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Toua laa autraa axamplairaa originaux tont filmAt •*% commandant par la pramlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'imprattion ou d'illuttration at an tarminant par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una talla amprainta. Un dat tymbolat tuivantt apparattra tur la darnlAra imaga da chaqua microficha. talon la cat: la tymbola — ^ tignifia "A 8UIVRE", la tymbola y tignifia "FIN". Laa cartat, planchat. tablaaux. ate. pauvant Atra filmAt A dat taux da rAduction diffAranta. Lortqua la document aat trap grand pour Atra raproduit an un taul cllchA, il aat filmA A partir da I'angia tupAriaur gaucha. da gaucha A droita. at da haut an bat. an pranant la nombra d'imagat nAcaataira. Laa diagrammat tuivantt illuttrant la mAthoda. 1 2 3 1 a a 4 1 e •=6^ M] SPEECH 'i o OP MR. BEDINGER OF VIRGINIA, ON THE OREGON QUEST ION DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES, JANUARY 15, 1846. WASHINGTON: PRIMTBD AT THE UNION OFFICE. 1846. ^rr^i'H J Ml? A ^i the resol i ITlie House fc li atate of the 1 ' committee ai Ir. Chairma ke of the qbes pnse interest Its progress a incr in whic re already p e to approacn But It is due present, as wc Smy vote u] grave impo (ft >ote I shall ihail deem it i^tfully solic hil-^t, in as bri ed to state iht id led my mil rived. I confess, sir i(j of exceed in d, althous^h ifn mind br te iii House an( 1^ to it— alth isfactory to * from bel t?e the abilit (|ers — in thif • not led me 9Und. That (ny small e (Wild not exc llr, and wiso ife have been ff many an ai fbcasioned *J] It, luid are Te linve, on subject tak< Btaie paper ft-eight of 1 Jideed it sht lelsewhcre. lined and e ^ble reason liiiimpli wl >niutiiM,ha l^rtial worit Ire fiiunde( ^hrown by >rted^moi lieHrtij, bot SPEECH. Hi the resolution giving Ihe twelve months* notice for the termination of the joint ! occupancy of the Oregon territory. : lie House bein? in Comni\ttee of the Whole on gallant spirits, who seem alrenily to be panting 'for state of the Union, Mr. BEOINGER addressed jan opportunity to hurl the eauntlat to our haughty committee as follows: I opponent and rival, and challenge her at once to r. Chairman - The magnitude and great import- , mortal combat; and 1 confess, sir, that when I reflect of the qbestion at present under discuKsion, the I upon the overbearing and domineering spirit of Bnse interest manifested by the whole country Its progress and in its decision, and l\\<.' very able incr in which it has been treated by those who ive already participated in its discussion, cause e to approacn it with the greatest he'iitancy. But It is due to those whom I have the honor to present, as well as to myself, that, before record- imy vote upon a question of such magnitude grave importance, I should render a reason for % vote I shall give, and for the course of conduct ihail deem it my duty to pursue. I therefore re- ^tfully solicit (he attention of the committee Wist, in as brief a manner as I possibly can, I pro- ed to state the causes which have influenced me, id led my mind to that conclusion at which it has rived. I confess, sir, that this question has been to me i« of exceeding perplexity, doubt, and difliculty; d, although 1 have succeeded in convincing my i^n mind as to the course which it is proper that iil House and this country should pursue in re- rd to it — although 1 have found reasons amply (fcftictoiy to my own judgment, yet 1 am or hoping that I shall good fortune to convince at least— that my judgment Inot led me into false positions and untenable 9Und. That this question should appear, to one my small experience, diflicult and perplexing, 0Uld not excite the wonder of any person, h'or llr, and wiser, and more experiunced heads than | He have been much puzzled by its connideration, i many an anxious hour of painful hesitation has casioned those who have most carefully exam- it, luid are most familiar with it. Te have, on the one hand, the masterly view of Kubject taken by the Executive in that admira- Btate paper, his annual message, and doubtless h'eight of his opinion and recommendation is, Jideed it should be, very sensibly felt both here lelsewherc. The opinion of the Executive is lined and strengthened by the beautiful and in- ible reasoning of the Secretary of State, who, by liiumpli which he has achieved over the British Sniuti St, has convinced theworld — the rational and brtini world at least — that Iherlaimsof liis coun- Ire founded in Irutti and Justice, and cannot be |hrown by sophistry or fraud. This opinion is >rted,,mor«ovcr, by many able heads and palri- iewUf both here ond elsewhere — by noble and •' from 'ie the ability Hers — in this believing or hall Great Britain, 1 feel as much disposed as any one else possibly can, to raise