^>.

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

.«?'.^

4
^

I I.I

11.25

l^|2£ |25

|50 "^™ B^K

Sf lio 111112.0

12.2

1.4 IIIIII.6

'»'

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. M580

(716) 872-4503

CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.

Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques

Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques

The Institute has attempted to obtain the best
original copy available for filming. Features of this
copy which may be bibliographlcally unique,
which may alter any of the images in the
reproduction, or which may significantly change
the usual method of filming, are checked below.

Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur

I I Covers damaged/

Couverture endommagie

Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaur6e et/ou pellicul6e

Cover title missing/

Le titre de couverture manque

Coloured maps/

Cartes g6ographiques en couleur

Coloured init (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bieue ou noire)

Coloured plates and/or illustrations/
Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur

Bound with other material/
ReliA avec d'autres documents

Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion
along interior margin/

La reliure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distortion le long de la marge int6rieure

Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possible, these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout6es
lors d'une rastauration apparaissent dans le texte,
mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas Ati filmies.

Additional comments:/
Commentaires supplimentaires;

L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a 6ti possible de se procurer. Les details
de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du
point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier
une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une
modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage
sont indiqute ci-dessous.

I I Coloured pages/

Pages de couleur

Pages damaged/
Pages endommagdes

Pages restored and/oi

Pages restauries et/ou pe!iicui6es

Pages discoloured, stained or foxe<
Pages d6color6es, tacheties ou piqu6es

Pages detached/
Pages ditachies

Showthrough/
Transparence

Quality of prir

Quality in6gale de i'impression

Includes supplementary materii
Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire

Only edition available/
Seule Edition disponibis

I I Pages damaged/

I I Pages restored and/or laminated/

I I Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/

I I Pages detached/

r^ Showthrough/

r~pt Quality of print varies/

I I Includes supplementary material/

r~1 Only edition available/

Pages wholly or partially obscured by er»'ata
slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages totalement ou partiellement
obscurcias par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure,
etc., ont 6ti filmies A nouveau de fa^on A
obtenir la meilleure image possible.

This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/

Ce document est filmi au taux da reduction indiquA ci-dessous

10X 14X 18X

12X

16X

22X

<»._

26X

30X

20X 24X 28X 32X

Atails
18 du
nodifier
)r une
ilmage

Th« copy fllmtd hers has baan raproducad thanks
to tha ganarosity of:

Library Division

Provincial Archives of British Columbia

Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha bast quality
possibia considaring tha condition and laglblllty
of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha
filming contract spacificatlons.

Original cop)«s in printad papar covars ara fllnf>ad
baginning with tha front covar and anding on
tha last paga with a printad or illustratad impras-
sion, or tha back covar whan appropriata. All
othar original copias ara filmad baginning on tha
first paga with a printad or illustratad impras-
sion, and anding on tha last page with a printad
or illustratad imprassion.

Tha last racordad frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol — ^ (meaning "CON-
TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"),
whichever applies.

Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too large to be
entirely included in one exposure are filmed
beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bottom, as many frames as
required. The following diagrams illustrate the
method:

L'exemplaira filmi fut reproduit grAce A la
ginArosit* da:

Library Di^'sion

Provincial Archives of British Columbia

Las imagas suivantas ont tt6 reproduites avac la
plus grand soln, compta tenu de la condition et
de la nattatA de l'exemplaira film*, et en
conformity avec les conditions du contrat de
filmage.

Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en
papier . i\ ImprimAe sont filmAs en commen^ant
par la premier plat et en terminant soit par ia
darnlAre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par la second
plat, aelon le cas. Tous las autres exemplaires
originaux sont filmAs en commen^ant par la
premiere page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par
la derniAre page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.

Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la
derniAre image de cheque microfiche, selon lo
cas: le symbols — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le
symboie V signifie "FIN ".

Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre
filmes A des taux de reduction diff Arents.
Lorsqua le document est trop grand pour dtre
reproduit en un seul clichA, il est filmA i partir
de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite,
et de haut en bas, en prenant ie nombre
d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants
illustrent la mAthode.

Br^rata
to

pelure,
in A

□

32X

?(-

I ,

HON,

&>Uect:u}/v

Tlic Joint Ri
luiiiiUe llin
and Great
tory, bc'iiia

Ml". ATCl
the floor, pro
iliat lie Would
ho now hiivo
the snhjpct, I
wcfk, iissunii
tioiis for noti
' liiit llic ohjec.
notii'e In tho I

J'lflhf! Joint oi
thofxjiiralioi
anioiM,' these
coniphfih thin
1 most pointed
' preference to
, Committee oi
its oliject dire
litinnsof any
f this did not
lad been sent
('ct it was wil
Jiim.^elf to vol
|ion. He olij
thin^', it wa.s
Jind the dise.rc
■ontroversy ti
»n nniieahlef!!
1) Mr. A. tiiai
10 jwwer on
)ower resided
)n one hand,
he other. I
I night be ninci
iiat it hail bci
"if, "Althouj

! >

SPEECH

HON. D. R. ATCPILSOX, OF MISSOURI,

THE OREGON QUESTION.

DELIVERED

IX THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, MARCH 12, 184C.

:)■■■ , ■» 'iT-i

The Joint Rcsoliition for sriviiii^ tlic notice to irr-
niiiitUc tlm ronvontion l)ct\vic'ii the lliiitnl Stjitcs
and Great IJrilain, rclntive to the Oregon terri-
tory, Ijeiii.^ under consideration —
Mr. ATCHl.SON, of Missouri, licina; entitled to
the floor, [ironii.sed, in the outset of liis remarks,
ili.it lie Would not Iniig; detain the Semite, nor.siiould
lie now have deemed it necessary to say a word on
the suhjeet, had not the question, within the ln^'t
week, assumed ii new aspect. Various i)ro|)osi-
tioiis for notice liad been mibmitted to the body,
ut tiic object common to all of thein was to give
notice to the Hrilish Qoverniiient of the tcniiination
f the joint occiipnacy of the Orejjon territory after
the exjiiratioii of twelve months. Mr. A. ]>ivferred
auKuit; tlie.se that form of notice which v.eiit to nc-
Iromplish this end in the fewest words and in the
imost pointed terms. For this reason he i,^avc the
^reference to the resolution iis reported from the
^inmitlee on Foreiirn Uelalions. It weiu to elfect
13 object directly, and was unencumbered by con-
litionsof any sort. Mr. A., however, was ready,
f this did not prevail, to (jo for the resolution which
id been sent from the House of Representatives,
et it was with !;reat reluctance that he could briii;;
limnelf to vote for tlu' second clause iif that rciolll-
^ion. Ho objected to it because, if it im ant aiiy-
linij, it Was intended to interfere with the riu;lits
iiid the discretion of the two parties in the present
•ontroverNy to renew or to pursue ne^'otiatioii for
»n aniicabk' fiettlement of the difficulty. It seemed
) Mr. A. that the American Congress could confer
lo power on the Government to neu:oliale ; that
lower resided in thePiT.sidentof the United States
in one hand, end in the I'ritish Government on
le other. He ndmiited that this rdiistniction
u'.tjht be placed on that reso'ution, and he knew
hat it had been. It iui!;lit be understood n.s say-

ihiit notice should be given, and wc confer on him
the power to give such notice to Eiij:land, yet we.
do it with rciiictatice, and we do it with timidity."
If the latter clause meant anything, it meant tlii.s.
("rrlain'y the House could never intend to confer
on the Pvesident the power to negotiate, and every
one knew that they cimld not, under any circum-
slance.s, prevent negotiation if the President and
the P>ritish Government desired it. The resolu-
tion, then, wa.s to be uniierstood 1 1 mean this:
"Coiign!SM, by this resolution, do advise the Presi-
dent and the l^ritish Government to negotiate." If
that was its meaning, then the second clause was
lufre tnirplucagi', a.id, ••■, : mucIi, Mr. A. ]irotested
against it; but still hn !v rvi'liiig to vote for the
whole re.sohilion as it stood.

