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 1 
 
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Mf 
 
 IN 
 
SPEECH 
 
 OP 
 
 MR. KENNEDY, OF INDIANA, 
 
 ON THE 
 
 OREGON QUESTION 
 
 DELIVERED 
 
 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT ATI VESy 
 
 JANUARY 10, 1846. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 PRINTBD AT THE UNION OFJ^ICE. 
 
 1846. 
 
Kir 
 
 4 :;'i 'i S ;■% .'■". 
 
 » •.' .J, .-i ,f .J 
 
 r^,. 
 
 the ret 
 
 -Mr. KEN] 
 
 * Mr. Chair 
 
 ' 7»ith the s 
 w believe 
 
 li'a;,ion of v 
 
 rion ha7<», I 
 I7 lead h 
 'jiiftstion of 
 es.-i resolut 
 id treaty rr, 
 
 2^ giving tvv 
 ■)>'o^aie it. 
 lloc do v,/hat 
 •fiv party, w 
 rnohinj; 
 I'.d dcso'.atii 
 './^^Wi^ a wf 
 r>: hclievfi t 
 5! questior 
 Bntba tlii 
 i«f ?o far a: 
 those wh( 
 wafte or wai 
 rmined it s 
 
 'eST'')!"! 'CRiO 
 
 t prRclud* 
 
 result 
 
 f the territi 
 
 loo lon^ slei 
 
 fci pe.#.e, ^ 
 
 i»iftV»red En^ 
 
 fcrritor/ in 
 
 Ibosea, for a 
 
 •eaceable ji 
 
 that our nee 
 
 •rrength anc 
 
 fhrt masses- 
 
 Iw?'^ not CO 
 
 «7 treaties 
 
 ,<lmind, ancf 
 
 ■'lot while th 
 
 ^frtfe, they m 
 
 "^ Ivy drplomc 
 
 ' Now the 
 
 'and arguiT 
 I come satisf 
 
'^ . 
 
 i 
 
 SPEECH. 
 
 the re3cluiio?i giving fks twelve inonlhs* notice far the termr.atlon of the 
 joint occupancy of the Oregon territory. 
 
 Me. KENNEDY addressid the committee as fol- 
 
 ' Mr. Chairman: From the course this debate has 
 
 kf.f), should a spectator enter this hall, unacquaint- 
 
 ° 7»ith the subject that gave rise to it, lie would be 
 
 to believe thai the question pending was a dec- 
 
 auon of war (igainst txrear Britain. All who 
 
 apr« ari^jed against the re ilution.s under consido- 
 
 prion hiivf. declared that t(. >nm them would inev- 
 
 hly i»ad to war. Now, 1 -bmit that this is not 
 
 'I'lftstion of peace or war. '1 , '; very treaty which 
 
 «3C r«3olations propose to ennui, provides that 
 
 id treaty r.,ay at anytime beannulled ijy either par- 
 
 2', apvinsr twelve months' notice of their intention to 
 ^i'iipte it. And has it come to this, that we can- 
 h'it do wha". the treaty stipulates niaj/be done by ei- 
 hfi.r party, without incurring the charge of wicked- 
 jr rn:?hino; our country, unprepared, into a needless 
 r><\ de.wlating war? Sir, I hurl back this charge of 
 U'Akiri^ a war upon those who make it, for I will 
 lo: believe that war rr.iist necessarily grov/ out of 
 ftia rjUf^stion. 
 
 P.iub:^ tlii^: iv it may, so far ns ! am concerned, 
 tnrt ST) fcv HA I urider.stand the feeling and o])inionp 
 •f those whom I represent, this if! not a question of 
 er,c^, or war, but a question of right, and I am de- 
 rmined it shall be so treated. Does the territory of 
 'e?on belong to the United States? If it docs, ftiat 
 ct; prftcludes; the question whetlier peace or war 
 frvy result from our action or from the occupation 
 kf 'he territory. But it has been said that we have 
 jho long .■slept upon our rights to assert them now 
 Jn pe.#e. That does not result from our having 
 ihjfi'ered England jointly tc occupy this magnificent 
 territory in common with us, for commercial pur- 
 ses, for a quarter of a century. This long and 
 »ceable ,oint tenancy has resulted from the fact 
 iat our people were not made acquainted with the 
 •trength and clearness of our title. Thousands of 
 th<* ma-^se.-; — the bone and sinew of our country — 
 Iw7(» not conned over all the old recc.us and mus- 
 ty treaties in which our recora of title is to be 
 ,^und, and learned therefronr! its nature or extent; 
 -fcwt while they were in doubt or ignorance as to our 
 
 * title, they were willing '.o see what could be done 
 t Ivy drplomacy. 
 
 • Now the case is altered, and we have, by proofs 
 t wad argumcntfl that have been laid liefore us, be- 
 f come satisfi^J that our title" to the whole of O/egon, 
 
 from 42° to M°4C' north latitude,' is "clear and un- 
 questionable." 
 
 I call upon gentlemen from the South, who go 
 against the notice, to recall the irresialible argu- 
 ments made, and the clear and inextinguishable 
 light which has been shed upon our title by their 
 "great statesman," before they ask us to surrender 
 oiie inch of the Oregon territory, whi.h he hiis' so 
 conclusiv«:ly shown to be ours. Are we to read 
 the masterly arguments of John C. Calhoun and 
 James Buchanan, which have made our title to the 
 v.hole of Oregon as clear us sunlight, only for the 
 purpose of making our surrender of what they have 
 siiown clearly to be ours the more disgraceful.' 
 