my voice, and, if need be, my arm also, in opposition to her. No man's heart glows with fiercer indignation than mine, when the wrongs and aggressions of that relentless power arc arrayed before me. Nevertheless, sir, I must be allowed to express the fear that it has been with others as it was, at first, with myself — they have suf- fered their patriotism to obscure their judgments, and their indignation against Great Britain to hurry them into a line of conduct not the most politic, and not the most wise. For myself, sir, iiaving the character at home, (and 1 fear elsewhere also.) of being rather tiot-headed, I have fi-lt a little afraid of surrendering myself wholly to the impulses of my nature in thi.s matter; and, exerting myself to the ut- most to subdue my belligerent spirit, 1 have suc- ceeded in arriving at the conclusion, that although Great Britain richly deserves from iia a thorough drubbing, yet she can afford to wait for it a while, (it will come in time, sir — it will come in time,) and we can afford to post[>one the infliction of it at least for the present. And for this reason, among others, I do not think it politic or m ise, at thin viomenl, to throw down the gauntlet to her by so suddenly dis- solving the present existing state of affairs between her and ourselves in our disputed territory. Let us look at this question for one moment, if we can possibly do so, calmly and dispassionately. I know that gentlemen generally uiic these words by way of preface to the fiercest outbursts and most impassioned appeals. But 1 would respectfilly beg gentlemen to calm themselves, and look carefully at this question. First, then, 1 will cheerfully admit that the man who now doubts that our title to the wholt of Oregfin is, as against Great Britain, "clear and unquestionable," must be cursed by nature with remarkable stupidity, or he must be blinded by ignorance and prejudice. If any such person there be, I refer him to the correspondence between the Secretary of State and t'le British .ministtr. If that does not convince him, I give him up in de- spair. It would be presumption in me to attempt to satisfy such a judgment. And this is all, sir, that I intend to say upon this part of the subject. Oregon is ouri— every acre, every poor rood of it — and we must and mil have it. There is another ftict equally ns clear and unquestionablo as the one just admitted— "an axiomatic fact," in the words of the gentleman from Georgia, [Mr. Com,] and one 15 .:in aa little to be questioned as the former — and that is' that this great territory is of such immense value and importance to thie Union, that we would de- serve to be regarded as idiots by the civilized world, if we should suffer any portion of it to be wrested from us by any power upon earth. No Gentle- man can possibly desire these factn to be move broadly and clearly admitted than I am willing to admit them. And, sir, it is for these very reasons — on account of these very facts, thus admitted — because Oregon is ours — because we should not sur- render one pound of Oregon earth, one rock, one pc-ble, one tree, or one shrub — that I cannot, for the life of me, perceive the wisdom of terminating, thus abruptly and hastily, the convention between thio country and Great Britain in regard to that ter- ritory. And if 1 had any weight or influence here or elsewhere — if 1 did not know that Uie poor words which shall escape my lips will ^all cold and dead on the unheeding ears of those around me, to be forgotten even before the echoes of my voice shall have died in this hall — if 1 were not discouraged by this apprehension, I would, with all the earnestness and all the sincerity of my tyature, call upon those who so zealously ndvocate it, and implore them to pause betorc pushing this policy to the extreme; they jeopardize or defeat the very object they have in view. Sir, how should a grave and deliberative body, such as this House should be, act upon a matter of such vital importance i What line of pol- icy should a great nation, such as ours, pursue in a crisis Kuch as this ? I beg that I may not be deem- ed presumptuous, if 1 ilare to what oc- curs to wy poor judgment as the wisest course we could possibly pursue. First, then, this ihijig should stop where it is. iVot another word should be spoken — not another ftlort at compromise or negotia- tion attempted. The negotiiuions have ceased, they are dead, and thus they should remain, never again to be revrved. If any proposition sliould hereafter come I'lom Great liritain — if she should now oftcr to take the 4!Uh deg — nay, it' she should declare hcrseif coiitent to receive the one-half of what we formerly ofiered her — ihou-rh we should .not scout her proposition, yei we should promptly reject it. Wo should say to her, "vvn ciinnol agree, ;vid Wf want no romprinvii'** . twcn'v-livc years of jiegotiatiuii have fuiKii; we jihiill iry'(/ia( no lunger; we have dcinonstrnted our liile, and we are deter- mined to maiutain u, hut we choose to bide our time." v." hat next, sir: "Masterly inactivity" on our part: No, sir; no joiuilivity, masterly or other- wiao. Hut action, ac;ioii, a.nion, (M(iin|if, ready, energetic, immediate, and continued action, on the part of this government. Iv ery possible induce- ment should be held out to our brave emigrants to go forth and possess the land, whicli we should give them as an inheritance. .