The resolutions proposed i. the form of an
iimcndnient by the Senator fr li. Kentucky [Mr.
I Chittenhen] were, in hi.; vii w, still more objec-
tionable, though his objection was directed more
c 'ccially against the preamble. Mr. A. here rend
fro.n Mr. Chittenden's |ireaiuble as follows:

' With u view, therefore, that steps be taken for
' tlie alirogation of the said convention of the O'th
' August, IStJT, in the m.ide iirescribed by its 2d
' urticle, and that the attention of the Goverimient.H
' of both countries may be the more rarnestly and
' immediately directed to renewed efibrts for the
' settlement of all their ditfercnces and disputes in
' respect to said territory."

To this language Mr. A. objected. It was not
with n view to commit the President tbat he should
.•ote for the notice; it was not in the expectation
of changing hi.s course as to negotiation; that was
a iiuestioii he should submit to the President hiiti-
.sclf; he couKi negotiate or not, at his discretion
and at his peril. Mr. A. went on to read from the
resolution:

"Allhoujjh. the Preaidciit recojuiuciids to \w ' ' TliiU, in order to iiITord ainpior time and oppor-

' lunily for the amicablo snttlnmont niid adjustment
• of nil tlirir (liflrcrcriccs mid disputrs in rrtipcct lo
' siiid ifrritory, suid notice ouijlit not to be {jivcn
' till iifttr the close of llie present session of Con-
' gress."

To this rlaiise he hnd yet more serious ohjrc-
jor.tions. In tiie first place, he had uiiliniitrd con-
fidence in the discielion of the President, and was
willing to leave it discri:tionary with him to y:ivc
the notice or to withhold it, at his pleasure. But,
though he had implicit confidence in the Presi-
dent's discretion, he wos willing to share with him
the responsibility of giving the notice, and not only
willing, but anxious, to do so. But if the resolu-
tion proposed by the Senator from Kentucky, and
whicli he had just read, should be odoptea, then
all Excc\itivc action in this matter during the pres-
ent session of Congress must be nut a stop to.
There were n few neasurcs whicli Congress might
adopt, but they must be very limited in their ex-
tent until we were set free from thu obligations im-
posed upon us by the treaty of joint occupation.

Mr. A. said he wa.s prepared to vole for the notice,
but not with any purpose thereby cither to retard
or to forward negotiation. lie should vote for it
without any n;gard either to peace or war. Those
were matters 'vhich, as he conceived, should have
no influence over bis vote; they were matters en-
tirely lujidc from the question. There was but one
plain point presented to the Senate for its decision,
and that was the .simple question whether it was
right, politic, and best for the interests of the coun-
try to give the proposed notice for annulling the
treaty. This was the question, and the only ques-
tion, on which the Senate was now called to net;
it wos the only question which i^hould have been
considered.

And here permit him to soy that the Senator from
New Jersey, [Mr. Dattov,] the Senator from
Maine, [Mr. Evans,] and the Senator from Mary-
land, [Mr. John-son,] the Inst of whom had so
eloquently addressed the Senate yesterday, had
each of them ossumed high and manly ground.
The Senator from New Jfersey and the Senator
from Maine doubted altogether of the policy of
giving the proposed notice at this time, ona, if their
views were correct, they were bound to vote against
it. This was the one and the only point to be con-
sidered. Encumbrances he knew had been thrown
around it, and a great deal had been said about
compromise and about title, which had nothing to
do with the question. The amendment of the Sen-
ator from South Carolina, oflc-red to the resolutions
of the Senator from Indiana, [Mr. Hawecaw,] arc
surfeited with compromises. Now, if a mainriiy
of the Senate were of the mind that there should
be a compromise, ond that we should make a ron-
cession of what we believed to be our rights for
the sake of peace, and if they thought that the
resolutions of the Senator from South Caroli'ia
were not sufliciently to the point, let gentlemen
propose suitable amendments to them. Let them
either leave the President unshackled, or let them
oflcr abstract and substantive resolutions advising
him to a compromise. This w«jiild be a plain and
open course; and the opinion of the Senate, if thus
expressed, would have quite as much weight with

the Executive as if it were contained in a clause
attached lo this reaolution of notice.

But the Senator from Maine (Mr. Evavs] wa«
much embarrassed by this difficulty. He did not
know what use the President intended to make of
this notice if it was nassed. He apprehended that
tlic .')4° 40' men in the Senate, lit the head of whom
stood Mr. A.'.s friend from Indiana, [Mr. IIavnb-
<;av,] who was considered on nil hands as their
leader, were willing to give the President what the
Senator frf :n North Carolino [Mr. IIaywooh]
called great moral weapon, that thereby he might
enfin-ce our rights to the whole of Oregon, from
California to the Russian line— fmm latitude 42^
lo .'■>40 40'. The Senator frcmi North Carolina
[Mr. Haywood] informed the Senate that the
President denied this to be his intention, but wish-
ed it in order to force a negotiation on the parallel
of 49°. And the Senator from Maine, [Mr.
Evans,] in reference to this construction of the
President's meaning, said that, in that view of the
matter, the notice would not be so objectionable;
but still he could not tell which of the two views
was correct— whether the President wanted the
notice for 54° 40', or whether he wanted it for 40°.
Now, on this doubtful point, Mr. A. would a.sk
leave to refer the Senator from Maine to the ex-
press declaration of the President himself when
speaking on this suliject of notice. He thought
the President's language was so plain thot it was
impossible there should be any difTerence of ojiin-
ion as to the construction that was to be put upon
it. The Senator from North Carolina [Mr, Hav-
wood] assumed one construction, but the language
il.self c^n-ied quite another. Whether thot Senator
spoke with the tcmgue of the President or not, as
to the meaning of this part of tlie Message, he
thought there could be no diflereiice between the
49° men and the 54° 40' men. What did the Pres-
ident say }

" All attempts at eompramisc having failed, it
' becomes the duly of Congress to consider what
' measures it may be proper to adopt for the sccu-
' rily and protection of our citizens now inhabiting
' ov who may hereafter inhabit Oregon, and for the
' maintenance of our just title to that territory. In
'adopting measures for this purpose, care should
' be taken that nothing be done to violate the siipu-
' lations of the convention of 1827, which is still in
' force. The faith of treaties, in their letter and
'spirit, has ever been, and, I tnist, will ever be,

• scrupulously observed by the United States.
' Under Miat convention, a year's notice is required
' to be given by either party to the other before

• the Joint occupancy shall terminate, and before
' either c^n rightfully assert or exerci.te exclusive

• iurisdiction over any portion of the ten-itory.
'This notice it would, in my judgment, be pro])er
' to give; and I recommend that provision be made
' by law for giving it accordingly, and lermiiiatin:;
' in this manner the cimveiitiuii of the Gth of Aug-
'ust,1827."

It was pre iscly for the rea.son here given by the
President that Mr. A. sustained this resolution for
notice. It was that the treaty of 1818 might be
removed out of the way; that all objections to ac-
tion on the part of Congress niio;ht W put an end
to. Hitherto, whenever it had been propiLwd to
erect a Territorial Government in Oregon, to extend
our laws over the territory, to establish a chain of
military posts, and to create Indian agencies in

that coun

: had been

nient, thi

with the

either poi

over eithe

annulling

: iiig all obi

? it a sufficii

, tor ft-om J

j whether ll

I diction of

; after, lo t

I whether o

'■■ or to the \

annulling

as in the v

our title to

that bcyoi

ness restei

perhaps a

ting all thi

before wc

ri.sdiclion

less.

