IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 1.0 I.I M 12.5 ■so K lima 1^ i us 1120 IS 1.8 1.25 ||U III ''^ ^ 6" — •. Hiotogrephic Sdences Cbrporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTSR.N.Y. 14SS0 (ri6)«73-4S03 ,\ IV ^ •N? ^4^ '%^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian 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 bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the u jal method of filming, are checked below. n D n n n D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommag^e □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur^e et/ou pelliculde Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I 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/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interioi margin/ La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmdes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppldmentaires; L'Institut 9 microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6X6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-etre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger unf< modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage sont indiquds ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ D D Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommag6es Pages restored and/oi Pages restaurdes et/ou pellicul6es Pages discoloured, stained or foxe^ Pages d6color6es, tachet6es ou piqu^es Pages detached/ Pages ddtach^es Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Quality in^gale de I'impression I I Pages damaged/ I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ n^ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ r~^ Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du matdriel supplementaire □ Only edition available/ Seule Edition di&ponible 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 6t6 film^es 6 nouveau de fapon A obtenir la meilleure image possible. Th to Th po of fill Or be thi sic oti fin sic or Th shi Til wf Ml dif en< bei rig rec mc This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est 1i\vn6 au taux de rMuction indiqui ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X Th« copy filmad h«r« has b««n raproducad thanks to tha ganarosity of: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia L'axamplaira film* fut raproduit grica A la gtnArosIt* da: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha bast quality possibia consldaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spacifications. Las imagas suivantas ont 4ti raproduitas avac la plus grand soin, compta tanu da la condition at da la nattatA da l'axamplaira film*, at Bn conformity avac las conditions du contrat da filmaga. Original copias in printad papar covars ara filmad baginning with tha front covar and anding on tha last paga with a printad or illustratad impras- •icn, or tha back covar whan appropriata. All othar original copias ara filmad baginning on tha first paga with a printad or illustratad impras- sion, and anding on tha last paga with a printad or illustratad imprassion. The last racordad frame on each microfiche shall contain tha symbol "^^ (moaning "CON- TINUED "), or the symbol V (meaning "END "), whichever applies. Les exemplairas originaux dont la couvarture an papier est imprimie sont filmte en comment ant par la premier plat at mn terminant soit par la derniAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration. soit par la second plat, salon k cas. Tous les autres exemplairas originaux sont filmte 9n commenpant 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 apparaftra sur la darniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: la symbole — »> signifie "A SUIVRE". le symbole ▼ signifie "FIN". Meps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely irrcluded in one exposure are filmad beginning in the upper left hend corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA. il est film* A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, da gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'imagas nAcessaire. Les diagrammas suivants illustrant la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^t ({ ^ aytazt/uvest CbUectLorv t SPEECH OF HON. H. A. HARALSON, OF GEORGIA, ON THE OREGON QUESTION. DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEBRUARY 9, 1846. The Resolution from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, requiring the President to notify Great Britain of the intention of the United States to terminate the joint occupancy of Oregon, and to abrogate the convention of 1827, being under consideration in Committee of the VVhoU Mr. HARALSON obtained the floor, and spoke as follows: Mr. Chairman : The anxiety which evidently exists on the part of some gentlemen to obtain the floor, and the near approach of the hour at which the progress in Sttmces ' parts of the kingdom; and with unabated confidence in the frankness and straiglitforwardtifQjjg^vgJ of Lord Aberdeen, and without meaning to distrust in the slightest degree the sincerity of ' I u disclaimers in our rciient conversation, I do not tljink it ought to be assimied by any one tlWOUiU b( warlike preparulions, u])on such a scale as that unon whicli they are undeniably making