\ Territorial government should lie formed thorr, and a governor appointed at onie. Where the cross of St. George waves over one fortification in that territory, the stars and Rtripes should float over lico. Fort,* and block- hoiwfs should dot the whole of the "Oregon tr.iil;" armed troopK should yuard our citizens in their emigrations ihiihei; tlie (lag of their country should float over them; the counten.ince of their country should lie upon them; the arm of their couniry should be stretched out to proter; them. and the American eagle should fly be- fore them, heraidine' them on the rich lands of Oregon. They Bhould have no cause to cry out that their country neglects or deserts them. The overland mail recommended by the Executive should be established at once. Every barrier whi:h might impede the tide of emigration should be broken down; every inducement which might in- crease i: should be oflTered. The tribes of IndianH now disposed to l)e iiostiie to us, should be C4nicil- iated,and quieted by Indian agents who should tie appointed, and who should have /iiirses, which tliey might use '.o some purpose. Sir, it does seen; to me, if this policy were pursued, amplified, and im- proved as It might be by the congregated wiscom of this nation, it does seem to me that all the pi «- ers upon earth could not rend from our grasp the rich prize for which we are contending. See, sir. if I have not some tolerable authority for the ccursf! I havereccmmended. 1 find in the Union of the 7th instant, a very able article upon this question, rroni which I beg leave to read the following extract: "The posture of cur iutfrrttt in Oregon is an /icir 4.^' '.! i« newBiiwct of our title. Our citizens have now (fonr,. miil are i?oin^ icrtli in inwiaet, to poa«e8.« themselves oltlK'i- liromi patrimony there, linfore i:ongresR rises, ten tliousuml -Amerirati citii^.enH, tilling the soil of that territc.v, will stretch out thcii .Aritif to us, for the protection \vl i.'li is their most manifest right,"' Uc. So it seems, that before this Congress sliall rise, ten thousand hardy setUers will have estaoli^shed themselves in Oregon. When this Congress . oin- menced its session there were but seven thoj.iand, when it shall rise, there will be ten thousand. And tn.s. too, without any positive guarantee upon tlie part of their goveinmen*. of its countenance and protection. Sir, if there shall tje ten thousand settlers in that territory when Congress shall rise, how many i'ii.y we fairly infer there will he there at the exfuiation of five, or even three, brief years.' The cal'An.tmn is easily made, sir; I beg gentlemen to paaso u.id make ii. We slmll have a sufiicient numbei lo bid defiance to the Hudson Bay Company and all ii.s agent.s; enougii o* theni.^elves to maintain ami ii«> fend the wliole territory; or, at least, enougii to raise provisio;) lo maintain any army we rmy send tlic.-e lo aid a;:(l defend them. And «^n- not j:enllenvjn wail ;'ve short yeara' Can tn'y not wait tiirier Can they not even lurrv t'il ConLTOHH hIiuII ri.'^e: .Sir, the territory wiil not tak(! tn itself v;!ntv' and fice away; it will noi o*'. swallow d i*y exfurution paiiMt ti>id and ai) ii.s :ain unii tio eii<>ugii to y we rmy And '^ri- Can tii'v I turrv till •y wj;i not will not 6« ly il'.o.irf-d f ai Jor.<^n«i hdil Ixi o irs lair! Am i ara'iic '^tn- ] liii.t (ins it wr many jewels — Time, the tomb-build- er and the ovcrlurnei ofihrones — Time, wlio strikes the old with decreriitude and lends vi£;or and strength lo the young. Sir, llieic is aiiotlitr "uxionmiic"' fact which may be gathered tVuni recoitis of histo- ry — and it is this: thtu nations, like individuals, pass through the stages of infancy, munhodd, and old Age; we see them springing up from small begin- nings — mere germs as it were — growing up by de- grees, increasing daily and hourly in strength and power, until they reach the very summit of caithly greatness, and "'play fantastic tricks before high heaven.