IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 
 2.5 
 
 Ui 
 
 1^ 
 
 M 
 
 1.8 
 
 
 1.25 1.4 
 
 1.6 
 
 
 < 6" — 
 
 
 ► 
 
 % ^ 
 
 J^ % 
 
 
 7 
 
 /A 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 73 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 W.ittSTE^, N.Y. 14SB0 
 
 {^^f>, 873-4503 
 
 d 
 
 
 V 
 
 \\ 
 
 ^ 
 
 v 
 
 
 
 c> 
 
 
 ^ 
 

 i^ 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 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 usual method of filming, are checked below. 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 I I Covers damaged/ 
 
 Couverture endommag6e 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaurie et/ou pelliculie 
 
 |~~| Cover title missing/ 
 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 I I Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes giographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 ReliA avec d'autres documents 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ol< 4e la 
 distortion le long de la marge intirieure 
 
 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 ajouties 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, 
 mals, iorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas M filmies. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires supplAmentaires: 
 
 L'institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details 
 de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la methods normale de filmage 
 sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. 
 
 I I Coloured pages/ 
 
 ^ 
 
 D 
 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagies 
 
 □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restaurAes et/ou pelliculies 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages d6coior6es, tachet^es ou piqu6es 
 
 □ Pages detached/ 
 Pages d6tach6es 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 I I Quality of print varies/ 
 
 Quality in6gale de I'impression 
 
 Includes supplementary material/ 
 Comprend du materiel supplAmentaire 
 
 I — I Only edition available/ 
 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc.. have been refilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totalement ou partieilement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata. une pelure, 
 etc.. ont 6tA filmAes 6 nouveau de fa9on A 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est filmi au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessous. 
 
 10X 
 
 
 
 
 14X 
 
 
 
 
 18X 
 
 
 
 
 22X 
 
 
 
 
 26X 
 
 
 
 
 30X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 y 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 32X 
 
ails 
 
 du 
 
 difier 
 
 jne 
 
 lage 
 
 Th« copy filmsd hor« haa baan raproducad thanks 
 to tha ganarosity of: 
 
 Library Division 
 
 Provincial Archives of British Columbia 
 
 Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha bast quality 
 possibia considaring tha condition and lagibility 
 of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha 
 filming contract spacifications. 
 
 L'axamplaira film* fut raproduit grAca A la 
 ginArositA da: 
 
 Library Division 
 
 Provincial Archives of British Columbia 
 
 Las imagas suivcntas ont AtA raproduitas avac la 
 plus grand soin. compta tanu da la condition at 
 da la nattati da l'axamplaira filmA, at an 
 conformity avac las conditions du contrat da 
 filmaga. 
 
 Original copias in printad papar covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cuver when approFnata. All 
 other original copias are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and dnding on tha last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The last recorded frame or each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol —^ (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED "), ur the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprim6e sont filmAs en commen^ant 
 par la premier plat at en terminant soit pur la 
 darniire page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par la second 
 plat, salon la cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 originaux sont filmAs en commen9ant 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 suiyants apparaitra sur la 
 dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbols -^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le 
 symbols V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frumes 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 clich6, il est filmA A partir 
 de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrant la mAthode. 
 
 rrata 
 o 
 
 lalure. 
 
 □ 
 
 32X 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
2f 
 
 
SPEECH 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HON. Y/M. SAWYER, OF OHIO, 
 
 o n T H E 
 
 OK EG ON QUESTION. 
 
 D E L I V E R P: D 
 
 i 
 
 ^ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 
 
 FEBRUARY 3, 1S40. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 PRINTED AT THE UNION OFFICE 
 
 .1846. 
 
 ■OHwii H ii j -ww.«»i 
 
 »— -- .K ... » »■ . ^A, ^n < 
 
5 1 ^> ) 
 
 111 
 
 m 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 J# 
 
 SPEECH. 
 
 in the resclution gixing ih: twelve months^ notice for the teriniuatioyi of /he 
 J jo'tni occupancy of the Oregon territonj. 
 
 Sir. SAWYER obtained '.he floor, and, havinj^ | 
 ft his usual seat at the right of the Speaktr, and 
 OSscd over, taking an unoccupied place at tlie | 
 peaker'?i Uft, which is the whig portion of the : 
 [ouac, he addressed tlie committee. ! 
 