In Some could not have even an mdirect reference to the possible contingency of a rupture with us. ^^nQx\denc at the same time it is perfectly ol)viou3 that they are in a great degree, and especially so far* • i i they consist of an augmentation in the number of steam-vessels and of the naval marine geirW®'o'^^d ally, precisely of the cluu-acter to be the most api)ropriate and the most useful in a war with idftclined country. I am not prepared to say, nor do I deem it material to decide, how far we have a i'i-*|||iprc U to expect an explicit disclainier of the character and puqioses of tlie warlike preparations t\<^ '. ' making by Great Britain under the circumstances. They may be the dictate of various motiitOgether of policy, and the result of many causes; and, without attempting to assign to each its particii^ willin influence, I am by no means prepared to admit that tlie apprehension of difUculties with ; 4^ j • , United States had no share in them." j»^ "' wolly CO Do you credit your own Minister? Are we to put any faith in tlie declaruj^j ^^j^ tions made by our own accredited representative at the Court of St. James? y»iti,cie so, then the fact, astonishing as it may seem, presents itself, that the Briti^ jj^j^'j Government, whilst actually negotiating with the United States in relation jiif,ounc( the Oregon territory, is also making preparations for war; either expecting it m]y ^jjjjj 3 my constituenl^jj^^ a viewof intimlrlating us, n"(l driving us, through our fears, from the asscr- 3very AmenciijjQp of just rights. Had this Government called on the British Plenipotentiary srs of the eartljjgpp jq disavow that these preparations wore making as against the United States, ) that these auiaj^f| refused further negotiations or correspondence until that disavowal had been nal honor. iNmade, it would stand justified before the world if they accredit the recent com- gations. vVhinjunication of our Minister at liondon. :t it from then , ]yjy honorable colleague, [Mr. King,] whom I do not now see in his seat, and our action. l^j,o submitted a proposition for arbitration some days since, has seen proper to vn Governmeri^itl^iha^v it. It may not be j)roper for me to comment on the amendment parations. It ^(fhich he gave notice of iiis intention to offer at the proper time, (and which IS were intendt^ag printed,) as it has been withdrawn ; nor even to notice the course of remarks will be "Mse/iji which he felt it his privilege to indulge. Upon a great national question, to be expectfi0yQiving ihe interests and honor of the nation, he who feels himself at liberty to 3d solely for, tl|itte,npt to give it a party cast, shall be entitled to all the honor and glory which ifully too, m tl|j^ p,iay reap from his course, as well as all the enjoyment which he can derive not designed Iflfibm it. It may be well for him, however, to remember, when he speaks of the msmuatiojjilillying and petifogging, and charges the Governnumt with acting not for the with the Unitfikterests of the country, but for the purposes of political aggrandizement, that and important ."^^^ Clay himself took strong ground against the British title to any portion ferences belwec^ Oregon. He should remember that, when the President, in his Inaugural ;t can they bei^dtlress, at the eastern portico of this Capitol, reannounced the American f probability thtHle as "clear and unquestionable," it met with a general and hearty response md France coidbii, every s- -tion of the Union. Not a Whig press dared *o gainsay the "se extraordimiijfeclaration, or hject in any way to the sentiment, until Sir Robert Peel, "he King of tithe British Pren.icT, more than a month afterwards, with true British di])lo- existed betwci|i(iacy, asserted the title of that Government to be clear and unquestionable, quarter are thf I' ffiad intended more fully to notice the remarks of my colleague, and to have upon the subjeg^ven his amendment that comment which it deserved ; but as the amendment etter to whiciifias been withdrawn, and my colleague does not seem to be in his seat, I refrain. The substance of his amendment is before the committee in the proposition of has been pleasedthe British Minister in his letters to our Secretary of State. That proposition * * W*s made to Mr. Calhoun, not in detail, it is true, but in principle, and received arteis in ^"'""Fgljch answer as was approved by the nation. It v/as declined ; and the circum- is i)' progrcsis in stances of the late correspondence induce a strong presumption that it was itraightfonvardtifenewed with a strong persuasion, if not with an absolute knowledjje, that it the sincerity of iiu'^jiivit^i ed by any one tiWOUid be rejected by Mr. Buchanan. iably making ho Some gentlemen have expressed the apprehension that the recent corres- tare\yithus, ApQi^^jgnce leaves the country no alternative but war. But, sir, thev have not especially so far' • i i n ,i -^ , », , , , '..'•',. laval marine gri.^®'o'^^^ "^^cll that Correspondence. Although the proposition to arbitrate is 1 ill a war witliidedined, the grounds of objection are fully and frankly stated, and, amongst ^"^^^Ilo-o^^l^J^ '■'■Olhers, it is stated, "that as there are no two nations on earth more closely bound ■ preparaiions "' ; < ■ i . i • « , , i i > i of various motii'flgetlier by tlie ties ot commerce, so there are none wlio ought to be more able irachitsparticu^ willing to do each other justice without the interposition of any arbitrator." 