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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s en commenqant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre 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 filrnis A des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 A partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^ SPEECH O F MR. THOMPSON, OF PENNSYLVANIA. ON THE OREGON QUESTION. DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JANUARY 28, ! S 4 6. WASHINGTON: PRINTED AT THE UNION OFFICE. I 846. i I <M SPEECH. On the resolution giving the twelve months' notice for the termination of the joint occupancy of the Oregon teiritory. The House being in Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union — Mr. THOMPSON addressed the committee as follows: Mr. C»iAinMAK: I have desired an opportunity to ocrnjiy the attemion of the committee for a short time on tlii.-* great question. I have the honor, sir, in part, to r( present an old Commonwealth, occu- pying an important position in the rcpulilic, and feeling a deep conrern in all that may he presumed to materially afTect the general interests. I shall neither speak loud nor long on this subject; and, in setting out, 1 may be peninitted to say that I enter- tain views \cry widely differing from many — nay, most flf the iientlemeit who have spoken on this question. We have been told by very many of them that, this notice passing, war was to ensue — actual and inriital)le war — with England. Now, sir, let us think of that, and look at the signs a lit- tle. A month ago I entertained the opinion, and expressed it repeatedly, that there would be no war if the notice were given. All through the debate, gentlemen on both sides of the question spoke of war — on the one side, admitted that it mifrht come; and, on the other, that it was inevitable. Why, sir, where do you see any signs of war? Look out all over the face of nature and society, and there is no war there. The President says nothing of the kind. The Sen — yes, sir, they will preclude the sup- po.'sed po:.sibiluy — it is only a prediction — of a war, or chance of war, by voting down this notice. The press throughout our couutry is everywhere peaceful. So it is in England. Sir Robert Peel did remark, some time ago, that "they" — the English — "had rights (in Oregon) which, if violated, they would be reaily to maintain." And who doubts that- Ts'obndy proposes lo invade any of their rights vnJcr the treaty; and Sir Robert Peel could certaiidy have meant no other rights while the treaty remains in full force. Is there war in this.- The Queen has said nothing about war, the British cibinet nothing; and, sir, we h.ive, by the late arrivals, the views of the press there since the receipt of the Pre.sident's mest^agc. Their com- ments on that document are perfectly pacific. The recommendations of the President to give this no- tice; to erect stockades on the road to Oregon; to rn!^o the riHcmen; to establish an Indian agency; to extend our laws over the territory; to send our mails there — all, all this is spoken of, and the perngraph usually ends in a little bit of a compliment, that Mr. Polk is a very clever writer. Sir, there ia no war in this; the whole poetry of the thing is de- .^troycd by this late arrival. Some body there proposes to trade off Oregon for the tariff. Sir, i will stand no trade of that kind, rest assured of it. No, no, sir. A friend of mine from Illinois has ex- hil)ited some anxiety to know my course on this I subject I have arrived at the right point to tell him now; (here Mr. T. looked round for hiiw, and re- : marked that he did not .see him,) but I will tell him ' F go for the ivlink of Oregon, and the tariff too! j The whole of Oregon. (Applause.) I am, there- fore, opposed to the trade. But, sir, tiiere is nothing j like war irf this proposition to trade, in my judg- ment. Let us see further. It is s;iid the Englisri ' are repairing their fortresses, mounting cannon I on the fortifications at Sheerness, Pitmbroke, Ports- 1 mouth, .Jersey, and the Cape of Good Hope. Why, j sir, do you suppose the old gentleman (Johnny Bull) is really afraid the Yankees will come over the water and take these places from him.' Soberly and .seriously, docs any gentleman suppose it is on account of us he is arming these places.' Why, sir, there is peace everywhere — everywhere but hen, in this little dark circumference — this hall. Excuse me, sir, when I .'ay 1 have sometimes thought of the story of the "Tempest in a tea-pot." Englai-d, sir, conscious of her position and of her title, has never exhibited as much .