 We of the West are not ''bookish" men. What, 
 Utile education we liave we received after the labor 
 of the day had been done, in the school of adversi- 
 ty, in the Far West, iind almost on the verge of 
 civilization, where our .itruggles have been with the 
 Indian, and our wrestling with the bear — now no 
 common (jccurrence. We have, therefore, left ir. 
 to our agents to settle the question to whom, by ihc 
 record, Oregon belongs. Thi.s they have done, and 
 done well. Our part of the task, whjch is to maintain 
 and defend our rights, is now to commence; and by 
 the remembrance of the deed.s of our fathers, and 
 the strong aiiection we cherish for our wildcrnes.s 
 homes, we will detcnd them or perish in the at- 
 tempt; we do not want war, and you slander lu^ 
 when you say that our hands are itching to grasp 
 the stee! of strife, and our hearts panlmg for the 
 deadly conflict. No people more highly appreciate 
 or value peace and brotherly love, that should bind 
 in one unbroken chain all the families of man, than 
 the people of the West. We know that our free 
 institutions flourish best in the mild and genial at- 
 mosphere of pence; but, when it comes to thi sur- 
 render of the patrimony of our fathers — to receding 
 from, or yielding up our just rights upon our own 
 soil, then, we say, peace can no longer be honorap 
 ble; and we shall not hesitate when it comes to the 
 question of dishonorable peace, or honmaiile war. 
 
 The honorable member from South Carolina |Mr. 
 RhettJ has warned us against the consequences 
 which may follow a combination of the European 
 monarchies against what they may please to call an 
 eflTort on our part to push the principles of our free 
 government beyond the boundaries thereof. Sir, we 
 are no propagandists. We do not wish to spread 
 
 -t. * :■ .1 J h 
 
ovir principles by conquest; we deairc to force our 
 UMtitutions upon no people under the auii, however 
 much we might be pleased to aee all mankind, not 
 only appreciating, but enjoying their inestimable 
 biessingB. But when it contes to this, whether we 
 shall plant them upon our own aoil, and within our 
 wfidoubted territorial limits, it is quite another ques- 
 Uon; in such a case, we cannot stop to count the 
 cost, or look at consequences. 
 
 Another honorable gentleman from Virgiriia [Mr. 
 Hunter] has told us that "before we succeeded in 
 wresting Oregon from England by conquest, we 
 must prepare to chu.se the Britii^h lion around the 
 world in his blood and oluver." Sir, 1 have no dis- 
 position to engage in the cha.-c of such a beast, but 
 thi.si I will say, that if the British, or any other lion, 
 lays down in our ))uth, whilst we are peaceably pur- 
 swing our own business, witliin our own territory, 
 that he will be soon be chased from that luir. 
 
 Conquest is not our ol ject, and surrendering our 
 territory is still farther from it. If any gentleman 
 here, be he from the North or the South, tlie East or 
 the West, who believes our title to Oregon is not good, 
 fee shall be excused from voting for this notice; but 
 the man that iell.s m*; that he believes that Oregon is 
 ours, and stili shrinks from assertmg our exclusive 
 rights there, will allow me, in all kindness, to tell 
 him to look to it, that he does not place himself in 
 an attitude that will not only make him nncurrcnt 
 coin among hisconstituente, but neglect a duty, the 
 non-performance of which he will deeply regret du- 
 ring the remainder of his life. 
 
 It" Oregon he ours, is ii not a blasting, withering 
 siiame that the cross of St. George should now be 
 doaling over any portion of it f 
 
 [Here Mr. Simms, of Missouri, exclainieJ aloud — 
 "Yes, it is a burning shame, and it will blister our 
 foreheads, like the mark set by God upon Cain."] 
 
 And are wo to bear this reproach — and shall a 
 brai)d like this be burnt mto the foreheads of the sons 
 of the "Old Thirteen," because, if we attempt to 
 reraove it, we may provoke a war.- Suppo;^ your 
 fathers, of glorious revolution.-iry memory, had 
 been thus timid — suppo.'Je that before tliey com- 
 menced that struggle for liberty, they had, us gen- 
 tlemen say, counted the cost, had "numbered the 
 ships and liayonets of their insolent oppressors, 
 where would you have been, Mr. Chairman ? In- 
 stead of presiding, as you nou do, over an Ameri- 
 can Congress, you would l.ave been a vassal of the 
 British crown. 
 
 And has the blood oftho.se me-.t which now Hows 
 through our veins become so pale — has it degene- 
 rated 80 soon that in less than one century — and 
 whilst a few, a'a^! too few of those noble patriots 
 are still lingering i,mong us — we arc prepared to 
 mirrender to the same haughty power, a portion of 
 the glorious legacy achieved by their \-alor, for fear 
 wc may be startled by the sound of their war-trump, 
 or the rattle of their artillery .- Forbid it, Heaven ! 
 
 (Gentlemen have argued this is a western ques- 
 lion. It is a national (juestion. Every portion and 
 section of this country is inteifsted, and deeply in- 
 terested, in the possession and occupation of Ore- 
 gon. Yet, on account of its locality, western gen- 
 Semen have frequently been appealed to in relation 
 to it, and western feeling inquired after. If the 
 West is to be consulted as to the settlement of Ore- 
 gon — and 1 believe they ought — 1 declare it to be 
 my firm belief that in that vast md mighty valley, 
 not one man in twenty willcvor consent to surren- 
 der one inch of what they beiicvc riglilfully to be- 
 
 I 
 
 long to the United St iteb They will neither ftjBe '^ut a 
 render it for fear of a war, nor &sll it for a pecuniaijitpariaonl 
 consideration. All the bayonets of England caiipift to dead! 
 win, nor all the gold of Peru purchase it. «^nded n 
 
 But the gentleman from Alabama [Mr Y'anc K^^ng, orpj 
 admonishes us to wait until we are prepared for t:^(« arc fJ 
 strife, as though strife must necessarily follow oio^t cases,! 
 action. He fays, and says truly, that when tj^d immcJ 
 western people are once aroused for the struggle, It ia to bi 
 need.s no prophet to predict the result; and seemi.i d our pol 
 to believe me as one of the spirits he described i iis it to al 
 panting for war, said, in compliment, that I, M , which il 
 Chairman, with rifle in hand, would lead to tt the revoj 
 deadly breath. Why, sir, he has wholly mislakt that sped 
 my character; I am a "man ol peace;" I beloi jmitted tJ 
 to that anciertt, war-hating and peace-loving peofi Idren inl 
 called lluakers, who detest war in all its forms. IJ la of aBrI 
 notwithstanding the prejudices that my educatic mpare thd 
 necessarily engendered, I have \ ?t to learn th;it c call on^ 
 can surrender any portion of the inheritance left b set him 
 the fathers of the republic without dishonor; ar mor — whi 
 1 hope 1 am not )»rep«red for that. iients lefil 
 