1 Kuueswitii^j jj^ ^j^g gj^i,i^g paragraph, Mr. Buchanan declares that "the President cor- . ^Ily concurs with the Ciovernment of Great Britain in desiring that the pre- ni the aec\ai0^i controversy may be amicably adjusted." South of the 49th parallel of St. James. jj|(itj,f|^.^ west to the Columbia river, and thence down that river to its mouth, hat the Bnti:||jg British nation has never set up any claim, until Sir Robert Peel's set-off s in relation ||nouncement in April last. Was it to be expected that all the country — not expecting it ^y ^jj^j ^^ which the British have not set up any claim until recently, as well M m ab that really in dispute — should be arbitrated? Who expects of this Govern ment to give up all the harbors of the territory, so important to the coinmeic of the country, while she hiiS, to say the least of it, a better title than Gret Britain ? The British Minister appears to have made two propositions for arbitration although, in fact, he makes but one. The first was to refer, not the title, bii the " whole question of an equitable division of the Oregon territory to soni friendly power." This proposition seeuo to have been made under instruction from his Government; but it will be perceived that it precludes the Unitti States from insisting upon her better title, and has reference alone to an equitabl division of the territory. It was a cunning stratagem of British diplcmac} The other, which is, in fact, no proposition at all, and which, it is clear frcr the language used, he had no instructions or authority to make, is in thes words: " The object of tlie undersigned in addreasin* to Mr. Buchanan the present communication i.< to ascertain from liim wliether, supposim; the British Gorernmcnt to tnterlain no chjeclivn to su( a course, it would suit the views of the United Slates Government to refer to arhitration, not,;: has ah-eady been proposed, the question of an cquital)le partition of the territory, l)ut the quo tion of title in eith.rr of the two Posvers to the whole territory) sul jcet, of course, to the cotid. tion, that if neither should be found, in the opinion of the arl)itrator, to possess a complete titi to the whole territory, there should, in that ease, be assiy;ned to each tliat portion of tcrritor; which would, in the opinion of the arbitrating power, be called for by a just appreciation of tl: respective claims of each." He says, "supposing the British Government to entertain no objections ti such a course," evidently holding it up for the assent of his own Governmenl Had it been accepted by this Government, what assurance had we that tli British Government would have proposed it? Nor does the subsequent ptii of his letter make any definite proposition; but, with the semblance of an anxioii desire to settle the controversy, leaves everything totally indefinite and unceitain Sir, it is time that England should make some certain, distinct, and unquali fied offer. The United States have shown, by the most liberal offers, her dis position to settle this question. It remains for England to do the same. Sir, if the British natii desire to settle this matter upon just terms, I do nc doubt that it can be done. The President has, in a spirit of magnanimity, will a view to the amicable adjustment of the dispute, proposed the 49th parallel o latitude, which was rejected by the British Minister. No gentleman. Whig o Democrat, (and I rejoice that there has been so little party spirit manifested ii this discussion, but that it has been mostly confined to ati honest difference r opinion honestly expressed.) — I say, I have heard no member express a douL that the title of the United States, up to the 49th degree, was " clear am unquestionable." I repeat it; this proposal of the 49th parallel was rejected h\ the British Minister resident here. If in his calculations this proposition Wii rejected in the expectation of getting one better, I think he is mistaken; judgim from the voice of the people as spoken by their Representatives here, they wil fight rather than make a greater surrender than this. To this parallel I feel thai our title is clear, even if it does not extend a half-degeee further north, a demonstrated by the honorable gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. Owkn.] 1 shal not discuss it, nor undertake to say what particular rights, if any. Great Britaii may have to any part of the territory, or to what privileges she nn:y be entitled So far as regards the territory north of 49, our title may be said to be debata ble. It has been questioned by the British Government for the last thirty years and our Government has recognised, by the conventions now proposed to I abrf &,c. of t of I crnn they of o debt cncii of had by not sue Gov to t the tion; by t in af ! of this Govern to tlio coiiinioic ' title tlian Groji 1 for arbitralior not the title, bii -Mi-itory to soiii nder instruction des the Unitci e to an ecjuitabl tish diplcniacN it is clear froi lalvc, is in thes ; communiration