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l-^f 
 
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SPEECH 
 
 OF 
 
 MR. AUGUSTUS C. DODGE, 
 
 DELEGATE FROM IOWA, 
 
 OK 
 
 THE OREGON QUESTION. 
 
 DELIVERED 
 
 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1846. 
 
 I 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF BLAIR AND RIVES. 
 1846. 
 

 
 u . >.\ 
 
 
THE OREGON QUESTION. 
 
 The Resolution from the Committee on Foreign 
 Affairs, requiring tlie President to notifV Great 
 Britain of the intention of the United States to 
 terminate the joint occupancy of Oregon, and to 
 abrogate the convention of 1827, being under 
 consideration in Committee of the Whole — 
 
 Mr. DODGE addressed the House as follows: 
 
 Mr. Chairman: I hope that the resolution now 
 under consideration will pass. It is the first of a 
 series of measures looking to the assertion and 
 maintenance of our rights to the northwest coast 
 of this continent; all of which will, I trust, receive 
 the early, prompt, and favorable action of the 
 present Congress. The time has come when the 
 public voice der lands action upon this Oregon 
 fjuestion — the greatest question, in my humble es- 
 timation, of the day. It is one which, to a greater 
 or less extent, has agitated the mind of the people 
 of this nation for more than a quarter of a century, 
 and upon which, in the recent presidential elec- 
 tion, they have spoken in a voice not to be misun- 
 derstood. 
 
 The people are, sir, upon this question, as they 
 liave always been on all great questions, immeas- 
 urably in advance of the politician and the legisla- 
 tor. The former demand action, efficient and de- 
 cided action; the latter hesitate, and arc afraid of 
 consequences. If, unfortunately, war should grow 
 out of the exercise of our "clear and unquestion- 
 able rights," the people, whose blood and whose 
 treaaure will be expended in that war, say, " let it 
 conic." This I sincerely believe to be the voice 
 
 of nine- tenths of the American people, and T know 
 it to be the united voice of those whom I rep- 
 resent. They are a frontier people, and prefer 
 peace; but they are brave, and will ever be found 
 ready to vindicate their rights, and those of the na- 
 tion; nor will they, when these arc assailed, ever 
 stop to inquire whether it be bjr Great Britain or 
 weak and divided Mexico — whether the foot of the 
 hostile invader treads upon southern or northern 
 soil. They will march as readily and as cheer- 
 fully in defence of the one as of the other. 
 
 Sir, if any apology were necessary why I have 
 departed from the usual course of Delegates upon 
 this floor, which is, not to speak upon questions 
 other than those relating immediately to the Terri- 
 tories from which they come, it must be found in 
 the intense interest felt by the constituency tliat I 
 represent, and by myself, in the passage of this 
 resolution, and its other kindred measures — the 
 bills to grant lands, erect forts, &c., all having 
 for their object the occupation and settlement, 
 by American citizens, of the territory of Oregon. 
 1 feel, sir, that 1 should but poorly reflect the views 
 and feelings of those who have placed me upon 
 this floor, and do injustice to my own, should I 
 fail to raise my voice, feeble tliough it may be, in 
 support of these measures; and, as I estimate their 
 importance, it is to mc a melancholy reflection that 
 I can do no more tlian speak in favor of their pas- 
 sage. 
 
 Mr. Chairman, I trust that it may not bo regard- 
 ed as inappropriate in ntc so fur to digress from 
 
 i ' ■. i I * 1 • » / 
 
■tif 
 
 V . 
 
 the milijrct inunrdintcly iindrr rniisidcrnlion, nfi In 
 advert 'o n tniiiMiction whicli litul its orit^in in tliis 
 hall nt tiic Inst session of t^oiiKress, nnd which mny 
 hnve nti imporlaiu bcnriiig upon ilic ullininte (Ute 
 of this grcut Aniericnn qufsiioii. It will be remcm- 
 liered, sir, tlint nt that session of CongrcsH the 
 Territory from which I come, having then much 
 more than the requisile population, presented to 
 this House n conslilution prei-rn'riently republican 
 in all its features, nnd asked mlniission nito the 
 Union upon an equal footing with the original 
 States. In tin; first arlick- of diat const'tulion were 
 defined the chosen boundaries of the people of 
 Iowa for tiu'ir future State. Tlicy were !j;ood, be- 
 cause they were natural boundaries. 1 he great 
 rivers — Mi.ssissippi on our cast, the Missouri on 
 our west, and the .Saint Peter's on the north, with 
 n short artificial, but direct line, connecting the two 
 hist-named rivers — were tlie everlasting State divis- 
 ional lines upon which we liad fixed, and which 
 are so plainly indicated by the hand of nature, that 
 to adopt others is a manifest interference with her 
 designs. They embraced, us 1 am nuw oificially 
 informed, but nlxiut fifty-seven thousand stiuare i 
 miles — ten thousand less tlian were given by a 
 common parent to our sister Missouri; and made 
 our proposed Stale less than Virginia, Georgia, 
 Missouri, ami Michigan, and about the size of Illi- 
 nois. What, inider these circumstances, hud we 
 a right to expect? Admission, with the bound- 
 aries of our selection, as every other new State 
 had been thus admitted. Not so, sir, however, 
 was the result. And against the solemn protest of 
 the humble Delegate who now addresses you, our 
 long-cherished boundaries, at one fell blow, were 
 stricl:en from our constitution, and a set of nrti- 
 ficial lines imposed upon us, which, until tiien, we 
 had never dreamed of, nnd to which the people of 
 Iowa are opposed. Well, sir, what may be the 
 result of this act ? And to that I wish to ask the 
 attention of western gentlemen, and the friends of 
 Oregon everywhere. If rumor be not sadly nt fault, 
 I say to them that they have, by depriving them- 
 se'vcs of two vote.j froui Iowa in the other end of 
 this Capitol, periled the fate of a most important 
 portion of the American continent: they hnve in- 
 curred the risk of losing Oregon, with her six hun- 
 dred thousand square miles of territory, or a lar^e 
 portion thereof, while squabbling with Iowa, their 
 youngest sister and neighbor, for a few hundred. 
 One among the many gratifying results which I 
 anticipate from the certain posse.ssion of the whole 
 of Oregon by our Government is, that the people 
 of Iowa will be allowed the boundaries for which 
 they are so anxious. I tell gentlemen that, whether 
 we want elbow-room in Iowa or not, wc are in ear- 
 nest in desiring Stute-room. 
 
 But, sir, to return to the question immediately 
 under considerntion. I regard the notice to Great 
 Britain of our intcntio'i to dissolve the convention 
 of 1818, which was iiulcf.iitcly continued '-y that 
 of 1827, as highly expedient nnd proper. It is, as 
 we would express it in the West, removing the 
 underbrush, which is in the way of the buildings we 
 intend to erect. These conventions have worked 
 great benefits to the l',ngli.«h, and nothing but inju- 
 ries to us. But for them, the English would not 
 now have the shadow of foundutiun upon which to 
 
 rest their unjust and ridiculous pretensions to the 
 ownership of the territory in question, or to any 
 portion of it. 
 
 Mr. Chairman, the whole of Oregon is ours — 
 ours from first discovery and from firs' settlement, 
 strengthened by a cession to us of all tin '■laimsof 
 France, Spain, and Russia. Ihit it is not my purpose 
 to discuss the title. I nm willing to let it stand uiuin 
 th(! impreglinble grounds upon which it has been 
 (laced by our present talented Secretary of Slule, 
 Mr. Buchanan,] and by his able predece-isor, [Mr. 
 Calhoun;] their urgumcnis in support of our title, 
 with iho.He which have been made in both Houses 
 of Congress during the present and previous ses- 
 sions, for more than a quarter of a century, have 
 never been answered, and in my humblir estimutiun 
 never can l)e by the advocates of the British title. 
 
 The truth is, sir, that no other Government in 
 Christendom than that of Great Britain would have 
 the hardihood to stand up and press n claim to terri- 
 tory, resting upon pretensions so llimsy as those 
 upon which hers to the country in question are 
 biuted. And in the name of God and the people 1 
 represent, I say, let un neither be tricked nor bullied 
 out of our territory. Let us then move forward. 
 The eyes of the country are anxiously turned to- 
 wards the present Congress; and I tell gentlemen, 
 unless this notice is pa.ssed and followed l)y the . 
 other measures recommended lo us by the Presi- i 
 dent, that those who shall a.-^sume the reHponsibili - 
 ty of defeating them will find, too late, that they 
 have incurred the laating displeasure of their coun- 
 ti-y. 
 
 Air. Chairman, a very large proportion of the 
 population of Oregon has gone thither from lown, 
 and I have, from sym])athy and association, a feel- 
 ing of strong uttuchmont for them, and for the 
 pioneer in whatever part of the country his lot 
 may be east. You mny imagine, then, sir, the 
 feelings of astonishment and regret, not to say 
 indignation, with which I listened lo the extraor- 
 dinary, unjust, and unjustifiable attack of the gen- 
 tleman from Virginia, [Mr. Penoletov,] upon the 
 people of the .vestern States and Territories gene- 
 rally, nnd those of Oretjon in puriiculur. I allude 
 to tnc sneering manner in which he spoke of Pres- 
 ident Polk's rccoinmcntlalion to " facilitate emi- 
 gration to Oregon," and to protect our "patriotic 
 pioneers who are there." 
 