-sensitive- ness in relation to this subject as gentlemen seem to suppose. I have exhibited a little of the .spirit of the pre.sa in nlation lo the recommendations of our Executive. No alarm has followed it in England. Bui; we have gone further on this subject. The ven- erable gentleman from Mas.sachusetts, [Mr. Adams,] while President of the of the United States, in 182(), recommended, I believe, the erection of a fort at the mouth of the Columbia liver, on Cape Dis- appointment. He will correct me if I err. This is on the north side of it. Actual fortification, com- manding a most important position, was recom- mended by him. Mr. Monroe had made a similar recommendation. The English made no objection, and no threats of war on that account, and do not seem to do so now, under present recommendations, »«, t i England .sccnis to Iiavr, borrowed h(;r faith in licr title from UH. From this hull valuahlc le.HHonf< may be Ifarncd on that side of the tmcstiori, and if she does bluster much al'out it, she will be mii';h cii- couragod ii. doing so on aixount of oci:uirfnccs ( here. But that is not the po nt just now; the arj;u- ment is, that if wc irive tl;c notice we shall h:ive I war. I Was that tiic understand ing by the parlies when - t'.' treaties of 1818 and 1&21 for joint occmany, U ON .'lome call it, werp entered into r Diu ine President, the Senate, tlie Kinj;, and the House of Lords so understand i'.' Did tiiey understand that a tj-ea>'; of peace, which ,iro\ided for the com- mencement of u war had been entered into, whicli l' agreei" .hat 'he convention should be terminated on ' a nplice of twelve months by either party to the \ other, which notice slior.ld be equivalent to » u declaration of war>' This, si", this would '' have been something of a novcity. If it be so, that the giving of notice to end the joint occu- pancy shall be ef|uivaleiit to a declaration of war, 1 i>eg to say it places the parties in a dilemma, truly. Without speaking of rights, it would 1)3 this: if the occupancy continued, the party having the right might lose it by the growth and encroachment of the other; and if the power getting woi.stcd by the operation should give the notice to quit, he must be prepared to fight it out This would be changing the question of title into the contingencies of the re- sult of a war about it. 1 think I give but a fair anal- ysis of the argument that makes the notice equivalent to war. Why, sir, tlie notice is not a war measure; the press in England don't at all speak of it as such; and I will take leave to venture my belief that, in the estimation of every civilized power on earth, war, as the result of this notice, would be considered as n violation of the spirit and intent of that treaty. Wliat would be the effect of the no- toco? Simply, sir, to remit the parties to their ori- ginal rights. What would be our poeition.* The Secretary of State, [Mr. Buchanan,] in his powerful and conclusive argument on the subject in the late negotiation with the English minister, has shown clearly that England, at the treaty of 1818, by her ministers, recognised the United States as the party in possession of the territory for all objects of nego- tiation between the governments. This being so, sir, if we give ''o- notice, England must move first: we c*re in possession, and she not. Would she be juKstitied in fighting on sight.' No, sir; she must make such offers as would put her in the right; she must move; and if that can be done, we .shall, 1 trust, never be ready to fight in the wrong. An arrange- ment would soon follow — a final .settlement would ensue. Suppose, Mr. Chairman, the notice given, and Great Britain should take it into her head to go to war, her manifesto would be a curiosity I rather think. We will suppo.se, of cour.se, that it would contain a true statement of her title — the right she was remitted to by reason of the treaty being end- ed. She would begin by stating that one John Meares, a lieutenant of the royal navy, at the time m the service of the East India Company, and sail- ing inaPortuguese vessel, landed at Nootka in 1788; whiie there, made some trades with the natives; among other things, procured a right to build there; relumed ^ihc n^xt season, and commenced building a vessel. The viceroy of iVIcxico, conceiving it an interference with the territorial rights of Spain, seiz- ed and confiscated two ships then lying in the iound I — the Argonaut] and Princess Royal — which were ' al'terwnrds given up; required him to leave the spot, and broke up his establishment. He proceeds to I England, on behalf of those interested in the estab- , lishment and property, to procure from thatgovern- I nient a demand of indemnity from Spain tor the j seizure. Before uiriving there, however, 8])ain hud made known to Great Britain her intention to de- I mand from that government f)uni.