never yielded anything in its diploma
| cy to us, or to any other people. We had here
openly discussed every branch Of this question, and
our views upon it were known to all the world
But you can never tell what are the purposes o.
Great Britain from the debates in her Parliament
for the decision of such questions does not depend
upon the small portion Of the popular principle
| which is imposed in her system of government
Being a resident of the frontier, where have cas-
my lot in life, feel very deeply the necessity oil
giving notice Great Britain Of purpose to ter
inmate the Joint occupancy Of Oregon. The gentle.
| man from South Carolina asks for reasons why we
should do this, and will give them. Proposition
after proposition have we made to Great Britain foi
the settlement this question, and division Of the
territory between her and u.s. All these she had
steadily refused, and had been with the President
when he offered the last compromise of the 49th
parallel, would have advised him against it, But
| sir, the gentleman from New York Mr. KING was
mistaken when he said that the President had moi
made that offer in sincerity. Sir, have known the
President intimately, and for many years, during
his whole public and private career. ! have known
his whole history and have marked his devotion to
republican principles, in every station that he has
| filed. He never made offer in bad faith. He
would not have withheld this offer, had he supposed
lhu, it would be accepted, and he intended to be
bound by it. @"
Mr. PRESTON KING inquired Of the gentle
man if he referred to any thing which he had said
when he spoke of the faith Of the government; if
he desired TO say that he (Mr. X had said nothing
on the subject Of the faith Of the government. The
question Of faith good bad, not at oil invol
we'd in the offer last made by governmental Great
Britain. II it had been accepted our government
would have been bound by it, and the line settled al
| 49o. II was for this very reason he had said he
| would not have made the offer The offer was re
| ne,ad hx tho British government and we werf