 The gentleman from Virginia calls these pioneers 
 " restless and wayward wanderers." He says: 
 
 " Rentlemnn toll ua of llie nttncliinont of tlicse people tn 
 tliejr (lenr native Innd. Why do tlicy leave it, sir.' Why 
 U it that, with iasliiieUvn aversion, tiiey retire before tin- 
 iidv.ince of civilization, prefcrriiis the wilil excitement nnd 
 tiie rusgcd discoinfurts of the wilderness fo thi; repose, the 
 security, nnd the refincinents of siiciid nnd cultivntid life.' 
 Thuy manifest their attnehment by disregnrdin;; the influ- 
 ences thnt hind ordinary men to the pinecs of their nativity, 
 by snapping reeklestly till! ties of blood nnd kindred nriit 
 social connexions, nnd cnlmlynnd of their own free ehoire. 
 deserting ui|cnernu8 soil nnd uccnial climo. Abandoning tbt 
 henrths und the nllnrs of their ehildlio'irt nnd youth, tliey toil 
 throiiKh a vast and cheerless wilderness, to enin a home so 
 inhospitable and rude, tlmt,nccordini{ to thi; learned Rcntle 
 man from Philadelphia, it takes the genitis of Shakspeaff 
 to do justice to its horrors." • • • '< It is not the policy 
 of our Uovernment to be running over the no'ld looking | 
 after citizens whose allegiiincc is manifested only by acts of i 
 expatriation." 
 
 Again, the same gentleman says: " I protest 
 
 old Vi 
 
 in that 
 
 of "( 
 
 ties n( 
 
 applie 
 
 grim 
 
 town 
 
 tors 
 
 these 
 
 tlemai 
 
 by w 
 
 noble 
 
 how 
 
 fiixt 
 
 Virt 
 
 mile 
 
 .simi 
 
 <'Xle 
 
 Crow 
 
 wn 
 
 from 
 
 whi 
 
 men 
 
 l(;m 
 
 "th 
 
 and 
 
 Ktay 
 
 Jrutl 
 
 y 
 
IctcnnionB to the 
 ptinii, or to any 
 
 |rrg(in in mm — 
 
 firH' scttlciiK.'iit, 
 
 nil till '•liiiiiiBof 
 
 imtiiiy |)urj)()8e 
 
 ct it Klaixl iijmii 
 
 |liii'li it liMH lircn 
 
 iTtary of Slate, 
 
 t(leccs«(ir, [Mr. 
 
 >or( of our title, 
 
 in Ixitli IIouHrN 
 
 iJ previous nes- 
 
 n (•(•titury, linve 
 
 inill)'i'.stiiiiutiun 
 
 le Rritisli title. 
 
 Govcrnnicnt in 
 
 tain would have 
 
 H a claim to terri- 
 
 tliin.sy as those 
 
 in qiiesiion are 
 
 and the people 1 
 
 rickiil nor bullied 
 
 I move forward. 
 
 oiinIv turned to- 
 
 I tell gentlemen, 
 
 followed by the 
 
 un by the I'regi- 
 
 e the responsibili- 
 
 >o late, that Ihey 
 
 lure of their coun- 
 
 proportion of the 
 hither from (own, 
 issoeiation, a feel- 
 hem, mid for the 
 e country his lot 
 nc, then, sir, the 
 egret, not to say 
 led to the extraor- 
 attark of the gen- 
 ni.ETON,] upon the 
 I Territories grnr- 
 rticular. I allude 
 he spoke of I'res- 
 1 " facilitate emi- 
 ect our " patriotic 
 
 alls these pioneers 
 rs." He says: 
 
 m of tlicsc pnople tn 
 r lonveit, sir? Why 
 icy retire bcl'urc tin- 
 wild cxcitciiiciit and 
 !ss to tiic repose, ihc 
 il and cultivated life' I 
 srcpirdins the inttu- ] 
 iPCHof their iKiiivity. < 
 ixl and kindred niid 
 icirowii free choice, 
 iinc. Aliandoiiini; the 
 i1 and youth, they toil 
 iS, to gnin a home so ' 
 o the Icurni'd RcnlK' 
 [cnitis of Klmkspcaro 
 *' It i« not the polict 
 ■r till" ivo'lil lookine 
 fcslcd only Ay actsi'i 
 
 lays: " I protest 
 
 'against f/ifir riijht (the western Rtnte.M) to deride 
 ' when we are ;o go to war for this mist ruble and 
 'woitlilisii te.iii:(iiij." The attack upon the value 
 of Oregon i.-^, sir, but a repetition of the federal 
 slang whid. was ajiplii'd to the whole Mis.slsMippi 
 valley when it was purchased under the miiue of 
 Loui.'Uinu, in HO^, by Mr. Jeflersoii. Yis, sir, 
 the iMiMsis.iippi valley, of who.se e.\l<'Mt, of whose 
 fertility and iiuiunienible ailvanl.iges, it is uniiei'.ci- 
 sary at this day I .^hould speak, was, by the ene- 
 mies to its ae(itiisition, denounced a.s "a bog wil- 
 derness filled with savages, outlaws, and runaway 
 negroes, "and it was said it was only fit to be kept 
 as "an untrodden waste for owls to hoot and 
 wolvt»« to howl in !" 
 
 The lugubrious iin'-dictions of the enemies of 
 Oregon will fall as far short of realization, should 
 it be thrown open to Anieriean enlerpri.-ie, as have 
 lho.se which were made by the Kedcralists against 
 Louisiana. Carry out the measun s eoiiteniplated 
 by the bills to which I have n ferred, coniieet the 
 triuh'. of the C'oliimliia and tlie Pacific coast with 
 tliat of the Mis.soiiri and the Mississi|)iii, and you 
 will open n mine of wealtli to the siiippmg iiiteresl.s 
 and to the whole country, the extent and value of 
 which the most sanguine now umler-eslimate. Of 
 the advantages wliic.h we will derive fVom the Clii- 
 nisc and Asiatic trade, which will thus lie thrown 
 fi[ en to us, 1 can do no more than allude. Our prox- 
 imity to those ain'ient and densely pojiulated por- 
 tions irf the Old World — the nature ami exuberance 
 of our productions, whicli are ncM'es.sary to feed 
 their starving millions — will enable us to carry on 
 ;\ eomiiicrce with the people of those countries in 
 articles thiit will purchase their manufactures and 
 products at better profit than gold and silver. 
 
 I regr<;lled, sir, to hear a Ilepresentative from good 
 old Virginia — the State of \V ashiiigton and Jelfer- 
 son, the State whose uii|mralleled munificence has 
 
 •u with I'Vdera! halters arounil tlieir neck."." 
 FCentucky was setlli'd by Daniel IJooiie in 1773. 
 
 p;us 
 : the 
 
 of freedom — thus attack the men who are engaged 
 in that great work. Sir, the gentleman's cTiarge 
 of " cx|»alrintion" — " of siuipping recklesrly tlie 
 ties of blood and kindred and socialconnexioiis" — 
 applies with equal or greater force to the Pil- 
 grim fathers and to the early setders at James- 
 town in his own State, nnd to those of our nnce.i- 
 tors who branched off in difTerent directions from 
 these, the first pioneers to America. Has the gen- 
 tleman from Virginia so soon forgotten the process 
 by which and the sort of men by whom \\h own 
 noble old Coinmoh alth was jieopled — ay, sir, 
 how this whole continent has been settled.' The 
 first charter granted by King James, in 1(!00, to 
 Virginia, limitt^d the settlements to one hundreil 
 miles in the interior. In subsequent acts of n 
 similar character tlicse boundaries were somewhat 
 extended. But soon we find the authority of the 
 Crown interposed to prevent " llie restless and 
 wayward wanderers" of the "Old Doniinion" 
 from settling west of the Allediany mountains, 
 which proved, like the efTorts of our own Govern- 
 ment at a later jieriod, to be altogether u vain at- 
 tempt. To use the words of a celebrated writer, 
 " the ball of empire was rolling to the West," 
 and no power of any Governmeiu could check or 
 Ktay_ its progress. And it is a melanelioly fact, the 
 k'nicl: 
 
 western history, that the Oovrrnment of thrronn- 
 try — and I say ii with feelings of the dei'pecl mor- 
 tification — ha.s, to a very great extent, miinirested 
 towards the advancing jiioiicers of the West much 
 of that uiiiialural luisiifily and indiHerence which 
 the gentleuKui from Virginia has so lioldly pro- 
 claimed. A gl.ince at that history will attest tho 
 truth of what I s,\y, that the great work of extend- 
 ing the empire of this country has been flTcrltilhy 
 the /)f<)/)/( , in i>ii)msil\iin In the (liirtrnim nt. Yes, sir, 
 ly " men 
 \entuck; 
 
 This extraordinary man and his few noble and 
 adventurous companicuis occupied the " dark and 
 blo.')dy laud" in violali(Ui of the proclamation of 
 George III., issued ten years before, nnd defended 
 i' for sixteen liiiiir yiars with their own blmid and 
 treasure, nnd laid llie foundation of its present 
 high state of improvement lUid grandeur. Sir, 
 the reprfsenlalion of Roonc which is seen over tho 
 door of your Ilotunda opening into this Hall, is 
 truly emolemntic of tiie man and men by whom 
 the western country lias been settled. 
 