Mr. A.
come to (
facts know
from Sou<
. called a "
matter, wi
the coiinlr
, century.

stood It, tc

, enact no li

citizens to

ready triei

J pursuing I

) cessor, n\(

i this busir

j farthest fi

I made it.

j in the terr

I no sgricul

I Siiecchc

) 1840 to '4;

j out the W

! re.se nta live

i tention of

i and advai

.' emigrants

I purposes (

j the wester

\ what had

i them well

? men who

■! peeled ha(

tend over

1 it would

/ would see

and propc

that It was

possession

men to do

tuated me

that pcrhi

some; but

to Oregon

could liavi

(Mr. EvAVs] wra»
ilty. III! dill not
ended to nmkc; of
iipprciicndcd that
the heiid of wlioni
iiH, [Mr. IIannk-
ill hiuulx nn their
Vrsidciit wlinl thn
[Mr. IIaywdodJ
ihiTeliy he nii:;lit
of Ores;on, from
•iVom latitude 42^
North Carolina
Semite that the
itention,bul wish-
on on the parallel
jni Maine, [Mr.
mutruetion of the
n that view of the
so objectionalilc;
of the two views
lidcnt wanted the
; wanted it for 41)*^.
Ar. A. would ask
Maine to the cx-
ent himself when
tice. He thoiiifht
plain that it wa.s
lifTerence ofopin-
as to be put upon
irolina [Mr. Hay-
I, but the language
icther that Senator
■esident or not, as
the Message, he
■ence between the
iVhatdid ihePres-

! having failed, it
to consider what
idopt for the secii-
ens now inhabiting
Iregon, and for the
that territory. In
rpose, rare should

violate the slipu-
n, which is still in
in their letter and
list, will ever be,
le United States,
'9 notice is required

1 the other before
linate, and Ijefore
exercise cxoluaive

of the teri'itory,
dgment, be pro])nr

provision be made
y, and tcrmiiiatin!;
of the 6th of Aug-

1 liere given by the
this resolution for
• of 1818 might be
ill objections to nc-
";ht ))e pnt an end
ueetj propo.fed to
1 Oregon, to extend
;stHblish a chain of
Indian agencies in

tliat cminlry, the advocates of these measures
had been met upon the threshold by the argu-
ment, that nil these things were nicon,sistent
with the treaty. Hence arose the necessity, if
either party desired to extend their jurisdiction
over either the whole oru part of the territory, of
annulling the convention or 1818, and tlum remov-
ing all obstaclts from their path. Mr. A. thought
it a sufficient answer to the argument of the Sena-
tor from Maine [Mr. Kvans] to remind him that,
■whether the President intended to a.ssert the juris-
diction of tJie United States, eitlicr now or here-
after, to the whole or to any part of Oregon —
whether only to the Columbia river, or up to 4'J°,
or to the whole extent of 54° 40' — the necessity of
annulling this treaty was as great in the one case
as in the other. The Senator from Maine believed
our title to be good as far as 40°, though he thought
that beyond that line shadows, riouds, and dark-
ness rested upon it; though, on the whole, we had
perhaps a better title than anybody else. Admit-
ting all this to be so, still this notice was necessary
before wc could assert and establish exclusive Ju-
ri.>idiction to any part of the country, greater or
less.

Mr. A. vent on to say, that he had long since
come to the conclusion — a conclusion based on
facts known to all — that the policy of the Senator
from South Carolina, who udvocatad what was
called a "wise and masterly iiuictivity" in this
matter, would not answer. Wc never should get
the country in that way before the la|i.sc of half a
century. The Senator's policy was, if he under-
stood It, to do just nothing — to make no move, lo
enact no law, to hold out no encouragement to our
citizens to settle there. This course had been al-
ready tried. This was the course wc had been
pursuing from 1818 to 1840, when Mr. A.'s prede-
cessor, the lamented Dr. Linn, hau first moved in
this business. This move had corac from the
farthest frontier of the West. At the time he
made it, there was not a solitary American settler
in the territory. Wc had no trappers, no traders,
no agriculturists. All these had come since.

Si)ecchea and rejxirta made in Congress from
1840 to '43 had been diligently distributed through-
out the West by western Senators; and the Rep-
resentatives in the other House had called the at-
tention of tiic people of the West to the condition
and advantages of this new territory. The first
emigrants wno ever went into thtit country for
purposes of settlement and agriculture went from
the western frontiers of the Slate of Mis-souri — and
what had been their inducement? Mr. A. knew
them well; he was ncrsonally acquainted with the
men who went; ana he knew that what they ex-
pected had been that this Government would ex-
tend over them the laws of the United States, that
it would make to them donations in land, and
would see that they were protected in their rights
and property. They had lieen taught to believe
that It was an object with this Government fo take
possession of that territory, and they were just the
men to do it. It had been said that they were ac-
tuated merely by a wild spirit of ad\enture; and
that perhaps might have had its influ:';ce with
some; !)ut it was not this alone which carried them
to Oregon. Wild as that spirit might be, it never
could have induced them to encounter such dangers

and ilifTlcultics as lay l)etwcf n their hnmes and thia
new country. Moit of them went there to better
their I'oiidition. Many of them wtMC poor men
with large families. 'I hey expected amole grants
of land, and they were willing to risk their lives
and eiieounlcr every privation and hardship that
they might better tneir own comlition, provide a
hdine for their children, and curry out the policy
of llie Government. In 1813, the first company
set out to cross the wilderness with the plough and
the pruning hook in one hand, and with defensive
weapons in the other. Since then this stream of
emigration had constantly increased, and it was
increasing at the present hour. But carry out the
masterly inactivity of the Senator from Soulli Caro-
lina, and this increasiiiir stream would shortly
dwindle down to a small brook. Those brave and
hardy pioneers who were now pouring over the
mountains with their herds and flocks, would no
longer be seen making their way through the wil-
derness as soon as it should be understood that the
protection of this Government was to be withheld;
that they were to be left to their own resources, or
obliged to become British tubjecLs. Mr. A. spoke
from knowledge when he said that from that time
emigration would cense. Hence he concluded tliat
the Senator's " masterly inactivity" would no
longer do.

And here he would take occasion to remark,
that, although when the Senator from North Car-
olina, who addressed the Senate a week ago, was
speaking, Mr. A. had understood at the time, as
he believed all the members of the Senate did un-
derstand, that the opinions he expressed were pre-
tended by him to be those of the President of the
United States, yet he could not, on redection, reltr
10 any particular expression from which he was
justified in that concUe .on; and he had since set-
tled down in the opinion that the Senator spoke
not from the mouth of the President, but from doc-
uments and from the record. He hiul put on the
language of the President a difTerent construction
from that which hiswordb seemed to others to bear;
nor was this surprising, for we found that even the
words of Holy Wr it were viewed by men under very
different constructions, and hence the variety of re-
ligious creeds. The Senator from North Carolina,
when interrogated, had refused to answer. He
would not expressly say whether he spoke with
the tongue of the President or not. But Mr. A.
had attributed this, in part, to the manner in which
the interrogatory had been j)ut to him. He did
not altogether blame the Senator for refusing to
answer when the interrogatories were put to him
in a manner and with a tone of voice which he
deemed exceptionable. From one of the expres-
sions employed by the Senator, Mr. A. was led to
infer that the reason why he had not replied was,
that he would not a|^pear to answer even under
constructive compulsion ■. for he had said that, out
of doors, and when mild!/ requested, he would do
things which he had considered somewhat humili-
ating, but he would not do so when catechised in
his |>lace in the Senate. From the whole of what
the Senator said, Mr. A. had, on reflection, been
brought to the conclusion that he derived his in-
formation from the same source as the Senators
from Ohio and Indiana did.

Mr. A. said he must here be allowed to go back

fo the l'cs:innin<;, niul in i-rfoi- for a nvmiont to llio
views wliicli IukI liocii ciiiitiu'iuj ill the IJiilliinair
n'8i)liili(PH.i, l)i<iiiis(: llioy wcm in iciilily llu (oiiii-
(liiti<>ii i)f liiis wliolc |iriicrP(liii^'. ill! (lid not rilcr
to tlu!S(! i( siilnliiiiis willi liny uliiiii|)t to nIiuw lliat
they NViTfi biiidiii:; on the SiiiiUor from Miiiiic,
f.\Ir. l''vA\r,] llir Sciiiitor IVoni i\ow JerHcy, [Mr.
Daytiis',] or lUv Kcnalor tVom Miiiyliinil, [Mr.
J(UiNsiis,l nor timt tlioy wcii; bindinf; on the
ninsdr.i ol till' Dcnioi'rulLc |piirly; lull he did Ijc-
lievc tliitt, on every iirinii|iltM>r;^ood morals, ilinsr
reHolutions \V( re liiiidins; on llic mcnibrr.s of the
(•iniveiition, mid on tliosc who were it.s nominee*).
The declnriilion of llwit eonvention w;i.s, in mib-
slanoe, that onr title to the whole of Oregon was
elear and nnqneslionalile.

