IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) / O i Ja Kj ^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 |50 "!"■ 1^ IM 2.0 JA i 1.6 U... <^ /^ % m. V ' '» y y^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREF? WESSTED.N.Y. !45B0 (rio) 872-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / institut canadien 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 bibliographicaily unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ n Couverture endommag6e Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculde Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes gdographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Reli6 avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shar (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 filmA fut reproduit grAce A la gAnArositA da: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia Las images suivantes ont 4tA reproduites avac la plus grand soin, compta tenu de ta condition at da la nettet* de l'exemplaira filmA, at an conformity avac las conditions du contrat de filmage. Las exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimAe sont filmAs en commen^ant par la premier plat at en terminant soit par la derniAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par la second plat, salon la cas. Tous las autres exemplaires originaux sont filmAs en commen^ant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration at en terminant par la derniAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la derniAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux da reduction diffArants. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est filmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'imagas nAcessaira. Las diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. rrata ;o nelure, 1 A 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 1 ♦ ^ : I 5 6 ^e CoLlectio/h H -6 . % SPEECH OF HON. D. WILMOT, OF PENNSYLVANIA, ON THE OREGON QUESTION. DELIVERED EN THfi HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 184C.' i I* WASHINGTON: BLAIR & RIVES, PRINTERS. 1846. /i I Wf ^ THE OREGON QUESTION. I Tlic TJrsoliilion from ilip Cnmniittce: on Forriirn All'iirs, rdiiiiirinu: th'' PrcsidiMit tii notify Grciit Eritiiin of tlio intpiition of tlio Uiiitrd Stiitcs to tcrniiiiatt' tlic joint ocrii|ii\ncv of Orcir'ni, and to ahroiratf tlin rr)nvrnti(iM of 1>*'2T. licinu; nnder consideration in C'omniittrc of tlic Whole — Mr. WILMOT addressed t!ic connnilteo as fol- lows: Mr. CnAiRMAv: I am ronsrin'a'<, from tlic lcnL!:tli of time already o('rn|)i(>d in tl. ^ deliaie, that it lias lost mii'di of its fres'uifss and oi-i.,nnal interest to tlie nieinliers of this House, if riot also to the jieo- ple and the eoiiiitry at !ari:;o. I do not flatter in\'- sclf that I shall lie ahli? to rcnive any ]iortioti of that interest, by advancinrr, at this lato day, after tlie sniijeet has passed throu'^h so many older aiul abler hands, anything: that shall be new, toiiehinc; (hither our litlc to the ()re;,'on, or as to the jiroliable consequences that may arise from the assertion of that title at the ]iresent time and in tlie manner proposed. After the aide manner in whie.h our title has been dis -ussed by those who have, eondiieied this ne'jfotiation on the part of our Government, and after all the facts that have been brona:ht to view liy the labored reseandi of j^entlemen who have spolcen u|ion this floor, it would be idle tor me to expert that I eriuid shell additional Vvj^hi over this sui)jeet. I shall not inrur the risk to which smdi an effin-t wouhl expose me. I was anxious to obtain the llooral an early sta'::r in this debate, and made, as I thouiilit at the time, some very cood efrbrls in that direction. I failed, however, douiilless from the f )rce of fixed laws — not beiny able to rise as quick, or jrct up as lii_:li, fiS5:entlemen of less ^•ravitatin'i■ properiiesthan my- self I have it no.v; and souirlit it at this time not (>o much tVom a desire to participate in the conflict of opinion tiiat lias trrown out of this sulqect, as from an earnest anxiety, before the debate sliould be brouL'^ht to a final termination, to animmice my cheerfid support of tlie resolution upon your tnbh', and my cordial and heartv concurrenci' in a'l the recommeiidnli.ms contained in the President 's Mcs- sa:;e relating;: to this important and deiqdy-interest- iii:r subject. 