IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
/.
(./
^
^
'v.
1.0
I.I
i^ lli 12.5
^
2.2
1^
'- IIIIIM
1.8
11-25 III 1.4 11.6
V]
7
'^j
Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
23 WEST MAIN STRKT
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716) 873-4503
! f
CIHM/ICMH
Microfiche
CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.
Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques
6^
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 bibliographically unique,
which may alter any of the images in the
reproduction, or which may significantly change
the usual method of filming, are checlted below.
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
n
D
Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur
Covers damaged/
Couverture endommagie
Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaurie et/ou pelliculie
Cover title missing/
Le titre de couverture manque
Coloured maps/
Cartes giographiques en couleur
Coloured init (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 shadows or distortion
along interior margin/
La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distortion le long de la marge intirieure
Blanic leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possible, these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties
tors dune restauration apparaissent dans le texte,
mais, lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas M filmies.
Additional comments:/
Commentaires supplimentaires;
L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a 6ti possible de se procurer. Les details
de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du
point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier
une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une
modification dans la mithode normale de filmage
sont indiqu6s ci-dessous.
I I Coloured pages/
Pages de couleur
Pages damaged/
Pages endommagtes
Pages restored and/oi
Pages restauries et/ou pelliculdes
Pages discoloured, stained or foxei
Pages d6color6es, tacheties ou piqu6es
Pages detached/
Pages d^tachies
Showthrough/
Transparence
Quality of prir
Quality inigale de I'impression
Includes supplementary materii
Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire
Only edition available/
Seule Edition disponible
I I Pages damaged/
I I Pages restored and/or laminated/
ryl Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/
I I Pages detached/
I I Showthrough/
I I Quality of print varies/
I I Includes supplementary material/
I — I Only edition available/
D
Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata
slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages totalement ou partiellement
obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure,
etc., ont 6ti filmAes i nouveau de fa(;on i
obtenir la meilleure image possible.
n
to
t:
p<
of
fil
Oi
be
th
si)
ot
fir
si(
or
Th
sh
Til
wl
Ml
dif
en
be
"g
re(
m«
This item is filmed at the reduction i.2-.io checked below/
Ce document est filmA au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessous.
10X
14X
18X
rSii
26X
30X
7
12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X
The copy filmed her* has bean reproduced thanks
to the generosity of;
Library Division
Provincial Archives of British Columbia
The images appearing here are the best quality
possible considering the condition and legibility
of the original copv and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.
Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other original copies are filmed beginning on the
first page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and dnding on the last page with a printed
or illustrated impression.
The last recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol — •► (meaning CON
TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"),
whichever applies.
Maps, plates, charts, eic. 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:
1 2 3
L'exemplaire filme fut reproduit grice A la
gAnArositA de:
Library Division
Provincial Archives of British Columbi.^
Les images suivantes ont M reproduites avec le
plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et
de la nettetA de l'exemplaire filmA, et en
conformity avec los conditions du contrat de
filmage.
Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en
papier est imprimAe sont filmAs en -ommenpant
par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la
derniAre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second
plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires
originaux sont filmAs en commen^ant par la
premiAre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par
la derniire page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.
Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la
dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le
cas: le symbole — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE". le
symbole V signifie "FIN ".
Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre
filmis A des taux de reduction diffirents.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre
reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film* A partir
de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite.
et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre
d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants
illustrent la mAthode.
1
2
3
4
5
6
2r'
:iON. (
IN THE
SPEECH
or
HON. C. W. CATIICAin'. OF IXDIANA,
ON
THE OREGON QUESTION.
DELIVERED
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TUiDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1846
WASHINGTON:
BLAIR & RIVES, PRINTERS.
1846.
I
Till' ri'sfihili
All liix. ii'
llni.'iiM (if
i<riniii:ii'' 1
iiliri>'_Mtp I
considcnit
Mr. <'.\T
ns (i>lliitts:
Mr. f'li MI
f^tni'.ru-lc, iiiiil
Kivr' |iu.~s
liMruri's as il
I Imisr (liirin
nivc iif iiotli
liyNliiMilir, 11
(lii/.cM (ir t\V(
cwli inorc! (
liiiir .■^pi'i'di,
<lro]i in iipnii
vifr:) !l(|ii|p|ci
Mr. (_'liMirm
l.'iM-h at thr (
I SCO .'iroiii
" v.;iiliiiu; till'
iriy d'cliii'^ a
iiiil/avor lo I
Ln-i'l lll,lt,\VM
tilric, 1)111 diif
ii('i'iiiniii(iilat(
Should I s:
vvlih'li a UTst
I)*' nll.iwod II
llntnidill!; Ill)
luilil llic pri'i
iillsidcM'rd a:
l)P.t sit il is; I
idv.-iiilairp of
till door „i
' Niiiijil
loid llic ;lo\v (
I hi' " liarvcsi
fr'^ii'li'iurii wli
111 till' clcvriit
cr ill a W( ll-ri
i'oclry and
lordiii llnir
nii'^hl " poiii
ihosc roiivcii
Airirrii'iM) (!au
(il'iiii drawn r
iSi'rr.'un of llir
lars of thin i
Allp^^llany to
THE OREGON QUESTION.
rill' rr "iliiii'iD fiDin till' Cnmitiincf mi iMiri'i'^ti
All lii'^, i'''i|iiiriii'^ till' I'li'siilciil In iiiiliry (irriU
riiii;iiii <it' till' iiiiriili'iii III' ilii' I'liilid Siiiiis 111
IfTininMU' llir jiiitit i)i-i'ii|i;iiiry ii'" < )ri'.,'iili, mid In
iiliiii'.'ittc iIh' riiiivcniiiiii III" IH-.'T, lii'iii'j; uiiilcr
CDIIsidinilidll in ('nlimilllir nl' ihr Wllnlf —
Mr. ('ATIl(.'.\ll'r(il>lahKdtlu.n(M)r,an(lHii(ilvc
[IS liillows:
,\!i-. CiiMUMw: My lilV tins lircii one riinliniKil
ini'.ru'li', and yl I iinisl lie )>(rniilii'd to say, tlial
I liavi' pa.-scd llu'iiii'^li 1111 sccnr lim'lolon; so [
s(niviiiL'-!y, siron'.;ly rolorid with sn-io-coniical [
riMliircs US lliat wliirli wn have wilMcssiMl in this I
liousr (Inrin:: llii' liisi few wcidcs; mid i ran roii- |
livr of notliiiiu: sn ludirrfiiis, lo a disinun stcd ;
liyslandiT, ns tin; sinuiliancons clliii'i of soinr i
do/.cn or two of nuiiilii'rs lo oliiaifi llic lloor, as ]
(acli more rortunatr coiniKtilor I'oncliidi il his
iiiir s]iciidi. ir our lioinsl conslitii"'n!.< roiild !
(Ini|i in iipoii lis and sec and h<'.ir tlir fnrioiis ili- |
viiM's adoiiicd liy many lo olilain %'oiir n sponsc, !