 Some of our friends of the Siuth who prefcss MofHict, anl 
 be for Oregon, say to us of the West, "the conn dow and I 
 you are )tursning will lose you Oregon, and we g ciiin'a bio 
 against the resolution giving the notice to save ti, ither figh 
 country for you." 1 feel under great obligations t lerehev 
 them for then- kindness; but will they be so goo( jhts is be 
 in this matter at least, as to let us of the West d( Most of 
 termine for ourselves \k hat our best policy is, an y thatlh 
 to pursue it.' J recollect on a former occasion, whe it thatj|il 
 there was another question before this body — not ;aceably. 
 question of extending our laws over and takin ttr.e. Let 
 possession of our own soil, but whether we shoul ) discussi 
 admit into the circle of our glorious I'nion a frf ut encout 
 and gallant people, wFio, like ourfathers, had achieve rcgon. ar 
 their freedom in the fiercest contests, and at t. 
 point of the bayonet — then our Southern brethre 
 said, "this is the go/JMi moment,'" and this is tr 
 approved mode. It a northern or western ma 
 presumed to question the mode, or object to she tiniel 
 lie was denounced as recreant to the best interests o' 
 his country, and suspected of .-secret hostility to tl' 
 measure. I then thought this language unkind ancL 
 the suspicion unjust to long-tried and faithful fru?nd.vilo.'ial dislu 
 and therefore will not repeat or apply them here tilupiicity 
 our brethren of the South. We went with t.heiif ught to hi 
 then, and, I might almo.st say, we .vent it blind, hat we in( 
 That great measure is now consummated; our uniot, 'ghts ther 
 is complete and glorious; and it now ren\ains to bii erritory 8 
 seen wliether our friends, who then led the wa) >een giveii 
 with a '/.eal deserving of a noble cause, and an en ; M honor 
 ergy that knew no abatement, wi'l at Ik'n time play epublican 
 us false, and turn us off with the traitor's sneer. I c*H*n to le 
 so, I shall not reproach them; they no doubt dtyhe givin 
 what they think their duty. But this much* I wil It may br 
 tell them, that their hesitation and opposition wiil)<*S*'"' 
 not deter us from discharging our duty to our con^ t*] pre" 
 stituents and to our country. We will enter tiu' < lists wdl 
 breach alone, and should all but the West hang' i*l "^urcii 
 back, she alone would feel competent to meet and; ect tnem 
 overcome every emergency; and in peace they wil . Jierciless 
 not rest until no Hag but our own glorious stars and fp" f^^^^ ^ 
 stripe^) shall wave over everv inch of th3 Americai #taia the 
 soil. Protect tl 
 
 Some one, I believe it wa.i the gentleman fro.i -l^no*' 5>o' 
 South Carolina, m speaking of the calamities d >»ome of 
 war, and the only causes that would justify a natior jjfamdjr h 
 i' appealing to that dread tribui.al, said, thai wound- 1*'"*'^ '°n 
 ed honor w-buld alone justify a resort to anr.s, ar.l Jt'irough 
 compared it to the once common, but now disgrace- k^^itivatfi 
 ful, resort to orms i>etweer>> private ii;d;Yidu«ia to V'>^ ^'^^''l, 
 
 hold forn 
 J intend 
 uch like s 
 vantage c 
 r war. I 
 ill allow 1 
 r,! prehen 
 feel that 
 
y y/ill neither fijBe out a atirin from wounded honor. I Uiink the 
 " fora pecunin>j|»pari8on a bad one. Duelling is at best buta re- 
 3 of E»g:land canmft to deadly conflict, to gratify personal vanity or 
 'cnaae it. ^ <^nded pride; there is nothing national, noble, 
 ima [Mr YANCK^ng, or patriotic about it; its very nature or ele- 
 tre prepared for i.tt\i» arc false pride and base selfishness. War in 
 essurily follow oiobi cases, when justifiable, is not to secure a great 
 
 Illy, til ■ ■ 
 
 for the struggle, 
 result; and seeriij 
 's he described 
 iment, that I, M, 
 would lead to tl 
 IS wholly mistak 
 peace;" I faeio 
 
 y, that when tij^d immediately but remotely. 
 
 t is to break the shackles which otherwise might 
 d our posterity in chains too strung to be broken. 
 iS it to avoid the payment of a two-penny tax on 
 which induced our fathers to unHheath the sword 
 the revolution.' Or was it not rather a resistance 
 that species of legislation and policy, which, if 
 bmitted to, would Imve made themselves and their 
 eace-loving peop ildren instruments of British tyranny, and pup- 
 I all it.s forms, il ta of a British j?arliameni? And can any sane man 
 hat my educutic tnpare that noble appeal to the God of battles, to 
 > ?t to learnth.it > call one individual may make upon another to 
 inheritance left h fet him upon what is called by some the field of 
 out dishonor; ar. nor — where, in too many instances, the only mon- 
 [lents left to to mark the spot of the barbarous 
 nth who prefe-ss :| n3ict, and to tell of the wrong.s inflicted upon the 
 West, "the coiiri dow and the orphan, is the soil 'vhich drank the 
 Vegon, and we ej:iiin'a blood? Sir^ I live in a country where they 
 ither fight duels, nor sacrifice national rights; but 
 lerehe who falld in the defence of his country's 
 ht3 is believed to slumber in the patriot'.s grave. 
 Most of those who go against these resolutions, 
 y tliat they do not design to surrender Oregon, 
 t lhatj[ihey only wish to settle the question 
 aceably. ''Masterly iractivity" is the cry of 
 n;e. Let the convention or treaty stand— have 
 discussion, and make no question about it noio; 
 ; encourage emigation, push your settlers into 
 rcgon, and when you have strength enough there 
 hold forcible po£.session, then let it be known that 
 J intend to assert your right.'!. This to me seems 
 uch like stealing into your own territory, taking 
 vantage of ap»-,-/cnceof peace to fortify yourselves 
 i- war. If this view of the subject be iight, you 
 ill allow me to say, thatalthoujjli I may not exactly 
 n.iprehend what is meant by national honor, yet 
 feel that such a policy would bring upon us na- 
 o.'!al dishonor, atiu subject us to the charge of base 
 iipucity. If we believe that Oregon is ou's, we 
 