1 would prefer the passajje of the resolution as it came, from the Committee on Fohmi,'!! Relntions, without amendment, and without (|ualificatioii. While .such is my preference, I would here say, that I have none, or very sliicht objeriions, to that amendment which propuses to leave the <,m\ iiiu: of notice discretionary with tin; Ih-esident. Not that T desire to cast from iriy shoulders any responsibil- ity in tiiis matter; much less, to throw iino)i the President any, not [iroperly beloni:iiif;- to his hi,ah station. 1 do not believe that he would feel the liiirdfU of such responsibility; and 1 have full con- fidence, if left to him, that the notice would be prom))lly i^iven. I will con.sent to waive objections of a more weii^hty cliara<'ter, and vote for the reso- lu'ion introduced by the i^entleman from South Ca- roliiia, \'\\i-. Pi.^fiv,] if thereby we can secure that unanimity so desir.ible on a ^nat national c|uestion like this. Still, my own choice would be the i>as- ^alre of the oria:iiiMl resolution. I' woLdd jirefer ^ivini^ the straiulilforward notice to dissolve the convention of H*:l~, leavin^;- Eniiland to put her own inter|)retation ujion it. She wotdd have no rit;ht to place ujion it an unfiiv'ndly construction. iS'or would I slop upon the ^jiviiii,'- of the notice: I would also pros ide lor carrying: out prf)mptly all of the reconnncndntions of the President r(datin.u; to this subject. To each and every of them I yield the unreserved sanction and supj)ort of my judj;- ment; and that, too, whether our title to the whole of Oreo;on be clear and unquestioiiable, or whether it be involved in doubt and uncertainly, either as to the whole or a y-nvt. ]\bist of those i^entlemen from the South with whom I liftld a general n2;reement in politics, and who addressed tlie committee in opposition to the resolution in the earlier stai;e of this debate, ad- mitted, in the broadest and most unf(ualincd terms, that our title to Orei^on, and to the wlude of Ore- ^'011 to !')i'^ W, was clear and indisputable — be- yond ri^ditful questiim or f lii- cmitrovc rsy. Those who liave spoken more recently — doubtless ;;entle- men of larger experience — sei iui^ the difficulties involved in this |iosition, prudently assumed other i^rounds. The former, it seems to me, are involved in a dilemma of sin:^-ular difficulty and emliarrass- meiit. I propose to examine, i'nv a ft w niomeiits, the position of those ;,^(ntlenun who, declarinj^ our tii!(^ clear and un'|uestionfdile to the whole of ('r<'^on, still opiposc the trivin;^ of tliis notice, whereby the convention of joint .icciipation,^as it is called, shall be abroj;ated" and annuilfd. This admission, thu.^ unreservedly male, ou;,dit, in my judi^ineiit, to be conclusive upon tl.e gentlemen inu- 4 k\n^, it. Tlicy , iit Inast, oucjlit not to hesitate, cither as to the character of tlie I'leaniires called for, or ns to tiie ]iro|"'r tinu! for our aclioii. The coiise- qticiicc of nsscrtin;; rii:;htH thus clear, ouglitiiol, in iny judLniient, (o be the siihject of iiujuiry or debate. If the whole ofOrcLijon be rlcurhj ouis, then 1 sub- mit it to the reason and ]ialriotisni of gentlemen, wliether it becomes an American Congre.ss, gravely and with .«olcmn fear, tod(dibt.'ratc upon the conse- quences of iis action in respeci to a foreign Power. It is huniiliatini!;, .sir — a stain upon our character — i i,i<-i-iii^ ... u.i. ....