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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthoda. rrata o >elure, 3 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 (-e I ^ H( Cdllectiorv -^ SPEECH or HON. D. A. STARKWEATHER, OF OHIO. OH THE OREGON QUESTION. DELITERBO IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1846 WASHINGTON : PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF BLAIR AND RIVES. 1846. 7.:- /■ 7 - ' be THE OREGON QUESTION. The House being in Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, on the Resolution autho- rizing the President to give notice to Great Drit- ain of 'le abrogation of the convention of joint occupaii / — Mr. STA:!KWEATHER obtained the floor, and addressed tlie committee as follows: Mr. Chairman': In entering on this discussion, 1 wish to state, before I approach the subject, (and this I speak more for the information of my con- stituents than that of the House,) that, on the Texas question, I have not voted, not because I wished to dodge the question, but because I was absent from the city when the question was taken, on important business, and thus lost the privilege of recording my vote. 1 may be allowecl to pre- mise this for the information of the people of my district, though it will not be without its bearing on the remarks I am about to submit to the com- mittee. I should not (said Mr. S.) have attempted to ad- dress the committee at this late hour, had 1 not thought I had discovered, in some quarters, a fixed determination to degrade this great national ques- tion to a mere sectional and western measure. When the debate opened, the gentleman from Alabama, [Mr. Yancey,] and the gentleman from •South Carolina, [Mr. Rhktt,] followed by another from "Old Virginia," who " never tires" ni sound- ing her own praises, charged expressly that this was a western vn(;asure. The gentleman from Al- abama said: ''I beg of our friends of the West ' that, if some of us of the South are disposed to !>ut a curb on this hoi impetuosihj, we shall not )e deemed their enemies on this great issue." Again, he says; "Are we prepared for this issue ' of arms.' Prom the very West, tohich now seeks to r~ " ■ ■ ' iniwlvc the country in its vicissitudes and horrort, ' has come a long and continued opposition to any « such increase of our gallant and glorious navy an ' the wants of the country, it seems to me, imper- 'atively demand." Sir, I repeat, it has been charged that this is a western measure, and that western members are seeking; to involve our hefoved country in all the vicissitudes and horrors of war. Sir, had not the West, which adopted me as one of her sons, been thus assailed, I should not, per- haps, have attempted to speak on this occasion ; but I could not consent to sit still and hear un- merited aspersions heaped upon the West, without saying one word in vindication of that country which adopted me as hers when a youth, clothed me when naked, and consoled me when disconso- late. The gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Yan- cey] further said: "At this very time, too, when ' war's dread horrors are laughed at by young num- ' bers of this House, full of courage, doubtless, but ' with no experience, even now when we are about ' to dare Old England to cross swords with us, se- ' rious opposition is made to passing a bill provi- ' ding for tiie raising of a single regiment of rifle- • men. " Here, sir, in this is contained the charge, that those who go for the notice are young and inexperienced men, ready and willing to plunge this country into an unprepared and disgraceful war. As this sentiment fell from the lips of the inexperienced— 1 ask pardon— the experienced gen- tiemiui from Alabama, [Mr. Yancey,] I heard, or thouglit I heard, my youn;: and inexperienced friend from Massachusetts, [Mr. Adams,] who is a friend of the measure, in the language of the great philosopher of poetry, inquire, " How much older art thou, young man, than thy years.'" This a western measure! Does Oregon belong to the West.' No, sir, it belongs to the whole Union, and to tlic West only in common with hor It is tnip, sir, if war should jr out of this iio- tic-c, (of which I have no fears,) the liardy sons of the West would, at tlie first bu^lc note of war, unyoke their hor.ses from the ])lou2;h in the liali'- turncd furrow, and harness them for the .shock of battle. Wherever e;lory was to he won, or deeds of valor to he achieve(l, whether on the [ilains of Oregon, in the frozen North, or the sunny South, there, sir, would they he found. I^et me not he misunderstood. I am a lover of pence. Strictly and emphatically am I a peace man. I can see all its beauties, and appreciate all il« benefits. I well know that. (;ivilization, science, the arts, religion, and ijeneral social prospe.jy — all flourish under the rei,',ni of peace. Peace is the j^oddess I worship. I would purchase it at any price but the )»rice of cowardly fear or national dishonor. These arc loo high a price to pay even for peace itself. One year since. I was a private citizen, living in the midst of my constituents. We read with deeji anxiety the debates