 notice to save t 
 ;reat obligations 
 they be so gooi 
 ! of the West d 
 est policy is, am 
 ler occasion, uhei 
 this body— not 
 over and takinj 
 hether we shou 
 ious l.'nion a fn 
 hers, had achi.evei 
 tests, and at th 
 Southern brethren 
 
 and this is tr 
 or western ma 
 'bjpct to ihe tip.iel 
 
 best interest.'^ o' 
 et hostility to tl' 
 iiage unkind a.M 
 i faithful fru?f:d.'J 
 ly them here r( 
 
 vent with then- i^glit to have courage enough to tell England so; and 
 ■icnt it bli.id. hat we intended and were prepared to maintain our 
 natcd; our iinioi, Jght3 there by immediate occupancy of the whole 
 ■ remains to b.i erritory after the twelve montlis' notice shall have 
 n led the waj leen giveo. We ov/e it to ourselves, we owe it to 
 ise, and an en iie honor of our country, t<> tell England in plain 
 it tl»i.^ time pja) epiiblican terms what we intend to do. 1 would 
 iitor'.s sneer. I ictM-n to lake cnir own by r.tealth, or their's by force, 
 no doubt dc The giving this notice is further objected to for fear 
 lis muchf I will trnay bring dire calamities upon our citizens in 
 opposition wiii )regon. The gentleman from Virginia fiMr. Hun- 
 uty to our con , er] predicts, that the effect of a war (which he in- 
 e will enter tiw ' itat3 will follow the giving this notice) will be to put 
 he West hang! iH our citizens in that territory to the sword, or sub- 
 nt to meet and; ect them to the tomahawk and scalping knife of the 
 peac« they wd . wercilese Indian. Let that gentleman calm his fears 
 rious stars and |pn tJiat subject; that people will never ask you to 
 tha Americai -ftaia the escutchion of this government in order to 
 n-otcct them from either red coal or red skin. I 
 entlemao fro.i i^now some of the people of thatfar-olT territory; with 
 B calamities cf ?»otne of them I have warmed my feet at the same 
 justify a naiior .fJimily hearth; with them I learned my letters in the 
 id, that wound- I^Ji^'C «og school house, and with them have I passed 
 t to anr.s, an ) |through scenes of hardi^hip and suffering in the un- 
 now disgrace- »-itivatcd wilds of the West, that have fitted them 
 ii;d;vidu«Ia to |^'>f every enterprise however hazardous, and every 
 
 danger however threatening. They went to Oregon 
 with their eyes open; and all ihay ask of youii, t* 
 untie the fetters which this treaty of joint oceuptto- 
 cy has thrown around their manly limUt. Tha k 
 all they avk ut your hands; and should they fall in 
 asserting our right to the i<)Ao/e of Oregon, they wiU 
 sink, covered with honorable scars, a rich legacy to 
 their sons who will arise to avenge their father*:* 
 wrongs. 
 
 1 have been pained to hear, during this debatr, al 
 lusion made to the western peofde as a war-lnvine 
 and peace-hating people, who delight in blood ana 
 carnage, and who were aii.\ious by their courae to 
 embroil this country in a war. Who are those mot 
 thus unkindly alluded to and unjustly assailed? 
 They are sons of revolutionary sires, and spirits of 
 noble daring, who have cleared the way for you into 
 the heart of this magnificent empire. They have 
 gone before you like the pillar of cloud by day and 
 of fire I'y night, rolling back the Indian of the for- 
 est to give passage to civilization, as the waters of 
 the Red sea were rolled back by the Great Jehovah 
 to give pa.-isa^e to the children of Israel ; and how- 
 ever scornfully you may treat them, or whatever es- 
 timate you may place upon them, I verily believe 
 they are as pure and patriotic as the citizens of any 
 other portion of this Union. While they are on the 
 frontiers, where their instincts and duty lead them, 
 upon the very soil designed by Providence as their 
 inheritance, they will remain in peace and quiei, 
 giving you uo trouble, and making no unnecessary 
 demands upon your government. But I warn you 
 from the consequences of an effort to stop their on- 
 ward progress. Do not let the British get posse-a- 
 sion of Oregon, and block up the passes of the 
 Rocky mountains against their western flight. 
 Should you do it, and thereby turn back into the 
 valley of the Great vVest tho&e whose disposition 
 and choice it is to mingle in border scenes of hard- 
 ship and suffering, you may introduce into our so- 
 ciety an element that may tumble it into ruins, as 
 did Samson the teiTiple of Dagon when he seixedits 
 pillars at the city of Gaza. 
 
 What is .our exact position in relation to this mat- 
 ter? The President, during last summer, made a 
 proposition to Great Britain to divide the Oregon 
 territory on the 49th parallel of latitude. This offer 
 was rejected by the British minister without a refer- 
 ence to his government, and was as prrtmplly with- 
 drawn by the Executive, who now frankly telU us, 
 that, in his opinion, no offer of comproraiae that 
 this government ought to accept, will be made by 
 England; and, therefore, this notice, in his opinioa, 
 ought to be given. I am not disposed to censure 
 the President for having made this proposition, sur- 
 rounded as he was by many difli:uities and embar- 
 rassments, growing out of former negotiations, and 
 the position in which he found the question when he- 
 came into office; but I am free to say, that 1 con- 
 gratulate him, not only for his own sake, but for 
 that of the country, that his offer was rejecred. And 
 I think I may venture to predict, that such an offer 
 will not again be made; and certain 1 am that, stta- 
 ated as we now are, the country wdl not sustain any 
 executive or administration in repeating it. No obsta- 
 cle can now be thrown in the way to prevent our 
 holding the territory uy (o 54° 40\ unless her Ma- 
 jesty's government should disavow the action of ber 
 minister, and now propose to accept the Presideu * 
 offer. This ( think will not be done; if not, we aie 
 at length clear of the shackles which previoiis or- 
 ' gotiationa liave flimg around us, and free to txttzimt. 
 