^. ^ -. ■■ -, - ■> n re^iroach upon our sovereigiuy. In this aspect, clearly our own, in the extension of o>ir laws, and alarmed imaginations of .so many genllenicn a war- like aspect to this measure? It is our claim to the wltdk of (-)regon; and yet many of these same gen- tlemen adinii our title to that country clear and in- dispntal)le. I repeat, Mr. Chairman, that it is not the giving of the notice that makes war a remote or even po.ssibic contingency as growing out of tliii^ (jucstion, but our positive claim to Oregon, and the measures hereafter contemplated in extend- ing over it the jurisdiction of our laws and the sov- ereignty of our Hag. To legislate over territory in the eslablishmeiil of territorial govenuuents, 13 certainly no unfrequenl or unusual ;ict of legisla- tion. It is, 1 believ(!, within our acknowledged jurisdiction and sovereignty, am"! to be deterred "from its exercise, when deniaiuled by the wants of our citizens, because of the unfomided )>retensions of a foreign I'ower. 1 can regaril in no olhi^r light than a shameful al>andonmenl of the right itself. Om- right to Oregon admitted as clear, in iny judg- ment, the subject now under consideration, as well as all the measures expected to follow, become acts of usual and ordinary legislation. Uut we are told thai war will certainly and inevitably follow. Sup- pose it does, it will follow unjustly und without caust — will it not? And must we halt in the pros- ecution of our rights ? IVIustwe refrain from the exercise of our acknowledged powers because war may ensue? It is a degradation and a reproach— an acknowledgment of weakness that amounts to a virtual surrender of our sovereignty. Sovereignty consults only its own interests and glory. It is the sole arbi'ter of its own rights. It exists but ni its perfect and absolute independence; it sullers no inva-sion; ii can survive no surrender. If we would abandon our claim to tliat portion of Oregon lying north of the Columbia river, gen- tlemen', 1 iun confident, would not then see in this notice to dissolve '>.e convention of 1H27, tuiything alarming or warlike. It as.suines tliat character only because we insist upon our own. England has no rinht — so say gentlemen opposed to this notice; ye7, in tlic insolence of lier })ower, she in- terposes her pretensions, and bids us stand, or ad- vance at our peril. Shall we stand at her bidding, and tamely and cowardly surrender our rights? or shall we vindicate them as our fathers did, by all the means God and nature has (daced in our hands? This is the question, and the only ques- tion, our cltuv right to Oregon admitted. If, in- stead of lookiiii;- to the interest of ou- own people, and determining what is expedient and proper for thi.'ir good, we arc to hv. swayed and inlluene.ed liy Huropean cabinets, and European threats, where is our boa.sted indeiiendcnce? "What can England do more than invade our " clear and unqnestion- blc " riglils? If she claimed the power of taxatiini it would be no more; and would gentlemen still us, indeed, in any in which the subject undin- con- Kideration '.'an be vi(!wed, it presents a very diller- cnt question from a declaration of war; in which light too many gentli-nn-n arcdis|>osed to regard it. 1 grant, sir, most readily, that if this were a proposition in din-ct terms to declare war against Ciireat Uritain ; if it even were a measure that gavi; any just g.'ounds or provocation for such a declaration on her part — it would be proper, nay, sir, it would lie our bounden duly, to inquire into the condition of our country, its resources and de- fences, and carefully to estimate the strengtli and power of our adversary. Notwilhstaniling ttie. very severe attaclc made upon Sir John Falsta'a last evening, by the gentle- man from Ohio, I am half inclined to ado))t the sentiment so olijectionable to iiiin, "that discretion i> the better inirt of valor." I cannot believe that the great }ioet, by j)Uttiiig these words into the mouth of the valiant kniglit of the tap-room, in- tended to condemn so %visea