 Temies.sce was settled at a subsequent period, 
 contrary to the express order, both of thi.< Gov- 
 ernment and that of N(n-th Carolina; and I liclieve 
 it is a [Mirtion of the history of those times, that 
 Governor Sevier, a gentleman of great enterprise, 
 high integrity and honor, was even nuttiiirfd for 
 having the boldness to go beyond the limits na- 
 signed to the people by their Government. The 
 Tenncsseans, like the Kentuckinns, were hard 
 |)r(;ssed by the numeriuisand warlike Indinn tribes, 
 who then inhabited the country which now con- 
 stitutes their State. During twelve years of In- 
 dian warfare — from 17H0 to 1792 — with thi' merci- 
 less seulping-knife and war-club suspended over 
 the heads of their wives and children, they in vain 
 besought the I''ederal Government for help ond 
 protection, but none was nfTorded them; ana their 
 own expeditions against the Indians, who had at- 
 tacked their selllemeiits, were often recalled Ly 
 orders from the Government. In violation of the 
 commands of Congress, the brave and patriotic 
 Tenuesseans swam the river that gives name to 
 their State, threr-(piarters of a mile in width, in 
 the dead hour of night, shoving their arms before 
 them on rafts, and fought the battle of Nickajac, 
 memorable in Tennessee history for having given 
 permanent peace to their frontier settlements. This 
 campaign, I say, w-ns, in legal accepUition, a Inw- 
 lu.ss invasion on a friendly tribe of Indians, result- 
 ing from the rcfu.sal of» Congress, as the Journals 
 show, to furnish military ai([ for their defence. 
 
 Tho appropriate and eloquent allusion which 
 was made by my esteemed friend from Illinois, 
 [Mr. R. Smith,] to the gallantry, perscvenmcc, 
 and indomitable courage, tact, nnd skill, of that 
 greatest of all partisan warriors — George Rogers 
 Clark, who wns .so appropriately termed the 
 Hannibal of the West — renders it unnecessary 
 that I should attempt to add anything to what has 
 been said, and so well said by him, in regard to 
 the early history of Illinois. Nor need I repeat 
 the sufferings, privations, and dangers wliicli her 
 early settlers, unaided by the Federal Goiernment, 
 were compelled to encounter. This <Iuty has been 
 
 truth ol wliich is engraven ujioii every page of I performeil by my friend, the ever-fuithful and vtn- 
 
 7\ 
 
 ity 1 
 liful 
 
6 
 
 1. 
 
 tiring Rrprcsnilntivf! of the iliNlrirt which wns IliC 
 thiuli'c of ihe.si' I'liily oxploiln, ntid in which thiTf 
 arc many |)f:riioiiM now rcMidiiig who |mrtici])utL-d 
 in thcni. 
 
 A more recent cxnmplc in HflTordcd ub in the sct- 
 tlenii'iit of " Uuone'M Lick," tliefincHt, lairi'Ht,and 
 mpfit fertile pnrl of the niiij^niflccnt Stale of Mis- 
 Bouri. The HooneN, the CooperH, and many other 
 cnterpriMin^: individuals, advancing beyond the few 
 French and Spaniwh HclllcnientM that then dotted 
 the we.-*(ern whore of the MirisisHippi, Houf^ht the 
 district of country of whii'h 1 am Hueakin^, and 
 occupied it contrary to the wiNhes and authority of 
 this Qovrrnment, and defended tlieniHcivcs, but 
 not without the Iohs of many valuable lives, n^aiuNt 
 numerous attacks of powerful and hostile tribes of 
 Indians by whom they were surrounded. 
 
 Northern IllinoiH, Wisconsin, and Iowa, were 
 also settled under like circumstances. I may say 
 of my nearest relative, us was said of Governor 
 Sevier, he, too, was pronounced un outlaw l)y the 
 officers of the Qovernment. Tlie first official doc- 
 uments I ever remember to have heard read, were 
 read at my father's log cabin, by the officers and 
 agents of the United States, to himself and neigh- 
 bors, who had assembled to hear them. They 
 were mandates, commanding us in the name and 
 by the authority of" Uncle Sam," not exactly lo 
 disperse, but to withdraw from the country in 
 which we had then settled, under the general pains 
 and pcnal'.ics of the law in such ca.se made and 
 provided; but more particuliuly of expulsion at the 
 point of the bayonet. But, sir, we did not go. 
 We treated the officers with every civility in our 
 power, and informed them that any nOier order 
 they might issue, than one to abandon the prem- 
 ises upon which we had settled, should be proini)t- 
 Iv obeyed. Owing to our interior position, and 
 the rigors of the climate, at tlie time of which I 
 now speak, these settlers were not marched upon 
 by the regular soldiers, but muintained their posi- 
 tion. Many of them now own the land upon 
 ■which they were then squatters, and the country 
 is densely populated — the inlmbitonts hoving de- 
 fended it, through two Indian wars, are now indus- 
 triously engaged in developing its resources, both 
 agricultural and mineral. 
 
 Not so fortunate, however, were my immediate 
 constituents who settled iowa six years after- 
 wards. These hardy and adventurous men from 
 the east side of the Mississippi, who had lost the 
 entire spring and summer in defending themselves, 
 their wives and their children, (Vom the incursions 
 of Black Hawk and his followers, and who had 
 led the van in every encounter with those Indians, 
 sought to ex|)lore the rich mines and settle the val- 
 uable lands of Iowa. The power and arms of their 
 Government were immediately directed against 
 them; and I have now in my eye a gallant and 
 esteemed friend and talented Representative from 
 the State of Mi.ssissippi, [Jekkerson Davis,] who 
 was then an officer in the army, and at the head of 
 a military force, expelled some three hundred of 
 my constituents from the spot where now stands 
 the city of Dubuque, with a population of nearly 
 three thousand inhabitants. It was to my frientl 
 the performance of an unwelcome duty, kindly and 
 courteously executed by him, fur his sympathies 
 
 nrr all with the fiontier peoiilc.nnd I cnlf iilate most 
 certainly upon his vote anil inlliii iice lo grnni pre- 
 emption rights lo those whom he was Ihu ' coii- 
 Rtrained to drive from their honirs, anil of which 
 they have never yet had a:i o|ip(irtiinily lo become 
 till! purchaserH. [Mr. I>avis nodded assent.] 
 
 Tlie first settlers of Kiirlington (now one of the 
 largest towns north of St. Louis) were driven off, 
 and their houses thrown down and burnt by offi- 
 cers of the Goverinnent, although the country had 
 then been purchased, i)ut the treaty not yet rati- 
 fied: thus showing that the people must forever 
 await the lardy action of C!ongress. Similar Hc.enca 
 of opposition and persecution allcndcd the settle- 
 ment of the " Lovely Purchase" in Arkansas, the 
 " Platte Purchase" in Missouri, and, more recent- 
 ly, the Des Moines settlemcnis in Iowa. And so it 
 has ever been, that those holding authority, wheth- 
 er royal, imperial, and, I am sorry to aild, or re- 
 publican, all seem lo have taken upon themselves 
 the exclusive privilege of thinking for the people, 
 of checking the progress of population in one direc- 
 tion, and fixing lioundaries to it in another. Thin 
 disposition of Government has cheeked emigra- 
 tion; but, thank God, desjiite nil opposition, it has 
 rolled steadily onward unlil it has reached the Pacific 
 and the Rio del Norte, and Icjjislation being unable 
 to stop the career of the pcopit-, has slowly and re- 
 luctantly followed in their footsteps. 
 
 Sir, as I before said, the Oregon emigrants arc 
 but acting precisely upon Jie .same nrini'iple which 
 has directed the progress of population from the 
 time that oui' ancestors first lanilcil in Massachusetts 
 and Virginia, down to the date of the latest setlle- 
 mt.it on this side of the Rocky mountains: and if 
 Ihty he guilty, who are innocent? Sir, the Ameri- 
 can pioneer is impelled onward by the strongest 
 motives to human action — the consideration of Det- 
 tering his condition; and still more, that of benefit- 
 ing his children. And what, I ask, has been the re- 
 sult of this process of "expatriation" — this "snap- 
 ping recklessly the tics of blood and kindred, and 
 social connexions ?" It has brought into the Union 
 fifteen new States, with two more soon to follow, in 
 as])uceof lime covering but fifty-three years; and it 
 has increased the population from three to twenty- 
 five millions. What more, sir, has it done.' It 
 has reclaimed an almost boundless w ilderness from 
 the possession of savage beasts and still more 
 savage men, ond reduced it into fruitful fields and 
 cultivated lands. Carrying with them the Bible 
 and the plough — the two greatest civilizers of man- 
 kind — the pioneers in their westward march have 
 facilitated improvement and dispensed comfort, 
 happiness, and blessings around them. Sir, I envy 
 not the feelings of that man who regrets the trans- 
 formation of the extended and gloomy forest, or 
 the dull monotonoui prairie, which hide within 
 their bosoms all that is neces.sary to the subsist- 
 ence, comfort, and wealth of man, into a land 
 teeming with millions of enterprising freemen, in- 
 dustriously engaged in developing lis hidden re- 
 sources, and thereby making it the theatre of man's 
 highest destiny on earth ! 
 