-.timent on the ag- jgreasor, and guarantees and as- urances against fu- ture aggreKS'iuns by the subjects of that jiower on . her possessions on the north Pacific. Gentlemen will bear in mind, for this is briefly the position of I the parties up to that time, ih it Spain claimed rc- j dress for a territorial interference; and on the arrival ] of Meares, England made a demand on Spain for an ! injury done to personal property of one of her sub- jjticts. These were the issues, territoiial and per' ' sonal. The negot' .lions resulted in the treaty sign- j ed at the Escurial on the 24th October, 1790. This I treaty previded for the restoration of the liuids and jbuildinga which hud been seized. In point of fact, I I believe the rcoreupation never took place. The two j following articles of that convention 1 shall read, as showing what was agreed on: I I An.:!. In order to strcnsjtlieii the lionds of rrieoflship, j and to preserve in liitnre perfect )i;irniony and good under- ; stiiiidin{( lietween tlie two rontrnctiiiir |)arties, it is agreed i thai llieir respeetive subjects shall not lie distiirt)ed or re- stiii'ted in can') ini^ on Wmir Jishn'ii'^ in the rncific oiean or ill tin; Sonth sea.i, or in landinir on the coasts of those 1 mil-, in places not already occnpied. for the purj o«e of cai- j ci/nij 1)11 iiiiiimtrif with Hie iinlii(^ of the country, o:' oi ma- I khii; settlements tlnre; the wholu suhject. nevertheless, to the restrictions sjiecitied in the three following Brticlts.' The oih article, being the only important one on this subject, I will give: "Art. ."). As well in the places .which are to be re.^tored to tin: Ijritish ^u^Jects liy virtue of the first article, as in all other jiiuts of the northwestern coast of .North America, or of the islands adjacent, situate to th(> north of the pa.-ts ol the said coast already occnpied by Spain, wherevi-r the iub ./(i/4- ol either of the two powers shall have made settlements since the month of \pril, 1789, or shall HKlltAKTKRmake any. the sulijecls of the other shall have iree access, and shall carry on theii trade without any disturbance or moles- tation.'' The above, Mr. Chairman, is the title conferred by the Noolka Sound convention, so much relied on by England. I shall not stop to inquire whether this treaty was afterwards destroyed or abrogated by the w.irof 179G, or revived in 1814. Commercial trea- ties are certainly, as a principle of i' ternationallaw, abrogated by war. Why.- Simply because it de- pends upon future arrangements whether the parties shall ever be at peace, and if never at peace the trea- ties arc at an end. But I will not further argue this point. What rights do these articles quoted give to England .' The right of soil, or the right of commerce? I say "gife" to England; for can any gentleman be- lieve that Eng'and conceived herself the owner of one inch of that coast by prior right, and entered into j that treaty on the terms used in it ? Did she con- I ceive that she was acquiring title, exclusive or otherwise, to any of it ? The burden of the stipula- tions is for carrying on the fisheries, and for trade and commerce with the natives of the country, "or of making settlements there ;" the whole subject to "the restrictions in the follov.ing articles," one of which stipulates that settlements north of the terri- tory occupied by Spain, made by the subjects of either, after 1789, the subjects of the other .should have free access to, and right to "carry on trade" with them. If subjects of Spain eetiled north of the ^ory {tishnl be liil froni er tli'l irotccl treat I the e(1 0, byi I did nl kin huiT ire b^ mdaryl 1 notol e Ktipil MdidF srior 1(1 result! •e ten jinal t\ houui Ut 10 karne 8, (Mr ion.s ag ' lengtl I, the eed for er duri •or [• an agr uld rip exclu> lation I t, beca J perio ndland )pose, tl se circui eyed int iViention Bnglani vhich a agree xin. i* eement romiitei h U.S. ^ .hSpair enterir h Spaii un, Er No()il thing— title to is JSJoo the fo I, if my Charlc al — Ahich A'crc :o leave the spot, He proceeds to <'d in the estab- rom that j;overn- 1 Spain lor ine /ever, Spain had intention to de- ment on the ap- ices against fu- that jjower on fie. Gentlemen f the position of >ain claimed rc- id on tlie arrival on Spain tor an one of her sub- itoiial cind pcr- the treaty si>;n- jer, 1790. This jf the liinds and In point of fact, place. The two n 1 t;hail read, Uoiy o.-cupied by Spain, that was ali right; if riiniimtn ."eitled, 'that way nil right; neither was be hihdiirtd by the other, this ris:ht was to re- from the truity; Kn>;lislimen were to scltlf er the treaty; and the pnvilci^c of trade, a.s well )rotcctioii, wa.s the consequence. IJut Huppo.se treaty ended by war, or otherwise, what would the efftt.a.' ( loi, Id Eni,'li!-hmen .'settle there then? 0, by wliut right: Not under the treaty; for t did not exist. Hud they any otiier title.' Sir, tin had acipjired title more than two centuries jre Ijy di.sc.overy, as far north as the northern indary of Oresoii. This England knew. It J notorious. Do gentlemen think .she would e Ktipulated for i\ right to fi-h and .settle there M did not know thiH .' If .