maxim of iiuman con- duct, but merely to show liow an arrant, yet in- genious, coward could r(;as()n in excuse for his cowardice. I agree, .sir, that "discretion is the bet- ter part of valor." That it is neither wise nor prudent to rush blindly into a war, unjirepared and comparatively defenceless, against an enemy arm- ed at all points, and holding as it were in his hands all the elements' of destructive warfare. Such a course, I repeat, in my judgment would be neither wise nor prudent. It would be as much wanting in true courage as it lacked in sound and statesman- like jiolicy. Before I would vote for a declaration of war against a powerful, and in some respects a superior, enemy, I would, by vigorous and en- larged preparati(nis, ])lac.e my country in a condi- tion to carry (ui tlie war, when decltired, to a suc- cessful and glorious termination. Sir, I do not believe that war will come of this Oregon difficulty, if promjit and ])rudent measures are adopted. Certain it is, that tlie resolution upon your table gives none, not the slighest grounds of offence towards England. In truth, if the position assumed by some gendemcn who oppose this no- tice be correct,! shall be sustained in the declara- tion that the resolution now under consideration, as also all the metisures that are expected to follow „ ^ it, are within the ordinary and daily-exercised i coun.^el supineness and delay ? Wcnild they still powers of this Government. No one has gone so talk of the dangers and horrors of war ? This was fi\r in opposition to the notice as to pretend that, not the language of those who laid deep and strong abstractly and ;)crsf, it gave any just cause or prov- the fiuindations of the Republic; it is not thus ocation for war. This is contemplated by the that its integrity can^ be maintained. What would very terms of the convention itself. The right of i be our position before the civihzed world ?—as- cither party to give this notice, and thereby di.s- .scrting our title to the whole of Oregon as iiidis- Bolve the convention, forms one of its express and putable and clear; yet hesitating, through fear, to plain stipulations. It cannot be that war is appre- j take those steps demanded by the wants ol our hended from acting in strict conformity with the citizens and enforced by every consideration of treaty itself. WJiat is it, then, tlial gives to the palriuti.-ini and public duty. Hul 1 um told that it I I th n a war- Ill Id tlie iui(J in- il i.s nut I rtinote i; out of s^oii, and c.\t(.nd- llic sov- tcrrilory iws, ami iiciits, is ' l(!f;i.sla- \vli;il<;cd doti nod wants of innsions itT li;:',lit I i I. self. y judg- n, as well ;(;oniu acts ,'c are told i)\v. Sup- d witlioiit tin; pros- from the cause war cprciacli — ' inounlH to ovcrei^nty iry. It is isis but in sulR'i-3 no lat portion river, gen- see in tiiis J, anyiliing L character England icd to this er, she in- and, or ad- Rr bidding, ur rii;hls ? 3rs did, by iced in our only ques- ;d. If, in- wn ])eo})le, proper for lu(Mic.ed liy als, where m England inqiiestion- )f taxation lenien still I tiiey still Til is was and strong f not thus '^hut would orld ? — as- II as indis- li'h fear, to Ills of our leration of told that it is not through fear, but from policy, that this no- tice slioitkl b(! withheld. It will do to say ho; but will ue lj(! believed? Will England believe us.' Will the, intelligent Minislir.s at the heads of the C«()v<;innicnts of iMirofK! believi; us.' Can we make our own j>eople so believe.' No, sir, rt ly upon it, it would be regarded iis a subterfuge, a shelter for our shame, and the true reason attributed to fear. Sir, I am not for wiir. If such a spirit is at work within the.- e walls, I symiiathi/.c not with it. Peace, v it'' national honor and individual liberty, is the, nio.st desirable of all bles.sings. The social, moral, anil politii al triumphs ol' peace, are far more glorious, m my estimation, thiui all the vielories and bloody trophies of war. I look, I confess, with deep solicitude, and not without Bcrioiis apprehension, to the influence which a war, and such a war as we should have with Eng- land, might exi'rt upon the haliils, thoughts, and feelings of our people. 