Mr. (.'hairman, 1 am snri', thmiirh thry niiichl
aiiL;h It the Carci', ihuy would pily tlw artors. j
I SCO .iroiind inc already many anxious farcn, i
' wailini; llicir lurii." and as tlic li, si ividcnrr oil
iiy li'clinu: appn'rialion of their .silualiim, I will
eiid.avor to lie as luief as possible, and only re- '
ret that, wiieii I ^lilali have <iij(iycil my allotted ^
lime, hut one of ii iiosl of elever I'ellov.s eaii he .
iircommoilated.
Should I sav that nii'desty — a i-li;ir:ielerislie for
wiii'di a wiMlerii pnliiii ian is iiol apt t<i rereive or ;
l)e allowed niui'li eredil — lia.s pi-evenied me from j
iMitriiilini; my eriide opinioi^; upon the commiiiei
iniiil ilie present momeiii, I fear that I nii'.rht he |
roiisidered as Iresjiassiii;; upon ymir iiidulicMice.
I'.i't so it i.s; and to hay thai I did not Ii el ihe dis- |
iitlvania^'n of my present position, eomini: upon ,
till door 111 this late lionr, woultl he di nyim; to :
myself simple justii'e. ,\fier the '"least 111' reason
lud the ;low of soul" whiidi has heeii hron^'ht to
the '* harvest-home'' In this dehale hy those aide |
treiidemi n who have i!;one liefore me, I nov,-, almosi \
111 the eleventh hour, eoine in as the lininhle ^leaii- j
<'r in a well-reaped field.
I'oelry and prose, hisinry and fiel ion, have af-
li.rilrd lh( ir rii h eontrilmlion.-', wherever they!
im'j;lit "point a moral or adorn a tale." I''\en ;
losR ronvenieiit sourei h oI* poelie faney, the i
Auieriean eajile and the I'.riiisli lion, liave heen rn
ol'ieii drav.p upon, thai the mar o| the one and the
M'riani oi" Ihe olher nov.- I',\ll powerless upnii the I
rars of this eommiltee. l''roiu ihe apex of tlie |
Alleghany to the summit of .Mount Hi nd, the
I'ird of .Ainerii'a lias xo ofieii hren made to take
(liirhi, that his shadow may he saiil to Jirne worn
a trail aero.-s the liasin of ihe .Mis.-issipjii; ami ihn
poor lord of the hiasts lias heeome .so familiar
willi the noiiit of ii liiekory pole and of an ash
splinter, tliat he lias slunk away to his lair, and
tlii.'io let him lie for the halanee of iiiy nllolttd
hour.
I'ottry has heen all the ra^'e in this dehale; hihI
siiiee it IS said thai a man had as well he out of the
world as out of the fashion, I inn mus! use a very
little; for really there ha.s heen hut little left. 1 be-
lieve there yet remains some of the poetry of the
IJoiindheads and Cavaliers, a few of the I'saliiis,
and the old diity ff IJarhara .Mien. One ihini,' of
the latter 1 shall monopolize, and leave the halafiee
lo those who may eonii' after me. Well then, sir,
" 'Twas in the iiii-rry month of May," in the year
of our Lord H4-1, thai two ennveminns or pnlitieal
•.,MtherillLrs were held at naltiiiinre; the out — irot
up with all niau'iiifieenee and display, ni~d sur-
rniindeil with pau'eants, Imll-hails, and liiifi'alo
liuiils — seeineil called lo^^ther hy the liiirh pri.sts
of the Self-styled WIul.' parly — for whal.' Let
their deeds iiiiswer. They look Clay, niid mnilo
unto themselves a ijraven inuii,'e, and cdled upon
all the people to fall down anil worship it; hut they
toiiml ihcniselves in the predicament of him who
"called ihe spirits from the vasiy deep," and the
spirits would mil come! i'hey stayed away. Ala.s,
alas, poor Yorick ! lint the oilier — what did they
do.' Why, sir, they took for their standard-hi arer
(if we are to helieve those who have u;one Ik fore
ns) a tliird-rate man — a man unknosMi to fame,
and iindeserviirj: the cniifidence of hii;/ purlij. Wl.o
does not riiueinlicr their I: nniin:^ (|uerv: "Who
is .laims K. I'olk r Win. is James K. I'olk r"
How slri'nu;e a duly will devolve upon the future
hisioriaii \\ hen he shall come lo record the evenw
of the last li'w years. What have we seen? W.'iat
do We iioic see in this House.- 'I'hose very ;;riitle-
meii, who wi're so very i'^nnranl ahmil Mr. I'nlk
a liw short mniiihs a^n, are now ready — ay, itux-
imis — to place the destinies of this people upon tin;
:;rave ipieslinii of war or peace in his hands. Yotl
are told, sir, mo.si iiathelicaliy of the horrors of
war; that under its ilark frowns all thai are Idessed
and worth hlessinu; on earth must willier and jmt-
i.-h like eliaif ht fore ii seven- liie.cs heiited funiacp;
I'lal 111 irive iliis notice \y w.ar. And \ei these im-
maetih'.le aposlles of cnnsisieiicvare w illinir to vote
this iremenihins power into the hands of this very
K . 1>
Lei Ih
It, It tin ir query.
.iiid from their own mouths shall they he answered.
Janus K. I'ollc in so liii;h in tlie confidence of the.
\Vlii;V parly- llml lliry nliximi-ly sfi k tn jilarr llir
sudid V. Iiicli, IrnpiiiL;- fidiii its .-ciililiani. will lii-iii'_'
tip ill! niiLilily ((Millict two ul' liir i:i'c:iti.sl nalimis ot'
till I arili, iii liiN liiuids. Ho imn'li, sir, for a Wlii;;
niiswcr in a Wl i:: inicry.
I!ul \vli;ii said wir Wlicii.iicndiliirliialiioclioii,
Nvliiiii /ij((/ (/lie fiiil at Irasi ill imr |i(ilitii'al liistn
ry — anil that was. that tlic |irii|i!«' cinilil sricrl tlitir
own cai.ilidatc as well as « 1< it liiii' — llic (;iii'sliiiii
was asked iif us, " Wlm is Janus K. I'nlk :" I
tan spciik tor nuscit", sir, and I wmild li(p|ic (or
rvcry d( niociat, wiuii I say that I told tlinii in
brill' that 111' was I'olilii'ally a sound dciuorral;
morally, not only iiiisuspci'lrd, Iml al>ovi' Mis|ii-
cani: and thai hi . and I. is jiarlv with him, almvi'
all, wt re in t'avor ol' thr orru|ialion o(' Ori'i^oii and
the anm xalmn of Tixas; ih:il he had the lirnini ss
so to avow )iini.--(ll', whin olhris wi ri' Iriinniin.:
Ihrir .sails to imIi )i tjir jioliliral lijasl; and that to
this he owr.s his |!|rs(;nt i livatid |iosilioii raiiiiol
be di'iiicd.