on the Texas question, and watched with solicitude every step taken thereon. I, for one, was anxious, if the deed was to be done that it were done, and so were my constit- uents. A large majority were. in favor of the an- nexation of Texas in some form, sr, uit it could be constitutionally done, and without dishonor. The deed was done. The West went with the South, and the lone star now culminates with her sisters. Texas was admitted into this Union as a State, not rcannexed. That argument is to me, like the tale of an idiot, signifying nothing. SJie was taken into this Union because she, like our revolutionary fatlicrs, had won her liberty, and, being free, had a riglit to contract. I have said tliat Texas is now in this confederacy. The broad flag of this Uni(^n now floats over her, giving her an assurance of protection and peace. Sir, Oregon and Texas were tivin sisters, born at a birth; Oregon the elder, and for a while she did seem to outstrip her sister; but suddenly, at a single bound, Texas sprang ahead, and where now, let nie ask, is Oregon? Left to all the dangers of an early and perilous orplianagc. Sir, wo have protected that which was not ours, and forsaken that which is. Why is this? 1 will not answer the question. I will leave it to others. But this I do know, that some gentlemen, who now seem to turn pale in contemplating the power of Eng- land, her warlike preparations, and her prowes.s, who now are clamorous against the giving of this notice, because England possibly may object, but one short year ago,witl; rash and fiery hand, were for plucking the golden fruit — Texas. Then was the hour. The golden pear was rine, and that was the moment to gather it, or it would be lost forever. England protested against the annexation of Texas, and Mexico set up her claim to it. War was anticipated with England then. The distin- guishcd gentleman fioin South Carolina, [Mr. luETT,] who now informs us that before we can acquire possession of Oregon, "we must fight in • every region of the world, wherever British com- • mercc extends, British power is felt, and British ' strength is accumulated; that we must tear down ' the pillars which support the vast structure of the ' British empire — the most magnificent the world J • ever beheld;" then exclaimed, " the annexation of ' ' Texas would be a j)roclamation to En,<;land to I ' come on, if she cho.sc to go to war on th;it issue." j (See dnnf^ression. '..'Iiipendix, pai:^^ 1(JG.) i What, in one .short year, hath caused a change in the spirit of these gentlemen's dreams? On what ha'h this British lion fed that he halh now grown I so 1/ig r When Texas was to be aiuie'ced, we were * tauglu to believe that he was but a mean cur, which I a woniai. v.ilh a dairger of lath could whip back to his kennel. Gentlemen who then were as brave j as rjasar, arc now ready to fawn, and cringe, and j yield submissive homage to any who may please to demand it. Why, sir, the; whole argument in opposition to this iiicusure has been adilressed to the fears, and not the patriotism, of this House. When Texas was to i c annexed to this Union, we heard noth- ing, from the gentlemen who now oppose this measure, of the horrors of war — nothiiyi; of delay for preparation — nothing of burning and .sacked cities — nothing of ingloriou.s defeat — nothing of the groans of the dying stricken down in battle^noth- ing of the cx'uehed heart of ti e widow — nothing of the tears and suffering of the orphan. Then all was glorious victory. The area of freedom was to be extended, and we were U) achieve an easy conquest over England, and Mexico too; but now, when we simply wish to carry out a treaty stipu- lation with England, we arc solemnly admonisned to pause — called on to practise a masterly inactivi- ty — ay, sir, we arc now told that the better part oi valor IS discretion, and urged t) write that inglo- rious motto on our national standard. Will we do it? I trust not, until we at least inquire into the character of him who uttered i;, and the oc- casion which gave birth to so cowardly a sen- timent. Who was it, sir? That distinguished knight. Jack Falstaff, whose tavern-bill ran thus: " Sack, two gallons, 5s. 8(/. Item: Anchovies, and sack after sujfcr, 2s. Gd. Item: Bread, a half penny." He, sir, who called for a cup of sack to make his eyes look red, that it might be thought he had wept. He, sir, who exclaimed, "if sack and sugar be a crime, God help the wicked." The same heroic knight, who, with his own dagger, liacked up his sword like a handsaw, and swore "it was done in valorous conflict." He, sir, who swore, " if he was not at half sword with a dozen men in buckram, and misbegotten rogues in Kendall green, for two hours togctaer, then was he a bunch of radishes, and no two-legged creature." The same man, when Poiiis, his companion, ex- claimed: " Pray heaven. Jack, you have not mur- dered some of them," replied: "That is past pray- ing for. I have pejipered two of them; two, I am sure, I have paid; two rogues in buckram suits. I tell thee what, Hal, if I tell thee a lie, spit in my face, call me horse. Thou knowest my old ward. Here 1 lay, and thus I