The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-17


modified II is the true policy OF the government to at
ford facilities TO its citizens 10 become owners OF small
portions OF our vast public domain at low and moderate
rates"
These noble sentiments worthy the statesman the
patriot and the philanthfopsl He in favor OF open
ing wide the door and inviting emigration from the old
and densey populated portions OF the country TO the fer
tile regions Of the far west He regarded our public do
nam as valuable in the preservation OF our republican
lnsttutions, because II serves an asylum for all
ISOLATED capital and overgrown wealth in the old and
densely populated States He regarded il as equally
valuable IN rearing up Of sturdy republicans who
whenever their services are needed Relying with
mistaken confidence upon the security furnished
by the federative character OF our Union, Mr. Polk
the territorial limits Of republic could not be en-
arged without endangerng its strength and perpetuity
He had fears Of seeing the area Of freedom extend
ed too lar he believed that our glorious constitution was
extending from 10 ocean, and that by its extension
the Union would lose nothing in strength durability
In regard 10 intercourse with foreign nations Pres
dent Polk adopted the principle promulgated by one OF
his ustrious predecessors demand nothing that ras
not dearly right, and TO submit TO nothtng that
wrong Early IN his administration he had occasion TO
apply this principle in regard to pending difficulty with
Great Britain to the Oregon territory This had been
subject OF frequent, but Ruthless negotiation between
the two governments for more than quarter OF CEN
tury Our government claimed the territory as ts own
property but under Inc arrangement Tor Joint occupa
ton OF the country, II had become in effect British
rfovince governed by British laws Three propositions
@ Id son
predecessors, President Polk renewed one OF the propo
sitlons OF compromise. but il met with It's former fate
dplomacys degree q energy which il had moi exhibited
years Upon the rejection Of the proposed compromise
ne ordered the proposition o be Immediately, withdrawn
serted 70 the British government He communicated his
proceedings to Congress- ndrecommended that the notice
for the cessation Of the joint occupation Of the territory
openness, and drectness in this policy, to which the
British government had not been accustomed in her late
diplomacy MI: Polk was resolved to be no longer de.
ayed or bafed in the settlement Of the question BY d-
pomahc eyasions procfastinatons Our citizens who
had settled in Oregon calling for the protection OF
their governmentthey had been neglected already too
long Mr.. Polk determined to bring the difficulty to an
immediate and direct issue. The result proved the wis
dom Of his craftsmanship. By the frmness fraakness
and direc,ness Of his policy the settlement Of the
out assuming the high responsibility Of rupture be-
tween the two governments Mr. Polk is entitled to the
credit oil great sagacity in selecting the time tor pressing
meet his policy in and spirit OF defiance but Brit
sh statesmen could not but know that such response
would be tantamount TO a declaration Of war. Great
Britain was in condition for such declaration, and
hence concluded, upon the principle that discretion
the better part of vaor" TO concede what she had so
long and 80 pertinacodsy denied 10 US Thus ended
international difficulty which had bafled the ablest d.
pomatists fer more than twenty-five years In its settle
ment our national honor preserved and national
domain greatly enlarged. Thousands upon thousands Of
the territory thus rescued from British usurpaon and
under the benign influence OF constitution and laws
will pour out their grateful hearts in commentators OF
the wisdom and hrmness OF the President whose policy
has added such an empire to the national domain.
In the final adjustment Of the Oregon question: by
which government was provided for the territory, it be-
came the duty OF Mr. Polk to take his position the
subject OF slavery connected with our territorial gov
ernments- The bill presented for his action contained
clause prohibiting slavery in the Oregon Territory He
approved the bill but to avoid any misconsucton oil
the act, he accompanied its return TO Congress with
special message IN which be recognised the obligatory
character Of the Missouri compromise line and on that
The obligatory Character = Of The pro use nG s
force as an act OF Congress- passed in pursuance OF the
constitution; but as covenant entered into by the two
divisions oil Union, for the observance of which the
sacred honor of the contracting parties was pledged He
regarded the Oregon Territory embraced within the
spirit OF this compromise, and on that account that
disapprova of the bill would be obnoxious 10 the
impuiation of violation OF the solemn pledge. At
the same time he distinctly ayowed his purpose TO
dsapproye any act which might attempt 10 inter
territory south Of the line, thereby adopting and recog
nsng this compromise line the true basis for the sell
uement OF this agitatng question. Time must prove
whether any other basis be found better calculated
harmonic the conflicting views this exciting subject
No subject has taken stronger hold upon the public
mind within the last few years than did The Of
the annexation OF Texas TO the United States in 1874
exerted controlling influence upon The selection OF
democratic candidate Tor the presidency, and during the
excited canvass which followed was the most agltang
topic OF popular discussion Mr. Folk an early and
ardent advocate OF the proposed annexation His warm
est sympahies enlisted in behalf Of the citizens OF
Texas Many of them had been his early and devoted
personal friends. He had watched with interest their
noble resistance OF Mexican oppression and reoiced sin
cerey in the splendid victory OF San yacno which Sc
cured their independence He also the advocate of
annexation upon high principles Of national policy He
believed that the acquisition OF the fertile territory
OF Texas would add greatly 10 the commercial and agr
cultural wealth OF the nation He considered il as part
Of the great Mississippi valley, which had been mprop-
erly torn asunder by the Florida treaty, and that its
orafion essential TO the security oil the interests
which constantly freghted upon the bosom of the
Mississippi He evidences OF purpose on the part
OF Great Britain 10 controlling influence over the
counses OF Texas and he the dangers which threat
ened the interests Of the great Mississippi valley from
such influence. His this subject harmonzed
election was universally regarded verdict Of the pop
ular mind in favor OF annexation The moral influence
oil this result upon Congress decided that the
passage OF the annexation resolutions precipated
previous TO Mr. Folks Inauguration as President leaving
to him the work OF concentrating what had already been
commenced.
The duties which deyolved upon President Polk in
perecng the measure of annexation were OF charac-
ter OF decacy and responsibility that called for the high
ration. the Mexican minister, resident at Washington
protested against the resolutions OF annexation viola
tive OF the rights of his government and abruptly de.
manded his passports This protest based upon the
assumption that Texas still Mexican province and
was denial Of her existence separate and independ
ent republic II was reputation OF the right OF revo
luton to which Mexico herself indebted for her ma
the basis OF independence Texas had exercised
this right and had NH