bur exclnsive ri^'hts to the whole of Oregon. But 
 •^ijppoflc we npg'ect to carry out the rcnommenda- 
 tioirof the President, and refuse to "ive the notice: 
 Mi'tU it not be nn intimntion to the British govern- 
 ment and to the world, that Conjjrnns doe'; not con- 
 nir wfth the executive hranch of the government, an 
 to tlie cloiirnoss of our title to that territory — or yel, 
 n still more humMiuiiny; nclniovvlcdsimenf, that we 
 
 I 
 
 terali»m will grow on the ruins of State-rigl^j.^ ^^^^ , 
 Mr. Chairman, I nm a democrat, and as the saySre (1,;^ q 
 is, dyed in the wool; I have alwRys to the utmost? ^^^jp, 
 my ability opposed centrdlinm, banks, funded del 
 and protective tarifi'i; indeed it has been a comn 
 remark, that I was so radical, that it placed mf. 
 TRiUury in advance of my own parly. But, Iv 
 known that 1 am not the man to maintain my poi 
 <lo not feel ourselves able id vindicate onr righis i<*al party in the management of internal affuirs, tj^ther 
 thereto? I the surrender of external rights. And I now dec!: ^ ^^^ 
 
 "What do centlemen promi.sc tlirmsnlves from fur- \ in the presence of this House, and in the face oft „g g|^j 
 
 world, that if it be necessary to the maintenance i^ the y 
 onr national rights, and country's honor, that i; ghgdow 
 political opponents take the reins of g;overnmen; ,jj head 
 am this day willing to make to them the surrender ^Q^ ^ 
 
 Ihtt nesjoliations, whilst this joint occupancy lust 
 Qf*at Britain is now in po.sseHsiori of all she ever 
 daimed, and while this treaty lu--t.^, I assme gen- 
 tlemen ehe will never settle this qiic;!lion, for the 
 very good nisaon, that her condition can never he 
 beltlcr, but may be, and unquestionably would be, 
 worse. It would, therefore, be an ;ict of folly on her 
 
 Cart to allow it to be changed so lonij ns she could 
 . eep ilin stain ijuo. Give this notice— abrogate this 
 treaty — and then she will see and feel the necessity of 
 Jmmedictte and eflfectual negotiation; till that is done, 
 5^our negoiiationiiwili be all twaddle. The gentleman 
 froni Houih Carolina, [Mr. Riiett,] for the purpose, 
 as I tiiDughf, of frightening ns from the performance 
 of what we honestly believed to be onrduiy. has in- 
 titifiated (he probability of a combination oil the fwrt 
 of the nionarchs of the (^Id World Ic ortiflh ns as 
 jiropagandisls. On this subject, 1 want him, as 
 well m fill olherK who do nie llic honor to li.^ten 
 to my reniark.s, to und';ist;ind v/hat I iliink to lie 
 the duty of this gnvcrnnifui in relation to this mai- 
 ler. 1 hold it to he the Ijonndcn duty of the gov- 
 ernmRnt ofllie United Siatcn, from the [icrrormnnce 
 ■of'which she cannot shrink without di.stionor, to 
 wee'that her iii.siitulioiia nr<! .set up and maintained 
 ■wilhhi her entire limits; here her du'.v ends; but 
 hUded to this, she has n privilege, frnai tho enjoy- 
 inenc of whicli no governni'-nt or combination of 
 gnvernineiiiB(uin or shall " li-^r— that i^, when 
 
 any contiguous nation w 'O unite iicr destiny 
 
 Avithours,und become on. con^tpIljuior'sifit't'iOK 
 
 Slates, we will pud nj) il)e laich-.stnng and let her 
 «oi»>«i in, UJ share witli xw. in all the piivilcger^and 
 immuiiitiesofr.nr ..'loii.MiJ? confcdenicv. Wc claim 
 ao rii;;:!! to fn-ce wiilijn oar ei;i'!o any ".nr.! 
 do notdfsirc to sit ;.f our fivinily hoi^rr!: 
 claim, and will'cxerciae, the riglit 
 vxii-^paity; i'lid tlnii i'i;'!it we .,, 
 
 believing, as I from my soul do believe, that 
 
 everything that j)ertains lo the honor of our cou fg « 
 
 try, tlieyiu"ea.s patriotic as we are, and that o onJe genii 
 
 differences as to administrative measures grow o inyofnl 
 
 of honest differences of opinion, as to what will b^ ^idence I 
 
 promote our country's weal. But I utterly repui ,jg ^ere 
 
 remBinil 
 
 e that al 
 
 no cnl 
 
 her dl 
 
 owes th| 
 
 to the 
 
 >are to 
 
 ate the gentleman's argument; it is false in theor 
 and equally false in fact. Democracy can grow, ai 
 has grown, whilst the storm of war raged in all 
 fury; the seeds of democracy were cast into the ear] 
 by the hand of the rcolution; it was cradled in if 
 storms, and nursed in its fiercest conllicts; thereat 
 then was the tree of liberty planted; and llietempes] 
 of war only loo.'^ened the earth about its roots, th 
 it mi<;ht grow the faster and spread the wider; i 
 roots have been plentifully moistened by the war: 
 life's blood of those who ilefendel it against the fui 
 OMS assaults of the wild boar of legitimacy, seekir 
 to whet his tusks again.st its inner bark. And 
 now tell gentlemen, I hat if it is occasionally tnoii 
 ened by the blood of the patriot, honestly shed in it 
 defente, it will not grow a whit the worse, nor en! 
 a leaf on that accoimt. Has not the West, tl^ 
 whole of that beautiful inland paradise resound' 
 with the clank of arms, and has not its soil, an 
 
 Idful of 
 n small 
 is of the 
 is short 
 need b] 
 ontinen 
 I, followi 
 from h 
 en clout 
 along tl 
 his last 
 to be via 
 in this? 
 hen he f 
 ? The 
 or infic 
 is said ] 
 territory 
 It mistak 
 into y/i 
 
 liiit w" do 
 > choose ruf own 
 1 lolinijiiish only 
 
 naiional exi,'>;c;ifc. AVe iJn not wish, as 
 
 , to extend onr bonlers 
 
 ^^;ith our 
 
 Uom'e dnl 
 
 «rins, bnl choose rather tlie^rnle of ri>cht than of 
 
 »night. In t!ie end stich ;• policy will be set m to have 
 
 every furlong thereof, been stained with the blood 
 
 the pioneer and Indian commingling as ihi y fel! i^i^ ^\^^ -yy, 
 
 deadly strife? Will any man tell me that libertjij^f jjg j, 
 
 in it.^ niofit comely and nnobtru.sive form, does nij-j y^mj^ 
 
 (lourisii there? Sir, it is the very ji!a.:e where ~ 
 
 mi y be truly said, we have liberty without lice 
 
 tiou>Jiiess', and order in the ahsunee of law. 
 