^' Then, with old age, come dissolution and decay; and as in the human body decrepitude and disease mark the ravages of tin e, so in ihu body politic, corruption rears her louthsome form, one shock after another smites the tottering fabric, and each and every symptom dciliues how siirely and how rapidly she is uescendiiig into the tomb of ages. Thus ix it with oupselvei and our haughty rival. We are in the vigor of youth, increasing cvmy year in prosperity and power. Great Britain, though she may not have reached that period when we may look for her speedy toppling downfall, yet she haw evidently parsed her prime. She smacks of age. Many gray hairs are discernible upon her brow, and some symptoms of dotage are manifestly per- ceptible; and although I will admit that old Joku Bull is a stout old bully, yet, nevertheless, each wave that dashes from the ocean of Time saps and under- mines some portion of his wide dominions, whilst' its every heave is lifting aloft this giant republir ot' the western world. Let me not b« misunderstctotl. I believe, if compelled to measure our strength witli Great Britain, we are even now more than a matrb for her, though 1 am reminded of a very sensible remark made to me on a certain occasion by one of my constituents, a man of gigantic physical powers^ and remarkable for his bravery, as well as for his good nature. He had a neighbor, also a Herculea for strength and prowess, who was constantly dis- turbing him ifrith petty annoyances. He frequently complained tn me of this neighborVs conduct; and I said to him, upon one occasion, "Why do you imt lick him? you are able to do it." "Yes, sir, (he re- plied,) I knmc that i can lick him, but it will xtruiu tie to do it; and 1 don't choose to undertake it until I am actually compelled." Now, sir, there wa.s wis- dom in the remark. May we not profit by it* i ' know that we can lick Great Britain; but believe mt it would "strain" us to do it; and we had oetter. postpone it uiuil there is no alternative, and thm vr. will do it. Thus, sir, we .shall gain time by postponing thi.s matter; and every hour, every moment thus «"'««^i~ ler prepared now than we were then, and we ss^wll be/ii//_y pre[)nred in i>. few brief years. But 54* lulo- men aak irlttn — when will we tie prepared to a;t a few years, we .shall have twenty or thirty thoi;. subsist Ufion "muh; and dog"— [see FifmoncV ex- pedition] — poor food lor fighifng men, I take 1.. sir; but ill a few years we shall huve citi^-ens tiuie, ide fruits of whose labors will mnintaiti any anny -Mut to protect them. VVim; we will be ready, sti , and then wc will strike. ^I'ut again, ii v. .is said by the ger.tlcraaft fdm-* ■Georgia, [Mr. Cobb,] thai unless I li'^ notice be given immediately, England ar.d the world will be induced to believe th;it the American Congress and people are disposed not to sustain, but to desert, the Executive and thf administration. But can any such inference [ be fairly drawn, if \vc pursue the proper policy ? Suppope we adopt every step proposed, and every measure recommended by the Executive, barring only this solitary one of immediate notice; suppose we follow the recommendations of the President an to the establishment of a Territorial government, the appointment of a governor, and Indian agents, the erection of block-houses and forts for the protection of our citizens, the overland mail, and the induce- ments to emigration, iic.: will any man go forth from this hall and say that we are die- posed to desert thi; administration? Will it have that appearance in the eyes of the world ? No, sir; it is ungenerous and unjust to make tliia charge against us^; and whoever will make this charge uijainst me, will do mc foul injustice and slander me. But once «gain: it is urged that the honor of the country is at stake; and if the notji-e be not given, it will suffer in the estima- tion of the world. Sir, by the- course of policy which I have proposed. theAmencan Eagle shallnot moult a feather, he shall not droop a wing. Amer- can honor shall remain as pure and intact as before, and the American name, for prudence, moderation, and wisdom, shall stand even higher than it now does among the nation.* of the earth. What, sir. have we s^lumbered thus long, through more than a quarter of a century, upon this convention, forgetful ut' our national honor, to awake thus suddenly and find it assailed or tarnished:' What has Great Britain so recently d- n thi.s matter to impugn our honor r We havr .stratcd to the world the validity of our titlf^ we now oay to Great Brit- ain, "Oregon is o.. .<, ,.il we mean in timetopo.ssess ourselvep of every inch of it." Will the national honor suRcr by this course.^ I think not, sir. But now, sir, allow me to call the attention of the •committee to the otiier side of this question. Ima- gine that to be done which I am afraid will be done shortly. Imagine this notice to be given. Great Britain to l-.ave received it, and the next vessel that leaves her island to bear to us from her a proposition to this ed'ect: "We l.