Now, Mr. A. iiiRitited that the PrtHidcnt of the
United Stales, and the Vice President, or, if the
lilierly woidd lie allowed him, that James K.
Polk and Gcor;;e M. Dallas, were bonnd by thut
resolution, becau.-<e, if they dillVred from it in sen-
linicnt, rommon honesty reiiuired tlieni to inform
the convention of that fart, and to decline the
nomination. Was not thia rii^ht? Would any
gcntleniim di.'sscnt from it.' Hence it was that the
Senators from Indiana and Ohio had allsidtd to the
coiivcnlion in that connexion. Tliough the leso-
lutioiis al I'iiltiniore were not binding on the Sena-
tor from M.iiiK!, any more than the JS'ew Testament
was binding' on a iVIii.'.-.iulnian, or the Wcstniir.stor
Confession of Divin-s on a Methodi.st or Bajitist,
still, if they iice.epted the nomination, but di.ssent-
cd from the rcsoluiions, they ought to have stated
the fact and kIvcii iheir reasons.

Mr. A. admitted that the jjirat musses of the
Dcmocralic, party wcie not bound by all those re-
Hohitiona. When n man joined a ]ioliti<'al jiarty,
or joined a cliiirch, thouirh there might be in the
tenets of that party or that church some which
seemed o'ljei-tioiiablc toliim, he weighed the whole
rase, and If, on the whole, he believed the creed of
thnt |>aily or church to be better than that of any
otiier, he might conc'ude to Join it, though he had
still olijectioMS to some of its o|)inions. So, if Mr.
A. believed the Democratic party to be sound in
its doctrines, or, on the whole, better lluiii the party
opposed to it, lie would join it. Yet he did not
thereby bind hini.self to adopt every opinion it
jnigbt put forth. On this ground it was that he
lieid that tin: ma.sses of the democracy were re-
leased t'rom the obligation of resolutions |iiisscd at
Ballimrjie. But the President of the Senate, and
the President of the United States, having accepted
the nominations of the convention there assembled,
which convention had put I'orth these resolutions,
were eeiliiiidy, in common honesty, bound by
tliem. riiiice the known ground taken by the
PiTKident, in the fact of his accepting the nomina-
tion, taken in coiniexior! '.villi the language of his
Message, and the laiiin.iage of his Inaugural, left
no doui)t as to what his opinions really were. And
v/ho could think for a moment that the President
would .sacrifice riglils which he had himself iiro-
)lounced to be < lear and uiii|ueslioiiable, and he a
Dcmocrntic Picsident? If the President could do
this, then Mr. A. had no clear notions of right and
wrong. If he had been ajipoiiited guardian over
a ward, and his ward had a dear title to certain
lands which were claimed by a third I'.uty, he

would put it to ihe common .venr-e and common
honesty of all men whellu'r \\v shoulil ni>t be dere-
lict to the .s.icii'd duty he owed to the falln iIchm, if
he yieldtd up a half or a ouarter of the land. 'I'lun,
if the Pnsdent of the llnildl Slates, in the very
fust act of his oHicial liie, had diM'larcd our title lii
Oregon to be clear and uiKpieslioiiable, mid the
people were fast going into Oregon to eoiisunnuale
that title by uctual jioM.session, bow could he now
go back from that ground and rcliiKjuish the tc rri-
tory by compromi.se? When the |icople of the
West heard liis declaration (Ui this subject, the
whole Deiuocnilic pnrly, as ota^ man, and large
masses of the Whig party also, threw up their
ca|)S, and huzzaed for Polk and Dallas, Jlis di:c-
laralion was hailed and sanctioned by the Demo-
cratic, presses everywhere, and by numerous pub-
lic nijeiings. The deeliiratioii was three tunes
reiterated in the eonr.sc of his Message. In one
clause of it he declared that our title to the whole
I of Oregon was the best in existence. Then he
' says:

" With this conviction, the proposition of cnm-
' promi.se which had been made and rejected was,
' tiy my direciinu, sulise(|u(ntly withdrawn, ami
'our title to the whole Oregon territory asserted,
'and, as is believed, nLtintaincd by irrefragable
' facts and arguments."

In another place he holds similar language. IJut,
not content with threi' times declaring Ihe clearness
of our title, the President, in his Message, made n
further declaration, which the Senalor from Nortii
Carolina did not dwell upon, and in which he
carried the matter to the extremest jioint:

" Near a tpiarter of a century ago, the principle
' was distiiKtly announced to the world, in the
' Annual Message of one of my prrderes.sors, 'that
' the American continents, by the free and iiule-
' [lendent condition which they have a.'isumed and
' maintain, are henceforth not to lie considered a.s
'siibjepis for future colonization by any Kuropeaii
'Power.' This principle will apply with greatly
'increased force, should any European Power at-
' tempt to establish any new colony in North
' America. In the exisliiig eirciiinstanecs of the
' world, the present is deemed a proper occ;\sion to
' reiterate and reaffirm the princiiile avowed by
' Mr. Monroe, and to slate my cordial coiicurrenco
' in ils wisdom and sound prilicy. The ri -asserlion
'of this principle, especially in reference to North
' America, is at this day but the promulg.ition of a
' policy which no European Power should cherish
' the disposition to resist."

Now, Mr. \. understood this to he an iisserlion
by the President that neither England nor any oth-
er Power would be permitted to coUmi/.i'. on this
continent: that it was not open for coloni/iitioii to
any. Whether in this language he referred to
Oregon or not, Mr. A. could not underlake to say,
j though he believed that that was the only purt of
I the continent at present tree and unoccupied. Did
he meiui Oregon.' or did Ik; mean California.- Did
I he mean to siy that wo should yield u)) part of
, Oregon for the ex|irt!>' purpose of jMirr)peaii ( olo-
; nizalion.' Mr. A. could not for a moment believe
' it. Did he mean to include Mexico.' And to de-
clare that she should not transfer California to
I eilher England or France? That lliis Government
I would forbid her to do so r If so, then he went »

step beyond
lA' Oicgdu ;
ro|ieail coloi
; try would r
It was ve:
these topics

■ on these sill

■ put foilh b_v

Ifloiii Ohio, i
guard who
the Senate.
f th(!y were b
j Mr. A. stoi
1 but small c,(
1 part of the t

tlU'M (lid, till

enforce or U

.Oreiroii, it V

Lie aiguniel

much pri fei

. Htor from Si

' would be \v

we should (

latiliide, am

In this senti

I [Ml. IIann

i\Ir. H.vv

Mr. A re I

, the (|ueKlioii

' aiirncd by I

iCalhuiin,] V

:nmii now in

jail,] as well

I New York,

argued it tie

;reat iiijusi

been so \v( II

A very pr

of Oregon w

wc ought to

England liai

of the territ

if her title w

nch of it to

war.