 W^e have again and again, in the course of tli: 
 debate, been reminded of the power and sfreatncf 
 
 of the government with which wcare likely to con. 
 
 ly the forc<; ofj in conflict. I do not de.nre to speak harshly of thj 
 
 IJritish government; but I despi.se this con;5ta;i| 
 
 ^ vHtmting of the greatness of England. Who, an^ 
 
 been wise; for as Rome expanded, acquiring one what is s+ie? The seal of her power is situated oi, 
 possession af"ier another by confincn?, she w.i.-i ob- a little island stuck down in the North sea. Trut 
 1i|^ to maintain herself by rapire and jilunder -she has spread her arms like seas, to grasp in alj 
 
 the shores; but still she is not so terrible as to mak^ 
 the nations tremble. All of her greatness now de^ 
 pends upon her commerce. Clip her wings of that 
 and, like the bird of Jove, she falls to the earth 
 
 to maintain _,.. 
 
 wwrever she could carry her arni.'^; and the conse- 
 <iuence was, that when she CQuld no longer retain ! 
 I&e possessions she had acquired by force by I 
 tbe same means she used in their acquisition, she! 
 
 feH. We, on the contrarv, accept only t!io,^o who l lifeless carcass 
 come voluntarily, and froni choice. And tho.se v.'ho " " 
 
 desire admission into ourconfede' y need no force 
 to remin them there. Each additional Htatp, adniit- 
 -ted under such circnmstanccs, add.^ another 
 «nd permanent pillar for the dtfence and 
 
 I 
 
 ne.w 
 orna- 
 
 ment of the tenif)le <if liberiy. 
 
 Anothei^new, and to mc n very strange uri:ument. 
 against these resolutions is, that'if we,1>y os^serting 
 «ur rights to Oregon, are unfonnnatel;,' plunged into 
 ^ war, ll:e consequence would be, n "deprcpsion of 
 democratic, and a: ri.se of federa' principier.; iha- -en 
 
 seek no conflict between my« 
 country and Great Britain. Let each pursue heil 
 path alone, and unmolested by the other. We wili 
 not go out of our way to attack the British lion; bii} 
 if he chooses to lay liimself across our path, and re^ 
 fu.ses to remove at a peaceful summons, then there 
 
 will be no alternative — the American eagle will 
 strike her talons into his nostrils, and you will seej 
 his blood spout as though a whale hiid been hari 
 pooned. 
 
 There is, 1 repeat, no occasion for war; and thcrei 
 will be noacj unles.^ the government of Great Britairi 
 
 mencing 
 
 rty years 
 
 ad of tv 
 
 ity-two. 
 
 ication ta 
 
 on by til 
 
 you find 
 
 ion oft) 
 
 faces tl 
 
 ho!" it 
 
 this sii 
 
 up the I 
 
 snows ai 
 
 ch it tak 
 
 jon, are 
 
 ire to dc 
 
 -God 
 
 pys, brl 
 
 our illi 
 
 in it b< 
 
 South 
 
 rer of a 
 
 list us? 
 
 Inholy s 
 
 rowth 
 
 other 
 
 uttitude 
 
 It. it mu 
 
 ■=»* 
 
. T 
 
 ays to the mmos 
 )unk8, funded del 
 lan been a comii 
 lat it placed nif 
 n party. But, Ix 
 I maintoin my pui 
 f internal afiuirB, 
 And 1 now dec!; 
 
 Hi 
 
 ia 
 
 racy can <?row, ai] 
 'ar raj^ed in al! 
 e cast into the eari 
 i was cradled in i| 
 conllicts; there aii 
 !il, and tlietempesi 
 ibout its roots, tJi 
 cad the wider; 
 iined by the war 
 I it against the iurj 
 egitiinac.y, seekii 
 her haik. And 
 accasionally inoi< 
 lonestly shed in ii 
 ho worse, nor <■ 
 lot the Weat, tli 
 aradisc resound' 
 nnt its soil, ai 
 i wiih the blood f] 
 ing as they fell 
 
 l"!«H'-f!^- '■■'"'<« w«r with thi« country. If nhe doea.uhe may 
 .«. r« fk- .*^*^!»« <l''« que«tion the pretext. Whether «he wants 
 remains to be !<een. If it ia the design of Provi- 
 e that she shall decline, as she arose, by de- 
 no conflict will come. If, on the other hand, 
 her destiny to pay in blood the debt of blood 
 'owes (he world, then I have no objection to be- 
 to the nation and to live in the iige that nhall 
 lise her for the evils she has inflicted on the hu- 
 n.i ;« #1, (• e I ™<*' She is old and worn within; the blood 
 T. Jo; . ' <«• ««»'«• hef "'«•'»«• If ehe is mad enough to 
 
 's bono iT'T * '*"" y"""P S'*"* °^ ''"^ western world, whose 
 s of ffov' ,' shadow is already beginning to eclipse her glory, 
 
 ,««, .i5 ''"'"'""^"' ler head be the consequences; and let those who 
 In il L "Tu lot engaged in the conflict stand from under, and 
 
 mnn. if ' '«« 10 hear a crash "tis if the ribs of nature 
 
 lonor of our cou j. n 
 
 2 are, and that o ome gentlemen scoflTat what has been called the 
 measures grow o liny of nations-or what is the same thing, the 
 
 uTtc"l '^'•'«"<=* °* ^^ '" theaflTttirs of men. Sir. 
 