«ii. had no title liu'ic wior to this Nootka sound title, what would be result, then, with her, if thai convention •e terminated? She would be remitted !0 her final lille; if that did not exist, siic would be houUi claim or jiretence of right. Here .sir, I am ut to .state u principle, and I call the attention of learned colleague, '.he chairman on Foreign Af- s, I Mr. C. J. In'okrsoll,! to it, It is this: if two ion.s agree mutually to occupy a territory for ' length of time together, or for an indt ilnite j)e- 1, the right of neither by the occupancy so eed for acquiris or gains strength as against the er during the time tlie agreement lasts. I^j this •0: [''Yes, yes,*' from several.] It is so. If not an agreement for reciprocal navigation of a river aid ripen into a title, no matter whether v/ithiii exclu.-'ive jurisdiction of but one power or not. latiori might ilemand the perpetual opening of a iportantone on t, because I 'V treaty it had been open for a defi- » period. VVe might liave a title to the New- ndland fi.sheiief if this were so. But it is not so. >pose, then, we look at the title so situated under seciicunistances. The .subjects of Great Britain eired into the territory under the Nottka sound iwniion; and suiii)ose that continued in force un- Ekigland entered into the convention of 1818 with which is only admitted for argument so to be. e agreement with us ended the agreement with lin. Suppose we should now terminate the eemeiit entered into with us.'' England would wimilted to her rights anterior to her argeement ,h U.S. Wliat vvouiti they be.' Why, an agreement .hSpain. Suppose that agreement is terminated by eniering into the convention with us, by the war h Spain, or by notice now, under our title from lin, iMiglaiid is remitted to her rights anterior to Nootka sound convenlion; and what were they.' thing — nothing, sir. For .she mads no pretence title lo the lerritur)- now claimed at that time. is Nootka sound <■( nvention i.s now relied upon the foundation and superstructure of her title, !,if my position be correct, confers none whatever. Charles Fox said of this convention in 1793 — and was quite a.i English as any body here could dt- 3_«n authority to be — after noticing .several incon- lities ill it, "that it reminded lum of a lawyer's II, written by himself, who, at a particular clause, de a marginal note: '■'ThisxclU afford a glorious ince for a auit i)ic/ia»ic(riy.'' i v\'ill not stop to say w unkind this remark was to the profession — laugh] — but I will say that it exhibited clearly ), opinion — cotcmporaneous opinion of English- iDh— of that treaty as the foundation of title. Will ha Dull go to war on this title? Why, .sir, he 8 ipways been desircus to preserve appearances — eg the world to believe he has a good cause — no matter liow the fact my juvenile du, i of re\ding HuU and llroth.r Jonathan.'''' nd"! of frieodship, y and good undrr- urties, it IS agreed le distiirt)ed or re- M IMcitic ortan or e cuastR of those the puq o<e of car- •ouutry. or of mo- , nevertlules';, to wing articles.'' : to be re.-.tored to rst article, as in f .N'ortli America, rill of the i)a.-t5 ol wlierevff tfn su6 made settlements llKAKTKRmake ree access, and rbance or moles- title conferred much relied on re whether this Jrogated by the mmercial trea- ernational law, because it de- er the parties leuce the trea- ther argue this quoted give to of commerce? gentleman be- ownerof one entered into )id she con- exclusivc or f the stipula- and for trade country, "or ole subject to cles," one of of the terri- subjects of other .should ry on trade" north of the 1 is. I rfinemi cr in a book •■ailed '' Jokn The old !;ciitlemai> waa represented lecturing his son Jonathan al)out not paying ta<es and t'U duties, &<:., without grumbling. There was a [)icture in the book. Thete .stood Jonathan, a long, lank, guant-lookiiig fellow, and beside him John IJull, very genteel in appear- ance, toilet recently made, speaking in the most i'ourteou.s inaiiner to his undutiful fon, with one hand in liis bosom, and the olhtr i<liily slipped into Jonathan's p'lcket — [A laugh.] He was ! pre- serving apjiearaccs. An<l he will try and do bo a'^ain; and, if appearances are again:H him, he will not fi;:ht. IJoth ippearancea and facts are against him in our case. But siippo.sc England sliir»ild determine to fight, what does she risk? L'', us i;)ok at this as a nece»- aary means of asceriaining liie probabilitieii about her ultimate course in this matter. Sir, this mani- festo thut I havi. iiccn ciiisidering, -t'ould be scanned, lier title exajniiied, and she convicted in the judg- ment, not only oi cotempoiaries, butof the world, inall time, of injus;;. e, and conseijuently dishonor. But again: agentlei'ian the oilier t^ay told us tlialberpo»- tcssions on the north .stretched along for three thou- sand miles; that they contained as many sqiKire ri les a.'; the United States. Will she risk this? Why, air, Michigan propo.