1 acknowledge its .■strong and centralizing tendencies, its wasteful exti.iva- gance, its corrupting and demorali/.ing influences. But we must not, because of these dangers, tann^- ly submit to be jilun^lered of our rights. I trust we shall have no war. In truth, I do not appre- hend serious danger of so great a calamity. The ugc in which we livi; is an ;ige of peace. The be- nign influences of its spirit are everywhere setni find fell. Men are everywhere engaged in the cultiviUion of art, tind the peaceful enterprises of life. I am for peace. But if it has eome to this, that we cannot assert our " clear and unquehlion- able " rights in that mode that we deem best cal- culated to promote the interest.«< of our country and the good of our people, without involving us in war, then, sir, let it come. AVar, uiuler such cir- cumstances, ceases to be an evil, and becomes ;i good. Patriotism and religion alike sanction and aanctify it. Mr. Chairman, my constituents arc for peace. Thoy are cmjdiatically a peace-lovinij peo|)le. Aliich has Veen said, in the course of this debate, about individual atid national honor. I am not insensible to the claims of true national honor. Its preservation I acknowledge as one c)f tlie high- est duties of freemoii. ?tly consiituents, however, do not war in individual strife upon men jwiiits of honor; nor would they justify me in iilunging their country into war on some uhstruct idea or point of national honor. If there is nothing in this controversy, no substantial and valuable rights, no principles dear to the American heart, tlien let us have done with it. But if, upon tlie otlur hand, there are rights and jtrinciples involved, deeply affecting onr interests and sovcri'ignty, then, sir, I answer fir my constituents, that neither as in- dividual.s nor us citizens will they submit to an as.-'ault upon that honor that invidveS a surrender of their rights. It does not become the sons of the land of Penn to boast of their courage. They preserve their honor and tlieir self-resjiect from that exposure that takes mortal ofl'em e at slight and trivial causes; but they suiTir no invasion of their acknowled;;ed rights. Abridi;e the freedom of speech or of the press; assail the rights of con- science; let a foreign Power invade the freedom of the seas, or our own absolute sovereignty over our own .^oih and my life u)ion it, so!)cr, quiet Penn- sylvania will not be found last in the rally or (list in the retreat. These arc the great ideas that Penn brought with him when he came to jilant a colony and to found a State. ^Ve received them from our fathers, and, by the blessing oftjod, we will trans- mit them to our children. All our iileas of exist- ence are insiparaljle from these great personal and political rights, f'ut off iVom them, life would be insupporiable, and d'.'ath in their defence a bless- ing rather than a Hai;rifice. Oregon our.s — so admitted, .so conceded — and this is no longer a (;ontroversy for a strip of land of two or three ilegrees (jf latitude. It a.-regon, to i come up to the support of the resolution now u|)on I your tal.'le. "Whoever else falters, they should not. I deeply regret the course of a portion of my southern politiial friends upon this (|uesiion. I doubt not but they arc actuated by as jmre a pa- triotism, as high aseiise of public duty, as myself; but it would have given me great pleasure to have seen the republican meinb(;rs of tins House united, I toil man, on this great (|ueslioii. This, sir, is no ] party (|ueslion, but one of deep national concern. '■ God forldd that 1 shtnild invoke the spirit of party 1 ill its discussion; but I may say, what 1 earni sily I feel, that it would have tilliu'ded me sincere grati- j filiation to have seen the party to which 1 belong, iiiul which I honestly believe to be the great party I of progrt:ss — the true American party of the coiui- I try — firmly united in support of this measure. Sir, I am no croaker against the South. 