 r]y repui ^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^ centuries ago? We were a 
 
 lalse in iheor^jf,,, ^f nWgrmn landing upon Plymouth rock, 
 
 a small band of cavaliers planted on the sunny 
 
 IS of the South. From this small beginning, and 
 
 is short time, what have we become? We have 
 
 need by steady and peaceful strides, covering 
 
 ontinent with independent and industrious citi- 
 
 , following up the red man foot by foot, driving 
 
 from haunt- to haunt, until, like a small and 
 
 en cloud that skirts the far-off* horizon, he now 
 
 along the shores of the western ocean, ready to 
 
 his last plunge, and leave the graves of his fath- 
 
 to be visited no more forever. Is there no des- 
 
 in this? Is not the finger of God as plainly seen 
 
 hen he first set in the heavens the star of Beth- 
 
 ? The man who sees it not must be either 
 
 or infidel. 
 
 is said by some that we do not need the Ore- 
 territory for purposes of settlement. This is a 
 mistake; and that you may clearly see the 
 into which some have fallen, I invite you to 
 ri iti 'n "^ '^* West, and visit one of our log cabins, and 
 r.ic in.it 11"! r!;ig|ber its inmates. There you will see a strong, 
 V ,,'^'"'"' p">pt youth of eighteen, with his better half, just 
 rtv ^' fl ^^l'?"' Ifmencing the first struggles of independent life. 
 piy witiioiu iictir^rty years from that time, visit them again; and 
 ead of two. you will find in that same family 
 rity-two. This is what I call the American niul- 
 cation table. Multiply this and the next gen- 
 ion bj^ this table, and where, without Oregon, 
 you find room for our people? The greater 
 ion of this multiplying mass of humanity have 
 r faces turned towards the setting sun. "West- 
 d ho !" is the cry; and you can no more stop 
 this side the shores of the Pacific than you can 
 up the mighty waters of the Missouri, whilst 
 nows are melting on the Stony mountain in 
 h it takes its rise. Where, I repeat, without 
 on, are we to find room for our people? What 
 >'e to do with the httle white-headed girlii and 
 God bless them ! — who throng our western 
 ys, bright and blooming as the flowers that 
 our illimitable prairief? 
 
 n it be true, as suggested by the gentleman 
 
 South Carolina, [Mr. Rhett,] that there is 
 
 er of a combined alliance of European powers 
 
 1st us? Do they exhibit u disposition to form 
 
 nholy alliance, to prevent the spread and cru3h 
 
 owth of our free institutions? I repeat, there 
 
 other danger of war growing out of our prf s- 
 
 ttitude upon the Oregon question. In that 
 
 It. it may be made the pretext for the onslaught. 
 
 licti 
 5 of l;iw. 
 the course of tli 
 nir and greatnc 
 Eire likely to coir.i 
 \k har.shly of tlij 
 ise this conatau, 
 and. Who, an; 
 'ei- is situated oi, 
 ifortli sea. Tnit; 
 IS, to gra.sp in a! 
 rrible as to mak 
 reatness now de 
 icr winffs of tha 
 is to the earth m 
 ict between my/ 
 each pursue he 
 other. We wil 
 British lion; bn 
 )ur path, and r& 
 aoiis, then ther 
 rican eagle wilj 
 ind you will see 
 e haid been har 
 
 »r war; and therej 
 of Great Britair- 
 
 but ran never be the real «ause of war. Gnj^land 
 has no rights iu or to Oregon; at least, her dipio* 
 mntista have failed to show them, whilst ours hav^ 
 clrnrly negatived the existence of any such ri||hl. .. 
 
 Let us take a Rhort retrospect of the past, in oi^ 
 der to judge correctly of the future. Liberty,, fai'r 
 ing to find a foothold upon the old continent, took 
 her flight to the New World. The causes whi^ 
 produced, utid the consequences which followed, tne 
 American revolution, planted deep irt our soil the 
 tree of liberty. 
 
 The formation of our constitution linked closetjr 
 together u chain of free republican States, as a ram* 
 part around that tree, to protect it from the outward 
 pres.surfl occasioned by the hostility of EuropcAfi 
 governments to the liberal principles which lay at 
 the foundation of our system of government, ror 
 half » century the representatives of legitimificy 
 looked upon this expcria'<ent with great concern, ap4 
 not u little fear of its consequences upon tlheir oWf\ 
 ill-gniten power, which must melt under the gl(>Wr 
 ing light and scorching ray4 of the sun of ljb<\rtv^ 
 casting back his bright cfTulgence upon the, Q]l<f 
 World, leaching man everywhere that God has giv- 
 en him rights, and demands that h^ should ijriAin*. 
 tain them. At first it was hoped that this exp«ri« 
 ment would prove a failure; that rivalry and heart- 
 burnings would grow up Itetween the North and thfi 
 South, the East and the West, which would fijiatiy' 
 burst the bands of union, throwiiig the country into 
 anarchy and confusion. Thank God, time has dia> 
 sipated this hope; the last twenty years has C0i^^ 
 vinced the world that our institutions are as filabi* 
 as time, and as firm as the decrees of destiny. , No: 
 sooner are the govennnenis of Europe conTince4 of 
 the stability of our institutions, than tbey ares^r.' 
 tied by the exhibition of our prinpipte of expaQ*; 
 &ion, by the admission of a free republic into t|i6 
 American Union. This, to them, was the passi^Q 
 of the Rubicon; it was the beginning of what w^ll 
 end in placing under the protection of the. broft^ 
 pillions of the American eagle the entire coniin^nlL, 
 stretching from Cape Horn to Behring^s s^traits, and. 
 from the shores of the Atlantic to the waves of the 
 Pacific. 
 
 This is what my friend from Illinois, [Mr. Ba- 
 KKR,] who I hail as a worthy representative of 
 western whigs, calls our "manifestdestiny;" and with 
 him I say, if the representatives of legitimacy in 
 the Old World, for the purpose of prevent ing its 
 consummation, choose to put themselves in mttle 
 array, either singly or collectively, let them do it, 
 and upon their heads be the eonsequences. We 
 cannot, we will not recede. We neither seek for, 
 nor will we avoid the conflict; if it comes, we wilt 
 enter the arena strong in the assurance of a good 
 cau.se, firmly relying upon the providence of God, 
 which has thus far stood by and protected us in our 
 onward march! Know^ing that, as heretofore, each 
 crisis in the alTairs of nations has produced men 
 equal to the occasion, so hereafter in every emer- 
 gency, brave spirits will be found capable of "riding 
 the whirlwind and directing the storm." 
 