h 110 chjectivn to sue arbitiatinn, not,;: itoiy, hut the que.'' nirse, to llic corid CSS a complete till portion of territor apprecjaliou of tl 10 objections ti 'n Govern men! id we that ili subsequent pai :e of an anxioii 1 and uncei tain t, and unquali offers, her dis e same, terms, I do nc [(nanimity, will 9th parallel v eman, Whig c mamfested ii St difference c ■X press a doul as " clear am vas rejected h\ roposition Wii taken; judgiii: here, they wil allel I feel thai •ther north, a^ vvKN.] 1 shal Great Britaii rcy be entitled to be debata' st thirty years iroposed to bt m abrogated, that she had some interest there — the usufruct, in hunting, fisi)ing, &,c., if no other. Our title north of 49 has been questioned, and the question of title made the subject of several unsuccessful attempts to agree upon a line of boundary between the two countries by negotiation — offers by either Gov- ernment, thrice if notoftener made, to agree upon a boundary, in each of which they were a'lotlod a portion of the territory. In deference, therefore, to the action of our Ciovernment since 1818, the territory north of 49 must be considered debatable ground, and therefore a fit subject for negotiation. It was in defer- ence to the previous action of this Government that the President, in a spirit of concession, and with a desire to preserve those amicable relations which had so happily existed between two great and powerful nations, tied together by language and conmierce, offered the 49th parallel. It was rejected. It is not probable that it will be again tendered by tiiis Government; and whether such a proposition, or one equivalent to it, will now come from the British Government, remains to be seen. If it should, the same feeling which led to the offer made by this Government heretofore, and recently repeated by the President, would induce him either to accept or refer it to his constitu- tional advisors; in which, I doubt not, he would be most triumphantly sustained by the people, notwithstanding the anathemas so freely pronounced against him in advance of his action upon the subject. Mr. Chairman, these gratuitous denunciations are not commendable in the gentlemen who have felt themselves at liberty to indulge in them ; and it is hoped they will be disregarded by the President. He has shown himself sufficient for any crisis ; and, if need be, that which would require personal sacrifice for his country's weal, he will resolutely meet. Nor should his enemies find an apology for their criminations in that he has said that our title to the whole of Oregon hdear and unquestionable. This, perhaps, is his private opinion. But whether it is or not, called to the high station which he fills by the voice of the Ameri- can people, and to the settlement of the question with a Power which the his- tory of her negotiations proves has rarely failed in obtaining the utmost limits of her deniands, however unjust, it became the President to assume high ground, especially when it is almost universally admitted that ours is the best title of the two. England, arrogatiufj England, demands more and more at our hands. Fisliiiig and hunting privileges have ripened into a demand of an equitable divi- sion of the whole territory. I would not requite her arrogance with injustice. I trust this country will always do justice in her foreign relations. I would not be intimidated by her threats, nor driven by her power. Nor should a con- sciousness of our own capacity to repel invasion and successfully to cope at arms with any nation, prevent us from doing prompt justice at all times. I have no disposition to call into requisition the powers of the American people in the set- tlement of this or any other question with foreign nations. I prefer that our victoriei should be bloodies-, and that our disputes should be settled without a resort to war. \[ England desires a war, as easy as it may be for her to avoid it, she has only to demand a greater surrender than has already been tendered to her, and to atletnpt to enforce that demand by arms. Judging from the voice of the people, as expressed by their representatives here, there is no disposition to yield further than has already been offered ; and if war be forced upon us, believing, as we do, that the American title is best to the whole territory, we fight for all. I trust, sir, that in all future correspondence and action upon this subject of H; 6 boundary, tlic Government will inaintnin, as lierctoforo, a firm, dignified position ; ono worlliy a s^roat and powerful peojjje, and not si'^-at^^'r tl'''»'i ji'st; and speak a plain and decided langnaife, hy which Great Hritain niay sec that wo intend to abide by what w e say. It is time this dispute was settled, and boundaries definitely marked, that American citizens may know how far they may go north and feel that they arc on the soil of fi-ecdom. Let tho notice be given to abrogate the convention. Of the dillercnt amendments proposed, 1 have my choice, but care but little about the maimer, so the notice b(! given in firm, dignified, and decided terms ; tenns by which the Critish nation shall see, that her preparations for war, if intended for ell'ect, have signally failed of their object — have