A quest io
llirii'ly of d
^oiild nut Si
Jilid net pre
Ijipiiiion who
liimseir, he !
iitor.s shouM
rather that t
at, if they
ion woulj ]
itharir(il will
the nilli.sh
fipjil'iiveil th
for friMii Mi
' iresuiiH' to
solemn duty
lami; to the
title to the V
(ban wo hail
ry on the
kinjust war.
|s right and
liould be ei
It led on. J

■f mill commnn

Mild iii't lie (ItTc-
tlic fallii ilcKH, if
llic llllill. 'I'llrll,
iili's, ill l!i(; Vfiy
Imi'i'iI iiur lltic t(i
iiiiiibic, mid llic

I til l'OM-<lllllllllllC

w cmiUI In; MOW
n(|ui.-ili ilio Irri'i-
r |ii'<)|il(' of llic

llis Hllllj<M-|, llll!

iiian, and lnr<;;c

tlirrvv nil llirir

•mI1;ih. Ilisdrc

d liy the Diiim-

llllllll'I'OUS llllll-

vii.H llnce liiiu's
[('ss;i;;<'. In one
illf, t(i the whole
ciice. Tliiii lie

position of com-
id rcjci'led \vn«,
rtitliidawii, iilnl
^nitnry n.s.sfiiril,
liy inefiagiilile

r hiMsua-ie. IJut,
iiiu; llu' rli'iiiiicss
i/Ic.sHiiire, nmde n
Mioi- fnini North
id in which hu
t jxiiiit:
:;i), tlie |iriii(i|ilo

worlii, ill thi;
rdrrpssors, 'tliiit
; Pice and iuilf!-
ivc atlsiiiiicd and

I'oiisidcnil us
y any Europiaii
)ly with gicutly
ilioan Power at-
ilimy in North
inslanres of tlio
(i|icr oc'i';'..'<ion to
ijilc avowed by
dial conrurrciicn
Tlie i(-!issi'rlion
'eicni-n lo Norlli
romnl^ntion of iv
r .sliuuld chiirish

1 be mi nssrrtion
nnd nor any nlh-
coloni/.c on tiiis
' roliini/i.lioii lo

lip rrfciTcd to
iiderlake to say,
the only part of
noi'c.iipied. Did
Ciilifornia? Did
t'ieid u)) part of
jMiropcaii ( olo-
nioment liclieve
o? And to dc-
•r f'lilifoniia to
luM (^ovi Tiiniciit
then lie went a

Htcp beyond IM.-. A.; but iho momrni nny portion
J of Orti;nii sboiilil bf irddl l"ir llie |.iii|i'Ne of Ku
I roptaii eoloiii/atiiiii, c\ery Ifiicut man in the coim-
': try would reimdiale the deed.

1 1 wart very iiiiphasaiil I'lr Mr. A. to dwell on

thi'Ni' lopirs. Ill arkiiiiwled^ed that lie eiili rtaiiiril

on these ^Mll>jl el.s the same views v. Iiiili had been
J put forth by the Si.niitor from Indiana, theSiiiator

iiioiii Olilo, and the nsidue of the .small loi {loral'N
miani who were the 51'-' 40' men on the. Iloor of
till: Senate. If their nniiiber \m n^ Mlill .-inalli r — if
, they were 1 nl two; nay, if lliey u ere but one, and
I l\lr. A. stood alone, it would be to him a niaiter of | finn' of Inr litli
I but Hiiiall e.niMeinienee. ISiit he Would leave this
1 part of the siibji rt. If he believed, as .fonie Seiia-
tor.'i (lid, that the President de.sired this iioti'.e to
enforce or to iiidme the wiirreiider of any portion of
Oieu'oii, it wimid be with him the slroii;;est possi-
ble m'^miieiit iiKainsI the measuie; nay, he .should
iiiiK'h |in fer lilt! "iiiasti'riy inaelivity" of the: Sen-
ator from South Carolimi. In that ease inaelivity
would be \i ise niid lila.'-terly. I5ylheoiiee.olir.se
we nhoiild certainly lose five and a half degrees of
latiliide, mid by the other we could lose lio more.
In this .seiilinieiit I believe my friend from Indiana
I [All. II wnkuvn] fully eoiniirs with me.
Mr. 1 1 ASS'KK.w nodded assent.
Mr. j\Tmis(i>( Haid he did not intend to sjo into
ilie i|iiisiioii of title: that had be(tii well and fully
.irL'iied by the Senator from South Carolina, [Mr.
; f'allioiin,] wlieii Secretary of State; by the ;;, ntle-
I man now in the Deparliin^nlof .Stale, [Air. Iiiiclian-
jaii,] as well as by the distiiijjiiislied Senator from
I New York, [Mr iJii kinsci.v,! who had no ably
[argued it the oilier day. Mr. .V slionld do himself
L'leat iiijustiee if licj attempted u task which had
been so well performed.

A very proper in((uiry would be, to what portion
of Oregon we wen; entitled; because to that extent
we (Might to assert our rights. If he thought that
lEiiglaiid liad ii belter title than we lo any iiorlion
of the territory, he would let her have il; leit not
if her title was diMibtfiil; so(,ii( r than snrriiider an
inch of it lo her on a doublftil title, he would go lo
war.

A question had been raised liere as to the ]irii-
ijiriety of discussing li(;rc. llu; Hritish title. He
jwould not say how far this might be proper. lie
^ilid net proless to be very competent lo form an
.ii)piiiioii when so liinh aiilhoritii s dlllered; but, for
iniself, he should think it highl)' proper that Seii-
.Uor;: .'<liiMiM di.scusM it. C'erlainly, he would miieh
(•ather lli.it liiey should do so than throw out hints
■'lat, if they (Uily dared to do it, and public opiii-
. m Would permit them, and lliey should not be
cliaririil with leiiig Ilritish AVhigs, they coulj show
the Ihilish title lo be as clear as a sinibeain. lie
lipjMMved the manly course pursued by the Sena-
tor from Aluine, [Air. Ev.xns,] ihiMigh he did not
insniiie to pass an opinion. He held it to be a
;(-Ienin duly of a Senator, if he, on exainiiialion,
imt; to the eoiictiisioii that England had a belter
itle to the whole or any iimtioii of the lerritoiy
ban wo hail,lo enlighten iheSeiiaU; and Iheeoiiii-
ry on the subject, lest we should be led into an
njust war. 'I he motto, lo ask nothing but what
< right and lo .siibmit to nothing tiiat is wrong,
hoiild be engravi II in lein is of gold, and always
ttlcd on. He could not but approve the eourscof

the Seimliir from Ataiiie, ihoiigli very high aiitlior-
ity could be pleaded on llie other side. A distin-
giiisheil Senator had said that liis longlie should
be lilisleMd ill his mouth bel'on: il shiaild utter a
word against (Mir title wliih; it was under liegotiii-
lion. The Senator might be right; Mr. A. wiaiUI
not undertake lo pa.ss jiidgnielil between tliein; but
for himself, if he believed the English lilh; to be
latler than our own, his tmigue should be blislt;red
in his mouth In fore he should say u word to ue-
pri\e her of her just right. He sIkjiiM consider
ini'.elf lis doing his duty wliile speaking in de-

■' ' ■' Hi; should hold il lo be u duty'

to 'lis country to |Meveiit Ik r, so far as he eoidd,
from riisiiing into an niirighienns war. He tlii-ew
iMil these views with all deference lo the bi;tler
jildgiin III of oth( r more abb; and exjii rieiieed Sena-
tors. They involved a i|iiestiini in morals; anil he
did not think himself much tkilled in ipt(.sii(ni8 of
that sort.

The I'lesjdent deelarrd our title to bo rienr nnd
uii(|Uesiionable lo the "whole of Oregon." Hut
the Sei ator iVoin Norlli Carolina [Air. II: . ...kid]
I'iiised a (|Uesli(m as to what was llu; " whole of
Oiitgoii." This was rather a new (|UCstion. They
had been in the habil, in the AVesI, of (ailing nil
that tract of eoimlry lying between the Rock^

i<„.

ceil the liocky
uid l)etw(;en Cal-

nionnlains iiiid the I'acilie ocean, luii
ifaiiia and the Russian possessions, Oregon. He
believi il all the inoderii maps laid it down us such,
lhoie;li he had not examined particularly.

I'lit the Senator from North Carolina had also
said that the President wmild (;onipromise on 4!P,
and he W( lit on lo make n plausible argument to
show thai this was so because the President hnd
aclnally olUred to ('oinproniisi; on that line. Put,
if Mr. A. understood the President, he said ihnt
that oflVr had lieeii made against his belter Jud";-
iiienl, and (Mily (Mil of (h ference lo the acts of his
predece.s.so'-.<; and ihar he had on that grouiul eon-
diuied the IK goti.ition with a view to eomproini.se.
This w.'is l!i(; excuse la; oll'c red to the Ain';rienn
people tor making the oiler. Ibit when the ofl'er
was withdrawn, then he spoke in llie language of
exultation, as if he was relieved from nn opprea-
sive load of responsibility. I le sp ike then like the
President of tlie Uniled Stales, or, as his fi-ieml
near him sn':!,'e.-:led, like Old Hiekory. And it
seemed sonic source of sell'-gralulation thai, though
he h.id oll'i led 49'', yet Ik; had not gone iiuite us
far as some of his predeces.sors, but bad refused
to aci omiiany it with the irtvigaiion of the Coluin-
liia river, (" the navigation of an unnavigable riv-
er," a.s the Senator from Maine called it.) The
Presiileill says:

" With this eonvicti.in, the propo.»»ttion of com-
' proiiiisi; which hnd b(;eii made and rejected was,
' by my direction, siibseiiuenlly withilrawn, nnd
' our title to the whole Oregon lerrit(u-v nssertcd,
'and, as is believed, maintained by irrefrngablo
' ficls and aigumenls.