 And why. p.f^er nil, should we so much dread thia 
 conHicL' Deatli in some form or other ia the destiny 
 of all of Adam's race; life at longest is but • 
 span; this generation is but dust on the wheel of 
 time. What boots it, then, whether we are shaken 
 from it till instant sooner or later? Ay; and who, 
 of all that now hear me, would not rather, when 
 the clangor o^ Gabriel's trump sholl summon the 
 pale milli>;;s of the dead to the congregation vf 
 
STi 
 
 >. appMr in that vait uMmbly elothad whli 
 bloom of youth, beurinf upon your (Voqt tke 
 <lit(^<faah received in defence of your eoontrvHi 
 hflMMi' and the rifhte of men, than covered with the 
 Ijirillhklea of dhihonored age? 
 
 Afiinat the EJnf liah people 1 have no hontile feet* 
 il^oA the contrary, I love them for their aipira* 
 timlli afker freedom, and I only reproach them that 
 thiey do not tear away thoae feudal cobwebe which 
 have ao Ion; galled their manly limba, and cast 
 among the lumber of agea, those principles of legiti- 
 ntaey which disgrace the country and age in which 
 they live. But the English government is quite 
 aiiother thing. To iT<y niind it is the very worst 
 
 Sovtlmment upon earth. It has some pretence to 
 b^rty without any of its substance. It tears the 
 ainew8,and driHka the sweat of its laboring millions 
 toAUten a stall-fed aristocracy. Our flrst conflict 
 With England was in the revolution, which ended in 
 tatting trom the British crown thirteen of iu bright- 
 ijlt'Jlwels.and wringingfrom her stubborn heart the 
 ' eMltaowleagement that theaa colonies were, and of 
 nhtoUght to be, free. 
 
 ' The second was the war of 1812, which ia called 
 the second war of independence. It humbled the 
 pride of the Britiah navv, and ended in a blaze of 
 
 8 Dry on the plaina of New Orleans, by making 
 ousands of her bratest troops bite the dust in con- 
 flict with the raw militia of the western States. 
 The third and last conflict is not yet. No man can 
 doubt but that it will come. 'When the history of 
 tliatwar is written, it will record the downfall of the 
 British empire. Fall she must, and fall she will, as 
 lljare as Adam fd\. She is now standing in the twi> 
 fight 6f her glory; aAd a sharp vision may easily 
 diaeern,. written upon her fVont, the inscription 
 truced by an invisible hand upon the palace wall of 
 the Babylonish king. 
 
 Aa I aaid before, England's greatness now rests 
 upon her commerce. She has three hundred mil- 
 ikma of tonnage, which guages her shipping. We 
 kave already two hundred millions, and are now 
 ilUhering upon her with the strides of a swift cour- 
 
 ser. When we pass har. her downfldl hj pea' 
 ble means will be rapid ami auMan. 
 
 Orr^n ii therefore all important in a eomn 
 cial point of view. It ia the inch of ground U| 
 which we can place a fulcrum, f <*>nc ua the k 
 by which to overturn the wond of^Britiah co , 
 merce. ' It will give ua a cluster of nwnufactui 
 and commercial Statea on the Pacific correaoond 
 with our New England Statea upon the Atlaii 
 Then the inhabitants of the great Mi«sissippi \ 
 ley, who have in their possession the garden of 
 world and the granary of the UMverse, will stre 
 out one hand to the East Indies through the Pa 
 chain, the other to Europe through the Atle; 
 channel, granping the trade of the ciailizad e&i 
 as we now hold in possession the means of s 
 sistence for the whole numan faauiy. 
 
 There is in this discussion, to me, a new i 
 very agreeable feature. Thw diaeuaaion indica 
 and the vote will prove, that thia ia no "party qi 
 tion." There aita an aged and venerable n 
 [poii. Jne to John Uuincv Abams.]) of the whig p 
 ty who lias spoken and will vote with us, beca 
 he feels it his duty so to do. Whatever may 
 said of the hot haste of my youthful Uood, 1 
 confident that whilst I follow the lead of one wli 
 locks are whitened by the snowa of eighty wind 
 I ran do nothing rashly. On the other, hand th 
 are some equally respectable friends on the der 
 cratie side of the House who think duty calls lo ' 
 activity," and therefore will vote against Greg 
 So I would have it, that the world may know '. 
 this is not a question of a party in America, bu 
 an American party. 
 
 I have attempted, Mr. Chairman, in my fet 
 way, to show the committee that duty ««lls, and : 
 terast points, to the aaaertion of our rights to C 
 gen. 1 cannot, I will not, doubt but that the Ho ; 
 will reapond affirmatively. Thia ia the war feel 
 and the only war feeling in the West, if < : 
 must come, let it come; and those who- provoi: 
 will have to abide its cooaequenceai^ 
 
 Ml .r'w 
 
 ■« r. It}, 
 
 .w 
 
 
 MOMuatMSM 
 
iWNini 
 
 ftU »f{Mli^ 
 
 MrtMt in • cot. 
 inch of gnound up 
 
 'Grid orBriliih cc / 
 Mr of laanufactur 
 Pacific oorretpond , 
 m upon the Atlaii ; 
 [rest AiiMiMipiii \ 
 ion the garden of 
 iiMTerte, will atre 
 a through the Pa 
 hrough the Atla, > 
 ' the civilized e&i 
 <n the meana of s 
 inaily. ;; 
 
 t to me, a new i j 
 diaeuaaion indica ;,; 
 la ia no "party qt J 
 and venerable n^ 
 Mtji of the whig p v 
 ote with uMt beca '* 
 
 Whatever may 
 outhful blood, 1 
 e lead of one wli < 
 a of eighty winti I 
 he other, hand ih ' 
 rienda on the der 
 ink duty calla to 
 ote againat Oreg 
 rorld may know '. 
 ' in America, bu 
 
 irman, in my (c 
 It duty ealla, and 
 if our righta to ( 
 : but that the Ho 
 B ia the war feel 
 the Weet. If v 
 loae who provok 
 :e»i^ 
 
 vj«- 
 
 ■ -"liwiMiaiiwiii