&ve failed to compromise this matter; yoi; hnve ordered us out of the territory; wc fed lio disposilio;'. tti fight with you; we do not desire war; l^ivc us now that which you have three .several time? olKered us; divide the territory at the 49th degree of north latitude; we will cheerfully take the r.orti.ern portion, leaving you the southern; this matter shall end, and we will sit down by you as friends, and sliakc lur.ids with yoix as brothers." liTiiigine surli a ]iroposition as th.it coming from Great Britain immediaicly after notice given. Is the possibility so very rcir.otc that gentlemen cannot give It their reHectioii or consideration."' Every advocate of immediate notice persists in declaring that Great Britain cannot fight, and will not fight for Oregon. Then if she cannot and will not fight, I say the •chances arc tiMi to one that she will make some such olferas I liavc mentioneii. And if she »hnil do this, I respectfully l.t'jr of the next gentleman who shall take this floor on (hat side of the question, to march up manfully and atonco to the question, and inform nic whii' oursc the country and the administration should nrsuc? Should the administration accept the pr( ." iiiion, nr should il reject it' I already see L.'fniU'i' .1 around me — "immediate notice" men too — who arc nodding assent, and by significant jestures intimating that .such a proposition should be accept- ed 1 see others, warm advocates of the notice also, shaking their heads, and by indignant frowns an- swering "never! never!" Sir, the thing is palpable; Great Britain by such a proposition, after notice given, would place the ad ministration in a dilemma from which it would have no resource but in selecting the blunter or the soft- er liorn. For if the administration should accede to tiie proposition, it would raise such a storm of oppostion North, South, East, and West, as would shake, if not entirely overthrow it. The clamor would be raised, the cry would go forth, "You have sacriced our rights, you have forfeited our interests, you have frittered uwuy the better portion of our glorious territory, you have acted with timidity, imbecility, you have 'backed out,' we can no long- er support you." If, on the contrary, the adminis- tration should reject such a proposition, public dissatisfaction would be even more violent and more to be dreaded. For it would be said that they had wantonly plunged us into a war, when they mignt have avoided it by compro- mise! Will gentletnen condescend to give this view of the question their consideration, and an- swer il frankly and fairly, if they can .' Now, take the other view of this subject. Suppose Great Britain, after having received our notice, shall make us no proposition, and refuse to compromiser The only question which can then arise is this, Will she, at the expiration of the twelve months, aban- ! don what she considers her rights in Oregon, or I will she prepare to maintain them by arms? I I think, sir, no one can be found who seriously en- I teriaina the opinion that she will quietly pull up her stakes, chain her lions together, and remove to j Canada, leaving us in possession of the territory i for which she has been contending thirty years. I If she will not do this, she must fight; and if she j does fight, I ask gentlemen what will be the conse- 'quences of the contest? I speak now, not of the consequences to the North, or South, or East, or West, but to Oregon itself, and I call upon gentle- men to inform me Ijy what possible means, in case of war, that territory can be preserved to this Union ? Ye gentlemen of the West, I call upon you to answer me this question. Bold and daring, patriotic, and generous, and fearless as you are, by what means shall you rescue Oregon in ca.se of war? You have the wills, you have the hearts, you have the patriotism more than sufficient, but trust mc, gentlemen, you have not the power. You cannot do it — I tell you cannot do it. You may conquer Canada — you may whip Great Britain on land and sea — you may astonish the world by the success of your arms, — but the first result of the war will be the loss of Oregon; and if it is ever recovered, it will only be after the fiercest and most bloody contest ever recorded in your country's history. You must lose Oregon, because, before any army which you can possibly send to protect it, the steamers of Great Britain will already have arrived there. The Hudson Bay Company, with the thousands of In- dian scalping knives at its command, are there al- ready. The mouth of the Colombia and the whole Pacific would be guarded by British vessels, from whence supplies could easily be furnished to British armies in the territory. Whilst our army, even if it should arrive in time, would find no possible menus of