 Sir, if ever there was a prayer, deep, solemn, earn- 
 est — if ever a supplication which should find an in- 
 slanlaneinis response in the hearts and acts of on 
 American Congress, it is that which was read at 
 
 « 
 
 I 
 
 ^il 
 
 your table, 
 from the An 
 of the Pacifi 
 and flesh ' 
 the jdighlc 
 choice, thai 
 fd over the 
 libend grai 
 na ihev are 
 ment io the 
 Mr. Clm 
 foundation 
 Pacific, is 
 In addition 
 the distanc 
 from the 
 Oregon 
 over whici 
 with numi 
 first sciili 
 tend with 
 daunted fi 
 pose can 
 children, t 
 sand, mall 
 cumstiuicc 
 Governnie 
 utes, wliic 
 try, have 
 time and 
 Qovcrnmt 
 an army o 
 marched 
 and, it is 
 fertile vail 
 one hundJ 
 the last yfl 
 Behold 
 burst into 
 constitutii 
 Shall it rt 
 by our st 
 cnce, lost 
 I speak 
 of th-. clu 
 dication ( 
 being ex 
 and unm 
 nia, and 
 Hint] fi 
 ler of till 
 Sir, I 
 tion, my 
 ulation a 
 be wanti 
 false to 
 and trai 
 was bor 
 cr, and 
 that pel 
 am now 
 as yet, 
 or othei 
 I ha^ 
 jurisdit 
 let my 
 under I 
 and re 
 
iiliiiomoKi 
 :,'i'nni pre- 
 Oiu ' I'dii- 
 I "f wliicli 
 Id lirr.oiiic 
 wilt,] 
 oik; of th(! 
 •Irivcii ofT, 
 rit by om- 
 uiitry hud 
 yet ruti- 
 ift forrvcr 
 iilar*',cn»'s 
 tlio Nctile- 
 
 nilMll.H, til,; 
 
 !•«' rercnt- 
 Aiid NO it 
 ty,wh('tli- 
 uil, or re- 
 lu'itisplves 
 people, 
 >iic dirrc- 
 Tliis 
 <l fmiffra- 
 ioii, it hns 
 itic I'acific 
 in;; iinahio 
 ly and re- 
 
 your lal)Io, nl an raily day of llir preneiU sfSBion, 
 from the Aincrii'aiicili/.ciiH now m'ttlid on llu; couHt 
 of liic I'licifir. Thcso pcoiilc, sir, "bono of our bone 
 and flesh of our flt^aii,' have gone tliitlicr under 
 the jili;,'htcd faith of tliiN, the aovcrnnienl of tlicir 
 choice, that the h^K'" of our hiws would be cxtcnil- 
 cd over thcin, forts liuilt for their protection, and 
 liberal graiiLt of land made to them. For, situated 
 ns^they are, these measurea arc of the utmuut mo- 
 ment to them. 
 
 Mr. Cliairmnn, to plant a colony «nd to lay the 
 foundation of a Stale or .States on the coast of the 
 Pacific, iH nn cntcrpriso of no ordinary character. 
 In addition to the natural dilficulties arisiiii; from 
 the distiinco which our emigrants have to travel 
 from the settled portions of the country to reach 
 Orcfjon — the wilaerness character of the region 
 over which they have to pas.s, infested as it is 
 with numerous and hostile tribes of Indians — the 
 first settlers of any country have always to con- 
 tend with innumerable obstacles, which only un- 
 daunted firmness of mind and constancy of pur- 
 pose can overcome. These men, women, and 
 rhildrei), to the number of from seven to ten thou- 
 sand, many of them in extremely indigent cir- 
 cumstiuiccs, unaided by the jiowerftil arm of their 
 Government, and in violation of its penal stat- 
 utes, which forbid them to enter the Indian coun- 
 try, have accomplished that which it has been 
 time and again asserted, on this floor, that the 
 Oovcriimcnt of the United Stales could not do with 
 nn army of paid and mounted soldiers. They have 
 marched to the Pacific, maintained themselves, 
 and, it is staled on good authority, raised, in tlic 
 fertile valleys of the Columbia and the Wullamcltc, 
 one hundred thousand bushels of su>7</i(s wheat, of 
 the last year's crop. 
 
 Behold the germ of a mighty empire which hns 
 burst into existence, as it were but yesterday, and 
 constituting an integral portion of our favorcif land ! 
 Shall it remain uncarea for — unprotected — and be, 
 by our studied neglect and cold-blooded indiflcr- 
 cnce, lost to us.' I trust not, sir. 
 
 I speak thus feelingly, Mr. Chairman, in support 
 of thi, claims of our settlers in Oregon and in vin- 
 dication of the characters of the western pioneer, 
 being excited to do so by the ungenerous sneers 
 and unmerited attack ot he gentleman fi-om Virgi- 
 nia, and also by the remarks of my friend [Mr. 
 Hint] from New York, on the "lawless" charac- 
 ter of tlie ft-onticr population. 
 
 Sir, I reiterate, that from sympatliy and associa- 
 tion, my feelings of attachment to the frontier pop- 
 ulation arc strong. Were they otherwise, I should 
 be wantinjr in the finer and better feelings of man, 
 false to all the obligations of duty ond gratitude, 
 and traitorous to the land of my nativity. For I 
 was born in a territory west of the Mississippi riv- 
 er, and have resided through my whole life amonij 
 that people who inhabit llic extreme frontier. I 
 am now thirty-four years of age, and have never, 
 as yet, had a voice in the election of a President 
 or other ofliccr higher than the one I now fill. 
 
 I have lived many years of my life without the 
 jurisdiction of magistrates or law ofany kind. Yet, 
 let my friend from New York know, that even 
 under these circumstances wc adiniiii.stcred justice 
 and rcspecU'd the laws of God. And I assure 
 
 him, ihnt had \\f Uc.t.n there, he would havr necn, 
 that although olficers and a penal code w<r( want- 
 ing, when a murder or other felony was ctunmil- 
 ted, a jury was cmpannclled, and if the axuscd 
 was fouiul guilty by his peers, agallows wan erect- 
 ed and he haiigi:d. Debts were colh^cled uii regu- 
 larly as they now are; and law, by the ccmmoii 
 consent of the people, was virtually enforced. 
 
 Mr. Chairman, comparisons arc said to bo 
 odious. I will not, therefore, attempt tn draw 
 any between the people of the old and new States, 
 however advantageous to the latter I may think 
 the contrast would be. Sir, Daniel Uoonc, of 
 wliimt I have before spoken, was tlie type — the 
 iinbodiment of all the marked characteristics of 
 the frontier men; and being so, I can with con- 
 fidence appeal from the character which tae gcn- 
 tleinim from Virginia [Mr. Pendleton] has given 
 them to the gcnci-al estimate which mankind nave 
 awarded to their great prototype. It was but u 
 few months since that a deputation of grateful 
 Kentuckians (amongst whom was the eloquent 
 John J. Crittenden, who did justice to his mem- 
 ory) visited Boone's humble grave in Missouri, 
 whence they bore his bones, to dcposite them in 
 the place of his early home — in the once " dark 
 and liloody land" of his younger days, now the 
 flourishing and populous Stiite of Kentucky. 
 
 Lord Byron, in speaking of Boone, in bis early 
 settlement in the West, says: 
 
 " Crime cniiiK not near liiin— »lic in not the cliilil 
 ormililiiilis Ik'IiIiIi r<liriiiik iiol rroni liiia— tor 
 ilcr liuiiiu ii ill tlie riui'ly Irotldeii wild. . 
 
 * * « * * 
 
 ill! nni not ull nlnne: nroiinil liiin grew 
 A H)liuu trilic orcliilclrrii of the I'lmnc, 
 
 WlioHii young, uawukcii'd world wiu evtT new. 
 
 » • • * * 
 
 And mil and Klron? nnd swin of loot wcrn Itiey, 
 Ucyoiid Ui^ dwarling i'ily'8 imli! iiliortioii!>. '^ 
 
 The prcwnl cnsc in point f 
 rite Is, ihnt Boone lived liiintini! up to ninety; 
 And wIml'H nIHI i<tniniier, let) heliind n nnnie — 
 
 t'oT n'liieh men viiinly deeiiniili! tlic tliroiii{, — 
 Not only ruiiioiin, but ot'tliut good I'niiie 
 
 Williuut wliieli glory '.H lull ii tnverii fong— 
 Simple, sereni', Ilie nnlipodes ofiilmme, 
 
 Wliieli lintv norenvy e'er could tinge with wrong. 
 