What said the llaltiiiion roiivinlinii, whiili noin-
iimtcd him, on this suliJ.iM .- I Irii' it is. sir:
"Ihsolviil. That our lull' to tin wholt: ot'tlp ,'on
' i.s (dear and uiii|U('stiohal)lf; that no |)orlioii of
' the same ouu'hi tnlir fidid to Kni^laiiil; and that
' llir ri'-ocru|iaiioii i>t'(>r<'i;on and llir n-aiinrxalion
' of Texas, at the earliest prai liralile |ieriod, are
' jjrcat Ainerii an inciisures, whieli this eoiiveiiiioii
' recoiiiineiids li. the rordial mi|i)ii'iI ot' th(' di nio-
' crary ol' the Union."
Mr. I'olk was ell rted on this is.siie, advaiii id it
in iiis inaiiiriiral, and ai,'ain in his .M' ssa.Te, and,
with a view to'earry it out. reioinnii luls this no-
tire li) lie iriveii. .And the (|nisiion is put to us as
ihe re|)reMiilaIives of the Anieriean |ii ople, wheth-
er wc will, or will not, respond, not onlv to hiin,
.■^ir, hut to ihc .\nii rieaii ]iioplc, who, with waiiii
liearls and stroii!.' hands, hid us i;o on and I'nllil
iheir deeree: it is said that llio voiee ol' the pi o-
jile is tiie viiiie of Ciod. 'J'hen wo to the liaek
ward, for tie inilii;-iiant frowns of iiullions ol' free-
men are Ujnin them.
It may not he disguised that tliei-f is diversity of
opinion — shall I say, sir. upon the iiKihtti (ijnruutli
liy whieli we shall aii|uirethe Origin lerritory .- —
and diversity, too, ainoii'.' those who were so unaiii-
nioii.s upon il.s twin iinasnre, tlie. aniiexalion of
Texas. And this eulls to mind, sir, a very eliasle
and elassie, remark of a ijeiilli iiian from Virginia,
|Mr. I'r.XDLKrox.] i ijiiote his words, sir: "It
' was said early in the diseus.-ioii thai this Ore^'on
' (lueslion, and ihni of Texas, were horn end eia-
' ult'd in the lialtimore Convention of IH44; Iwin.s,
' as mv honorahlefiiend from AlassaehiiseitN says:
' <iro, lie miiihl with inori; preei.se ai'eiiruey li.ive
'said, out of a very niinu runs I'ltUr of as nioii-
' .strous politieal ahsurdilies as any i mielavc, liy so
' rapid a parturilion, ever.vyji/iriui/ upon llie wurid."
A htlir spawned I
Why, Mr. Chainnan, I urn reminded liy this of
the I'ae.l ihai, in tin: distriet wliieh the iri iillemaii
reprosciils, instead of feeiliiii.' upon tin; wholesoine
flesh of the lio^' and other i|uai!rupi ds. llnir main
Kubsi-slenee is the " rotonme rohin," aliis the lier-
Tiiij,'; and in this fishy xiiiool the frenllinian mi nis
to iiavi! learned his iilea.s of ri|iiodr,rtion, and lie
liven us a siieein.eii
ha.s
1
a t'li.al (lili'ereiRe *• liel
knohs aloii^ the I'oioniar river; and I only rojrit
tliJit, for the eredil of ,i iiorii f tin- Old |)oiiiin-
ion, the L'eiillemaii liail not del'ern il his s|ii'i'i'||
until al'ler the fishing' season. 'J'he i,'eiiileniaii Ims
I 1,'iven us, too, anollur version of the story of'-Jo.
j nail's swallowiii!,' the whale," when he spi:ik» iif
Mr. I'olk as one of this Ullirsiuiiniiil. Wliy,sir,lii'
I must he u !;r( at fellow for fish, this Mr. 'folk; hi-
' has swallowed tlie leviathan of wlii^L'ery, ears iiml
all, without 1,'reasi' or pimiini; liaek ; and some, nf
' the .'enlleniairs friends are yet wailin;; iiis rieeoiid
aiUi lit !
'I'lie ireiillem.in is pleased to advert to what lii>
, ealls the aiiL'rv and eonleniliin; fartimis of the |)i m-
oeratie party upon this i|Ue.-tioii of notice. Iji.s
"hope is fallier to the thoii'^hl;" In: need not lay
the (lalleriiiL' uieiioii to his soul llial we will so far
I'ialify him and his friends, and so far jnove rei'ii-
ant to the jrieal trusts reposed in us hya eoiifnliii,'
and iri Herons eonstitueiiiy, ,i.s to array oiirselvi-
ill l'ailion.<, and to tear down the fiir lemplc so well
hi uun.
Ihii should we do so, sir, what is lie nnd liin
pariis.iii eoadjiitors to lake liy that niotion .' Arr
they united.' Who does iioi reiiiemher the hilar-
iiess of his remarks to some of his ahle l'ello\v-la-
liorers in the eanse of moilerii v\hiLri,'ery — tliiwc
who were with liiiii in kiepinu; Texas out, die
t.irili" up, fietiiiii; Mr. Clay in if they I'ould, and in
every sense were as .Sinioii I'lire Whiu's as hiiii.self-
I I'lie phantom whieh m ems to oppre.ss the vivid
iniaLri nation of the i;eiiili man i.~ the idea of a srram-
hle anion:: the Dinioiraiy for the next PriMihiicy,
vvliile he has to sland hy, as we say in the West,
"like a liouiid hoy at a hnskiiiL'."'
'I'he ;.'enlli'iii;ui ii.-ks iiow are we to iupct Great
I'riiaiii in Orepm; or, in other words, iiow arc we
ti. U'l t there.- Ill' undersl;(nds the /i.s/ii/ ronle — llie
naile hy sea; that i.s perlielly familiar to him; and
he si".;y;e:,ts Hood and valid ri asoiis show in:; v\'liy
we eaiinot i;o that \\ ay. I'lit, sir, there is aiiiither
route, wliiili I shall i!esii:na!e the ifni.s.v;/ route; and
this route is to liini iin'ompreheiisihli'; and why?
ijieause as pork is displaied over the river hy fixhi
HO ijrass is hy sedfre; and he h;is not found out the
many useful |iiirp>ises to whieh it may he applied,
rsow, let nie tell the ;:enlleman and this eomiiiiltec,
that from the prairie on whieh 1 reside, nearLiike
.Mirhi'.;an, to the Columhia, with very hrii f inter-
Viils, you find a natural nianlle of the most luxuri-
ant verdure eoverinj; the face of the eouiitry. Thai
ill tin; siimniir season, any ininiher of nitlle —
thousands and leiisof tlious:iiids — may he suhsisted
aloim the roiiie; that, with their aid, nur liaidy
western rilh men ean transporl all the muiiiliiiiis,
Ae., neei ssary to a mii ressi'ul eampaii;n; and tiial
they Would jioiir down upon the niinioiis of Ihiti-sh
' power from the slop.- of the mountains, as IVapo
leon did upon the Miiiny plains of Italy. The tiiiln
I of the (diase and liie hardshi|is of u frontier life
leive liroiii^hl into i xisleiiie a rate of men particil
larly well ipialifnd for siie.h iin ailventure— uild
they will do it!