 I have come, Mr. Chairman, to locate myself over 
 3re in British Oregon. If you v/ill fancy the Co- 
 mbia river passing down tlie main aisle, you will 
 aserve I tnke my stand on the north side of that 
 ver, right in the centre of the British .settlements; 
 id here 1 [ilant myself under the coi/jlitution and 
 w«of my country, and f^re 1 intend to remain re-j 
 irdleps of consequence: I discover, Mr. Chair- : 
 an, that a good many of n settlers here have dis- 1 
 irsed, (referring to sever, vacant seat-s around! 
 m,) v.'hich i conceive to be a good sign — an cvi- 
 ince of a consciousness of a want of sound title. 
 hey have gone away and vacated these farms, ] 
 id In the name of my country 1 take pos.sesson of; 
 em, iiiul 1 intend to keep po.s.^ession. I wi.sh, 
 ei^l to be di.?tinctly understood to adsert our right I 
 tfiK whole of Oregon up to .")4- 40': and I am not 
 illing to relinquish cne iota of it. My reasons for 
 i« claim are not based upon any turmai treaty 
 piilations whatever. It is a right founded upon 
 "igher authority than any human compni't. 
 le gentleman fiom Mnssachusett.s, [Mr. Win-; 
 ,1 wIh) .spoke in the early part of this debate, | 
 very .significantly where we find our title to I 
 rritory, and whether u may not lie found in i 
 [corner of Adam'i will • No; it ihitcs further \ 
 cl6#i-long before Adam's dust was tashiond into i 
 in\"our title dates with tlie creation of the world, 
 'e received it from high lleaveH — from destiny, if' 
 'U please. In the course of events, in the prog- 1 
 m and consummalion of this destiny, Christopher- 
 ilumbus was sent across the ocean to examine i 
 is country, and he found that it was good for man 
 dwell ufion. By-and-by, our father.^ followed and 
 )k possession ; here they established the seat 
 empire; here they sowed the seeds of democracy, 
 ii<A sprang up and brought forth abundance of 
 ceUfent fruit. But the prosperity of this country 
 intxcited the jealousy and fears of another peo- 
 !, and they sent armies to subjugate it to their 
 n will and control. Then arose one George 
 aahington, who drove the invaders iVom the land, 
 i located his lainily upon it. Columbua and 
 
 Wa<;hington were but the. nsents Heaven employed 
 to place us 111 po.sses.sion of our own. This is our 
 claim of title, and lean see no defect in it. Icon- 
 tend it is good and sufficient against all other claim- 
 ants. This island — or, if you prefer to call it so, 
 this continent — was made and set apart for our es- 
 pecial benefit. We have a right to every inch of it, 
 and It would be ingratitude to high Heaven to sur- 
 render a single pebble. 
 
 I have been trying for two or three weeks past 
 occasionally to get the floor, but, being a modest man, 
 I do not like to enter into the contest wifh so murh 
 noise and clatter as I see sometimes employcu to ob- 
 tain this iloor: other causes, too, have operated to 
 exclude me. One of them is this system of explain- 
 ing speeches who.se meaning is so uncertain that 
 these commentaries seem to be in continued demand; 
 thus the morning hour is consumed in petty crimin- 
 ation iind recrimination. I do not expect to con- 
 sume my hour, and 1 liavc tried for the last two 
 or three days to get the 'lour to move that a half 
 
 "lov/ed to gentlemen v.ho 
 
 Hour only hereafter be 
 speak on this cpicstion. Well, I hope this may be 
 propo.^ed hercat'ter and adopted, as I discover there 
 are certain other qualitie.j besides talents requisite to 
 get the floor and to obtain ascendency in this House. 
 
 (Mere Mr. S. was interrupted by .some one ask- 
 ing what other qualities he meant .' To which Mr. 
 H. replied, iinpuiltnrf.'] 
 
 I may be compelhd, Mr. Chairman, from the ne- 
 cessity of the case, aff^r 1 have been here a while, 
 to adont the same course which I see here pursited 
 with so much .-success. I have a constituency C3 
 independent i\s 1 profess to be, and they expect me 
 to have my right.s, and I will have them, even though 
 I should have to .stoop to an imitation of the exam- 
 ple set by some gentlemen in their efforts to be 
 neard. 
 
 There are divers ways now proposed by gentle- 
 men on this floor, whereby the Oregon question 
 may be settled. Of some of^ these I will speak here- 
 after. 1 Will not undertake to argue the constitutional 
 question, because certain gentlemen might say, as 
 was said in olden times, that a blacksmith was not 
 a proper person to mend watches, and a farmer had 
 no business to lay his huge paws on the statute- 
 book. For this reason, and for the more substantial 
 reason, that it appears already to have received the 
 
 JUiJ 
 
f..;lv?3l ciucidntion from powrrfL,! aiiJ conifictiMit 
 iri;n(Js, i shnll say notli!i:;j; upon ihid p.u-t of the 
 question. I shnll, tliereforf^, nminly confiijc ny'''elf 
 to replies to fjertlemen ulio hiiveeapoused the Brit- 
 ish caupc in this dispute. 
 