 Mr. Chairman, I know well the vast, the fearful 
 odds that I must encounter in shivering a lance 
 with the talented and eloquent gentleman from 
 South Carolina, [Mr. Woodwaud,] who has just 
 preceded me, ond whoso argumenti\tivc and im- 
 passioned speech, I admit, did honor lo his head, 
 nowcver erroneous I may nnd do believe his views 
 to be. That gentleman, after a sort of general in- 
 dictment of those whom he styles liis opponents 
 for their " declamation and interminable uiscourse 
 upon our title to Oregon," &c., asks, in a strain of 
 great apparent indignation, " Who, sir, denies that 
 ' wc have rights in Oregon, or that they must be 
 ' defended .' Who desires tlic country to fall into 
 ' the hands of the British.' Who is opposed to its 
 ' selllenient ? Who is not ready to vote all such 
 ' laws as may be essential to the well-being of our 
 'people there?" Sir, the gentleman from South 
 Carolina has not paid that attention to the de- 
 
 bate on Oregon iliat some others have, or he would 
 not have asked a// these questions. I know of no one 
 in cither IIou.sc of Congress who has asserted that 
 
8 
 
 we hnvr no " rights in Orrpfon," or whn lins ex- 
 prcHHrd tlic uIhIi ilmi itmt cininlry hIhuiM t'lill iiilo 
 the hiinilsiif llic llriliHli; but I do know, Kir, " who 
 nro o|)|)ohimI to its Mctllonicnt," anil " wlio nrr 
 not ready to vole Nurli InwH lis niMV It rvsrnliiil to 
 the wcll-lxiiif^ of our pioplo llicrc.^' Tlic two dis- 
 linpiiNlird Seniilors from llic i;i iitlcfniin'N own 
 Suite, [Mi'N^rs. C\i.iii>r.Vinul McDi riiK,| neiihrr, 
 as I understand, donlilinD^ the vnlidiiy of our lille, 
 luid one of lliein havini^ made u most roneltiMive 
 nri^umenl in iiH favor, nr<' liolh oppoNed to the set- 
 tlement of the territory in (piesiior and are not 
 ready to vole .siirh laws ns may he essential to the 
 well-hein^ of our people there, unless a " chnnre 
 has come o'er the spirit of iheir dreams," whieli, 
 I fear, is not the ease. They hoih spoke and voleil 
 ai^ainst Dr. Linn's hill, whieh made jirovision for 
 ihesc ihinijs, and ilid iint intrrfrrr irilli the r/iif.Wi«)i 
 of notice tit nil. One of them, I Mr. MenifFfK.) in 
 a speeeh delivered hut two sliort year.? .sinee on 
 the floor of the Senate, in si)eakuig of Oregon, 
 Haid : 
 
 " VVIiy, sir, nf wliiit iHo will it 1)0 fur ncririilliirnl piir- 
 pnnDi .' I wcinlil not, fnr ihni piirjiiixi', nivc ii piiicli <pf«iiiiir 
 i'lir the Hliiili' tcrrilory. I rhlt lo (lo<l ue ilid not nxni it ; I 
 wIhIi it wni* 111! iiii|iiii<;<iiMi^ harrier, to i<( riire iih uioiiiiHt Uie 
 nUriHion of iillicrM. Who are wl* Ki send iliire.' Ilo yon 
 think your holiest rnriibrri in rcniisylvanii. New Vork, or 
 evpn Ohio or Mi'sonri, will iihamloa ilipir liiriim to go n|M)n 
 any Hiii'h I'litirprise an lliir^.' (<o(l I'oiliiil. I'any iniin who 
 IH to Kii to that coaiilry miiiIit thi^ liiaptaiions ol' iliiH hill, 
 WHS my eliilil— if lie wan iia honewt nail !iiilnstriiaiN inun — I 
 would i-ny to him, Foi 'iod'n Haki',ilo not RoiliiTe; yon will 
 not better your conilition; yon will exehiiime the <'oiiirortH of 
 home, mill the liiippiiii'sH of nvili/.id lil'r, tiir the paiiiH and 
 |ierilH of a prceaiions I'vimniee. lint if I had n koii whose 
 I'ondnirt iiiaili' hiiii a lit xalijeet lor llotany Ray, I wiiiild xiiy. 
 In the nniiie of(>od.i.'o. This is my I'stinmlvof the iiiiport- 
 aiice of the mllleinenl."' 
 
 Lnnguace sueh ns llii>', sir, and cominp; from a 
 source NO distinguished, and followed up, as it lias 
 been, by the o]iposilion of South Carolina to this 
 question, in almost every shaiie in which it ha.s 
 made its at)pcarance, may serve to account for 
 some of the notices that have been taken of the 
 course of her Rcnrescntative.s in both Houses of 
 Congress, and inmcr which the gcutleniun and !ii.j 
 '•ollcagiics seem to be so restive. 
 
 Nothing was done, says the gentleman from 
 South Carolina, throughout five Adiniiiistrations, 
 towards abrogating this eonvonlion; and whilst he 
 eachews, in j'art, tlie policy of masterly inactivity, 
 which, he says, it has suited the purpo.ses of gen- 
 tlemen to rcpicscnt as a "mitli Carolina scheme, 
 he remarks, " I am proud to be able to say, that 
 ' there is no other difl'crenec between General jack- 
 ' son and ourselves, on this subject, than this: while 
 ' lie was not only unwilling togive the notice liini- 
 ' self, but oppo.sed, also, to the enactment of any 
 ' laws for Oregon which might induce Great Brit- 
 ' ain to give the notice, we arc opooscd to .lotice 
 ' only, find are in favor of laws; wliile he declined 
 ' both to give notice or to take the risk of receiving 
 ' it, we are prcjiarcd to take that risk." 
 
 1 was rejoiced to hear the gentleman say that he 
 was prepared to take the risk of exlending our 
 laws over Oregon — for this is, in fact, the kernel 
 of the whole matter. His sincerity and willing- 
 ness to do what he has avowed, 1 doubt not; and I 
 hope that the term "ourselves," is intended to em- 
 brace, not only his colleagues on this floor, but 
 
 those in the other wing of ihis f'apilol, whose volCH 
 are so highly essential, but I fear will never ho 
 given, for any measure looking to the oerupation 
 and selllemeiit of Oregon. Hut let us see if the gen- 
 llemiin and hii colleagues are enlilled to the credit 
 of being as good Oregon men as General .Tackson 
 was. He says that ihe Jackson ]iarly of IHiirt 
 voled down the bill of (Jovenior Floyd. 1 do not 
 know, sir, how this may be, ns I have no nuaiis of 
 arriving at the [lolitical opinions of those who gave 
 that vote, which was certainly not a inirty vote. 
 Hul, sir, going back to a pniod of time several 
 years anterior to that of which he s])eaks, I find 
 that oil the Ist of M.irch, |H2"), General Jackson 
 voted in the Senate of Ihe United States for a bill 
 Inking military possession of Oregon; establi.shing 
 a custoin-liou.se at the moulh of the Columbia, and 
 a territorial government, ns soon as a census, which 
 it was proposed to be taken, should show that 
 there were two (honsand inhabitants in the terri- 
 torj Ihit, says the geiitleman, the Jlilminhtriitinnfi 
 of General Jackson and Mr. Van nureii jnirsued 
 the policy to which South f'arolina now adheres, 
 and nothing v.as said in condemnation of its wis- 
 j liomand propriety; but suddenly there is a tremen- 
 dous excitement which has sprung up in regard to 
 I Oregon. The vote of General Jackson, lo which I 
 I have referred, and his whole pidicy in regard to 
 the acquisition of territory, and his known devo- 
 ' tion, which was equally entertained by ATr. Van 
 ! Ituren, to the western pioneer, forbid a doubt as 
 I to what were their views on this (picstion. Hut 
 why, sir, did not these illustrious men move in this 
 mailer? Why did they not feel some of that ex- 
 citement which now animates the great American 
 heart.' It was because there was not at that time 
 an American settler in Oregon; and now, sir, there 
 are from m vcn to ten thousand, imploring protec- 
 tion upon our own soil, against a powerllil, over- 
 bearing, and murderous Hritish Company — I mean 
 the Hudson's Bay Company — which, in the last 
 twenty-five years, has incited the numerous fierce 
 and warliki^ savages of the mountains to kill and 
 scalp from eight liundred to a thousand American 
 citizens, lawfully engaged in pursuing the Indian 
 trade. But, sir, I will give a further answer to iho 
 gentleman's question, by asking him one, which I 
 think is in point. Why did not General Jackson, 
 as President, when the gallant younj' republic of 
 Texas had risen in her strength, and thrown off 
 the shackles of the dictator, .Santa Anna, who had 
 tram]dcd her constitution under his feet, and forced 
 her people to assert their independence, which, 
 with their own good rifles they achieved, and af- 
 terwards asked to be admitted into the American 
 Union ; — why, I ask, did he not favorably re- 
 ceive their application and recommend their admis- 
 sion ? Can anyone doubt that his feelings and 
 sympathies, then warmly aroused by the cruel and 
 atrocious manner in which the Mexicans had eon- 
 ducted the war, were on the side of Texas and her 
 admission ? I answer, none will dare to do so; and 
 yet he did nothing to favor it, and actually declined 
 her advances ! Who can doubt that his course in 
 this matter was influenced by a desire to let public 
 sentiment act upon the question .' His subsequent 
 course furnishes the answer and the proof. 
 Sir, I am not one of tlio.sc who believe in the po- 
 