had no influence in dictating. I have every confidence, that any resolution which you may pass will be communicated to the British nation in language becoming the American people and tlie great subject which it involves; and if such propositions are made as tho country can with honor accept, the difliculty can be adjusteci by negotiation, and wo shall hear nodiing more of that war about which so much has been said. tiVery calculation which may be made in relation to war must, from tho nature of things, be conjectural. England can have war if she wants it — she can avoid it if she chooses. If she prefers it, and we, in the mainte- nance of our just rights, sliould be forced to it, there is no injury which she can inflict upon us which we could not measure out to her triple fold. Gentlemen have widely miscalculated the strength and resources of our coun- try for national defence. To this subject I have given some attention for the last three years. It is impossible that any Power can ever make any serious inroads upon the United States. The gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. Holmks] has been loud in proclaiming the pcAver of the British Government; and other gentlemen have joined him in saying that we were weak and powerless. There was mofp f'^cy than fact in the picture which the gentleman li'om South Caro- lina has n of our capacities for war. I could but think of the lamb in the lion's jf . o; ,/hen the gentleman was so eloquently describing the horrors of that war which was coming upon us. I had wellnigh forgotten for a time ihe tri- umphs of our arms in the Revolution, beautiful representations of some of which decorate the Rotundo of this Capitol. The 12th of September, 1814, at North Point, and the 8ili of January at New Orleans, were remembered only to beget astonishment at their results. Reason returning, I could liut believe that Eng- land was comjielled to acknowledge the triumph of our arms in the Revolution, and that success attended our efforts in the war of 1812. If the notice proposed to be given be a measure of war, and should it be delayed until you are fully prepared for war, according to the notions of some gentlemen of preparation, it would never be given. Neither you nor I, sir, will ever live to see the day when every exposed point upon your long line of sea and lake-coast will be defended with fortifications. Such a svstem of defence would require a large standing army to man these forts. A preparation for war upon such a scale can never be made in this country. Such a system would be as useless as it is contrary to the genius of our institutions. We claim no great standing army. They have been repudiated in the American republics, as dangerous to the liberties of the people. We have no necessity for them to sus- tain a government of our choice. It is not necessary to tax the people with them. But in the citizen-soldier is our strength ; and if war should come upon us, not less dian a million of men will bo ready — perhaps tendering their ser- vices — in defence of the country. Fortifications on your coast are necessary only to kc land, and g I the e ,numb facilit very Bayl very This nificd position ; :; and speak a t wo intend to laiies definitely north and feel abi'ogate the loice, but care (1, and decided 'ations for war, d no inHiience you may pass the American ropositions are 13 adjusted by /liicli so much 1 to war must, ir if she wants n the mainte- *vhich she can 'S of our coun- on for the last serious inroads Mr. HoLMKs] nt ; and other M-less. There I South Caro- e lamb in the lorrors of that :i time the tri- ome of which B14, at North only to beget "ve that Eng- i Revolution, I should It be lions of some nor I, sir, will ig line of sea ni of defence •ation for war lystem would i^Ve claim no republics, as them to sus- people with d come upon ng their ser- jcessary only to keep your enemy at a distance from your cities, and to compel him to land, if he land at all, at such distance as will enable you to arrange your forces and give him battle. 1 should be gratified to feel myself at liberty to give you a full statement of the extent of our arn)s, now ready and fit for use at any moment, as well as the ,number which might in a few months be made ready for use, and also of our facilities for the manufacture of more. This statement, full as it should be, might very properly accompany the remarks of the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. .Bayly,] who evidently labors under a great mistake as to the means of defence now at the command of the Government. I am not at liberty now to give this statement; but I will say that that gentleman is mistaken, and that our means of defence are much greater than he estimates them to be; and if not now, can be very readily made ample to repel any force whicli may be brought against us. This much I have felt due my position to sa). These remarks are made in no vain boast of our advantages; and while, as a nation, we would not indulge in an over-estimate of our strength and prowess, we should not be intimidated by the warlike preparations of Great Britain. They are bootless as against the sons of revolutionary sires. The strength of the American nation is