A Word more, and I will leave that i;riitlenian
lie liiis v\ ittily alluded lo my eoilia:;ne's eelehraled
"Anieriean iiiulli|dieati>in tahle," and has enjoyed
a llii'i: at our wo.ihy Chief Ma::isliate anil hcorfr
eiiowayhy
un lold that thej-e , t.uy of .Slate, lie says that I
01 rullier fi.>l
ore and alter meat.
, hie
leipiire Oregon, exeepl hy the opt la- j
1, among the people of iht .•jterile lion of ihi.s tahle; and thai he is really ui>pithtil-
iiMil I only rrjrM
' III'' Ol.l Del,"!,,.
n( (I Ills sjiicili
<■ l^liltlllllMM lllis
'ic .sl(i|-y iir''J(i.
I'll ln' S|.|ilkil (l|
<(/. Wliv.sir,!,,:
ii-* .Ml. P'.lk; li,.
iii:irii y, cmi-.s ami
k ; unci Sdiiiit (if
iiitiiii; liis ;!uc.on(l
virl Id wlml \\,\
inns (if llii' I )i Mi-
ni' IKilicc. Ili^
lir ||<-<'(I Milt lay
ml we. w ill NO far
I tar |iriivi; rrnc-
IS liy a coiilidiii,'
iinviy (uirsi^lvi .
lir ttiiiidc so well
is III' mill his
iiinliiiii • Ait
iiIm r ihr liiiiir-
iililf I'l llii\v-la-
liiir:,'cry— thdst
'(j\as mil, ill!.'
ly rmilil, anil in
;;s lis liiin.-irji''
rr.ss llif vivid
..liii I if II scraiii-
ir\l I'ltMiltiicy,
ill lilt; Wist,
'I'.
nil
'y
to Pirrt Great
irds, how are we
■ I'lsliy route — tin-
lilinr to him; and
is .show iiiu; why
, llicrc is iiiuilliiT
if/'K.s.v;/ riiuti,'; and
sililr; Mini wliyT
thf river liy lisli,^
Kit roiiiiil iiiil llie J
may lie ii|i|ilied. I
1 ihi.s coiiiiiiltle'', I
I siili', iicarLakf,^
very lirii t" iiiliT-^
ihi: iiioKl luxiiri-?
!• roiiiitry. Thai j
llnr ol' riittlt:— :
limy lie .suhsisleil ;
nil], our hardy '
I till' niiiiiiliiiii!<,
>|iaii:'ii; nliil thai
iiiioiis III' liritisli
it^iiiis, as Na|iii.
Italy. TinMiiiU;
it' II iVoiilitr li/f '
of 111! 11 |mrtiiMi-i
nilMiiturc— and
tlint ;;nilli'ni;in.
'file's I'l'li'lii'aled;
iml has cnjiiyod
ilrali; anil .S '.'ro-
ll SIT no wa\ hy
|il liy lh(! (i|iiia-
'c'ully iijiiiieheii-
Nive llinl if wc li.'ivn to ilijiiiiij ii|ion llic. two u'i'ii- I
tli'iui II iilioM'-iiirnlioiii'ii, lliiit Clncrii Vii'toriii nnil
Mr. I'i'( I W ill ln'iii us Mt lliiit, Sohii'llilii;: in ll lit.
Mr. ('Imiruinii; Iml liow loiriMy roiilil Mr. I'olk
retort ii|ion liiiii, "Ami thou, loo. I'.nii IIS.-" Why,
sir, I iini told that tliat::eiilli;iiiiursloiie,sonu.' heiutli
is lis sail ii (lii lure its i •• "r was seen of llit; tlilcls —
sir, tilt' tniiil of I ll't'i'ts of " Love's liilior lost."
iN'ow, sir. It) t'onie iiiii'k to lliise twill lueasurts,
or tiro iiiea: tins, if you |deiist'. Tht' tine lias bet ii
I oiisuiuliiiitt'il — Tt \iis is iiiini'Xtil — slit- is one' oC
us, anil \vt' iirt^ iinxioiisly wailiii;,' Cor tlic ailvt^il
niuoiiu' us of 111 r ri'|ire;tt iilative.4 in Imili ends of
lllis ('a|iitol.
What I )i'iuorral IVoiii llic .South rt liiikiil the ar-
ilurol'lhe \Vi:l in ihtMiuryin'-C nt' lliis iin asiire.' I
a|i|Mal to you, ^elitli men of the South: Did you
not then feel |iriiiiil to tall us lirollnrsr And iliil
not voiir i.iil.^e lieat lii'.;h ns you saw our uii(hiiiiit- -
ell front, iintl llie viuoj- with which wi: presst^l tin
the t'ldtuiin .' J)iil we halt liy the way side iiiid .<iy, '
the linif is iiol yet- Did we |irelentl to he with
ytiit as to the tnil, lail eavil as to ihtt uiealisr No,
sir, no ! I'lit tVoiii |>i'aii'ie and wooil, hill ami dale,
the Deiiioeraey sent U|i llieir liallli-cry-— Texas and
()i'eL;(>n, Oreiroii and 'i'exas. 'I'exas we liavt —
(>i'e'_'oii WI' look lor. Will yoii "kit p tlif word of
inoinise to till- tar, and Imak it to the lio|ie.-" 1
Know, lis a hotly, you will not; Init I should lie i
lirouil to see tile entirety of the 'gallant South lead- '
in:; the van in the assertion of our ii:;lit to On 'ion,
ami in the iulo|ilioii of the iiieasiiri s rreoniininiled
liy u souilii rn I'resiilt nt for the asseilion of that
ri;;ht. llo'A-, then, would lie rolh tl liaek ujion the
disiiMionisis of the North, the trrave eharue brouirlit
iiL^aiiisI you, "that you were elaiinisli in your I'eel- '
iii'is anil St ctioiial in your iiatriotisni." j
Anil now, sir, I ho|ie my inotivis may be |irii|>-
1 r!y a|i|irt eialeil in advtrtin^j; lo the remarks of j
S'lnie of tilt; ;,'i'nlleineu from the South, who have
dillert ll fi'oin the maiorily of us u{ioii this (|ueslioii. '
'J'lie s|iirit of tilt' \\'t St, its I'lithiisiastie ill volion
to the irlory and ;;ranili ur of our eoiumoii eountry ,
anil l!ie i'iilal';:emi lit of the bniiiiils of eivili/alion,
and tilt; i'X|iaiision of our reimbliraii institutions,
has lieeii cilli'il a war s|iiril; ami we have been read
l( iliiit's u|ion the horrors of war, anil the bli'ssiiii;s
til' iieaee; ami told that by llie ilt eisive aetioll wliieli '
\\t' are iiboui lakiiiir we lia/.ard i'\erytliiiiu uml I'mi '
pain nothiii;,''; that wi.sdoui dielates u eoiirst; of
"liiaslfrly iiiae'ivily.''