" The civilized world will .see in these proeecd-
' inns .a sjiirit of liberal eoiicessioii on the part of
' tin; Uniled S'at(;s, and this tJoverinnenl will be
' relieved frmii all responsibility which may follow
' tlie failure lo sellle the e uitrovcrsy."

Did In; iiol speak with exultation of having wi'th-
dniwii iIk; o(r( r, and ulRrnicd our tide to the whole
territory ? ^

I(> Ills |i|'(.'lli:i'('H
■(ili(ill,li(' Wouli

Uiil the Senator from North Cnroliim aiiiil, in »iil)-
iituncr>, (nH well ns Mr. A. rK'ollcclcil lii.s m|ici'(Ii,)
tlint if tlio Prcsidciit Imil iliiiincd any |>ortioii
of tlic li'rritory liryoml tin; liilitudf: of 4IP, Ik;
would liiivr degradrd liiniNcIf iiiid diHliiiiior((l liin
coiiiilry. itui, wliut was worst of nil, lie had iit-
U'in|)tt'd to jirovc llii;. Tin,' IVesidcnt saiil lie lia<l
maac llic oflVr of 49° in defi-rt'iico to Ids
BorH-, liut, if this had Ix't'ii a new nucsli
not have done it. Mr. A. woula not hrir ^o into
n history of what his |(i<'d(i'esHoiH had done, luit
he would lay down one c.lrar prinriplc of tin: law
of cvidcnoe. And he did not see why ii eleur prin-
ciple applying to the rights of persons, did not ap-
ply with emial truth and jiistiee to tho rights of
naliniiH. Tlie prineijile was litis : that ii proposi-
tion of A to n to settle a dispute hetween them
could nolhct^iveii in evidence when they eaine into
court to try tlieir rights; and this applied a.s well to
real as to personal property. Sueli was the law;
and iCit was fliuiided in justiee, why did it not ap-
ply to natiouH? If, in effortH to settle a national
dispute in an amiealdc manner, propositions should
he made by one nation to the other, eould it proj)-
erly he saiil that the proposing nation was hound
by that ofTer afterwards? lie thought not. I'ut
if the Prciident was bound to arcept the parallel of
49° becauKc his jiredeeessors hud offered it, then
he must be bound also to yield the navigation of
tlie Columbia river. If he was bound by a part he
was bound by the whole.

If Mr. A. recollected right, in the correspondence
which preceded the conventions of 1H18, and in
1824 and 18'i6, propositions offered by both par-
ties were subsequently withdrawn, iiiufer a protest
that the offer should not affect their righl.s there-
after. This made the nrgunieni for Mr. A. stronger,
and that for the Senator from North Carolina
weaker.

But the Hnmc Senator took other ground, which
he argued more plausibly. He said that, by the
treaty of Utrecht, the line of 4'.P was established
as a boundary. It was some time since Mr. A.
had examined the history of that treaty, but he
had looked into the treaty itself the last evening.
He found that the line of 49° was not mentioned
in the treaty at all. If it had been, there would
have been no need of appiiinling commissioners
to " prescribe" the line. There was no evidence
that this had ever been done. Mr. Greenhow,
who stated this, held a respectable position in the
State Department, and had been furnished with
the amplest means of investigation; and, in his
work, he asserted that there was no proof that this
line ever was prescribed as the treaty directed.
He proved this conclusively, both positively and
negatively; and held it a mistake in Mr. Monroe
and othera to suppose that it had been.

But, after all, what was the amount of his ar-
gument? Suppose the line was run, and that it
extended to the ocean: did it not show the arro-
gance, the superlative arrogance of England, to
claim territory south of that line? England was a
party to the treaty of Utrecht, and must have been
aware of all its provisicms. If the argument of the
Senators from Maine and Maryland was correct,
what became of the English title south of the line
of 49°? Yet some Senators insisted that she had
a title to the territory south of 43°, and that we

ought to Hurrrnder
peaie of the world.

it to her for the sake of the

!aw. The
letweeii th(
diiinnelled
t is paralle
tiairow buy
' inhannali,
y the lull
lade by .S
Tossed lliii
iig to Kiii

The ar:;uineiit was good thiif< far. It was a fair
infereiiie fi'iiii ihe treaty of 1H19, thai because^ the
parallel of 49°, wl.' '' was our boundary wiili
(ileat Hrilaili, ran fi. ni the Lake of the Woods
to the Uocky mountains, that there it slopped:
then we agreed to the joint occupancy of tin; whole
territory beyond the mountains, leaving the title
in abeyance, anil beyond the mounlains the par- |.|,y,.r,,,| ||.,,
lies were thrown on their original rights to the ; p|,e ,.jyp,. y
whole. Mr. A. agreed with the Senalor iVinn [.'in/or in I
Michigan, [Mr. Cash,] when lie declined that he v„h „uiile i
was unable' to see why this parlicular line of 49° Einrlmid in
north was offered .'IS a comiironiise boundary. The o this coa.-i
sole reason could not be lliat it was our boundary liihcr ng„i,
east of the mounteiiis, and that we held the eoun- ^ '

try south of that line by contiguity : for with so
great a mountain-barrier in the way, none could
contend that contiguity idorie could give title; but
if it did, contiguity ran as well from south to north
as from ra:-.t to west; and if so, the country north
of California belonged as much to S])ain f>y con-
tiguity us the country north of 49°, and west of the
mounlains belongt-d by contiguity to England.
AVe claimed the whole country uniler the Spanish
title, as well as by our own right of discovery.

The Senator from Maine tried to shake our title
from discovery and settlement by saying that Mr
Astor, who settled at the mouth of the Columbia,
was in partnership with a British subject from
Canada; but Mr. Greenhow slated that the greater
port of those who settled Astoria were Americans,
and that none were Canadians but the tiajipers.
But supposing that they were all Canadians, and
that the settlement, therefore, according to the Sen
ator, might os well be culled a British settlement
as uii American, was it not a lillle strange that
England should send out a ship-of-wor to capture
her own ])0st, and should return to us ot the peace
a British settlement which wc never possessed!
England herself had answered the Senator's argu-
ment.

The Senotor from Maine admitted that our title

he Spanis

oast rarrii

Irained by i

hey flow.

11 Oregon n

alives con

Stales, and

''nglish fii

ormed citli

iiountaiiiN,

.eriience ol

leiil occupii

With the

woiilcl ni

nilh the Pr

he best in

Irop (if b|(

■ilates Ireas

ion of it w

■ he way of

' edged our

■mail e(|iiiv

lower 10 fii

recs of l:ii

Hilt I lie

'oiue ve

iile ini;'lit

119°. ^'et,

was good to the Columbia valley; biitif so, whystop Vonika S
at 49°, for the northernmost waters of the Colum
bia had their source as far north as 53°? Here,
then, we lo.st four degrees. But more than that, by
establishing the line of 49° wc should lose twenty-
nine-thirtieths of Vancouver's Island, which was
the most importmit portion of the whole territory,
and indeed of the whole northwest coast. Now, Mr.
A. had thought thol if there was any strength in
the argument of the Senator from New York, [Mr.
Dix,] it was in that part of it which established the
Spanislj title to Vancouver's Island. The Span-
iards were the fir.st who discovered it, the first who
surveyed it, and the first who occupied it. If they
had a title to any port of the coast, it was to Vau-
couvcr'.s Island.