bore my point, and took all of their .seven points in my target, thus. Their points being broken, I followed me close, came in foot and hand, and with a thought, seven of the eleven 1 paiu." This, sir, is a short outline of the character of that lying braggart, who first uttered the senti- ment, "The better part of valor .s discretion," with which the gentleman from Alabama [Mr, Ya-scey] seems to have fallen so deeply in love. nexation of LLnj^lund to .h.'it issue." id u change ? On what [low j^rown ;d, w(! were (111-, which liip Ijack to f fr/)a/»na- '/ion." Sir, we are told that the hardy pioneers of the West have expatriated themselves by going to Orsgon. Sir, some fifty years ago, the Alleghany moun- tains were to the rich valley of the lVlississip[)i, what the Rocky mountains now are to tlx; fertile plains of Oregon. The same obstacles were then presented by the one that now obstruct the other. Had the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Pkndlkton] met the adventurous pioneer who first climbed the rugeed heights of the Alleghanies, he would, I pre- sume, have ciddressed him thus: " Hold ! You are leaving eastern civilization, (.'ome back to the re- finements of eastern Virginia; wear your hair long like a woman; raise an imperial and tlin moustache; perfume yourself with Eaudc Co/('g)if,and ihe Bou- quet de Caroline; attend the school of a French dan- cing-master, 'that you may learn to caper nimbly in a lady's chamber, to the lascivious pleasing of a lute.' Cross not yon rugged height; beyond, dan- ger lurks in every path, and death is whispered in every breeze." I hear, or think I hear, the sturdy pioneer, thus arrested and thus invoked, reply, " 1 had rather have one siiuiT of yon pure mountain air than all the perfumery of your shops. I would rather hear one note of yon mountain harp, swept by the winds of heaven, and touched by the hand of nature, than all the music of your masters. You tell me there is danger in every path. That of itself would lure me on. Danger, 1 court it." Findin? that this hardy woodsman could not be turned back to Virginia civilization by such considerations, he is urged still further, and informed that ho ex- patriates himself — is unworthy the name of an American citizen; that he voluntarily and reck- lessly is snapping the ties of blood and kindred, by forsakhig the altTirs of his childhood. At this, in sorrow he exclaims, " I expatriated ! I unworthy the name of an American citizen ! I recklessly snapping tl.e ties of kindred ! I, who before these arms had fifteen years pith, took up arms for my country, and fought on every battle-field of the Revolution ! I, who saw my own patriotic sire, in a successful charge, stricken down by my side, whose last and only word was, ' Onward, my son, your country needs you !' 'Twas then the ties of kindred and of blood were snapped." Arc such men as these to be denied the privilege of citizen- ship because they can't dance with eastern grace? Sir, had it not been for our Booiies, our Poes, and men like these, the places where now stand our western cities, our tcmple.s of worship, and halls of •ciencc, would be inhabited by savage man or sav- age beast. The joyous song of plenty would not now rise daily from the hearts of our happy mil- lions. I nm replying more to the arguments urged here against the West, than arguing our title to the territory. It is now too late to begin an argument on the question of our title. That seems to be admit- ted on all hands, at least by most of the gentlemen who are opposed to giving the notice at this time. The gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. Bf.dinoer,] apparently not content with the praises that have been urged in favor of British valor and British power, dragged down the American Eagle — the noble emblem of our country's freedom — from its high flight, and made it to stop in its free course, that a rainless cloud might pass by. It is true, air, the gentleman made his bird at first to .soar gracefully and boldly upwards, as though to snatch m its beak the lightnings of Heaven; but, as it ap- proached even un imaginary danger — "a rainless cloud" — like a coward, it stooped to its perch to let it sweep by. Sir, I, too, am familiar with the habits of the eagle, and well remember, on the ap- proach of one of those maddening tempests that sometimes seem to be struggling for mastery over both sea and land — one which carries before it con- sternation and terror, and leaves in its track de- struction and death — one that now sweeps the vale below, and now seizes by the top the mountain pine, and dashes it to the earth, and anon lashes old ocean to a fury. At the approach of such a tempest, I beheld one of these noble birds, with its wings folded in peace, watching the coming storm, and, as it felt the first rockings of the tempest, it sprang aloft, and for a moment lay suspended in mid heaven, as though to discover where the tempest most raged; then, dashing onward, it ap- proached nearer and yet nearer the coming storm, until at last it was lost in its darkne^^.