 The vord "wi\r" haa been dv. (ilt upon in ail its 
 korrib'e phiisca, witii s;rcat emphabi^ and eloquence, 
 I)]'' rertaiii gentlemen, until i.r.any necm to he fri|; lit- 
 er ly-i fioin a performance of thi.'ir iluty by the 
 •'■jrirr. visaged" picture. VVhcther these {jcntlemen 
 are [)ror.ipted hy cowardice or seifislujess in their 
 der.unciationa I am not ab!;; to say, nor do I con- 
 ceive itto be very importar.t. isi;ither n.otivc-.T aufli- 
 C.'iDily detestable in itself. But neither shall l.ave 
 any vv.?i;!;ht with me in the :irgnnienLs vvhicii 1 ishall 
 uj'*, nor in the conclusior to which I :-liarl come. 
 I do not c:ire one cent whcir.cr EngKiiid declan- war 
 af^Ui.'^.st u.s or not; no, r.ot ori» cent. I believe we 
 are right, ami that is cnoi:gh to govern r.iy action. 
 Ilo'l. no furliier. If evils grow out of a .turdy 
 r'lirtei'.ance of our rii^htri, Miea let them fall upon 
 tbe fji'ty headsl Hoiie!.:t, democrao: have nohiri^ 
 to f3ar from llii.s nialedictioi! 
 
 The ijontleman from Vir^'inia, jAIr LiEAiii;,] who 
 occ^^pied tiie floor this mornuiir, takes lo l.\r.k vome 
 oftho genllemf'u of the democratic juirty, who huvc 
 heretofore advocated the policy of ajiving the notice, 
 for ib'-'ir votes on this quesiion ii ih.e latst oe;:-;ion of 
 Cor'5Te?R, and arciif-'Ci ilu'ti; of inconsistericy — ibr- 
 
 iiat tntiJiful (i!,l aiiage,. 
 
 j;.-".;?!;?:, it would seem, 
 "C..-ci.m,si:\nce.-;ai:e:case!:' 
 
 I Vilun. 
 
 .•; to sl',ov,' 
 
 yiV! ard th^t p-cntlemiiti how ii is, and xhy ;t v/aJ, 
 thac they voti-d against thiei measiire at thi'.r tune; 
 I'i t siiali d'» it [)v ouolir.g iV-^m the SfiPe' h ot th.i- 
 
 <;.?,•; t'loman Jrom r.la; :^achr,s;;f.t.5, "Mr 
 
 V 
 
 part 
 •I 
 
 of 
 
 ii- 
 
 israr.:!;',; 
 
 ieb rc> Th.;' 
 
 ar-rumcnts herein aUiliui';! api. mi- to Imve btcii 
 
 thu-o wliirh. s^'OVLrncd tliC .•ctioo of <.'ci:f<;re'^.- at tliaf. 
 
 ■') spoke in the early 
 herein addi 
 
 ■Mr Wi'bBtcrhils .,'.(?.•.( laiirrs<vve tliu ik-jcp of (he coin 
 try by at'atinj;sorn-thin!» of our extreme territori:il cl.iiii. 
 oil tbo northeiist. unit he Ikib LMrnccJ the gralitutlc of all goo 
 citi:cn.s in doing bo ' 
 
 1 rather suspect, sir, that the people of Main 
 will not desire to earn thf. epithet of "good citizens 
 by cherishing grateful leelings for this abatement c 
 their "extreme territorial claims." There is to 
 much patriotism in thtir hearts to feel grateful Ui 
 this surrender of their soil and rights. Such a sent 
 mentis foreign to that love of country and of justi' 
 HO characteristic of tiie American heart, and is d; 
 gradingand disgrajeful to the American name. 
 
 But, Mr. ChairnK'ii, the arguments which we 
 all-pow?i'fn.! at the last session of Gongres.j a, 
 not ijo nov; circumstances have changed ai, 
 with thin cha'.ige, the whole asfiect ol l!i 
 question. Then tticre •-/aa a possibility, a re 
 sonable hope, (hat this question could be amic:di 
 settled by negotiation. Now we liave t!:e mes.^iii; 
 of the President of tl'.c United States, and v,c hit. 
 the correspondence betvkccn j\'Ir. Duchanai>,ar,d N: 
 Calhoun, and li:e Critiyh mini.ster or. this .-subjc 
 a;id from there ai.'.th.etitic -lOur*. ^s we learn that 
 furtiier uegotiaLions will be liad in relation to tl 
 matter. They '.lave long since ceased; and we , 
 now fully ijonvii!ce!j that nothing can Ijo cxper; 
 from that mode f^f udiioiirieiit. How, then, stai 
 the case' what course does it now become nccesf,- 
 for us to pursue.' 1 c.n: .•'te but one whicii i- !il. 
 to secure the desired end. W'ly, even these v; 
 gentlemen wh.o ojinnse the passage of th.iP i*c:u 
 lion witli si> much rteal and furv,ar.'j willing th'it 
 should t.ike {)0.ss-cs.<ion i;p to 4l"-^; and yet ti'.ev 
 afi.iid of war if v/e give the notice. Weil, I 
 :his :| leijtion to ti.o g--^iit!(;niar. '.Vcni Virgiria, I" 
 n.-iVLv.] wl;o spokv a i'tw day:-; -igo, and v.. 
 r-oeecii has been tho subrect o'";mui:1. .■.cvcro c 
 