1 have sul- fe!Mii(l, iiinri' liiiiii all, ilic rccciil nidvniiciits in the I'ritisii miiiisiry, |idiiil to jicacc, and iidt td war. I liclicvc — at least I have sd niidM'sldud — that the main dillii'idly cncoiintriTd l.y Lord .Idlni Hnsscll, in iiis ( lldi'ts td t'drni a raliinct, arosn out of a fiiiii (Irtt riuiiiatiiM), dii tiic |iarl dfeiiiinciii Driiisii statcs- iiicn, Id (Id iidlhiiiLC that shutild lead to u ru|i|iir(' hrlui cii ihc tWd cduiilrifs. Wlial were the liTduiid:-! ol'llic nriisal dl' Ldiij Lrit'v Id ac'iT|it ol'a |ilai'(' in Ldrd .Idhn Uusscli's caiiiiKif If 1 have iindcr- s'lddd ai'ii^lit, (ihdim^li i cdiii'iss I am iidt iniii !i in the way id' roiTfct iiifdriiiaiidn on snidi niattn's,) it was liccausi; Lnrd PaliiitTsidii was td he |ilai('il at tl'f head dt" ilii> I''drri::ii dlllrc — a man kiidwn td hi' iiiifi-icndly Id iliis cdiiiiiry, and, nidic than that, kiidwn td 1)1' pdniiiiilifd iiiinn this very rims- tidii in a nianiu'i' to iirvidndi' an aniiialilc ailjiist- 1111 III dl' it. Vet, <;-ciitl(iiirn persist in ilic crv ol' war, war, as if it were ai diir very diidi's. "NV'liat liavc we Id ('ear frinn wai', so iniu'h nmre than imr ailversary, that we shunld seeni it at a disiaiice, jtiid creaie a iiaiiic, even heCdre its lii'sl iniillerinL',-'< are heard? If indeed the day has cdnie fur the siruireli' lietween nidiiaiTliii'al jiowers and re|iul)- lii'an |iriiii'i|iles, lei us breasi the .slididx, as lieeoine the sdiis (d' lierdic .sires, 'riie re)niiilii; is in her Vduth, and th<> \irotected, and thus able to "ivo annovance to our enemy, and war will not come. Let l-]n!,^land see and fei'l that war with us would pi^ril her vast Cdir.nierce — av, sweep it fnun the seas — and she will not make v\ar fur the Oregon. Sir, I i;^o for an increase of the navy, and also for a correction of its abuses. It is pi-e<:;nant with the most o'l-oss and alarino: abuses, and at a proper time, if opportuniiy oll'i r, I intend to raise my voice for their correction. I would urge an in- crease of the navy, not as a war, but as a peace measure — as a sure and safe iruaranty for perma- nent and continued peace. AVe want a stron.':,(>r navy, to ijiiard against the hazards of European wars, even ihouirli we should not be directly in- vohed in them, as one of the belligerent parties. It would insure |>rotectioii to our commerce, and re- spect to our fla'^. No man can be more opjiosed than myself to the expenditure of vast sums of money in supporting; lari^e naval and military (s- tablishnieiits; but the jireseiit is a crisis in the iiis- tory of this country: in it, sir, are the, issues of hfe and death. The result of this conlrover.sj'- will determine for all comins; time whether we arc to hold a secondary place, or assume the first rank in the fimily of nations. En;:;laiid stands clothed in complete armor. While we hope for tlie best, i Anxious /(• Willi I (III ISIS (if land iincc in tlie I v<'i'ily l)e- (■ sir()iii';('.st iii-c iiraiiy \cr of Kii- jlistly so, s ; (iiirs, liy liodicd cili- dicr, in tlie lave heart, .1 paid by I', fVoni llic tlu'ir lii^h k; invadini;; increase of ly, except I uluHi; f!u! in:^er naval proiectidii ilsii, in my ■e o(' pill, lie aill'er more heir wi'ak- : streiiiith. rope? Our ;ir seaini n lapelled us lati' to the len, nii^^lit at declara- k1 ti-easuj-e •el lost, in II times to It ■we shall ■ deep and ■ok(Ml and is ITSpeet. ion of our J'rica, and mediately le to nivc not conic. ns wduld from the e ()r(>£^on. , and also ^nant with t a jiroper raise my 'j:v an in- s a peace or ]ierma- i stronger iMiropean irecily in- irlies. It e, and re- ' opposed sums of iliiary f-- n the his- issues of iitroversy ler we arc first rank