Mr. A. then repeated that he could see no rea-
son why our title was to stop at the 49th degree.
If England had any valid title to Frizer's ri\er
— if she could show any better title to that valley
than we could, why let us yield it up to her. There
did not, however, exist the slightest cidor of title
on the side of Great Britain to the Frazer-rivcr
country. Our title in our own right and as the
grantees of Spain is complete here and without a

■ iniuM', li:ii
egoliators
lankeil Ijii

Hilt till
naled lliiit
olten up t'
reat place
lien out
ent'einiin '
hi.-^ procei
notivi sr
ield our
residents
nd he wa:

iioraKli
Vheii the
f high
lies, he yi
till lo (I
he rcsohil

r. A. wei
cxioii.s — I
is State

ir ihn snke of the
fur. It wnfl n fair

, tllUl lnTmiH(! lllf

ir li(niii(l;iiy with
ikf <if' lilt; WooiIh

lliriT it xliippcil :
mricy of tli<! wIkiIc
IcHviiif; till! title
iDUiilniiiM till- par-
;iiinl ri>;litM to the
lliu Sciiuliir t^'iiin
d( rlitrr'il tlint lie
iruliir line of 4\)P
80 boiiMiliiry. 'I'tic
wiiH our l)oiiii(li>ry
we held the coun-
fuity; for with ho

wiiy, none could
)uld give title; hut
-oiii Himth to north

the country north

to SjMiin ny con-
\P, nnd west of the
;uily to Kii^liiud.
uniler the Spanish
it ofdiHcovery.
1 to Hhake our title
ly suyiiig lliiU Mr

I of the Colunibin,
itish subject from
ted ihiit the grenter

II wi^rc Americ.uns,
but the trnppers.

ill Canadians, and
cording to the Sen-
British settlement
little Htriinge that
|i-of-wnr to capture
ri to us at the peace

1 never possessed?
the Senator's nrgu-

nitted that our title
; but if so, why stop
iters of the Coluin-
rth as 53°? Here,
more than that, by
diould lose twenty-
Island, which was
he whole territory,
st coast. Now, Mr.
as any strength in
Ti New York, [Mr.
Iiich establiKhed the
■iland. The Span-
red it, the first who
ccujiied it. If they
lOst, it was to Van-

le could .see no rea-
at the 49tli degree.

2 to Frizer's ri\er
title to that valley

it up to her. There
;hteHt color of title
;o the Frazcr-river
n right and as th<
here and without a,

flaw. The valley of Prnzri's river is rnvelopi'd
lietween the Coluinbia on the east and the <lc(j)ly-
flmnnclliii KeacoaKt mi the west, to both of wliirh
; is par.illcl. That river itself disrhaiijrM into the
arrow buy behind VancouviT's Island, as the Sus-
urhaniiali, I'oloniac, and other rivers, are received
y the inland ('hcMapeake, The deNulloiy trip
nade by Sir Alexander Markcn/.ie, in wlmh he
Tossed this river near the Tilth decree, and r< liirn-
iig to Kiif^l.-ind, riiiiirled hiiii.ii If mm liaviii:: dix-
:iivered tl.e upper ( oliinibia, anioiiiilH to iintbiiig.
The river was identified, iiavig,ited,nnd named by
!''ra/.er in 1KI2, during the war, and no exception
vas made in ibi^ general restoration made to us by
England in tH]H. Kngland never claimed any title
o this coast or the streams deboueliing through it
•ilhcr against Spain or th" United States prior to
Ihe Spanish concession to us. The title to the
!oast carries with it the streams and the coniilry
trained by them as far as the highlaiids from whii'li
hey (low. England has here as well as elsewhere
■ n Oregon a temporary right to free trade with the
lativcs conceded to her by Spain and the United
States, and no more. Whatever settlement the
■English fur companies may at any time have
ormed cither here or elsewhere beyond the Rocky
iiouiitains, are stipulated to be only Cor the cipii-
icnience of trade, and to give no right of perma-
nent oi'eiiimncy.

With these views of our title which he had, Mr.
\. would not yield up one inch of it, for he thought
ivitli the President that our title to the whole was
he best in the world, mid h(' would spend the last
Imp of iiloiid and the last dollar in tli<: United
■Slates treasuiy befoic he would yield up any pur-
ion of it without a just and fair cfiuivalcnt. In
he way of trade, iiuiecd, after l''.u?;land aekiiow-
edged our title, he would be williiii: to take a very
nnall eiiiiivaieiii; and if we hud the coiislitutional
lower 10 .•^iirrcMili r up to Iwr two-and-a-half de-
jrecs of laliliide, lie would say, let lirr take it.

Hut the Senator from Maine seemed to liiin to
joine very reluctantly to the eonelusioii that our
itie luitrht run by pos-ibilily half a degree luirtli of
1!)^. Yet, by the Nootka treaty, it did exleiid up to
Voiilka Sound, and iIk; Setialor, in bis iiiai^'iia-
liinity, li;id iiiliiuated tint he would su'^gcMl to our
legdiialiiis to rl.-iiin up to that |)oint. Mr. A.
hanked the liononilile Senator fur that much.

I'ut the Senator from iNiulli Can lina had inli-

tiated that this whoh' Orc:j:on r|ue."lion had been

;otten up fir the purpose of putting little men into

;ieut |)!aces; or, ni other words, of making great

lien out of little OIKS'. Now, he would ask that

;eiit'einaii whether he did not think it puKsilde that

his |iroi',ee(lin^ nii;;lit have originated in higher

•iotiv(Nr For .\lr. A.'s own part, he woujil nt^ver

.»ielil linn inch of our territory to niajic a line of

jPresideiiis I hat .should extend for a thousand years,

liid he was uinvilliiig to imiiule base moiives to

licinoral'le men. lie was himself no man's man.

When the n<'mocialic parly presented to him a man

of high cliara ler, pure moials, and sound prliiei-

les, he yiel.lij bini his :ui]iport, and he e\ii(Cteil

till to do it, wlielher his comse was governed by

' e resolutions of the nallimore (•onvenlion or not.

r. A. went to that couveiuiou with no parly coii-

xioiis — he held himself aloof from sueh ties ;

is State had taken the mailer in hand, and she

had deligates thern consisting of a* pnrf .md hen-
orable men as any that his State contained. IIul
the .Senator from North Carolina had said that
that convention was made up of fartionists led on
by di'inapogues: if so, no good was to bo exjiect-
ed from it, and if we lost the whole of Oregon it
was what we well diserved. A gn^al political
party who would select and send up representa-
tives from every part of this country to be led by
taitionists and ilemagoijueH, deserved nothing hut
loss and defeat, liui Mr. A., for one, could not
believe that such had been the fact,

The Senator from North Carolina, [Mr. Hat-
wood,] coiuinued Mr. A., asked, "Where will you
go for a President .'" And it was well answered by
my friend from Indiana, who said, " To the ranks
of the people." "Ah, (replied the .Senator,) will you
Ko among the shoemakers and the cobblers for your
President.' They are no more qualified for such a
station than a blacksmith is to make n watch."
.Now, I am no demagogue, but I have always been
tau^'hl to have the highest regard for the intclli-
genre of the people — for mechanics, and all those
whoearn their bread by labor. Among them are
many who have adorned society; many who have
in their day been the ornaments of the world.
.Men taken from ilie ranks of the people have shed
a lustre upon humanity. Among the ancients, if
I recollect, the name of Androiiicus stands conspic-
uous — a man elevated from a garden to a throne.
He acfpiitted himself as well with a crown upon
his head, as he did with a spade in his hand. A
disliiiKuished Roman, Cinciiiniitiis, was several
times taken from the plough to lead the armies
of the. Republic. Ilo was invested with the su-
preme command. Th»'re are numerous examples
where men have been taken from the ranks of the
lu'iiple and plared in the hishcsl offices. Is not the
lii.story of tiie worhl crowded with examples } Na-
poleon Bonaparte, the poor Corsican, boasted him-
self one of the peojile. The Marshals of Fr.lme,
who led Jinnies to victory, were tjikcn from the
ranks of the soldiery. Sir, if that sentiment hati
come from the other side of the house I should not
I ha\e been so much surprised as 1 am when 1 hear
j it ciuiiiiig from a Democratic Senator.
! I had intended to siiy something about war. Sir,
j it devolves on England — and I wish to impress it
iirioii Senalin'son the other side tha*. it devolves on
I Kiiglaml — to reliiifjuish her pretensions for the sake
ofpea''e. We are not to make all the sacrifices,
and she to make none. If her title is not clear and
uiupiestionable, it devolves upon her to yield in
order to preserve the peace of the world. But
they tell us: Take care what you do-— better to
sacrifice rights, unprofitable rights, than to involve
the country in a war. Sir, it was said by the Sen-
ator from Kentucky, [Mr. Ciiittevden,] and
wisely said, in relation to this matter, that the
man who would rashly involve (he country in a
war would a.^sumc a responsibility that would sink
a navy. 1 have to answer, that the man who
would sacrifice the rights of his country would as-
sume a responsibility that would sink a world. 1
heard the Senator f'- ' Georgia [Mr. Bfrrien]
make an expressiim oi . '.s kind in the early part
of the session, and it is one in which I heartily
concur, that the man who counsels his counlry-
mcu to go to war unnecessarily would obtain the