 (nMllion 
 
 i;: 
 
 tl 
 
 a 
 
 •id '.vh.oihcr tlie ;:-e(infi :'^y. pr.'-ed lliem cor 
 
 hail 
 
 [lo 
 
 :u; 
 
 re t or not, as tames thrn were, i,-, 
 
 ry i;p[)ear to i.,'ivo 
 
 icncc ..lulgi'ci! ;ii'i'-y: ,i..-.l ri'i.^t 
 ■ f)0; t ijf oft'uir:. at that 
 these gentiei-.'.'U Wirrail').' 'ustiSabie 
 (■,;)■.: --.o tliey then purs'.i.td; *'..'. lo rhe r:<tr;.''t 
 g'.wllctuan whom I quote rn-o(e;:tlu lo ray 
 
 vJ.fir. this ',i ho'ii' ['ro''"f)ii' 
 
 bo;' di Mated by I'rudi: 
 
 ti;; 
 
 the 
 
 ir, 
 
 '.ir Ki 
 
 I'l .:4;mi-nt 
 
 enii'ii'iitl) calotiialcd to .iiipclf ...i i , i,ih;iiin ■.; tl.c luvjuti:.- 
 t. ir. .11 V. liifji t'licl wo '^o'. er;iM'<':it;, arc ciiii !o\ o'-l \^'r 'lu'f 
 If. 'i\>-l riiillHtntic assur.iii.'.'c.'N i(vit these rif' jol.iituins V.ive 
 uo'. ji't .'.lili'd; th:il they are Klill ir> lll•l1l;r^^•.•^ .uul tliut a co.ii- 
 m.'.n'i'nlioi' ill re,>.,Mril to tliem !n,i_\ '.t? - \(.ci.'li'(l liom tl.e 
 l'.;<'-'ru'ivi' lief'ire tlie cloie <.)! ''w i'i'r.'>fiit i-H,.,',ii>i'. \('li) 
 rot V. ill lor this iomrrnn!ir:itio;i ' U li_\ r.:.'.i«t oit tjkiiig .'ii!> 
 ;Urii ii! 'lie il.rli N'.lui. a; .. v,. i> ■■''\:- it llic ino;il. ■•. .■ 
 sli;)'.l III- nlile to net mlvi.-i-iliN ;iii.l h) . ee cj'irly tli'.- )^''0uu^l 
 0.1 •. liirh wc HTL' trei.diii)^ " 
 
 That, sir, was the reason urged iheu by that gen- 
 tlei'ian,andby several others, V'hy we sliould iDtgive 
 the notice, and j)roceed to e.xtetid our aws and in- 
 nt.*.(;lions fully over ti:e whole territory — l)'>oau6e 
 negol :\tions were going on, and t'Ccausc.' n new 
 Pe.sdent had just Ixen ciected in wiiom the people 
 Krt.i fi'.; confidence, and to whom oven they kneu 
 t,' '.5 business cmild be .laftly eniruPtedt arid tiialit 
 v I.* !yul a mark of respect to a'lovv hini to [m/siic 
 l.tei":* negotiations further, in the nope that it were 
 T>o.ss:b!e ho. might bring r.ien ui a f:iv(u vble termi- 
 r.at;oc.. And with thin View m.iny persons \'oipd 
 against taking any steps which might tlu'ow diffi- 
 culties in the way of the pending negoiiaiions A 
 
 passes a 
 
 le fur; Ik r on this satne gentlenutn 
 
 ei.logy upon a certni;' di.-ungui:-hed 'iiihv.dial, now 
 it :! .' other brorch of o'lr naiiona' l.'gi..lati.ip: 
 