flubsistence^ and must either speedily ro« turn or perish. And having once gotten possession of the territory, you would find that years of dcs- pcrate fichtine would not expel Great Britain from It, though a few yeara or peace will inevitably do it. But again, air,- we haveaome aeven ihouaand citi- zens — men, women, and children — now in that terri- tory; and while, with one breath, gentlemen are calling upon iia to come to their rescue, to guard and protectourbraTC emigrants in Oregon, they, with the very next, are «dvocating a measure which, next month, perhaps, will unsheath the knife which is to shed Uieir blood ! Sir, while the eloquent gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Kennkdy] was speaking, and convulsing the committee with his wit and humor, I could not help thinking how discordantly those sounds of merriment would fall upon the ears of our citizens in Oregon, if it wore possible they should ^reoch them. \ Sir, I appeal to that gentleman now, I appera to him in behalf of the women and children now in Oregon — in behalfof those companions of his boy- hood, of whom he spoke — those connexions of kindred blood, reared at the same hearth, and taught in the same school-house with himself For them I appeal to him, and ask him how he can ex- pose them, thus cut off as they are from the protec- tion of their country, to such cruel dangers? Sir, I say to that gentleman, in Uie words of one of Americans most distinguished statesman, "the voice of humanity issues from the shades of the wilder- ness; it exclaims that, while one hand is lifted up to dissolve this convention, the other grasps the toma- hawk. It summons our imaginations to scenes that will open. It is no great effort of the imagination to conceive that e\ nts, so near, havealready begun. I can fancy that I listen to the yells of savage ven- geance, and to the shrieks of torture ! Already they seem to sigh on the western wind; already they mingle with every echo from the mountains." Sir, js all this idle declamation? Is there no reality in tlie picture? Are not our brave emigrants there wholly without defence, without protection? They are there with their wives and their little ones, culii- vating the soil in peace, causing the wilderness to bloomas a garden. But if war shall be declared, long betoreany protection can reach them from us, their blackened dwellings will stand as Binoulderinp monuments of our neglect, while their scanered bones will whiten the prairies. They will either be taken prisoners, and forcibly converipd info British subjects, or else they will be given over to the tomahawk and scalping-knife. I know they have strong arms, and stout and ftarltos henrtR; but they cannot cope, unaided, with the military power of Qreat Britain and her savage allies. And when they cry to us for help, is it by such palicy as thi? that gentlemen are prepared to help them. And now, sir, I would respectfully aek my west- ern friends to place a little more confidence in the pledges of their southern brethren. It is not right nor generous in them to accuse the South of the selfish disposition to avoid this contest on her own account, and in consideration of her own interest^! only. We pledge them southern integrity and southern honor that we will stand by them in the hour of need. We differ with them as to the poli- cy proper to be pursued; we do not think the time has arnted for terminating the present coiivention. But if gentlemen will do it— if they choose to as- sume the responsibility — then, when tlie dfcd if done — when the die in cast — when the Rulii«on is aroMad— turn your ayes to the South, and if you Ind on« rvartant boioai there, call me mo prophet Meanwhile, all that I ask of the gentleman from In- diana, {Mr. Kkmxdt,) who declared that, in the «<:- tion upon the Texas questiun, "the West went il Mt'iur*— all that I aak of him it that he will not**gt^ it hlind^* upon Oref on. Let gentlemen study well the steps they are about to take, and when they are taken the South will not flinch. We will lend our best exertions, and pour out our licst blood, to snatch Oregon from the grasp of the foe. But it in not kind or generous to taunt us now. The South dreads not tnis contest on her own account more than other portions of this Union, and possibly not half so much ae some. And it is a foul asperaion upon her character to soy that she trembles because she is "weak and helpless, defenceless and slave- holding.