Sir, was it by tin's siiiiiuo eoursf thai we ;;aiiit d
our |ire.>enl iiali [leiiili lit txisieiiet' as the fri ist ami
lia|ijiiest 111 ii|ili' 111 I'iirtlir Was it by iiiaiiivity thai
^^ e SI all ll our title to be consiih ml one of the lirst,
and L,reatt St, and bravesl |n ople uinli r lieaven'.s
sun : — in a word, was it by niasti riy iiiai'tivity that
we ai'i|uiriil Tt xas.- An, .sir, tin! l!ul by action
— eiii;r;;i'tii', lu'tion I
I'tai'e is one of tilt; ':;reale'-:t , a.nd be-;', null Indi' si
irlfts of Heaven. iS'tver shall 1 talk lightly of itn
blessili;is. Would to I leavi'll thilt its beiiii;naiit '
sinilt: might forever rest u|ioii all the idiildreii of
iiii'ii! I
r>ut, .sir, it ni'i'il not bt; disf;iii,sed — the (liiy.s of ,
the uiilli niiium have not yet arrived. AVe must
oi'iasioniilly brave war ami all its horror.s, or sink i
into eoiituiiii ly and enuteui|>l, anil befome a by- i
wortl and a re|iroai li amoii^ tliu nations of tin; |
earth. I
We arc- asked, .sir, if \ye t \prtt, by L'iviii^ tlii.^
Iiotit'f, to ilis|iossi SN I'',iiu:laiiil' .And ni,'aiii, if wi;
sn|i]iosi' th:it we eaii elli il our |iiii|iose by reniliii'.;
law lo the liritish troo|isf Did we not read "our
law'' to iMi'Xii 11, bai'kiil as she was by both Kii;;-
laiiil anil l''rani't .' Ami did we not inseribi' the sec-
ond edition in legible iharaelers, by the l''iot-|.riiit.s
of an .'Vnii'ii' an solilitry in the sands of ('or|iuM
Clirisli,' What western man then heltl biiek?
What western man — or, I should rather say, wesl-
ern dt moerat — then held the c did shoulder to yoti,
ai.dtalleil this a souilitrn measure.' iVoni', HJr;
nolle, at least, in lln ;:allaiil Stati w liieh 1 have the
hoiior in part to re|iresent.
So bitterly oji|iosi'il i.re llir leaders of tin; AVhi'.^
jiarty in the st eiion of eoimlry I'roiii whieli I hail,
to tlie ri!iliietion of the tarill'to the ri vt'iiui; stand-
ard, and so vi ht'inent is their hate towards South
('arolina for the stand she has taken upon this
siibjei;!, that their bitleiest term of reproai'h, as
they I'onsider it, has lit in to ilesiirnali' a Demoi'.rat
a .South Carolina politii-ian. Sir, I have borne
this name in latiniile forty-one and a half for years;
but I nally have lietn appri Innsive, lately, that 1
shall be tom|M lied to ask my Whi;r friends to
aiiit'iiil tht; litlt'. I enii staiiil a ijood ileal from tin;
Lrallaut palinitio .State — my sympathirs have been
with 111 r. 1 have seen her fields deserttil, anil
her ])ala('eH made lies. .late, by tin; iron heel of the,
oppressor. I have seen the ailvaula^^es wliieh God
has i;iv''ii her Iraiisferreil to re;;ions less favored
by iiati *t', under tile opt ration of oppressive eiiaet-
ments; .mil, al'li r a loin: and anluons struu':;le, I
have I'oiiie here now iiistrni'ted to do her Jiistiee.
Texas, Ori'u'ou, and the tarilf. with tht: other threat
niea.-iures now before us, shall each in their turn
receive or meet with, from me. such aetioii as an
honorable, and just, and Ikhih fnli iiiterpretatioii
of tht: issues place. 1 by mir natioaal conventioii
before the American piojile shall retiuire at our
hands.
I'ut lllis iloclrini' of "masterly inactivity;" 1
eaniio! find it in the jiroceeilin'.'s of the Deniociatii;
coiivt ntiiMi. I may, however, see room for its in-
I'erenct; t'roiii the nei^lect to mention Texas and
()re;,'on in the proceetlinusof the W llii; convention;
but, sir, that is not the chart wliicli 1 steer by.
Mastt rly inactivity, when the ri'.;bls of my cnun-
Iry uru at stake! VViiy, sir, the idea is saciile-
u'lons. Then is. liowiver. soun ihinu: superlative-
ly ridiculous ill this iileaof 'iiasterly inaciiviiy and
bedchamber diplomacy. Why, run the one into
the otln r. and a jiir^' of old women would declare
you ileraim;t:il.
We are told to remain tiuiet, and that Orerjon
will be coiU|iit red in our bidcbambers. Sir, ilo
iCentlemen ftiruiet that ine bedchambers of lUir own
citizens are now in Ore^^on, unprotected; that they
are surrounded by the crealiires of a foi'ei;;n eor-
porali'in; that they cry aloiitl lo us for protection
ironi the wilderness; and that it will be a burniiiLr,
s.'iu'cliinu:, bl.istin^ .vhame upon us, if we heed iheni
not.'
It is true that we of the West have a jiarticular
anxiety upon lliis suliject, not because we look
upon it as a western measure, Itut because t>iir
brethren, our I' ieiitis, and our connexions, have
cast their lot on the other sitle of the Koi'ky moun-
tains. I know some of these people. They were
of those who lieljied us lo reilaiiii one wilderness
— a lliililc, 'j-ilii THUS MCf — ;i riu'r sent l;( I'lirc tin'
)iiii:-si s III' rivili/.( il lilr, iiM lln cIhvc iViim ilic over-
ciiiwilctl iirk. 'I'liry riiiiu' lint iinck, Imt luut'
Jill' 111 (I llicii- trills ill llic l';ii- West. Slmll \vv iiul
kirp (Mir iiivi'iiiiiit willi lluiiir Slmll wr nut |iiii-
Ircl Aiiicric':!ii riti/rtis I'lioii nil Aitn'rii mi sciilr
Kiir, iiciiw illisliiiuiiii'j: the linlisli iiiiiiislrr liiis IimiI
lunsl iililc MSsislniliT nil illis llncir. \rlirir. I Mill
tVl I' to M(llllit, I lllillk III' Inil lull lilllr liixlll III r\-
]ii Ti it, V't wliiit licis liri II till' i< suit 111' nil iiiir ill-
v< sii','iiiiiiii .' 'I'liiii ilir linlisli |ir('t(iiiT 111' mil' is
like till' liiiM less t'ulirir of a (Iriiiiii ; tliiii it is mily
siriiiii; ( iiiiuv;li In lie iiLuiii iii words, liy ii s|itrics
(if I'oiili iii|ililili' s|iiriiil |il<'iiiliii^'. uiiworiliv 111' tilt'
IioIHUmIiIi' l'r|ir('Si'lil;ilivc III" IIIIV 111 li'U'alilr lialioil |
— ilisiTpiilalili' ill M riiiiiitv-i'oiirt |iiltiro;;i.'rr. i
I shall not ariTiif tlu' iiurstimi of tillr at liir^lli. I
It wmild lie Mil act "f sii|i<'nrii;,Mtioii on my |iMit |
nl this liiiu', al'irr llic alilr cxiiositimis wliirli \\c \
liM\r liaii, liotli ri'oill tlir I'Ai rillivc aiiii in tlii.s
J jail. I'm I iiiiisl III' iH'i'iiiillril III allililr to one jut- •
sitloll ot° till' 111 ilish llllllisll'l". Mill! I lio this liri'Milsr, ;
" ill a iiutsliril,'" it shows a iicrlirl s|i('i'iiii(li
of till' iiMluic of tin: Urilisli siilr of lhl^ (lucsliou.
ll.sMVs:
I. The Aiiifrii'Mii titli' is not ;;iiiul a^'iiiiist (jrcal i
Pu-itaiu, hiM'ausc it is iiironsisliiit witl; that of,
S|iaiii.