9 
 
 (>i 
 
 wlicmo voipd 
 ill iii'Vfr l)c 
 "•;u|)nlii)ii 
 i('llir;;(<n- 
 ti> llic rrrdit 
 
 I'll .Tii('|<8on 
 fly .,r 1838 
 I' 1 do not 
 •III iiuatis of 
 >•('. mIk) tjnvc 
 J"irly votn. 
 line Hcvcral 
 •wiks, I find 
 ml JurkNon 
 H for II hill 
 <Nlnl)li.sliinpf 
 liiiiiliiii, and 
 iiNiiN, which 
 nIiow tlint 
 II the trrri- 
 niiihlrntinns 
 ri'ri jiiirHiicd 
 )\v niihrrPH, 
 of iiN wis- 
 IH M Iromrn- 
 n rr!,"ird to 
 to which I 
 rc;,'iird to 
 own (Irvo- 
 y I\fr. Van 
 II ilouht aa 
 iiion. Rut 
 lovc in ihi.s 
 if that cx- 
 Amcriran 
 \i that lime 
 '. «ir, there 
 in;; proleo- 
 ■idil, ovcr- 
 y — I moan 
 in tho last 
 ron.s ficrno 
 1" kill and 
 Amrrican 
 tlie Indian 
 werto the 
 f, which I 
 1 Jackson, , 
 npublic, of 
 lirown ofT 
 I who had 
 ind forced . 
 ^, which, 
 d, and af- , 
 American 
 rably rc- 
 'ir admifi- 
 linijs and 
 cnie! and 
 lind con- 
 s and her 
 
 so; and 
 ■ declined 
 course in 
 et public 
 bscqucnt 
 
 1 tlic po- 
 
 tcnry of Prf«idenlR — crrat nnd mJKlity n» wnd the 
 one of whom I am now Kpenkini; — or CabinetH, or 
 Coii:;re»srH, to Nclllr ijri'iil ([ueMlions of thiM c liar- 
 aclcr, only no far an Ihcy n-flcci or iii(! Iiackcd by 
 the will of ihc pi'oiilc. Sir, we hnvo had (ji'min- 
 cialioti.H from ihr VVlii(; Hide of tluH Hoii:<i! loud, 
 ImiL', and Ntiong, aj^ainHt the rcMoliilion adopted by 
 llie Di'iuocratic. convention iM (tnllimore in iiivor of 
 (lie renniiexalion of 'rexiiH and thu rencciipalion of 
 Orej;(Mi. 'I'he Democratic party has been charged 
 with drat'^in^ our foreij;n relations into llie laic 
 PreHidential ele('lion,for party |iurpo8e.s,&c. Now, 
 sir, I waH proud of that "solution, and rei^arded 
 ilH inlroduction and adopii.in an hiijhl; proper; nnd 
 I will lell ;,'enllemen, if they u'ive the i UcMlion now 
 before, uh tho (^o-hy, that they will lind at the 
 nexl I'reKidential elci:tion, not Uemoci it« <inly, but 
 Whi^H rem)lvinij in favor of On ?on. No man or 
 parly will lie able to make even u decent race be- 
 fore the people of ihis country unle.iH his and their 
 viewp on thia (pieMlion are known to be in favor of 
 Ore^;on — the wliole of Oregon. 
 
 Sir, ns 1 havi; before wiid, Texas was repul.Hed 
 even by O'd Hickory oiid a Democratic IIouhu and 
 .Senii '• •' li (I, in lH37,Nlie first a.sked ailiiii.''sion,and 
 that, too, nAcr aho hud plaiilcd the tree of Amer- 
 ican liberty so deep in her luxuriant Noil, and 
 inoiNtencd it ho thoroujiihly with the blood of 'I'r.iv- 
 In, and ('rockeit, nnd Fannin, and a thouNand 
 otherH, that its life and growth waN beyond the 
 poNsibility of 'i doubt, l!ut, nir, look at the part 
 which this same immortal man acted in reference 
 lo ihis very (|ueNtion at a sulisequent time. What 
 Democrat, at li'asi, Iuik forgotten the pleasure with 
 which he read, duriiii? liie lute I'resideiilial eanvuss, 
 each HucccNsive letter written by Andrew Jackson 
 from the Hermilni^e in favor of the admi.saion of 
 Texas? These were documents not emmiutinj; 
 from him as President, but as i\ citizen of Tenncs- 
 Nce, a voter of this proud Republic. Nor, sir, in 
 rousinu; up the noble apiri'. uf his coiinlrynien to 
 thwart and circumvent the desif^nNof Kiiiilish diplo- 
 macy upon the important portion of the Valley of 
 the Mississippi of which I am Npeakinp:, did he for- 
 t;et to admonish them of the necessity of lookiiifr lo 
 our rights on the Pacific, which he said \\t\ should 
 nuiiiilain at the camion's mouth. (lis patriotism 
 knew no Ixninds. Western soil was as dear and 
 precious to him aa .southern, or northern, or east- 
 I rn. Texas annexation and admission has been 
 Iriumplianlly nnd happily coiiHunimatcd; and I tell 
 ijentlemen, that nothing had so fi^rcnt an influence 
 in carrying tliat question as the fixed delerminalion 
 of the American people to resist British rapacity 
 and Ib'itish domination upon this continent, 
 
 Mr. (,'hairman, I ani not one of those who be- 
 lieve, or would insinuate, that tliere wns a barpnin, 
 as some have alleged, between the respective fnends 
 of Oregon and Texas, that they were lo be carried 
 pari pax.iu; for as has been truly saiil by some gen- 
 llemen from the West, we went for Texas because 
 we wished to see her in the Union, and believed 
 ihat it was right that she should hi; admitted. IJiit, 
 sir, I remember well when western members came 
 here, in 1844, full of hope that with their iniTeased 
 strength under the new a]iportionment, (Dr. Linn 's 
 Oregon bill having passed the Senate, nnd been 
 lost ill this lluuae, at the preceding session.) they 
 
 would be enabled to cnrry tliis, tliejr darling mcn«- 
 lire, without doubt, 
 
 A member from Missiniri [Mr, TTi r^liF.n] offered 
 a ."Holulion, "declaring it as the oninion of ihi^ 
 ' Ilou.se, that we had a clcur and iMilispulnble title 
 ' to llie whole rif Oregon, nnd lluu il Wiis the duly 
 'of Ooveniment lo lake possesHion of ils territory 
 ' on ihe norihwesi coast, &c." And a geiiilemnn 
 from Georgia, (Mr. Ui,a(I(,| dislingiiished for his 
 zeal in support of the re aniiexalion of 'I'lXas, im- 
 mediately moved, as an amendment, " that it was 
 'expedient, and conducive lo the best iuleresla of 
 ' the country, that Texiei should be re-:iniiexed ns 
 ' soon as it could be accdnipiislud upon fair ami 
 ' legilimale principles;'' which wns accepted by tin; 
 mover of tho oricinal resolution, I'Vom ihal liim! 
 on to the niee'oig of ihe Rallimore convention, in 
 which the suor :s were again united, as they wern 
 throughout til bole Pri^.^idenlial canvass, il 
 seemed to me Ih c there was a union and common 
 undersiandii. I" .ween the friends of each, which 
 could no, Iiut be Mghly conducive to the success 
 of bot' . 
 
 Mr. Olmirmnn, by v;\y of consolation to gomo 
 gcnilcmen, who seem to nave gotlen into rather an 
 awkward po ilioi. upon Ihis (lUesiiMii, and who 
 are very reuive under tiie dread of the applii'ntion 
 of parly sere v.':, I ask them to call to their rccol- 
 lecliont ihe manner in which a preemineiilly dis- 
 tinguished menibir of Ihe Democralic. parly [Col. 
 Ukntos) was a.s.sailed during the last Congress for 
 his course on the Texas (|iiestion. All 'he liell- 
 hoi.nds of parly were let loose upon him. Not 
 becaii.se he was opposed lo the measure — for he 
 had been ils earliest friend, iiid h.nd invoked Ihe 
 curses c. Heav. ii, as far ba<'k as If^'JO, upon the 
 heads of Ihe men who had consented, by the trea- 
 ty of 1819, lo dismeml'cr the valley if the Mis- 
 sissippi; l)ut to the part'iruliir form in which it then 
 came before Congress; or, in oilier words, to the 
 Tyli r treaty. Yes, sir, "Old l>ullion," who, from 
 time whereof llie memory of man rMinieth not lo 
 the contrary, had been Ihe very Ajax Telamon of 
 till' Democratic parly, was lo be read out of il, for 
 daring to prefer one mode of doing Ihe thing to ano- 
 ther; and from no porli(m of the country were tlicso 
 denuiKiialions against him more fierce or intolerant 
 than froni South Caridiiia. All who were here re- 
 member the manner in which he was from day to 
 day assaulted by a jmper ("The Spectator") under- 
 stood to be llie South Carolina organ at the seat of 
 Goverinnent; and also, Ihe uttempl that was mado 
 in the other end of the Capitol, by one of the Sen- 
 ators from that Slate [Mr. McDuflie] lo read him 
 out of the party, in consequence of his [Col. Ren- 
 ton's] non-adherence, as was alleged, to llie Balti- 
 more resolutions in favor of Texas. All this, 
 mark you, sir, wos the consequence of objection.-! 
 to tho particular form in which the subject was 
 then presenteil; for he, (Benton,) when it came up 
 in another shniie, spoke and voted in favor of the 
 measure. 
 