 ci.-M u; tiiUi i.aii. IlO i;t wi'img to .yiistam 
 ciatiii.'' wp to ii''', anil to piiL-.i the I'otice to th-ii 
 feet. Nov.', .ct ir.c .;;.'c him, wiier.'; ia t.':o olTer 
 Great BiUiiin fo a.-.-.ciit to th.is compromise' 
 ha.;, never n'.ade any ..Heroftlic Ici'id. biit h;.! 
 f.)t:;jly refu'-td to accc'c lo ■•i.'cii a •oiop'ioitiori. ' 
 Ui-.yv ullered 40'"^, but she refused it. And yet ;, 
 liemei:, wiio rre so easiiy iilar'ned at the rirospfc 
 v.ar il'we sh.onid isscrl our jo«t ch'jn'.s to ti.j v, 
 of Oregon, are wi'hi.g t j enforce thnn to a p'l 
 as oiistinately cl;iir.i':d by England as th. jt r:<i!' 
 the 4!)th deg-ee. It np|)eais, tiien. that thei-e t 
 tleuicn are willi.^g lo endanger the peace of t!:c 
 countries for a small p'.ff.ion 'if the territory, v 
 tl'.<' lakiog |)' .■.Sf;- ;.iou of the whole louid produc 
 vvorse conse'iuei.cfs. I ei)etet)d taat wet^n 
 well fight for a wliole loaf as a crumb. It v 
 aeem, then, that those gcntlemenVt oidv object 
 "abate aomethhvg of our extreme territorial <: 
 on the northwest," and therefore confine in is 
 row limits aa povvible the action of oui- glorioi." 
 stitutions. 
 
 [Mr. Ll.vkl wa^ understood to say that lip 
 not tor the notice, whether we took after ;i , 
 49^"", or to 54"^ 40'. 1 
 
 Mr Sawveh coiUii.ued Well, some of thi' 
 tlemen have been iti favor of t';\e notice, .'iid f" 
 suining Jurisdiction to some extent — willing tc 
 the notice, and take forcible pos8ess.ion up to 
 Does not the san.e difllcuity al•i.^e here as if wv 
 uptor.V^40'- It must, or else vhc. Jii'.ngh.sl 
 back out; and if you go to fighting for it froii 
 mouth of the Coiunibia to vy^, miglit you :: 
 well include the w::oic, iuid iigiu for it' I it< 
 
 i eiicou 
 nd (eiti 
 tieir id!( 
 ire go n 
 IJfheiiie 
 40 bear 
 leaving 
 free fron 
 4in aster 
 ofour o 
 Har by 
 ;pot fear 
 .-h;i 
 inoM-.f 
 l:ave si 
 t)jiu lesi 
 which, s( 
 t«ning n 
 «no;.,ei,i 
 
 U|^ 
 
B 
 
 lu ))i'ucf' of Ibi' coi. 
 e terrilori;il diiiii. 
 gMlituOc- of all S'lf 
 
 people of Mail! 
 »f ^'{^ooJ citizens 
 
 thia aljatcmciil ( 
 ." There is to 
 
 feel grateful i<> 
 its. Such a wni 
 itry and of just!' 
 
 hLurt, anil 19 d; 
 erican no.im?. 
 lents which wt 
 
 of Congress n- 
 
 vc changed, m, 
 
 ar-ifiect ol '!< 
 
 io.i&il)i!ity, a '•<• 
 
 -oald be'aiinc;>li. 
 
 have l!;{' iijessii; 
 ilea, and we hin 
 ;juchaiian,and !V 
 '1- or. this .-lubip 
 ! \v(.- leani tliat 
 in rt'!c\tioii to tl 
 eased; and we . 
 !; car. be cxpec; 
 blow, then, stui 
 / become ncce-"^?." 
 me whic.ii i' hi-- 
 y, eve:i the'-e \ 
 ■:-:i<;o of tl'.if I'CM 
 
 arc williii;:; iiiai 
 '^: and ycl ''■*'V 
 au.:e. Wcii, I , 
 •cm V:rA:!.;a. i ' 
 '/H aja. and Vn 
 >'' ;tuiCi. .'.i.'vcie '' 
 [iti** t('.) SLi^itaiii 
 le I'o.'ice to tiv-ii 
 lers is I'r.ii ofl'cr 
 
 coraprnniit'C' 
 
 kind, bilt h:-.s 
 
 a puiP''"--;^'''"- 
 d it. And '-ct. 
 >d at. t:." ■:.M;;.|i'' 
 C::.ii)'.s to t!.J v. 
 ce thnn to a p'l 
 ud js tl'. jt r.ni' 
 \QV.. that thp;--p i 
 the psaco of t!ic 
 the territory, v 
 )le couid produi.' 
 id tiutt we xv.w 
 u crumb. It v 
 •n';i oidy object 
 ne territoria' c. 
 )te coiiftiic in IS 
 1 of oui- gloiioi." 
 
 d to say that h" 
 J took after U > 
 
 ell, i^on-.e of th<' 
 e notice, ;'s\d f" 
 cteiit — willing tc 
 :is.'fCHS''.on uji tn 
 i -c here as if v/c 
 Ise .he. pnghsl 
 :hlii)g for it fioii 
 '-5, luight yoa r 
 ht for it' I tr.'^ 
 
 If we believe the co?;r.try to b.i oiir.i, letustakei 
 
 Eosses.ion of it, and let ua defer.d and keep it at all 
 azards. 
 