in the affections of the people for their free Institutions and the Government of their choice. This Is their shield and their fortress — their sure defence against any foreign foe. But, sir, considerations of policy demand the notice at our hands. Although the right of Great Britain to this territory has not, I believe, except in a few instances, been advocated here, yet it seems there was some sort of recognition of some right of hers which led to the convention of 1818, and continued by the convention of 18/27. It has been said that these conventions were com- mercial alone, and only recognised the right of Great Britain to hunt t;nd fish and carry on such trade as naturally grew out of these privileges. Now, if such was only her right, she has still further trespassed. She has extended it to agricultural purposes. Already have agricultural settlements been made by the British in Oregon. But more : they have built fortifications ; they have extend- ed their civil and criminal jurisdiction, not only over the country north of the Columbia river, but over the whole country. Will you do less for your emi- grants ? Have you not aflbrded military escorts beyond the Rocky mountains to the Columbia river to encourage emigration there ? And will you leave your emigrant there lawless and defenceless? Will you do less for your people than Great ]5ritaln has done for her subjects? I trust not, sir; and if you give them laws, collisions must arise between emigrants coming from the two nations, and governed by laws different in their character and provisions. It seems to me that collision must be the inevitable result of such a line of policy, and war must be the consequence. We shall more probably avoid war by giving the notice as a preliminary step ; thus sustaining our national faith, and telling her, in plain, firm, and decided language, that the question has reached the crisis ; that the interests of our people require that these mooted questions should be settled; that the partnership must be dissolved; that the boundaries must be defined ; that American citizens must know, through their own Government, how far they may carry the rifle and the axe, and be under the aegis of our own laws and the protection of our own flag. What guaranty have you that the British Government will not extend her settlements even further down beyond the sites - of her present forts ? If she has a right to do all that she has already done, she 8 may extond her settlements as low down as California itself. We have indeed no ortlcial information of the fact, but we have rumors through the public prints that the Bntish GovcrnnuMit now holds a niort<^ai,e on California. Do we mean that (ireat Britain (already in posscjssion of the Canadas, with which we have no desire to interfere) shall plant ht-r standard at the mouth of the Colunibia river, in California, and perhaps in Cuba, and that she shall completely environ our re[)ublic ? 1 intended, Mr. Chairman, to have shown that Great Britain, exercisin;^ the privileges she has under the conventions of 1H18 and 1827, with such as she h s assumed, would never desire the abrogation of the treaty, and that the only way to settle the question is, to give this notice. It was in this view, and to pre- serve our national faith, that I voted for the notice at the last session. I have listened to this debate to see if any argument could be adduced of suflicient weight to change my views and my vote. \ iiave done so Horn an honest desire to arrive at such conclusions as might best promote the honor and inter- ests of my country. I have hoard no sucli argument. The notice is, in itself, a peaceful measure. It will lead to a termination of the dispute. It may result in war; if it does, it will be iittributable to England's own choice. She can settle it if she will. No one can tell what may bo her choice. The notice will less likely produce war than the collision of the emigrants. She may out-colonize you. She has many inducements to colonize which you have not. If war is to come of it, I see no reason for its post[)onement. I do not wish to entail upon those who are to come aftw us disputes which ought to be settled by ourselves. I greatly pref(M" peace, both for my country and myself; but if. in the assertion of our own just rights, war comes upon us, I shall sustain that war with my voice and my vote, and with all the energies and means with which Providence has blessed me. I am a Georgian by birth and in feeling, and represent a people who have no wish for war, and whose interest would be seriously and hurtfully affected by it ; but they would make the sacrifice rather than surrender the clearly ascertained rights of the nation, or sufter its honor to be tarnished. I repeat, sir, we desire no war, but, if fight tve must, ive fight for all. •% Ve have indr-ed lie public prints- Do we mean which we have ' ' tile Colutubia pletely environ exercising; the th such as she (1 tliat the only 3w, and to pre- ssion. I liave -'d of sufficient from an honest )nor and inter- ice is, in itself, piite. It may choice. She choice. The Its. She may you have not. | do not wish to ^ t to be settled I iiysolf ; but if, I ill sustain tliat ^ i means with f id in leelin