 Mr. Chairman, I have been astonished, in look- 
 ing at the debates upon this question, lo see the 
 manner in which the some ground has been trav- 
 elled over and over again, from 1890, tho lime at 
 which Governor Floyd, that pioneer in the Oregim 
 movcmeni, first brought forward his bill, to the 
 
10 
 
 nroscnt. Wliy, sir, a oomjini-ison of Floyd's 
 bill, with Ihe discussions upon it, and tlie bills and 
 discussions of the present duy.sliow that we have 
 not only not been progressive upon this ciuestion, 
 but that we have actually retrograded ; and all, sir, 
 nil owing to our dread of giving oflfence to Great 
 Britain. As I liave before stated, Floyd's bill (a 
 copy of which I now hold in my hand) provided 
 for taking military possession of the country, es- 
 tablishing a custom-house at the mouth of the Co- 
 lumbia, and a territorial Government, as soon as 
 there were two thousand inhabitants, (there being 
 at that time none,) over whom it was to operate. 
 
 The far-seeing and enthusiastic Doctor Floyd, 
 though regarded as visionary by some, and by oth- 
 ers as a bold projector, continued for ten long years, 
 (from 1820 to ISaO,) to press upon Congress, at each 
 successive session, this his favorite measure; and 
 though often defeated, he liad the satisfaction, to- 
 wards the close of his Congressional career, to see 
 his bill passed by this House by yeas 111, nays 58. 
 And it is rather a singular coincidence that a gentle- 
 man of the same profession, (Dr. Linn,) who came 
 into the Senate years after Dr. Floyd had left this 
 body, should have taken up the same subject, press- 
 el it with ihc same untiring ardor and zeal on the 
 attention of tlie Senate for the same length of time, 
 and to precisely the same result—its triumphant 
 passage through the Senate. But, sir, wliat is most 
 mortifying to me is the fact, now staring us in the 
 face, that no such bill as either Floyd 's or Linn 's can 
 now be passed through either branch of Congress, 
 and we are almost afraid to give the sim|)le and 
 peaceful notice itself. How altered is the voice 
 which now comes fr-ra the "Old Dominion" to 
 that which \yas spoken by Floyd, to whose mem- 
 ory, in consideration of his early and constant de- 
 votion to their section of the country, I trust the 
 people of Oregon will erect a monument. [Mr. 
 
 i: 
 
 '•^cKLiv, of Illinois, spoke out and said: "They 
 should call their seat of goverimienl after him."] 
 Yes, sir, or name one of their States in honor of 
 him. 
 
 But, sir, it is not the voice of Virginia only on 
 this question that is now changed. I find that, in 
 January, 1823, even little Vermont, the " Green 
 Mountain" State, was willing to look "John Bull" 
 full in the eye. Yes, sir, williii- and anxious to 
 maintain the great interests of the country, and 
 especially to look after the Jislting interests in the 
 direction of Oregon. Twenty-three years ago, in 
 the discussion of this bill in this House: 
 
 " Mr. Miillaty, of Vermont, said, he was opposed to tlie 
 proposed amciidnient. He tlioiiu'lit tliat Coni;r(!ss should 
 tal<e tlie responsibility of ilirocting the occuiiation of the 
 territory, and not place it on the President. It was not to 
 be supposed the President liad more information than is in 
 possession of tlie House. It would he very extraordinary 
 that tins measure should he siill'ered to progress for weeks, 
 and yet some di'ep reimons of Slate should remain undis- 
 covered. For one, Mr. M. said, he was willing to meet the 
 proper responsibility of his station, and not cast it olTon any 
 other department. He wished an occupation, by military 
 force only, with some encouragement to settlers. The es"- 
 tahlishmcnt of a civil governnieni was unnecessary until 
 tliere were people over whom it might be exercised. ■• * 
 As it respects the occupation of the territory in iiuestion, 
 Mr. M. said he was decidedly in its favor. 'J'lie advaiilnaes 
 it would atl'ord to the fisheries, to commerce, and to the fur 
 trade, had been most clearly shown. We are at peace with 
 the world. Our means are abunilunt. Should we be here- 
 after engaged in war, a place of uecuiity would be provided 
 
 for the millinnn of property we should have on the Pacific. 
 Some ttiouglit tlie. ineasiirc visionary— f)o hazardous lor 
 Americans to undertake. Uow olleii arc we reminded of 
 American enterprise .' It is made a eonslant boast ; and yet 
 we appear to be alarmed at tlie idea of occupying our own 
 domain ! The smalleat nation of Kurope would not fear 
 the undertaking ; yet wc are fearful it is beyond our power. 
 Portugal, small as she was, did not hesitate to plain her 
 colonies in every part of tlic world. Russia, with her capi- 
 uil in the centre of Europe, enclosed with walla of ice one 
 half of the' year, extends her colonies and comnicrce to 
 every continent ; and yet, with all our enterprise, we dare 
 not venture beyond the Rocky mountains. This subject 
 occupies tt great share of public attention ; it is anxiously 
 looked flir; the interest and enterprise of the nation reiiuires 
 the adoption of the proposed measures. * • • » 
 " Mr. M. said his feelings were not much excited by the 
 subject. The passage of this measure would secure the 
 possession of that portion of our ilominioii to ourselves, 
 and prevent on eucroaehmcnt upon it by others." 
 
 1 especially commend the extract which I have 
 read from the admirable and statesman-like speech 
 of Mr. Mallary to the consideration of the present 
 Representatives from Vermont, and especially to 
 the gentleman [Mr. Foot] who discoursed so elo- 
 quently last evening in opposition to the " notice," 
 and so vividly held up before us the horrors of 
 war with which it would seem he apprehends we 
 are soon to be visited, unless we " lay low and 
 keep dark." 
 
 This discussion, mai-k you, Mr. Clmirman, was 
 in 1823, but five years after tlie treaty of joint oc- 
 cupancy had been entered into, and to show that 
 Great Britain had no claim at that time to the soil 
 or jurisdiction of Oregon; and that the convention 
 of 1818 was only designed to confer upon her some 
 commercial privileges, such as the navigation of 
 the waters, trading with the natives, die. 1 find 
 that none of tlwse who then opposed the bill of Dr. 
 Floyd, did so or\, the frrotmds of interference with 
 lirilish rights in any shape. Mr. Tracy, of New 
 York, made a long and able speech in opposition 
 to it, (Vom which 1 will read an extract to prove 
 what I have said, and I ask the especial attention 
 of gentlemen to it, that it may be seen how the 
 opponents of Oregon have shifted their ground: 
 
 " He believed that he should succeed in satisfjmg the 
 House that there was connected with tliis scheme no objects 
 of national advantage which would justify tlie very consid- 
 erable expense which cxiieriincnts must occasion ; and that 
 the country generally, but peculiarly the mouth of the Co- 
 lumbia, atroriled none of those attractions with whieii tlie 
 fancy of the gentleman had decorated it. Hut, said Mr. T., 
 if I had not thought that this measure involved coiiseipiences 
 of more importance than tlie useless waste of a few tlioiisaiid 
 of dollars, however Utopian Ihc views of its advocates might 
 have appeared to me, I should have rested my opposition on 
 a silent vote against it; but it docs seem to ine that tliis bill 
 involves a principle of great national consequcnce^a prin- 
 ciple which he was sure this House was not prejiarcd to es- 
 tablish, without, at least, pausing to reflect on its nature and 
 importance i I allude, said Mr. T.. to the principle of colo- 
 nization which is contained in the liill. • * » » 
 
 "IMihtary posts should be placid for the purpose of pro- 
 tecting an existing frontier popiibilion, but not for the pur- 
 pose of attracting our popiilaticm loan expose:! sitiiatiiui. Itn 
 natural tendency is to diffuse. Its limits are already suf- 
 ficiently large ; as it beeonu's more ileiisc it will i^xtend 
 them ; Imt ll is not Uie true policy of tlie Uoverniiient to invite 
 it-s dispersion. •♦»*«•»♦• 
 
 " Another important inducement which Is urged for the 
 ■idoplionof this measure is the influence which aseltlement 
 on the coast would have to ipiiet l\\(: prepostrrniis claims, 
 and jircvent the dangerous (^ncroaihments of the Uu.ssian 
 Government. The gentleman had dwelt much on the ex- 
 travagant and ridiculous pretensicms which had been ad- 
 vanced by the Russian Minister, in his correspondence with 
 our Guvernnicnt on tlie subject of thii comitr/. Mr, T. 
 