'i. 'I'lif SpMiiisli title is not iroiiil a'_Miiisl fireat '
rinlain, liii'attse it coiillirls with tliMl of the L'liited ,
SiMles; Mild I
'A. TliMt lienre the British title is i^oml aLTaiiisI
hoth. I
Here wc lia\e, sir, a new versimi nf the old sto-
ry of the Imn-nwed pot. A lawsuit mii'i- t ink
|ilaee, involviiii: the (HU'slion of datiia'jfs on a lirn-i
lien 11(11: and the leanieil atlnriiey nf the defend-
ant liieil his defeiii-e as follows; I'''irst. thai the iint |
wa.s lirokeii when he liorrowed il; secondly, lliat '
it was whole when he retiinud it; and tliiriHy. liial 1
lie had never iiail it. ' ]
N'l) one denies our n'^ht to irive this notice.
Then why not L'ive it.- Amnii,' the many (tn me)
stiainre and inciiiiiprelK'iisililc reasmis Viven liy
gentlemen ai;ainst this measure, inuie is more so
than lliiU i^iveii liy two or three of the irenllemen
who have preceded me, and which is, in siili-
stance, that i onsisleiicy re(|iiires of them that they
vole on the side contrary to that of the vi iieralile
irenlleiiian from Massachiiselts; and yet I don't
kiinw liut that this is as irood an aru'imiciil airainst
the proposition hefiin' IIS ,v any which has been
advanced. ' 1
Mr. Chainiiaii, I thank Ci'nd that I came hero:
under lei such ma'^nelic inlliieiii'. . suliject to l<e
i:alvani/ed into iiosiiive or neiMiive pnsiiiniis upon ■
this LM-eat (|iieslioil liy the in linn nf nlli-'rs. il is
(■ii'Ui::h for iiie to know that my counlry calls, and
I ;rii, rci'arilless alike of those who shiill :ro with ;
inc. and of those who sliall pref r to la^- liehinil.
Anntlier grave rciison i;iven liy olie u'aiitli inan
why we should not now ad is,'tliat .lolin i'liill,
tlmuLih an old liull, is a very stout Imll at present. .
and that we had lielle;- wail iiiilil he fills further
iiiln •' the sere and yellow leaf." Oli, my cnim-
trynieiil ha-- it eniiie to tliis.iha' the .\iiiirii-aii peo-
ple are to he appealed to tliroiiL'-li their fears; and [
that, in a righleniis cause, wc iin^ to await the •
nate.ral decay of our adversary hefore we dare as- j
neri our ri^^ht.s to our own territory .- 'i'hu voice I
nf our people Piiliiil It; and ihn liniirs of our an-
cestry woiilil rise ill jiidLriiient ii'.'aiiisl us should
we prove so derelict III our duty to mir coiinirv;
and the lii|(,'er of scorn — lulter wiiliering Ncorn —
would lie piiinleii at us liy ivery repiihljcan on
(iod's footstoiil 1
Alinnsi every one who lia.s spoken agrees that
our litli' 111 ( )ie'j:oii IS clear iiiid iuii|iieslioiialile; anil
llie niosl if the anti-nolice men iNpress great anx-
ielv to possess the \\ hole of It, and Wnillil fun
make us lielieve tin', liv n fraiiiin;: I'roiu giving the.
lintice, time v.'ould lie '.'ained, and in the mean-
while our eiii/eiis would cniiiiniie to pour into the
coiiiitrv, and that these private coiupaiiies and f un-
tiles would acconijilisli that which they in the
liinst despairing tones assure us the whole force
of the people's Lioveriiiiieiit cannot ac oinplisli —
namely, the evpiilsion of the Hudson I'ay Coin-
paiiv. I low preposlerniis a p silioii I
Uefiise t'l ;;iM' this notice, sir, and who will go
into lliis territorv .' True, many have gone there
in the face nf our joint com entinn, treaty of jniiil
occupation, or trading'' eoparliiership, as u'eutlcinei)
mav please In call it; lull they Went tliire with I'lill
faith, lielieviiig that llieir ttovi rnnieiit would exteiii!
to tlieni the prnteciion whiili is line to every .■\iii(r-
icaii eiti/en. ■Siilninnn says there is a tune for all
things; and now, sir, is the time to give this no-
tice, nr to tamely siilmiil, cower, skulk, shrink,
spaniel-like, liel'ore the meiiacesi of a delesleil and
overlieaiin;: adversary, llefiise to give this notice,
and I ask, ai;.iin, who will east their lot inOreLTon.'
I lerc an Knirlisliiiian, there an Ameriean, and anon
an Indian, with as niaiiv systems of goveriiiiii nl
as lliere are individuals. Why, sir, we would lie
verifying, on a lar'ge scale, Shakspeare's idea of
the witches' cauldrnn in .Maclieih; and if tlieihvil
was not raised \>\ su'li a iniii'_:liiig >if discnrdant
spirits, set nie ilou ii as a false prophet.
We are asked how we expect to dlspossi'S.^i ilm
Hudson l!ay ( 'nm|iany of her pallisade fnrts in
Oregnn ■ Is il pnssilile ill, it an Ann rican can doulit
iipoii ;his point? Prepare yourself and deniaiid
tin ir sinnnder, as |''.tlian .Mien did the siirreiider
nfTicondern'^a. " in the name iif llie (.Jreal .lelio-
vali and the ( 'nntiiienlal ('migress." And this r<;-
niiiids me of the sneers of some genlleiiiiii in lela-
lioii to what they call niir "western doctrine of
maiiifesl desUny." Do geiitli'iiieu rellect where
they place themselves liV these sil<ers .' Do lliey
foi'^et th.it the .Savioiudl" luankind has said that a
" sparrow shall not fall to the ground w Ithoiil your
I'',iilii'ir"" .\ii(| yel we are asked, where is the,
clause in .Adam's will which gives iis this territory r
.Apart from the '• linok-title,'' which is "clearand
lllli|Uesliniiali|e." we .see il \M-ill(ll ill letters of
living li'.'hl in everyihing which surrounds us — in
tliat mercii'id disjieh.-aiinn. full lA' charity and lo\e.