 Sir, there i.s a branch of the .siib;.'3ct I sb.all now 
 proceed to notice, and which i think worthy of at- 
 tei live consideration. The gentleman from Virginia 
 — tl.e "lone ;Jtar," (referring to Mr. I'knuleton) — 
 employs- the very same language in reference to the 
 Ore'on country used by the olu fedeial party in ita 
 better davi, in relation to otlier nart.s of theciiuntry, 
 which have now become t!ie liome:^ of pro.'»peroiis | 
 «>^.iliions — 1 mean the country' ju'duded within thej 
 Louiriana jiurclui.se, now fonfiing the flourishing! 
 fifites of L'luisiana, Missouri, and Arkansaf, and j 
 Other valuable territory. What v\:i.^ tlicn the ob-j 
 _jpttion to tlie ae'iuisitiou of that extensive regioi;.' 
 "AVI V it was then said it \\;\s worth nothing, as the 
 ^e,:;ioirian now says of the Oregon territory. 
 
 |Mr. Pi.Koi.iiTON- wa.s understood to intjuire by 
 WiiOra it v.aa said that the Louibiana j urchase was 
 Voit!: nofliingr) 
 
 Mr. S.\>. Yi:u. 1 did not propose to go into a full 
 lii.-to;y of that purchase. I merely mention this 
 
 f<i';t to NJiow i-.ow much old fed.-ra!i.si;i and young 
 
 !ii,e, and how well verged in the ar- 
 
 ^.:ir eats ot the former arc the fneiv.'..-i of the latter. 
 
 fe: 
 
 !'.:ir;eats of 
 j..t I V ill teli you a little more of the iangnagc u.^^ed; 
 ^Ji references to this ;;re:!t a!;d important mea.sure.' 
 |c was t'aid there were aliigator.s enoagii on the 
 iai i ti-i :'ei-,i.,!; i!, aiid that the land itself was not 
 
 .Svort!! liaviiig. Aed the gei;t!eiaan now tays of 
 l|),v..riiii that It laiiot v\.>.th the [>:iper t'.j.on whiih the 
 P'l:: !:< priiiUd; and 1 take it tha; ihe gciitiema:! who 
 ,ii£e.', li'e ;:;aiiie laiiguage in re'alion to OiCii:'..i ter- 
 ^tilory now. '.rf/oiftr? lo //.J lui'ic ;'or/;,' tliut made thisi 
 Je !a:.»ti'>n in rir'nricelo the Liouiti.uia ;.urcl:;isc 
 iiui to '..''; jri.la. 'i'lia! wa^^ liie langia\g.'. u.'c.d in 
 iii.es gone by iu relation to th-: li'-iitiisitioi) of valun- 
 lle ieiiilM-y: iliat is ihc la:".;uagc used now, and it 
 
 ill be the laviguag.i used by tluit p.'rty whenever 
 eattempi to erect; new o:at-.: , or organiz j or ae- 
 uire iiev.' tf iiitorie.':-, wheif- ovv frcLhf'ra i.'on.i can 
 n;l a field of pioimsc for tlioir iadu-Jry and enter-; 
 rihe. New ui;,',tric.<: are the natural birth-|iiaccs of 
 toe thoi.ti:!j:d an I noble sentiment:-; hire, tiiLre is no, which clie iiad mu tiloiied for 
 
 i 
 
 on this floor, and take my .stand among my constit- 
 uents to light for my own fireside and my country's 
 rights. I . tand pledged to do it, and 1 will do it. 
 It matters not when this war comes; for coi«e it 
 must, if .oil give the British possession all around 
 us. How stands tlie case now.- Go to your casttrn 
 seaboard, and you wiil fu;d lier posaossions all 
 around you; and she is now trying to encircle you 
 on the west. 
 
 In this manner we have given England eveiy 
 power to cri[iple and annoy us; and it is our own 
 t'dult that she now enjoys the..e facilities. She is 
 endeavoring to widen her possesjien.'^ and strength- 
 en her [lower at those very [loints which will render 
 her most troublesome. I iiave called tiiis continent 
 an island; and, ihoi'.gh it is a pretty large one, we 
 need it all, and must have it Our sal'ety and .secu- 
 rity dc'.i.and it; our interests demand it; the eauac 
 of humanity demands it; and the growth of demo- 
 cratic principles demand it; and these demands 
 sihall and must be complied with. Great Uritain 
 would find great trouble in disturbing us three tlioo- 
 sand milesoif — a.?, iuhi. • proper liiphcre, sliei.s — ifshc 
 |-,;\d no posses.^ii)!!-: upon this little island of our;.; 
 but having .'?o mar.y j'.osbrssiojis all around u.?, and 
 ill our immediate iicighborh.>od, she lias resting 
 pl.'.ce^ where slie can run in for sujipiies, refit h:-i 
 shijis, and even luiild tiicm. She can thus supply 
 herself with all the n.e.\ns necessary to a [irotrai ie;l 
 and (li.^a.'^trous w^'r. ,\.c we not, tiien, most culpa- 
 ble t'or permitting fruei; ;i state of thipg'.. to eoiui.iu; • 
 Sli.ili we support a pol.cy that uiil ultimately ex- 
 clude tlie Uriiish i'jwer from tlie eiaitinent, or (ir.e 
 th;:t will e:e'ou;"'..'re !.er to extend i;f 1 fear that 
 someircntlemen are willing to give her a footing on 
 the noriluvc. t co.ist, ai:d in su''li maniief as to e.na- 
 ble hvr to give us great trouble !ipre;ifter, by adding 
 immensely to her prciont great mean;; of annoy- 
 ance. A ganlleiiian from Virgip.ia [.Mr. Pi-.Mn.t;- 
 TOK-] has said that Grr;,t r>ril;u;: has never done any 
 wrorifr or injitry to this country wl;io'i she li:i;j not 
 repaired or apoh^gized dr. 
 