11 
 
 inid thiit tic liolipvi il no (rpnilrinnn r.iuld ontortain nsoiioiis 
 appri'hrnhinn tlint llio Kin|H'ror of Itiissia Imcl fver tliiiimlit i 
 of <'nf*>rciiii( tliopc protcnsiiiiiH. Ili' bi'lii-ved llioy wori; tlio I 
 alistrnut apcriilnlioiis (if n (liplDiniitiHt, who had iin object in 
 prcsi'iitinx tliciii liiit to niiiiiso liin iiiaiitcr by bis iiiKcniiity, 
 aad to Kliow liiH ou ii ndroitiic8H in dcl'rndini; lUnciru! titli^s 
 to wild and unoccnpit'd territory. ■ * * Any Hti-p whicli lie 
 eliiill take to eniorve this moHt absurd and unjust preten- 
 tion, ran be rPKarditd as nntliinij leas than an uel of direct 
 hostility a^tninst us; but it will be an act which a pitil'ul 
 pirrison at the mouth ol the ('olumbia can neitlier avert 
 nor avence. »»•»•• «•• 
 '< Mr. T. said lie waa ready to admit Hint neither Kiie- 
 land, Spain, nor Kussin, bad the riulit, or probably would 
 have till' dispotiition, to complain of the nieasiire. Hut he 
 was sorry that bis colleiiKue had forgotten, that nlthiMi);li 
 neither of these nations had a riifht to objecl, there was a 
 peo|)le who had : he alluded to the present iiiliahitiints and 
 true proprietors of the country. The Indians of tliiit const, 
 he had heard, were numerous and warlike, and he did not 
 believe they would regard with complacency a military es- 
 tablishment nmouR them, lie had no doubt but it would 
 involve us in i. war with tliem." 
 
 Thus, sir, in 1823, red skins were held up to 
 frighten us from llie occupaliou of Oregon — now, 
 red jackets. 
 
 Sir, it lias been .said, in many portions of the coun- 
 try, and broadly intimated at the rommenccment 
 of this debate, tlmta;entlcmen from the We.st were 
 anxious for the adoption of thi.s nofire, because, 
 if war .should bu its resulting conserjuence, they 
 would be out of all danger, and would have ilii: 
 opportunity of growing rich upon the mi.sfortunes 
 of their country. 1 repel the charge. I repel it, 
 a.s being myself n western man, and a native of 
 the Stale of Mi.s.souri. When and v'icre luis il 
 happened in the hislnry of this country, thai l"'r 
 rights have ever been assailed, and her soil threat- 
 ened by an invader, thai the men of the West have 
 not come to the rescue, and pmired out their blood 
 like water in the nation ".s defence? 1 ask gcnilo- 
 nicn, wlio put forth a charge .so unfounded, to call 
 to mind the events of the last war with Great Brit- 
 ain, niid those of the Florida war. Sir, Richard 
 H. Gentry, of Kentucky, then a citizen of iVlis- 
 souri, who had stood side l)y side with Colo- 
 nel Kichard M. Johnson nl the bailie of the 
 Thames, uijon nn intiinalion that their services 
 were needed, rallied around him a regiment of gal- 
 lant volunteers, and marched fnini the confines of 
 Missouri to the swanijis and fasliiess.is of Florida, 
 I lieu tlio llicalrc of savage warfare in all ils hor- 
 rors. I ask genllcmcn to remember how that man 
 and his brave followers bore themselves in the bat- 
 lie of Okcec'iober, fought in Florida on the 25th 
 of December, |Kt7. Sir, they marched upon the 
 enemy, who, though concealed from view, were 
 known to b. strongly posted and lying in wait to 
 deli Viu- a deadly fire upon tiie advancing column. 
 At the head of that cdlumn, sir, with, his face lo 
 the enemy, an.l animaliiighis men on lo the charge, 
 the heroic and lamcnlid Gentry fell, jierfornted with 
 bullets, in the arms of death, one-sixth of his en- 
 tire comm.and being either killed or wounded. 
 Among the latter was his son, (Harrison Gentry,) 
 whose conduct, like that of hi.s sire, is so honora- 
 i)ly iTientioiii'd in a public order of the brave ami 
 just old General Gaines. Sir, do fiicis like these 
 t'lnnisii no eviilencc that,. should w.ir come, genlle- 
 nirn would find the people of ihe Wesl by their 
 :iile whenever it was iei|uired to present a iVont to 
 ilie foe. Sir, to defend ourselves against an accu- 
 
 sation sn monstrous, wc can appeal to the battle- 
 fields of the Ilaisi.i, the Thames, of Now Orleans, 
 and to the bones of the Mis.sourians — once my 
 friends and neighbors — scattered through the 
 hammocks and everglades of Fit rida: they attest 
 our fidelity to the Union and to every portion 
 of it. 
 
 Sir, an insinuation was thrown out here by 
 a gentleman from South Carolina, [Mr. Riiett,] 
 that the demand to maintain the national honor 
 came with a bad gi,ii-e from men who, in private 
 life, did not themselves recognise the binding force 
 of lionor's code; and who would condemn to a 
 felon's grave the man who, in private combat, de- 
 fended his honor. 
 
 [Mr. Hoi.MEs hero interpDscd. He said his 
 colleague was not present, hut it was due to 
 him lo say, that that gentleman never had meant 
 to insinuate that gentlemen in the West did not 
 recognise tlie laws of honor to their fullest extent. 
 Mr. H. had found the same feeling on that subject 
 in the West which prevailed in the South; nnd it 
 was of as much strength there, aa anywhere else, 
 in the country.] 
 
 I do not know what scope the gentleman in- 
 tended his remarks to liave; as I understood him, 
 they embraced the West. And I am glad, on 
 account of the jiersonal respect which I have 
 always enlerlained for him, to hear this disclaim- 
 er from his colleague. 1 did not, of course, 
 understand the reinurk as having any nersonal 
 application to me. or il would never have been no- 
 ticed here; and 1 had only this to say, that, whilst 
 I do not esteem il a matter to be boasted of, there 
 are some portions of the Wesl in which as much 
 chivalry, even of this sort, has been displayed as 
 in any part of the world. And if duels be the 
 proof, I have yet to hear of the spot upon which 
 more of them' have been fought — closer, better 
 fought — than upon " Hloody Island,'' in Illinois, 
 opposile lo the city of St. Louis. 
 
 Mr. Chairman, so fitr as my constituents and 
 myself arc concerned, I can truly say, that we 
 have ever entertained and cherished towards the 
 southern section of the Union, feelings of the most 
 friendly description. My associations with south- 
 ern gentlemen here and elsewhere, have been of 
 the UK (..easing character. Opposition to this 
 measuie, in whii-h I feel so much interest, comes 
 from the JN'orth as well as the South. I cast no 
 imputation on those who oppose il — they act un- 
 der the responsibility that they owe to their con- 
 .slihients and country, and, I iloubt not, ^onceive 
 Ihey are doing their duty. I trust they will award 
 to us the same integrity of purpose, and will not, 
 as rumor, with her thousand tongues, has done, 
 altribu'e our cour.se, on this occasion, lo a mere 
 disgracelul .scramble for the Presidency. Sir, wc 
 scout and trample the insimialion under our feet. 
 
 Hut justice should be done here to a dislin- 
 guishcd statesman from the West, [Mr. Benton;] 
 portions of whose early speeches in support of our 
 rights on 'the Pacific 1 was astonished to hear 
 ipioled by gentlemen opposed to Oregon. When 
 lliat emiiieiil man .said lliat the god Terminus had 
 planled his foot on the top of the Rocky moun- 
 tains, as a limit lo the boundaries of our Republic 
 on the Wt.sl, it should be remembered that the 
 
12 
 
 lU'i-cat " South Piiss" througli iliose mountains lind 
 not then liccn discovered; tli;it distiince lind not 
 then been aniiiliilated by the npplicntion of steam. 
 Sir, that man's pen was enijiloycd, even before his 
 entrance into public life, in pointing out tlic im- 
 mense vnhie of our possessions on tiie northwest 
 c:)ast, and the blessings and benefits that would 
 result to our Government and people fi-oni its 
 occupancy and settlement. His first speeches on 
 entering the Senate were made in vindication of 
 our title, which, in his masterly manner of argu- 
 ment, he cstnWiahed beyond all doubt. He did 
 
 more, sir. Having jirovcd our title to bo " clear 
 and unquestionable," he said that we were ac- 
 countable that republican and not monarchical in- 
 stitutions .should bo iilantcd upon it; and with that 
 sagacity for which he is so remarkable, he pre- 
 dicted, twenty-five years ago, that unless we acted 
 promptly and efficiently, \ve would have to fight 
 the British for the mouth of the Columbia. A^nd 
 to show how far he was in advance r.'the men of 
 that time, both his colleagues [Mes.srs. Barton and 
 Bates] spoke and voted against Oregon , 
 
> bo "clear 
 c were nc- 
 nrchirn! in- 
 (1 with that 
 Ac, he pre- 
 ss we acted 
 we to fight 
 nbia. And 
 the men of 
 Burton and