towards iln- f.illin cliililri ii of .Ndani — nf a just and
nniliis'ieiil (iod, who h.'is ufiveii to man that colli rnl
of llie eleinenls, llie eli'eci of wiiicii is In iirilig the
reniolesi parts of niir vast cniinlry into |)rac,tii al
propiiKpiily. The iron horse, (the strain-car,)
wiili the uiiil;s nf the wind, his nostrils dislemled
with /lame, s ilamander-like vomiting liif^ and
siii'ike. treiilMnig willi power, lull suliiiiissive In
the steel lurli imposed upon him liy llie hand <>
iiiaii, llies from one end of the eoiiiinenl to the
other in less time than our ancestry required to
\i..il 11 neighboring eiiy; while by the luagiiftic
irs of Dili- (ID-
ll>t IIS sliiiiilil
"•111- rdiiiiiry,
'iiii;; Ni'iirn —
■•■|iill)llr,iii OM
II liirri'CN ilml
iliiiimlili'; aiiit
■ss ijiTiil aiix-
I wi.iiM Ciin
"III 1,'iviii!,' ihn
II lllr iiiruii-
|">iir iniii (he
iiiiN ami tain-
liny ill ilic
■ will lie t'cip'r
!<• Cll|l|l||s|| —
II Hay Coiii-
I
wlni will iji)
<■ iiuiicf ilicre
•cMly of joJMt
as u'ciillciiKii
K'l'c willi lull
ivoulil rxii'iii!
cvtry Aiiiir-
II liiiif fur all
i^ivc tins iiii-
<ulk, slniiik,
(lii( slid and
r lliis iKitirc,
i[ ill Orcu'^oii ?
an, anil ininn
U'l'Vcniiiiiiit
\f wuiild 111
ii-f's idia 111'
(I iriliiMJrvil
r (lisciirdaiit
■J|)I1SS('SS ilir
ailr fiiris in
III r:\u duiilit
mil di'iiKiiid
ic surrrnilrr
( ill ill .lilio-
Aiid lliis rc-
imn in nla-
(liK'Iriiii: 111'
'llcrl wiicrn
■ l)i) tlicy
< said iliat a
itlniiU yiiiir
In r<^ is llio
is leirilory .'
" cloai'and
II li'tlcis nC
Hills lis — in
IV and line,
if a just and
that rontriii
II ill'ill!^ tin:
itii prar.tiial
strain-i'iir,)
M dislriidfd
^ fii'i! liiid
imissivi' in
Ih> liaiid 11
lint 10 llic
lerjiiircd to
u mairitt'lio.
ti l<'L;i'a|ili ilif liirliinin;,' nl' lioavni is iiiailc! siilif^cr-
viciil III 'III' \\ill iit'inaii in anniliilatinLr N|iarr. In
Htoriii and in ilarUiii ^s, in tin' licat of a tnriiil siiii
111- llii: rliillinir liLisis of a Sil.i rian winliT, tliis inys-
liral hV'iilliiil ol liian'M inlillii^inri' s|ii;i.'dn ilH iin-
wiird uav. Truly il may I"' said, that witli tin'
siii'ial iniliiiiiri' of (lirsi- two i,'iial iiivriilions, all
llir |ii ojilc III' tills riiiitinrnl may lir inonldril to oni'
mind. And wliai In ait ilms not liaji at llir vision
IH'csi iitril III' tliis '^fial Irriitoiy |ii'ii|i|id liy onr
ripnliliran rainil v .' Woiiid il lir saviiiir to" niiirli,
llial tin- nia^iiitir trli-;ria|ili may In' riiiii|iaii d ,
wlirli rXtriiilid, as ixlinilrd il will lir, iivrr tlii'
l( irrili and lirradili ol' mir land. In tlir inrvoiis sys-
Irin of till: linniaii liiiily.' 'I'lir sriisations ol' its
rriiioKst |iiirls will vilnatr n|ion a riiniinon srnso-
rinin, roiniiiiiiiii'iilin.r its ray of inlilliurni'i' In a
riiiniiiiin niilir, to In- sent to all otliir [iirlions ul'
Hill' lii'jiiildii'.
Willi. lliMi, shiill nirasuri' liic limits of a I'lmrrd-
cnii'v of Si ilrs likr ours • Willi, tlnii, shall |ii r-
|iilriiti' tlial iilinost mn'rilcijious ini|iiilali'iii ii|"iii
llir liirny 111' llravrn, iiliil say that tin lilissiiii;s
I if this rnion an' s|iriailin',' too far - What, thin,
will III Toiiii' of till' iry that w<' do not wanlOii'-
;riin, lii'i'iiiisr of lis L'rial disiann- • ] low aL'nralilr
tlir vision of Stair afirr Stair roiniiii^ into this
•rrral |riii|i|i' of fn rilom, and Imrnini; tinir inrinsi'
ii|ion all altar ronsrria'i il in tlir i iijiiyini-iit of civil
and ri'liuioiis liluriy.
'I'hi' I'ry of soiiir is that wr arc not |iri'i>aiid',
and soiiir [ji'iillrnn li> ilidr|irrcatini: i iir wi akinss,
and in ('ulo'ii/in:; t\\v I'naiiii'.-is of Enu'lainl's
|in\\cr, liavr. 111 my liiinilili' o|iiiiiiin, madi' s|Mirli-
rs nnirh IhIIi r siiiti d to thi' Inii'^itiidi- of \\ rst-
iniii-itir Hall than to that ofihi' tloor ol' ilir .Annr-
icaii lloiisfiif IJi inrsiniallvi s. I assirl lio!ill\-,
;oiil willioiit frar of ronliailirlion, that wi' an now
111 ttrr |iir|iari'd to \\.\\sr a snrri'ssfiil war than il
\\{- hid 111 rn frillrrin^ away onr sulislan r iliirin;!:
ihi' loll',' piriod which lias inirrvcind siiici' thr
trialy of Uhciil, in krc|iiiiy alloat an iinnicnsi
navy, and a ijrral and s|ili'inlid military i slaMi.'-h-
niiiil. Whv, sir, it can he rslaldishcd — I ini'^ht
almost sav malhiinatirally — that by hnsliandiii'j;
onr means, we a'jLni'.'ale onr ea|iacity for any
enier^'eiicy; and wlnii that einiri;eni'y arises, that
this pre|iaralion in time of piaee, consiiiiili s ihe
liest, the stroii'list. and most iclialile fonndalion
for ell'cclive iinlitary defensive iiiiJ a'."_'ri'ssive opi r-
atimis.
Let the shrill liii'.rle-ldasl lireak upon onr ears,
and from the nioiiiilain side, and valley's depiii,
prairie and wood, as if touched hy the h mil of
iiiM'^nc, you will see the Irue sons of C'olumhiii
sprni'^ini; rrspnnsive to their eoiinlry's call. The
slirill whistle of the Scottish ehieflam never ealleii
as ready anil as d'ti rnnneil a elan around his
slanilaril, n.s would rally under the ()re;;oii h.unier.