 Mr. l*i;\D:.nTu:v. 1 did not .^ay that. I muI that 
 Great Ih'itrdn ha.l douj no i:;jiuy to this country 
 
 jiytophaD'y. no lia.se eiingii^g * j ."-ujicrior wi aiiii or 
 ower. And i am led to .suspi'Ct that the Ktrongest 
 Cai-ou, thoui.li not openly av.'Wf.d, vi'hie.h aeta.ites 
 fteituia genlhaneii in this (jppositioii to the meatmre 
 OS." under lii^cn.ss.ion, is that the territory in rpies- 
 ioi. wiil soil. I form a little g-laxy of democratic 
 tute.'). All our .',ewS:ates are democratic, it well 
 ;cor>'s with, i);e intrepid spirit of the t;uc democrat 
 eiicounier and comiuci the diiricultii.'s wliich new 
 d feitile regions present, and to turn to usetulness 
 eir idle rivers and tilumbering soil. AVell, sir, 
 Jregon is of nmneiisc value to ;'s, and it inatter.s not 
 lirhetiier we fight fur it now or hereafter. I jjrefer 
 to bear a portion of the burden myself. I prefer 
 leaving to my :hil(lren and posterity a clear title, 
 free from all incumbrnnce; and, Mr. Chairman, if 
 MXi assertion of our rights, and the taking posses.«ion 
 ©four own, <ue to be followed by a declaration of 
 »ar by England, I, for one. say let it come. I do 
 jBOt fear the consenuences of u \v,ir with that power, 
 d rhall myself be found among the foremof t in de-j 
 nco of my country, not in v\ords only but in acts.' 
 I.ave .iiU(l,ai!d 1 now repent it, that 1 will vote fori 
 tliin resoluiioii even should it have the tendency; 
 whirl; soiv.e gMillemen contend it will ha.e oflia.s-; 
 teniiig a luptaie with Great Britain; and the very | 
 moh.ent England declares war I will rctigi: my se.vt 
 
 vlr. S.vwvKR i;0iilinue.|, tin ! .sr,id that thi;; was a 
 
 matter of veracity betvreeii him aiid the gentleman 
 from Vir;;inia. lie said that Great IJritain lias done 
 no injury she has not a'oned for. I say she ha.s 
 done much injury, an I has never iitoned for it. A 
 loner list of injuries were cliargul in the declaration 
 of independence, aiul I undertake lo say that these 
 injuries still remain unatone.l for. Many of the 
 ehargfcH brought against her by this country lieieto- 
 fore are .itill subjects of complaint now. Some of 
 these matters of complaint were particularly men- 
 tioned the other day by my colleague, [Mr. Tiiuu- 
 M.\N,] not one of which has ever been atoned for- 
 He spoke of tlie burning wf the Caroline; but I 
 wish to cali the attention of.this House to another 
 and more grievous eharge-^to wit: that the Indian 
 hostilitie.s which we have long been obliged to en- 
 counter are instigated by England. Thousaiid.s of 
 pounds every year are appropriated by Great Brit- 
 ain for largesses for the Indians; and it is well under- 
 stood that the object of this liberality is to secure 
 their friendship to her.self, and to incite thern to 
 hostilities against the people of the United States. 
 Great Britain inake.>f hcrannual payments to the In- 
 diaiih as regularly as wc make upprnpriation.j for 
 the support of our government, for the cxpre;;s|)ur- 
 posc of securing the conliJciico and good' will of 
 