-;es '•> annev all this to herself m ninety day.'i, [laughing.] Hut, seriou.sly, would she ever risA; these imnien.sc posv'CKsioiia for the the acquisition of a few parallclcj of latitude north of the Columbia? Why, the loss of her Anr.cri'-an |)0ssc: sions wou':! be the era of her decliiie and final downfall. '\iil she risk it? Will gentlemen who have i;postrophized her "agacity be!;eve that she will not hiiik of this ? In my opinion, Mr. Chairman, she wou'd as certainly lo.'-'e these posses- sions, if she goes to wt.i with us, as that I am stand- ing on this iloor. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, U[)per and Lower Canada would all be lost to her forever! Michigan will hardly be expected to per- form all this, b : it will be perfectly within the pow- er of the Union. Her commerce, too, what of that ? Gentlemen give us glowing pictures of the injury to ours in the event of wai. Hers is said to be much f^reater, and would it oot sulTor as much as ours? If injury to commerce be an argument to induce a sai.ifice of right.s on our part, will it have no effect to counter- vail aggression on the part of England ? This ia an argument, which, if it may be enplied to us, has much greater force v/hen a[)pealcd Ld her, because ner commerce is more extensive, and because it is more important lo her than our.s to us. Will she risk her commerce ? But. sir, there is Ireland. Will she risk Ireland? — at least a bloody conflict to retain it? The standing army there now i.s required to be iJ9,0UO strong, 1 believe. Will she risk a conflict there ? This, she knows, she would most inevitably do by going to war with ua. And France, sir — ay, here is the solution to the enigma of her islandic preparations tor war. France,, like a huge serpent, lies in envenomed coils :u her feet, ready at the moment of opportunity to st; ;'.e her ancient toe. When death shall have called hence her so called republican king, then comes the difficulty. Will there be no pretender, no struggle on the peirt of the exiled house of Bourbon? If not. will there not be difficulties on "he subject of the regency.' The Count de, Paris if but a child. Who wili'be :o- 1 ■ *■> gent? Tbi inactive, or ruther paasivft Duki: de Ne- EHOurM? or tlie Queen mntlici.-' or the victonouB d«; Joinvilie ? France muHt and will cscjipc inttiBtine trouble only by foreif^n war. And wbile Agon- court, Creasy, PoictierH, and Waterloo are bittrrly remembered, and Htil! unnvenpcd, will not the war (most I'kcly to occur witb Kn^jlcnd.- The convic- tion in England, if we may believe the intelligent Bourceaof infiirmation in, a rufiluro witb France on the death of Louis I'bilipix!. He iti now very old; and in view of this, Knf^land ih |.rpparin{^. John Bull is tyint; up hia waim, rollinj: uphia Hl(eveH,aHd making ready for the conflict. He txpcciH it soon. Will be rink the conjuncture of ;i war witlniy, which would increase the probabilities of u war with France? Mut, in a war with us, how are the man "'.c- turern of England to get along? How can their work-shops exist. How will she provide against Btarvniiiiii? or, at least, aguintit much serious in- jury? Where will she get her cotton from? Lei me assure the genllenian from South Cari.lina, [Mr. RnETT,J that this will be u most serious ohsiiide in the way of war, and that the cotton bales of the South will again not only be a secure breast-work against the enemy, but will insure us flic \ictory over him. [Merriment.] Wii! England not think of this — of her manufacturer.s? But, lastly, there comts the cIkidccs of being beaten — horse foot and dragoons. Would ahc. think of that? Will the contest with llcn-ules in his cra- dle be forgotten? In infancy wc achi<'ved our inde- pendence, and, 1 trust, disenthralled a continent. In youth we gained a ghn-ious victory, iiolwillistiuid- ing her power; and arc not our chances now a.s bright — our success as probable — nay, certain? Thcgentleman from Virginia, [Mr. Pkmh i;t.'KJ — the "lone star"* from the Old Dominion — and 1 conceive it quite ft compliment to call him thus from such a Commonwealth — gave us but the other ilay quite the other side ofllie picture. It wa.s in style a very hahdsome srieecli — it certainly was — [langh.] 1 as.surc gontlt men it was. I ad- mired the style and (he execution. I'nt in that speech he told us of the wisdom of England — of Ih r power; that she had concpiered in every land, al- most on every field ; that she ruled the sea "On every wave," &c. I beg pardon, 1 did not mean 'o quote poetry — [iireat laughter.] Uy the way, sir, 1 see that rascally Herald (New York) has got all the poetry that has been expended on this subject, in hi.