The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-23

x-------------
by the right Of settlement to convey the righi Of
soil, It was totally unnecessary 10 specify the adj
dluonal privileges which were granted for the night
OF settlement, carrying with the re ht Of SOIL en-
titled the settler TO navigate fish, land on the coast
and trade with the natives, without an express grant
| for that purpose. Then why were they inserted
| Fishing and carrying on commerce with the natives
OF that country were profitable employments. Eng
land knew that and in order to secure them 10 her
subjects, she not only specified them in the third
article OF her treaty with Spain, but also enumer-
sOed olher things which were necessary TO enable
her SUBJECTS 10 ENJOY and use prohtably the priv
eges desired. They wanted to establish trading
points where the natives could find them that they
mlsht carry on commerce-w here they could land
cure and prepare their FISH for market Settlement
was necessary for that purpose Taking these
views Of the treaty Of 1890 between Great Britain
and Spaln--c nstruing the term settlement used in
It as do-dlStlngushlng between the extent of its
meaning there, and the meaning we ordinarily give
to it, am led to the conclusion that il was in
tended mere incident TO the right Of fishing
aud trading; and such Vas abrogated with the rrst
Of the privileges granted in that article by the war
of 1876 between Spain and Great Britain.
MIR. Chairman, peace is desirable and should be
preserved If 1t can be done IN All honorable way.
But tell gentlemen now, and hope they will LOOK
10 H. u they suffer the present Congress to adjourn
Wilhout aeuon on this question they will regret ".
The people have been bsrassed long enough with
III 'hey demand It's settlsment, and will be disap-
pointed and much dissatisfied il we adjourn without
doing all we can towards it, If this controversy
should remain open and unadI hsed 30 as TO consul
tu;e the principle element las il will dol in our next
popular elections, there will he no halfway house
left The next Congress will be forced on by pub
lie opinion arising from feversh state of the pub
lie mind caused by our failure refusal TO act al
this Congress.
The President Of the United States has taken higb
ground upon this subject. His message has been
endorsed and euogized throughout the length and
breadth OF this Union. The people hsvr responded
and u now becomes our duty TO act. Shall we do
so' Must we stand still, recede, or go forward
These questions are presented to US and TO the
country. Let US meet the crisis; and, in so doing
act with manly hrmness. If we recede, or fail 10
move onward, We leave the administration in It's
high and patriotic position SOLITARY and alone"
The President of the United States has taken
bold but ladicous and wise STEP he has gone beyond
any previous administration and IL we refuse 70
sustain him, not only destroy the influence OF
his administration AT home and abroad, but we ef.
fectuay block up the avenue a settlement Of our
Oregon controversy. England will view il as re-
buke Of the President by the people-that they con.
dem his recommendations in relation to Oregon.
she VIII then rest at ease and cease her efforts 90
adjust 10y negotiation. As matters now stand un.
der the treaty she has all she wants aud il We re-
iuse 10 give the notice, the question will not be set
tied. II, however, we present bold and undivided
'front.', give inc nouce, ana snow that settlement
determined upon, and that II must come, then, sir
IN my opinion, you will bring about an adjustment
do not present these views IN party sense. |
speak not as a partisan, but as an Amencan-and
hope to be so understood. Party feelings may
arise among, and divide us upon questions Of do
nestle policy; but on question between the United
States and foreign nation, there should be but Que
party IN this Countrywide .irncrioan patty
j do not mean that our duty calls upon us 20 sus-
aln the President IN his Poalton, merely because he
IS the President, irrespective Of right II he had
AIKEN wrong ground, II would lie our highest duty
10 check and restrain him. We should throw our
selves into the breach and protest the country and
is honor. Under all Of the circumstances, however
Va they exist, | consider that to give the notice
will be best for tho country; and believing wheth
n the President wing or u democrat
would promptly rally to his support. In a crisis
ike this, il will not do for TO Jailsr turn pale
Il we begin with improper or unnecessary heslta-
ion-if we stop to plead our own weakness, and
he strength Of our adycrsary-ifwe exhibit timid-
y q want Of hrmness wa piH come upon US. If
therefore,, we would avoid war, must not eylnce
90 great anxiety to do so.
i am not prepared to say to my constituents that
We will have no war. They have all ofthe infoTma-
ion which is in my possession and are as compe-
ent 10 determine that point as | am. have given
hem my opinion which remains unchanged.
Sir gentlemen tell US that we are weak and &C.
enceless n nation; that nre unr -rparr
var; that our navy is hardly nest-egg our any
mere skeleton; that we lack guns and ammunition,
ortifcations and harbors. Indeed, if we but listen
o speeches of the opposition on this question, VIC
would suppose we had nothing to fight with, They
undertake We have
implements Of war in great profuson; and more
han that, have the people, the independent free
len who know nothing of fear when their country
assailed, and their rights their liberties endar-
cred. We have firm hearts aud strong arms"
those prowess will repuise the ,oord in arms. We
an never be conquered by foreign foo--the thing
impracticable and no nation knows that fact bet
n than Great Britain.
NorE.-The following resolution was agreed to
y the general assembly of the State of Alabama al
s session Of 1874 and l945, and by me presented
the House of Representatives of the 18th Con-
ress on the 18th February, ls45:
49, Resoiprd That the true policy of the United States
quires that the joint occupancy Of Oregon by the United
and England should cesse and resolved that the
tic ofthe United States to the territory OF Oregon clear
nd ndsputable."