^ and con- fusion. I could but exclaim, Noble bird! even if thou fallest, stricken down by the bolts of Heaven, 'twas bravely done. '" j for a moment to learn ita fate, I saw it gract merging from the cloud into the broad sunsh Heaven, far above the raging tempest below. Then shaking the rain- drops from its triumphant wing, it cut its course westward to its seat of empire. That, sir, that, was an American eagle, and no mousing and cow- ardly owl, that stoops to its perch because a rain- less cloud lay in its free course. Sir, we are admonished by gentlemen, that if this notice be given, we shall lose California. Lose Cal- ifornia! When, sir, was it ours? Never, sir, never; and how are we to lose that which is not, and never was, ours ? Sir, I have no objection to the purchase of California; and here let me say, that I confident- ly believe that tliis Republic, with her free institu- tions and prosperity, standing as an example to the world, free and enlightened governments are to and will, extend from one country to another, until at last every man will be left free to speak, free to act, and free to think. But, sir, for the chance of purchasing California from a weak and distracted nation, I am unwilling to yield territory that is ours, simply because a proud and arrogant nation demands it. We are told by gentlemen who ad- mit Oregon to be ours, that we must not give this ru)tice, because England is in a state of preparation for war; that she is stronger this day than she was when she set her proud foot upon the neck of thn very genius of war — Napoleon; that she belts the earth with her military posts and colonial posses- sions; that the sun never rises but it awakens an English soldier to arms; that it never sets but upon British dominions. Sir, this is an argument, if true, addressed solely to the fears of this House and this nation; but I am one of those who do not believe England is so powerful, and this Government so weak, as represented by gentlemen. On the one hand, we have at least four millions out of our twenty millions of inhabitants able to bear arms in defence of our country's honor, and in defence of American soil — with all the munitions and sinews of war at our control — with a country pro- ducing all the necessaries of life. On the other hand, England, with a population of about four millions greater than ours, many of whom are engaged in their mines, and have never seen the sweet rays of Heaven's sun, another large proportion of her subjects are confined within the walls of factories, with sinews worn out by fatigue and shrunk by starvation. And who of us is there who does not know that there arc now eight millions of hearts of the Green Emerald pant- ing for liberty, and eager for a conflict.' Sir, who is there of us that does not know that some of the colonial possessions of England rather weaken her in war than give her strength? I repeat, sir, in my opinion, England is not as power- ful a.s represented. But if she is, I would rather, as an American citizen, uroud of my country, en- ter into a just war with England than set a coward- ly foot on a weak and powerless nation. Nay, more, sir; I would rather yield Oregon to the im- perious demands of E^ngland than be guilty of steal- nig it by masterly inactivity. If we are afraid to defend our territory, let us say so to the world, and give it up with as much grace as possible, and for- get the inglorious deed. Let me now for a moment revert to the proposi- tion before the committee. It is the giving of no- tice to terminate the convention existing between this Government and England. The express treaty stipulation is, that either nation may, at any time, give such notice. Suppose we give the notice and England declares war, setting forth in her declara- tion that the United States have dared to execute an express treaty stipulation. This is all she could in truth say, and this imbodies the entire proposi- tion. Do you not see in such an event the civilized world would be against England and hold her re- sponsible for the result? Sir, believing as I do that our title to Oregon is perfect — feeling it to be right that we should vindicate our title to it, and believing no nation should voluntarily surrender jurisdiction to her territory, and believing that fur- ther delay involves the question in more difficul- ties — I shall cast my vote for the notice, and leave the issue with Him who holds the destinies of na- tions in his hands. I en who ad- it give this preparation lan she was neck of thn ie belts the nial poBses- iwakens an ta but upon lent, if true, use and this not believe ernment so On the one out of our bear arms I in defence litions and inintry pro- n the other of about iT of whom lave never m, another ined within nrn out by i who of us re arc now lerald pant- ' Sir, who some of the ler weaken I repeat, as power- luld rather, ountry, en- t a coward- ion. Nay, I to the im- ilty of steal- re afraid to world, and le, and for- he propoei- ving of no- ng between iress treaty t any time, notice and ler declara- to execute II she could re proposi- he civilized lold her re- ^g as I do iiig it to be e to it, and T surrender ig that fur- ire difficult , and leave nies of na- I *