^ paper, all together side by side, without context — [Mr. Hoi.mks, or f)retext| — yes, or pre- text — ln'ijiniiing with Mas.sachusetts atid ending with Michigan— [merriment.] But, as I was saying, the genilemaii spoke of her immense pos- sessions everywhere scattered over the earth, and said that the "roll of her drums could be heard around the globe." It was very graphic; the description was. I thought the gentleman licard the drums as he described. Upon my word, sir, I thought I did. Indeed it seemed so. I felt like it, and felt a ^'kellc scared^'' as ,Satn Slick would say. [Laughter.] But let us see the force of the gentlemaii'.i appeal, or argument. I am con- vinced that an appeal uuchas this, nuide lo that gen- tleman, would under all circumstances be disre- garded, if he felt he was right. Accustomed to a liabitude of tluniglil when regarding that Old Com- momwealth, (Virginia,) that he so ably represents, *lhe Jiilv wiiisr from N'irshiia. - the a;iggliter.| r, it WNiJeee w^ toat)pr>iir. A $(n,v, to I feel constrained to say, that I am sure the to her would fall upon a deaf ear. Sir, argument to ourfcais — it was an ap))eal to(q)p sion. What do yoii think of the argument? :t of tlif- nic give an illusiraiion. Suppose I should hit with the tremendous bruiser, and he should seize me bvie in the collar, and say I want your coat; I reply you y were m have it. He rejoins, "I will have it," I look u:re improti u bit, as we s:iy in the v'if,l. | Laughter.] I remeii an arnu he has flogged Bendigo, licked Jim Byrne, » Aurrpe made the Deaf'un give in, nnd would have (lire that ihi Molyneanx himself, only he was dead, jtlcioi'^ht a Laughter.] I m;ike up my mind about the n, West; ni |>retty quick; 1 think of the carnage thiit W()ul'Ti#g( ntl< i low if I stood out; and I gently hand over the 1 nourril I me<,t the genllenuin from Virginia, or either oect'the J other gentlemen who have used tl-.e aavnt (vigui)uld be en and relate the whole transaction to him. Wlij ci'iiuiim you think 1 c would say? Certainly, that I h;ir power out of the .-(crape — that is certain; Ijui 1 presui.Brtty mill' would tell me, that he would have liked my .ticn; no some better if I liad shown a little more )!urc (n.i ] [Laughter.] This is then I think a fair illiistming .<ev( o'" the argument apjicjded to our iq>prehensioi;» burden fears. Can a nation pause jupon such an aigii:.]— I thi Ncvi;r, sir, never ! tnnusaml Hut what, m;iy I ask, is our position in ircluuitrm tion to this f|uestion ? If our title be good, vvl.teriu the.'^ assert it? Shall the ariruments I have been ciunbintli-; an prevent us? Ptticc is a blessing, but it initlftl to an; iionoiable to he such. If the notice should iti.-li r.a. \ produce war, I insist upon it we are bound to not recol It; we must move in tlie matter. We have (/:«■«/ .spee( the 49;h inuallcl of hitiiiulc as a compromise. Ulion — [a Prcsiden!, tells us this has been done and rejec tints in tin the ['ritish minister. Will any man ask usfionicy to oiler It under these eircunistances? i-le tel.W 'he m; further, that the oiler thus rejected was withda^taiiir a and our "/;';/(' a;sirtcd to Uw whdtof Oregon.'''' * year m have as.^erK'd the title to be in us, and l/ei'ev4«li half assertion just, as ! think this delate show.-i wfliWe is nr 1 osk,are w ■ not hound on every princi|ileor!io;iV'« said, v proceed lo the exclusive occniunicy of what i-Mpht^nt, s« own? If Oregon be ours, why not act up to tli''ny, sir, ( lara'ioM, and [.ossesis il? VVe must doso — >.\ c ''It-light ol get iiwuy from it without dishonor — without idthcr voii doniiig our rights, anrl acquiescing vmder the id she v.-a; ments appealed to our apprehentiirjns. I am iOUsaiiu w convinced that a firm and fearless assertion iBSea'h. rights, and a dot(rininatiori to maintain theui,aoh <''d •" surest way to prevent difficullies about thenid a Kitle tliat this course will have the td'cct to insure i"<li«i — tiini i\lr. Clvtirmai', the urgumentso olten urgKietrimcnt. (luunely, the pov.'cr of England,) what is ii? ! it must lie remtinbered hov it was disregarded in 17*!j^ everj this government is the rt suit of that glorious iBie, m e\ gard. But what is that power? The populati ([• in moi Great Bri'ain — of I'oursc including Ireland aiiiiiif» if will land— is, at most, not over a7,00U,UtK)ofinhnl «», with The repealers tell us— and Mr. Smith O'Bi 90d cause law in Ireland now — that not an Irish b.iMirs o! c should be taken to Oregon to assert the D* ehall p: claim. INo repealer, at least, will aid in it. Mr. 'Mi: some lie means. Here, sir, is 7,(lOU,0()0 out Winn fr( account at once. In oihcr words, in a contcf «|ton dis the United Stales, Ireland would neutralize l«fc» spokf Will they bring the sepoys from Indi i to fi.^.6«'>^''^'' No, 1 p.restime not. From the Ca|)e of Good will they bring troops? from the CauiuLj Vv'^hy, :-ir. tlicy will nee;l troops in all the.