Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-06-05
SUBSTANCE OF
MIR. BENTON'S SPEECH.


thanks for the honor which had been done him
in the invitation to public dinner, on the part
Of his political friends. He had declined the
honor OF the dinner in conformity to a rule
which he had long followed; and as for the
speech which would have been expected at the
dinner table, he preferred to make il under cir,
cumstances which would prevent no one from
hearing It who choose TO do him the honor to
listen to It. Great subjects have occupied the
public mind-evenful questions had received
their solution-in the last two or three wears
of his public service, on all Of which he had
been called to act decided, and even promi.
nent part, and on each Of which il was natural
for him now TO say something.
The Oregon question was one of these. Al;
one time big with all the calamites of war, it
was now hushed in repose, and the country
tranquil and happy under its peaceful settle
ment. His own course in relation to it had
been consistent and uniform from beginning to
ending He had opposed the join! occupation
treaty oil 1878 as soon as it was made he ops
posed its renewal in 1928: he had constantly
labored for its termination ever since: and all
ways held the parallel of 40 to be the proper
dividing line between the American territory of
Oregon and the British territory of Frazer's
river. But the public mind, and especially the
mind OF his own party, had been worked up to
dlfieren, view of our rights. Fifty -four for
ty, and all, or none, had become our cry: war
was the British answer to that! and although
threat of war would be no bar to rightful
demand, yet in answer to a wrongful one, it
was very serious. He believed the whole de-
mand OF the United States to be wrongful so far
as it applied TO Frazer's river, which happen.
ed TO run through the whole territory, from
81 40 to 49, and to have been discovered by the
British in 1898, and covered by their forts
since 1906 The administration had taken
high ground: the party sustained it: but it was
al occasion which required a public man to
rise above party, and TO look to his country
alone. He had resolved to do so, and to 90 for
49, even ifi. should cost him his polica exis.
tence. This determination, though not formal
ly promulgated was no secret, and was early
enough made known TO his friends and to the
administration. From the first explosion OF
the question in April 1845-from the first re,
verberation Of the thunder which came rolling
back from London in answer 10 the Presidents
inaugural address-he had made known his
opinions to the Secretary of State, and inform
ed him he should support treaty upon the
line Of 40, if the President made one upon that
basis. From that determination he had never
swerved. His friends though there was great
uuuSci W Hlul III ttIC COuTSC ut tUOh. US uliD-
self did not think there was so much He knew
his constituents had been wrought up to fifty.
four forty, but he relied upon their equity and
intelligence, to give him fair hearing and a
safe delverance. He paid them the compl-
ment to rely upon their justice and intelligence
and the event had NOT deceived him. The
boundary was settled al 40. The British kept
their river, and we kept ours. War was avert.
ed. Great Britain and the United States re-
main at peace-he and his constituents were al
peace-and long might they all remain so.
The settlement Of this question, Mr. B. went
on to say, had cleared away the only remain
ing difference between the two kindred nations
II left them not only at peace, but without re.
naming cause Of quarrel. For the first time
since the stamp act Of 1854, the two nations
were now without cause OF quarrel. For the
first time in nearly three generations of men,
the Two grand divisions Of the Anglo Saxon
race-the mother stock in Great Britain, and
its gigantic progeny in our America-were
without cause Of dissenslon, and TO crown
this happy s.ate-to give to peace, its highest
ornament, and noblest occupation, and TO friend,
ship its most enduring cement, calamitous
visitation in part Of the British empire has
called forth all the sympathies OF the human
heart on the side Of one nation, and all its graf
itude from the other. Ireland furnishes Sue
cor and sympathy fly to her from the United
States; and the swelling tide of gratitude comes
rolling buck from The whole British empire
This is something better than being at war
with each other-at war for Frazer's river,
under the sad deluson that it was a part Of
Oregon lie thanked God that he had been
an instrument in aiding to avert this calamity,
and in producing the present happy state be.
tween the nations; and he thanked his constit-
uents for approving his conduct in going for
their future good instead of their present
wishes.
The annexation Of Texas, and its sequence,
the present war with Mexico, was another OF
the great subjects on which he had been called
to act within the last few years. This great
drama, Mr.. B. said divided itself into many acts,
and covered a long space Of time, during all
which he had been an actor in it, and hoped a
consistent and prudent one. He considered
this drama as beginning in 1919, when Mr..
Monroe's cabinet ceded Texas to Spain. 1t
was then given away; and if it had not been
given away, there could have been no war
with Mexico about getting ii back. He de-
nounced that treaty in many newspaper arti-
Giles as soon as it was made, and vowed at the
time unceasng efforts to get Texas back. Mr.
Adams administration with Mr.. Clay, Secleta-
ry Of State, presented the first opportunity 10
make the effort for its recovery. Mr.. Clay as
member Of the House of Representatives,
had severely condemned the treaty which gave
away Texas. Mr.. Adams had opposed that
article Of the treaty at the council table where
the majority Of Mr.. Monroe's cabinet adopted
it, But this was not known 10 him (Mr. By
until long afterwards. His reliance at that
Il NJ 4