lis cldtlU'd thu best, let UH satraciolisly prepare for tlie -worst. A little well-linii'd preparaiion may avert the calamity we dread, it Wdiilil he a more |)ii|ential m;;umeni m fasor (d' our ri^ht to Oregon, ilian all the o\er- whclmiiiu la "Is iirned by our alile negotiators who have had llu-. sulijeci. in charije. IJytliiis, 1 mean, sir, that it would (|uickeii the moral perceptions of !Mii;laiid, and enahle her the h 'Iter to hcu and ap- preciate the justice of our demiuids. No nut ion ever yet lost in nci^otiation Ijy heiuLT prc'jiared to defend its riniits. Let this iiolici! hi' i2;iven. When did a disputed ri_;lil u'.on slrennth by delay ? lam not prepareil ul this lime to assert, as some havt; done, lliiit our tillc lo till' vliiilv of Origon h clear and tinijiivslinii- ulili'; but this much 1 can say with ('onfulenci!, that every year delay will weaken our title, wliih,' En<^- laiid will ijrow more and more, exorbitant in her di'iiiaiids. Let this controversy be s|)ee(li|y settled by negotiation if it <;an, or by an a|i|)eal to arms if it must. AVlnle 1 Ixdieve our title the better to the whole of (1re.;on, 1 do not think it so clear as to preclude further nej^otiation and an amicabiu ud- justinent, if it can Im honorably elle<',ted. I can clearly see in the President's Alessaije an earnest desire and hope that it will be so .•■'ettleil. All of the correspondence of oiir Secretary of State i;ivcs to England the stron:;est assuraiic<; of the anxiety of our (jovernment to settle this (|U''stioii by ne^^o- liation. It initst he, therefore, that there is some- tliiair in this Urci^oii controv(;rsy about which we may hnivrahUj ni:^;otiate. "('tear and unqurstlan- ablv" rin'htH are lhinL,^s of a stroiiLT and niicompi'o- laisin;^ nature; they cannot be impaired, compro- mised, or even made the snbji'ct ol' nei^otiation, without a loss of that hii;ii character that this na- tion should ever maintain. If our ri:;ht to the n-iiole of Orei;'on be of this nature, then J fear me that the stain of dishonor is already indelibly fix<'d upon my country. I{i!:;hts of this character are not, I repeal, tin.' subject of nei;otiation, but of en- joyment ; or it' invaded, •)(' battle to the death. Siip- ])ose England should claim that our preircnt revenue laws were so serious a cloij ii|)on her commerce and manufactures as that sin; would make it acause of war unless our tariff was reduced : would we listen to such arrogance, and propose nei^oriation for the setthjinont of such pretensions? What means this nei,''otiation for the last twenty-seven years? What these three distinct oilers to com- promise on the 41)ih parallel (d' north latitude? I am forced, Mr. Chairman, to the. belief that there arc t|UCstions of doubt and dilficulty surroundini; our title to a portion of this territory, or, to adojit '.]■-<■■ ether aUernaii\e, that my ciaiiitry, to lierevi i- InsliiiL"' shame, has thret? times offered to purchase ]ie:vurc(! cd' wealth — is destined in less than one century lo choke up the; ports and harbors of l'u,i;et's sound. Slndl England have them, and thus secure for all comins;; lime, and be- yond the hop(' of successful eom|)elitiou, her com- nwrcial ascendency? Never, sir, while this repub- lic holds a place in the family of nations. Hero I would set limits to neirotiation; here I would make my idtimatum, and never recede one inch, SI) Inwj; as there was an American lu-m to strike a blow in its defence. Without lhe.se harbors, Or.'ijon is comparatively worthless; with them, Orei^ou is worth a war. These surreiulercd, let New York and IJoston be surrendered with them; these lost, and all should be lost. I believe, Mr. Chairman, I have said all that I desired to say upon this subject; and more, I fear, than has been well or profitably said. 1 sec there are some five minutes of the hour allotted to me yet untold. I will, however, resume my seat, even at the hazard of making n failure instead of a siiee(;h.