-e Some will be employed in India; some in •': some at the Cape of Good Hope; :«ome in <* 4 ponie to l>eat tlipsfi "drums round the world.' ijust lo r.nnjrctiir*! thnl t)it' wish wiu pnren( to the 1 urn sure th(« ui^glitf r. | But let uh rfivt;rH« poaitioriH a littli;, ' thoiighi? If iIiim winh worn mnde rwility, sir, it if ear. Sir, it wii./^tie what they miy on the. other sido of the ■ would sound, to my ear, likt defeat, dishonor; like an appeal toiippnir. A few year.M a^o, when En(,'land wanted a , driving' the last nail in the coffin of our |)o!iti(al ex- )f the ar5:unfientr ;« of the 8tjite of Maine, and there waa talk of; idleno.e. FkcauHc thi.s catniot he no, until ahandon- pose I nhould n.r with tin; United Stales, a croaker — for there are ' cd liy ourMelven, wc yield the juHtice of our cause to should Heize tne li.ie m the KntrliHh Parliament — r.om|)hiine,d that , ll,'' domineeriiitr Hpirit of our ancient f,>e. Ifthere- enat; I reply yoi. y were not ready l'> fii;ht uh; that their port.s j mark was any thing eUe than a fis;ure, themaehin*- have it," I Iduk uire unprotei-ted; their towns W(;ie in danfljer; and | ry to round olVa Henlence, I regret that it was iittcr- Luughter.] I remet an armed Airiericm .«ieanier cnuld er.nic outand i ed. I diKairree with the .sentiment, and with all the 'ked Jim Byrne, » /,(tf(;/ee/.' One would almo.st he inclined to he- ' ipiHlificaiiniiM tli*; (xentleman f.urrounded it with. il would have Hire that ihi.s had emanatfc! t'rom .^onie ni'ialier who IJut, .sir. Mans »(!husettrt has been redeemed from a lie waa dead. [•! enu'.;lii a iittleofthecdiil'lenceofniy tViend.sfionj .suN|)ieion that inn/; arniind her patriotism on thit liiid (dioiU the n^ Went; and it would lie easy to imaijiiic, too, th.il | .sulijeci l>y the veneralije frentleman (Mr. Adams] arna{:;e that woulna«f;eiitlenien here had (auirla a littla lMip;li.sh f.iith | now in his seatacrofii the w.iy. His speech wa« rc- y hand over the 1 poured it out eivr f/icn — (pointins^ to the other fre.sliin<:, it was a <:re:it etlorl; and, illu.striou.s a.s had iri^inia, or either naof the House.) Th(;.se thin.'jM .show, .sir, that we i hcen the history of hin services, this last act was an ed tl-.e aamt aiyuDuId he cautious how we hecome alarmed. Panic ' actof erciwnini^i^'lory, iruniinalinij all the past. on to him. VVlia common ait;iiineiU. .\l.\rm<'d, sir; why, what i.s Mr, Ciiairman. I havt! hut a few remarks more to lertainly, lliat I hiir power that we nhould he alaimcil? We iiavc | make, [f^'ries of '-^'o on." | The j^entlemaii from lain; hut I prcMii.Bilty millifuis of population — unitnl and free p(»|)- .MasH.ichn.sctis j \Ir. VViNrituoe) .spoke of our titto have liked my .tioii; no colonies requiring n siandint,' army to ] heiiiv llw! /i,'.«i. Hi., Ian!cn:isje was: "I lu-ktiowledjijo 'n a little mort; jsurc our po.s.-iession in; u commercial in irine I'tm- lour title i.s the. lieht" — a very cuiisiderablc coni'.ession. hink a fair iilustmkij,' .>;evcral hutelred.s of vessels of at, least 1,000 j Indeed, it ha.s oeen rnilier common to .speak thus. our appreheiKsioiiiB liord<'n — [;'. voice, more than a ihotia.md such, , Now, the i(:iiiaik has always .soiiiided slranire to my ipoii such an argii:.l— I thank the jrcnileirian; he nays more than j ear. \V hy, sir, if we hiive liie hf.sl title, Ivii^lami thousand Huc.h — a ho.-'t of hardy wliahimcn, and , has none. 'I'iuM'e is no su(;li thins; as comjiaraiivea 3 our posititMi in ircluuitiiicn to m.ui them with. Why could we.ahout tiile — no 'jood, ix'.tter, hcMt. [f my friend r title he irood, wit ©rm the.se vessels.' It coiiid he done, in a r<;w | who sils Inside mc li".s i\titli' for a town lot, and I 1 1 have heen ciunli,intlis; and our navy w^ add ;.^o o\i'. in .^trcn.'rth i have a /)c!/fi- one, he has /um^. [Lauijhter.) is this lessinjr, hul it iniuft! to ai'y period of strcn^'h in the history of the notso.' 'I'lie gentleman from (leorgia is a lawyer, he notice should ili.'-li r.a.\ . A gentleiTum the other day — 1 really i.s he not — t we are hound to not recollect who it vv-as, for there have been j yi^. Uoi „[.;s. lam. Iter. We have .,:«•«/ speeches made on this Oreu'on (p.icstion thin ; \ir[ q\ cuntinued. And a very "ood one, too. .s a compromise, ilioii — [a luuirh]-— uaid th;it all the iron estaltlinh- ' fj^.m,,),,p,. -i '"' en done and rejec i jnts in the Union couM init supply i^uns (.'nouj^h i ^ i^-j,? j_j„, ^,,,,._ | jjiipij ;,.,y il,f,t. my man ask us r «ome ye.ira to }!ut us in a proper st.ite of delence. i j\|r T. No " hut I aia very flure of it. Will mstarice«,; He trl.ve the mark ! I would s^y, my -,'ood friend, let 1 1„, not ti'irree tliat thi« i.s so: If 'l have a title better ■leeted was withd«,taiiii alone, and old I'enn.sylvama herself can in i,^,.,^ ,,ig ,-,,,. .^ jp^,. of pronerty, why he \m^ none. ■hoUof Oicf^on.'" e year make gun.s enmiich — 1 had alrnostsaid to ; yviiy? hi^c-.uHe ! have the title, ill us, and lid'evrSftli hulf across the Pacific — [mucli l.'