** And I will say to the person [Mr. Qiih DINGS, of Ohio] who threw out the base suggestion, that the South is able to defend her rights, not only on her own aunny plains, against the bloody efforts of reckless incendiaries, but on this floor and else- where, against the federal encroachments of him and his partv upon the constitution of the country. Anu I say to him further, that there are bondsmen in the South — negro slave* there, who have ever been more true and more faithful to their masters — to the hands which feed and cherish them — than he has evr.r been to hiii country or its constitution. And should he, and his cherished allies and friends, the "black regiments from the West Indies," attempt an invasion of southern soil, there are negro slaves there who would meet him at the thresholds of their masters* dwellings, and scourge him home! (Here Mr. Bbdimcbr was called to order by the chair on the ground of personality.) A great deal has been said in this House against )he character of Great Britain, and gentlemen have seemed to vie with each other in the use of oppro- brious epithets against her. I do not desire to be behind-hand, even in this matter, sir, and 1 have therefore selected from a very humorous letter-wri- ter to the New York Herald, certain expressions admirably suited to the occasion. That writer d«> clares that Great Britain is a "damned, incorrigible, insatiable, unappeasable, insatisfiable, unrelenting, . never-yielding, always-grasping, never-receding, always-encroaching, unconscionable bloody pirateT** Not having skill sufficient to find wortls o> my own wherewith to express my indignation against Great Britain, I have been compelled to borrow them; and if any gentlemen can find stronger, or more appro- priate, 1 should like to hear them. But, sir, what haa this to do with the question? And why do gen- tlemen waste their time and their energies in surh idle vituperation? Sir, when the strong man girds his loins and nerves his arm for some death grapple with a foe worthy of his efforts, if he be wise he ia generally chary of his breath, and Wastes not his wind in idle invectives, which he knows will fhli unheeded on the ears of his adversary. Will the ruilins; r : '"^st Great Britain spike one of her gunK, or burst u.j boilers of one of her steamshipa' I fear not. Much also has been spoken here in praise of the American eagle; and that bird has been compelled, of late, to take a vast deal of unnecessary exercise, "pluming his win^ and soaring aloft,*' and "soar- ing aloft and pluming his wings." Sir, I happen to know something of the r « of that great monarch of the feathered tribe, 'i itose wiio, like myself, have stood amid the sublime noonery at Harper's Perry, and watched him there 8 ' IN iiU-favoiice haunu, now perched in solitary gran- deur on aome tall peak or towering crag — now wheeling, into (he heavens wiib iiis eye upon the a«Ui— those *ho have delighted ta watch him thus, know something of hij nature and his habita. They know that hn4t» never rash, that "^e makes no unne* dcudly certainty of heaven's light- ning! 1 witnessed there, upon, one occasion, sir, a Mcefiic uhich I wish I had the skill or ability to de- pict to this committee, for it was very beautiful. There was a black, lowering,, and portentous cloud in ilic west, charged with ihuuder; over its dark ' bosom tl.c red lightning gleamed. and..danced, and tha voice of the thunder came forth in tones which ijbook the hilla. An eagle came swooping on from ' the cast, directly in the face of the cloud itself. On- ward he came with the rapidity, of un arrow, seem- ingly resolved to penetrate the dark barriee, and make his' onward way in spite pf all. resiatance. Now be plunged into the dark, .bosom, of the cloud, as if determined to sipatch the lightping* of heaven. Anon b« wheeled aloft ak if resolved to scale its summit; jind his shriek came forth' in fferce defiance of the angry, thunder. But, 8ud((enly;, he made one majestic swoop — not.(>ackwaird,sir, ng retreat in his nature — but directly along the very verge of the cloii'd, skirting the Blue Ridge, and perchecfhimself upon one of its loftiest peaks. He'paused one momeiit, with bowed wing^ap^glahciiig eyes— the cloud blew over without even the smallest, pattering of rain, tfie sun came out again from the cloudless heaven, the eagle sprang from his perch, arid pursued his course far in tne dim regions of the trackless West ! So, sir, might it be with us, if we could but cui'b our impetuosity and imprudence, if -we could but pause and- ponder, and wrait, for a brief period; the dark cloud now lowering upon our political horizon would pass away, without difficulty ar. danger, and the "American eagle" wouM take'ita onward flight, unresiiited and unoppoMidi' to th« >ich regions of Oregon. •..= ...• , , . . . • .!..t .' • . * : ./.i. •-^'il >^* .•-'. ' -J. .. '. ; „ ' . i.<.. 1 ,•■ .. ♦,».il •^. fl^^ *j! ■Ml Jo ■i\,^'k^'i. .iV* ••■»;<• ' ■•iV ' . • .... I • > • • "•■ . ftloc » • ■ • ■ ■>:■'.: "fi'-.'*- •>*•"/ » ; ■'i,<^-,i .i< Jv»<' in' ■ •«. ■ .. -.\;\y.-. • ■. , '1 ■ .» ... ; •>■•'. 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