New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-03-24
,Ir. Haywood's Speech.

nIr. Hnywood's Speech.
The Speech Of Mr.. HAYWOOD of North Carolina
on the Oregon question, delivered in the senate on
the 4th and 5ih inst. and which created much ex'
element at the tipe, has been written on. by the
author and appears in part In the National lnteli'
eencer of Yesterday. Crowded as our columns are
we must find room for liberal extracts from this
Speech-enough at least TO exhibit its peculiar fea
tures and enable our readers to understand its gene
raj scope and spirit.
Mr. HAYWOOD, after brief exordium, proceeds
10 give succinct history of the past action Of the
British and American Governments in respect to Oregon
In order that the present of the question and the
position OF the President may be clearly SEEN His main
objec. is show by examination of what the Fres
dent has done and what he has omitted do that his
thoughts are turned peace and that; instead Of lend
Ing his influence 10 the extreme opinions Of the ultra
members OF his party, he is and ought 10 be for com
promise based on the line of 497. Mr.. II. disavows al
authority speak for the President but appears to
tentan doubt that he correctly states his opinions
After showing that the whole current of past negotia-
tons from tho beginning till has looked 10 compro'
mise Of the question, Mr.. II. says:
Well might the President pause. then, notwithstand
ing mis- individual opinion thai our title TO the whole
of Oregon clear and unquestionabe," ere he to
the responsibility in view Of all this, of abruptly putt
stop the negotiation which he found on foot as 1t had
been begun by his immediate predecessor, upon nego
tio,fon for q compromsc. Well might he feel that the
NATION was committed to compromise. Well might
he dread that for him 10 put his personal opinion upon
the strength Of our paper tue however clear and
questionable against all these solemn acts of the Gov
eminent and against this concurrent action and acques
Of all our Presidents from Jefferson inclusive and
of all our Statesmen and of all Senator'S Except Mr.
DWo) and Of all our People and their Representatives
for two Notwithstanding 1t NATIONS
oPNIoN-wouid be sacrificing tho tah consistency Gin
and Nn nf
al consistency of himsei-a single maa! mere POLL.
rIcIAN might have halted but STATESMAN could not
He lifted himself above himself and showed how well he
merits the Office his country has appointed him fill
God grant tina. he may stand firm to his positions
And wha, commits nation but its honori Honor
National honor But its obligations must be fe. and
are topic for argument aud debate in American
Senate have imperfecty grouped the facts from
own history. Senators must determine for themselves
Appealing to their hearts monitors, ask whether
justified In asserting that the President did
right In offering the line Of 4eo compromise because
the nation was thus committed 10 1t by the past,
But the Senator from Illinois (Mr BREEsE) has said
the question was one, far IL concerned the
President" because he had clear opinion that our title
was good and gave that opinion before his nomination:
and he to think that the Baltimore Convention OF
the Democratic party had resolved this matter out ofths
genera, rule, aud made 1t this Administers
ZION. Strange proposition Passing strange! OF the
Baltimore Convention shall speak hereafter And
TO Mr.. Folks opinion upon title However clear,
and whensoevcr entertained or expressed, let say
that Mr. Folks opinion the opinions of the Baltimore
Convention those Of the people themselves upon the
tile Oregon touch this question All that has just
nothing a all to do with it, If the character and ain.
cerity and faith and honor oil tho nation committed
to compromise before Mr. Polk wns elected they re-
main ed notwithstanding his election, and notwith
standing his opinion or any bodys opinion upon our
tile
The men who become Presidents of the Republic are
always changing-they live and die but the Republic
10 the same at all times aud once committed by the
public faith aud honor TO NOT DO, the co.
pie cannot release the obligation by any thing short Of
revolution. II they could by such ertrsme measure
a. that. The question, then, Is not and was not
.'new 10 this Administration" The sovereignty
of a nationwide People themselves, have not right
to DO. much lees to COMMAND another 10 do dis
honorable act mean an act dshonorable to the
nation In her intercourse with other nations All
power rests with the sovereign authority but ia
Constitutional Government like ours, the peo-
Pile may bind themselves against doing wrong II they
would set about taking of that shacke they must
ronze and strike at the Constitution Alter that II they
choose even the people have right 10 do wrong to
other nations, aud leave the Constitution is hon
that Statesman who go whittier the honor of his
country carries him fogetfu OF himself and his
convenience or the consistency of his mere opinion Had
Dir Polk repeated his opinion of "a our clear and
questionable title for Anea 10 his daily prayers for
years and years together IL would still have been the
duty ofthe PRESIDENT to go to the line of 49o a
promise he believed RS he says he did that his country
was committed" and The honor and faith of the nation
bade him go there 1t Is still his duty do it. if he sin
cerey believes what he says Talk wha, you may of the
people-hstter them you please-yet In spite of NIL
the oneaided arguments upon title to Oregon and
the unfaness OF precludins debate IL here by the Ella
nv, p,usn against every one mat doubts It for ar
e-ehiy me question go to the people OF the United
Ses Wnetosr the honor OF the nation is not dearer
IMAM query tneh OF Oregon on the other side of 49le
the people hear and understand the motives and the
bouey ana the honorable necessity under which tho
mas acted and from the mountain valleys OF the
Wes 20 the shores OF the Atlantic they will respond
tns .ne fresioent mas aons right-thc honor OF our
oetoro every .npg ess II honesty and patriot
n QUO nos susan .ns sreSiuen., prSdenee and peace
would LEND heir Sla ana an inc Mo,'d would nee that
divided in onn;on unon The o~b, tSe ,sho
Of Il and The Chief Maeisfra,e himself believed thai il
=, - 81 M nu'e Jei,e' Gu I'M ~
ssn no, To 10 SO Op en @ o a %
orr arm. In such eons;c '0N - '''s 10 ''1 ~ '
oa p a.E S M sue" eohi'ct
10 are upon ne
ther negotiation and the pledge of determination
his part NOT to 's thia controversy at all by pscihc
upon him. may hn6 themselves disappointed. | warn
them that they have been dcceving themselves by their
own mi''nterPretHon Even IL there could be found in
sne reeo,u Jus .ne senator rom Ohio has called his
tnessaSej le VI senenec 10 s,'mee'e the hopes o
s s;i VI " ~, .oo susPe'oas OF others
aope " ussP"so iet GAL " IssieW OF nis dcts ana