.u,»;liin2-. ] s del>;ite show.s vii(*e i.s nothing in this tiu'ng, 1 a.ssure you. I ery priniiiiiJeoflioiiVe said, ue have many ves.-els of 1,000 tons in the iiliaiicy of what ifltphcmt. service, line saileri;, thai could he armed, •hy not act un to il/Ry, sir, one of our j^all;int seamen r ' must do so — w e ilifTKht of it, in a little vessel — [a voice, "tVigate; ] — a frigate at Valparaiso ton vcs.sel. We liave now a i :hen.-;ions. I am iQBsand wel! built -•arless asacrtioii > BB each. Arm th Mr. Hoi. Ml.-,. Wiiat do you call color of title.' Mr. 'V. Why, .sir i call it a very uiijiromising look- ing thing. I Merriment.] Ifa man goes into C(uirt with r.,.,, ., .1 rri M-, I omIv t\ co/'j'' of t i t Ic, ',0 is uot to coiite out with a firetty iKVifrntf" i '^''-'''y ci)(o/'f(. hill ol cost.^ to pay. [^A laugh. | 1, will ^ive you an in.-'tunce of color of title. A man huy.^a furgrd tiile, ..ill! eriler.^ into po;5i)ession — this under color of ut!c — it would not be a It would not be ft ishonor — without ilfeher voice, ihe Esse.x escing under the lO she v.-a,s only a 400-1 :hen.-;fons. I am iQBsand wel! built market-ships, from 800 to 1,000 I '■"''•'■'"^' '-' ""^'^'' ^'If"' "'/'^'c -arless assertion, n» each. Arm these, sir; arm them ! and we will i '■.^'y I'-'^^'y/'"''"'- . I '^■*"J"'^'^''-- , , , i o maintain them, aoh oid Johny liuU th.it the Yankees ;,,e aH.KU; i "^'^^ ""'>^" ^'^'^ Senuine one was pro.luced I appeal ■ultie.s about theud a little harder to thrash than Mcmi.ur CVn- ] t^' "'>' .''J' H^^";'" ''»''" '.''"'•""^ colleague [Mr. In(;er- "reat ^"'-'•1 '' """' "^ ""' ^*^^' 'H^.L I Mr. C. .1. LsiiERsoi.i.. Every v/ord of it true. ; tfloct to insure I'OU^ —thafs K.-ench f)r you, at sea- lentso (iitcn nrctiiewiment.) Sir, I have no fenv of thi.s issue, \nd,)\vhat is II.' lit mu.st come. We shall have the advan-1 Mr. T. continued. Color of title in Great Britain, lisresrardcd in 177ijJ* everywhere, and in all places— in every | if we have the be.st title, would not amount to It of that glorious ime, in every country. We shall have the advan- much. In conclu.sion, =■'>•, let met advert to the value of I Oregon. It has i aatiful valley^; and fertile soil; We shall have the advan- .•er.' The popula'gein mora! power, in piditic^l as well a.s physical, luding Ireland aiuiif, i' will be like a contest betv.'een a young brave 7.000,000 of inhnliWi, v.-itn a strong arm, a clear conscience, and a Mr. iSniiih O'l'i sod cau.se — with wic.kid old age, and a thousand not an Irish b.'.BHr.s of crime on his head. In .such a contest 1 to assert the l!« shall prevail — we shall prevail. t, will aid in it. H4r. rhairman. I must notice a remr.ilc of the gen- is 7,(100,000 out «tta #0 an from Massachuseii--, who represents the .'ords, in a contc; Wjjlon district, I believe, (Mr. Winthp.op,] and ^ould neutralizf^ I'rfl* spoke on this .suliject some time .-.go. 1 admired rom Indin to fi.lUgenlleman's inaiui,.- very much. I did, indeed. he Cape of Good i-om the Caiiiul.l oops in all the.-c ^1 India; pome in (:■* rlope; ;«otne in <' )ngst other remurk.s he ¥aid, the "cry now was, Bf Oregon or none — and echo answers, none !" Iwhere was that echo from? Was it here, sir.' |ng hi.s hand upon hi.s heart.) Will it, not be thi.". coiusist not hn great value. I am not a prophet, and mo.^t likely never will be; but, sir, I predict and believ ; that the London of America ia (.e.-itined to be bui't on the coast of Oregon, at or near the mouth of the Columbi;!. The city that is to c;irry on the comrnerce with India and China will be planted there. And notwithstanding it sound.s wild , Utopian, a railroad will be made across this continent to the Columbia — from 13,000 to 20,000 mile,'! of navigation in the voyage to China and the Indies v^ ill be .saved by it — far more than half the voyage. Captain Fremont astonishes ufl in Ills descriptioti of the great South Pa.9s in the Rocky n>ounUan«. Why, sir, wc '•an cro<(H Ihe mrtuntams witliout Hcarpelyr perceiving the un-livity. For 127 mileit, th« aHcent, he IoIIh u«, iHgrmliial, hnnlly perceptible; and ut the dividin-r ridtje, or aptx, Uie ucdivitv Im not i.',mHcr than ;ho a«cnnf from the Penn&ylviiniu avenue to tliisi Cupitol. This M-illbetho routu for ihi- railroad dcHtined to carry the trade und commerce of the East on ita road to I Ruropc, aH well hh into the heart of our own ■■ try. The iron home, will thunder through puhH, heHrinj,' m hin long; train the riche.i of wond, fillintf our land with wealth and hi, ncs8. tht; abundant fruitn of our i^reatenterprinc view ofthPHc things, I nni for the whole of Ori every inrh of it. and I heartily de-'irc the nati' be given. .'•' •> ! hfiurt nf our own c ill thunder thrdugh train the richer fif itii wcnlth and hh ouri^reutentprprim; ror ihc whole of On rtily desire the nati' k