The people, the 'j:rei',t masses, those whose servants
Ul- aie. aiiil mIihm' nrdi rs the :;(iiius of our ilisli-
tiitions diMiiands that we slioiild ohev, are lieaviii'/.
1 inii^'ht sav, like the waves of that i;real ocean, ii
whose coiifmes they demand the extension of the
American repnhlie. And, sir, as wave afier wave
of piililie opinion enhninales and lireaks into foam,
when I look' around me and see the daii'zer into
which some i^entlemeii here have placid ihiiii-
selves of heinir eni;ulted •■viid hnriid deeii, diep be-
neath the turrid waters, 1 v.'oiild waniUiviii, wliilc
iliere is yet time, to spriii;; nlioaril the ark of po-
lille.il .--afi ly.
('aniite was so ixallnl by the (lattery nf lijri
ciiiirlii rs ihat he foohslily lielieMil that In: eoiild,
by Ins lordly coiiilliand, slay the wavex of the si a,
and i id them, *■ ijius far .sfialt llniii eome, and no
f.uther."
As well nii::iil you alK'nipt to roll back the tidal
waM' of the i;reat I'neifie neeaii, a.s it conn s tliim-
ileriii^ oilthc eoa"l of the On u:on, as to sla v thi.i
Lne.it inoveineiil, this |ini;riessive movement, if ymi
pli ase, nf the Aimrii an millions: anil as a I'm nd,
I wiiiild here warn the "( ■aiinles" of this llniise
to east their eyes npnii laiid befnrr llie waves shall
dash with spray their chariot w heels.
<<real I'.ritam finndcd her (irs! preleni-inns to
ihe iiiirthwest coast in an oiilniiji o'ls allack upon
the ri'^hts nf Sjiaiii; and, taknr.; ailvaiila'j^e nf her
WI akiiiss, l.leediii'j- fnnii ihe i llicis nf a ills iflUons
war, she, under ihe lash nf her snp' rinr power,
extort! il from .Spam iiie .Nmiika s.nnid eoiiveniion,
as the iie.iiy is calliil, iipim which hi r main reli-
ance is placed III Inr claim to the ()n<;iiii lerniorv.
The valiii' of this claim, even in the ey, s (i|"/i'ii-
iiicii sliilismi I), is shown by one of my ciilleav'iie.s
|.Mi. (Iv.i;x| to Ul- such a.^ to jnslify the cliarw
that she has been uinliy nf the 'inuKi' uiiiiiili:,'af'il
rap.ii'iiy in the ass-rliiai of her claims to lerriiory
in all ti: r III L'oliatiniis with us. And it n iiiains to
be se< II if Ann ricaii fn'enieii will ii'.'ne to be de-
spoiled willi the tame Mibinission of tin' eircminale
.Spanianl. Hers is the mbber's title, and thus it
has ever been with h, r. This viuinied einle of
iJriiish iiniiiary posts, wliili some u'lnilitiien have
briiierht in r< vn w befon' ii--, with a view "to friL'ht-
111 IIS fnnn our pnipri' ly." are hut niMinimenis of
her ia|iacily and lost of pnwer.
I She yei lacks niii link in the ch.iin which is des-
lincd, if .secured, to hind the world in Inrcommer-
ii:il letters. TJi it link is the k'-y to the I'lciljc,
wa:ihin:r. as it dues, the slmns of Imih i;;n-at eoii-
tiiii Ills; and the contmand nf iliis ocean is hers, and
: liir.s alone, if she is permitted to occnpv" tin liar-
Imrs which she has siiiilionsly elaiiiii il in cm ly
pnillcrof settlement which she has made nf thin
ipn slioii. Il n'mains- in be y.rrn w hellier the cow-
aiiiicc nf ihc descendants of the men of i'.iinlcer's
I I ill. and of those L'.,illant spiriis who eiiaf|iiireil in
onr war of the Kexoluiinn, and of mir si cnnd in-
depi ndence, shall permit her to i;rasp il. I blush
' at the bare sni;_'cslinn nf the pn.-siliihi v.
' Mr. ( hairmin. it camiot,it will iioi". it .>:h:ill iini
be! 1 have no di.-^nises as to my opininn of our
riirhl- Iain 'atisfnd ih;u it extends in ."(l-* 4(1': and
the niily :'hadoW of rlijlit which I'aii;laiiil has, is
based upon tin- ilis. ivery id' the head waters of
Frazer's river, in the extn nie northern part of thisi
coimiry : bin this she is precluded fnnn by In-row ii
withdraw d of all claim e\ce|,| ihal based upon the
Nnotka conveiilion. w liieli has been fiill\- shown to
i^ive hnr il.i ti riitniial ri:,'hls w hale\er.
I n'L'i-et iliat the siinalion in which Mr. I'nlk M"
I'liiiid lliis i|ni-j|inn, traiiinirlled by onr treaties of
l^lr* and j^'JT, as well as the many previous ofl'irs
ol'niir (iovenim.'iit, iiuich, very miicli more favora-
ble to Cinat Urilain ihan the one recently made, and
which admis:aons had been coiisirned' in the even
of the civilized world into evidence of I'rilisli title,
; induceii him, or rer|uin'il him. In make that oll'er.
i J)y niakin- it, i:ov;ever, !ic lias uhov.'ii to e.lj the
imticiiis (if ihc (mill ili(^ stroiiijCNl ovidcncc wliidi I iiin jiroiid in (Icrl.irr to ymi.sir, nnil di tli(- rfp-
can 111' ri'(|iiii'i'il kI'ii (li.s|i()Miti(iii Cii aiiiii'al)ly ikIIiinI i-i'!ii'iitiiliv< s iif llic iiiitlnn, lliitt in Indi.inii, lit Ic'txt,
tIliM v<'X( (I (iiic-'lKin. I when n (|iHMlii)n iif niilioiiiil liniKir is pn sciilcd, the
I iciciicT ihiii r.iiL'liindhiisrcl'iisi'd it. Murrovfr, liinN of |iiirly arc lirokcii us the nIcikIi r wcIih
hIic lia.s (liinc ii in Midi a UMv ll^ Ic iiinic, ill ai li mmI wliicli cross i lie |mili on ii Niimnn t'n day. Let
llic distiiil w lii( li I liavc tlu; iioinii' I > npn I'ciil, llii; an ii|i|i('al lie inadi' to us in .-(iiiiiiorl of our national
fjicai lisidy of iIk Wiiii; parly Willi my l)( iiiiicralic honor, and «•• at once resolve oursi Ivcs hack iiitn
friends, in Misiaiuinu: nie in goiii;^' the wliidc Uiigili onrori:;inal tltnieiitsi — the Uci>ublicaii3 and Wliii'a
ill the »up|iort of our title. of 'Hi.
nii(| III till- rrp-
lli.lllll, l\t IcMHl,
i|ir(.s(:iiti'(l,l|ic
Mlciidcr wcliM
t'n (lay. Lit
Kl'iilir iialioiiiil
Ives liacli iiiln
1113 1111(1 Whi.'a