infiinioun renown of RronimtiiR. To tluH I mili-
^rrilif. riiit I Hiiy f\ii'tlii'r, tliiit (he innii who njim-
rcIh llic mincMilcr cif llic rij^lilH of Mm roiuilry l<>
liiirfliiiH'' pi'Mct , 1(11 iii^'IdiiiiiiH |ii:ii(r,<'.'iiiiM fur liiiii-
Rcir 11 iiioiT iiiriiniiiiiH rt'iimvii, inul will riTiive it,
Ihiiii Ki'dr-lrnluN.

Sir, ilicn.' in oiu- Dllirr rrmmk. Oicijrm rnii lint
lir loNi ill Iwd wiiyN: out' in liy n(!;(ilinlion, iiiid llic
iitliir i^ liy iiwisti'i'ly iiii\i'iivily. I will ii.it dwell
lljioii llie I'liHt |ini|il, lor I do lii>l Illllii'i|i'ili' IJiMt it
Will l)(! n 'iirlid to. A < 1 liiivc llw utiiiodi cunfi-
driice in llir l^ir.sidciil, I coiiHiIcnlly lii'lirxr llinl
lie will not rleerivo Lis fririidf. It limy lie loft
by iiinetivity. From iliin lime forwiird Id it In
iilideriilniid lliiit CoiifjrcHN is lo .iimid Blill in ri'-
pird to (lr<;,'oii; tliiit o'lr ciiiziiiJi in Ore^'oii me not
tr> receive the lieiiefii of our luwfo, t!mt iliey nre not
to Imvo llio firoteeliim ot our Koidiers; in cM'ry
(loiiil of vi"W| tlmt vvc jii-e lo proeced upon tlie
jiliilforin of iioii-oetiin; whnt will liu the effect?
riir inlmliitaiil'* tliere nmst Imve " ,'oviTiiiiiriif;
our iiriiple, uliove all oilierH iiiiu .ho sun, i\re
wedded tu govcriiiiienl mid \.\\y. Leave them to
themselves, mid they vill form u fjovernmeiit; and
wliiit will 1)1' ilio result lis to iiB? Pnlriotisni, on
the one linnd, (he ties llmt hind ii ninn to the roim-
Iry whii'.h ga\e him liirlh, placed in one scale, and
the indnc'-nierU that will lie, and are r.nw, held
■.uit hy «oim; of their lendiii;; men, and hy Dr. IMc-
Lan;;nlin mid others of the Hudr.on Itay rom-
pany, for the formalion of an independent tiovern-
nicnt, placed in the other, and how will ihey likely
he deterniiiKd? Will ihey not Riiy : "Our coun-
try has rcascd to ■,'ive us proler.tioii; Hhe has jiven
iiH no lawn; she han f,'iveii us no noldier^ for our
])rotei';ioii. AHera while, when we shall have in-
creased and mul(iplled,and filled the fertile valleyM
of Ore^in with population; when wc shall have
eovdid her mountains with our (locks mid herds;
when our river) shall be covered with vcHsels hear-

iiispomnificr; thr.n tlic Qoverninrtil of llio trniletl
SlaIeK will lie williie; enouj;h lo exieiid over um her
jiiriwiiclion; they will be ready enon;;li lo i>riiil us
jrovfrnors, jndijes, marshals, mid ^lll rilTK, to con-
trol lis; they will be ready enoiiijh lo eNlablidi
cnntom-houseM and ;^ive uh odicorM of eii<iiom», In
(lend IIS surveyors and esiablisli land o(fi, es, and
ajipoint land ii;;( nls lo nell |o ihe lii'j;hesi bidder
our doni.-.in; they will be re.irly inoii;;h to do all
this, bi it mil Ih'i'er, tlierefure, ihiit we nixv de-
(de re ourselves indeiK 'idi.nl ? I)oin iinf ilie head

IKlelK Mili'lll
MV I'ompan

of the lliidsi'ii flay rompany lell us that Iviclnnd
wi'l ansisl in imiintaiiiin; our indejiendeiic-e.' Have
nol the French oU'ered the wanie tliin;;? I lave Ihey
not ansure<l us that each ni'Mler rIiiiII jiosnesH a
principality of laud if we place <inrselves under
the shield of llieir |'roleclioii ? Piece palrinlisni
in the one scale, and these iiidncenn iils in llie other,
mid I have it to Senalori lojudue which scale will
kick llie beam. Alul, n.i the Senator from M.iini
[Mr. F» \Ni] said the other day, Calilnrnia will
lollow, and in the courHc uf less llian f\fty years
tliey will have strength enouu;li, ihey w ill have al-
liis and friends enoiiijh, lo enable them locaii^
llnir |iosse.'sioiis from the Ilirsian line lo the Istli
mns of Darieii. Sir, \ may be wroii; ut I think
that the Hcnalor from ^[aille foreshadowed wh'it
will lake place. The riuestion presi'iils itKcIf Ihiis'
if the eounlry west of the monnlains is desirable,
is worth preserving', ii nece.'!.«:<ry lo the slrcii^'th,
the t:lory, and the power of this euunlry, wc
must have it; we nmst keep up a .--ircain oi" enii-
f;riition, ii constant i-treain, ana induce, by every
Tio.-iisiblo means, a e.nnlinuanre of p.itrioliMii in the
breasts of the .settlers; we must I'ounlenance ihcni.
and make lliein feel that they are in imiuediele
eoniiexioii with this Gov. rnnieiit. And if we ile
this, we sli.'ill preserve that vast territory, and .shal!
make it a perm.'incnt and uiuli\ided poitl .ii of thi'
yreal Republic.

■V

iicntof tlio triiiltd
txti'iid iivr UN lur
cniHi^li lo itriiil iiH
kI flic rilTii, til ('(111-
fm;;|l Id i^tlllili .li
rrn (if riidfoins, lo
li liiiiil iilHi CM, iiiul
flic )ii;,'liiMl liifldc r
i' nimi^th to (III all
', thiit \yv iMw ilr-
)ipcH lint the liivul
II IIS timl Ivij;l:i!i(l
li'iMiMlcii'cr Tl/ivr
tiiili;;? IlHVctliiy
r rIiiiII |iii.vn('Hn n
• ourNiIviH iiiiilcr
PInrc pntrinliwiu
ini iiiM ill ihiMiilicr,
;<• wliirli .icnlc will
'imtrir from Maiiir
y, riilirnriiiii will
I" limn fifiy yciirH
till y H ill liavi- il
'ill' tliiiii lo ( ,111^
an line lollic IhiIi
iron; nt I tliiiiK

irCHlllKloWCll Wll.'it

rcsiMilMiiKcIf ihiis'
itains JH (Icsiralilr,
■y to tlio sircnjflh,
tliis I'onntry, we
' n Niniiin ni' cnii-
iiiilin'c, liy cviry
fjiairioiiMii ill i|i(.
•iMinlfniiiii-o tlii'ni,
ii!v ill iinnicilii'lr
It. And if we dn
fintory.and ^llal!
led jioiti .11 (if tlii