:he Indians, and In dnstroy the good iindersfnndinf; 
 which would othcrwiHe exist belwren 'hRin and up. 
 Thi3 influence thus ohtained over th(! Indiiins is 
 frequently manifested by the most danuiiihle 
 atrocities committed upon our people. The 
 endeavors of the British to break the friend- 
 ship between the Indians and the peofile of this 
 country have so far succeeded, that it requires a 
 large sum annually to counteract Ihi.s base inihi- 
 ence, and to secure our peace with them. Beintr I 
 myself a member of the Committee on Indian Af- 
 fairs, I have taken some pains to ascertain the fads, 
 and I find that British interference in this matter 
 costs us about one million of dollars annually Cur 
 frontiers have long been exposed to the most cruel 
 outrages, where men, women, and chil''ren have 
 BuflTercd, not only by being made captives, but by 
 being given up to savage torture and nuird-'r. The 
 British officers themselves, after the battle of the 
 River Raisin, were compelled by the Indians to sur- 
 render American citizens to the demands of .savfl<;e 
 fury, to be tortured, and finally burnt at the stake; 
 and thif, sir, was never atoned for; and I wiil tell 
 you, sir, that the American people will never rest 
 satisfied, after these inhumanities, until they have a 
 chance to "draw a bead" upon such foes. I may, 
 perhaps, feel more sensibly on tills point, when I 
 consider the wrongs and injuries whicl'. niy fallier 
 suffered while a prisoner to the British and iiidi.ins 
 during the late war. It was owing to the inhuman 
 treatment which he received at the hands of his 
 captors, that he is now n cripple, and unable to pur- 
 sue any of the ordinary vocations of life. His 
 whole life from that period to the present time has 
 been one of constant bodily sufTering; night brings 
 him no 'relief, day dawns u[)on no hope. I swear 
 by the Eternal G()d, that if my life i.< spared, and 
 opportunities occur, I will make an I^ni^lishman's 
 life |iay for every hour of suffering which iny father 
 has endured at their liands! I myself am deter- 
 mined, my constituents are determined, and, 1 be- 
 lieve, the American people are determined, to 
 avenge these injuries —V''-' the English have iii- 
 ihcteii upon us, but ever yet utoned for. 
 
 Why, sir, has she r .e brought her whole 
 
 power upon us to cru.:n wur independence- After 
 the revolutionary war she let us alone for awhile, 
 but was continually violating our rights as a nation, 
 and insulting our thig on evei-y sea, until "forbear- 
 ance ceased to be a virtue.'' Notwithstanding all 
 oftr pacific measures and reinonstri:ii 'cs against 
 these violations, her aggression only lii;ranie the 
 more common and insulting, and we were finally 
 compelled to declare war against her. Again she 
 came across the waters, boastirti: of her power and 
 will to annihilate our nationality, and though she 
 was bravely repelled, she managed to destroy a few 
 small villages, and rob the unfortunate inhabitants — 
 a moda of warfare the most ronlemfUible at all 
 times, and particularly unworthy a magnaniiuous 
 nation. These acts of rapine and ]ilunder she has 
 never atoned for. And now, because, forsooth, we 
 are not ready to give up territory which actual'y be- 
 longs to us, there are some gentlemen in this 
 House who undertake to say that we are doing in- 
 justice to Great Britain, and attempt to afiolo- 
 gizc for our course on this floor. Why, sir, the 
 moment that Great Britain takes any hostile 
 position towards this country a third time, ten 
 thousand swords will leap from their scabbards, and 
 a million of rifles will be taken down from the pegs 
 on which ihey hang, and a million of freemen will 
 
 fearlessly march to the field of battle; the remem- 
 brance of wrongs loo long unavenged, and the high 
 courage which freemen fighting tor their country 
 alone c/iti know, will inspire them with a desire for 
 I he conflict, and a determination to crush the perfid- 
 ious and insulting foe. 
 
 Mr. Pknuletov here rose and said that if the 
 gentleman would give him leave, he would ask him 
 now to place him (Mr. P.) in a proper position as 
 to the remark the gentleman had made about a 
 question of veracity between himself and the gen- 
 tleman; he wished the gentleman to explain that it 
 W.1S not a question of veracity, but merely one of 
 inference. 
 
 Mr. S.\wvER continued. I did not intend any 
 liiing personal. I will rejieat that 1 understood the 
 gentleman to say that England had atoned or apol- 
 ogized for every outrage she had committed upon 
 us. I say she has not done so; and have pointed 
 out instances in proof of this assertion. If any 
 •j;enilenian can show that England has atoned for 
 these injuries, I will yield the point. She has, from 
 the very earliest settlement of our forefathers in 
 this country, continually made us tlie objects of her 
 oppressions and malevolence; lier demands liave al- 
 ways been extravagant and unreasonable, and her 
 conduct towards us imperious and illiberal. Why, 
 sir, Eiiirland claims Canada, but siie has no right to 
 it, as I shall show before I get tiirough my re- 
 marks I started, sir, in these remarks with the 
 proposition that we have an exclusive right to the 
 whole of this island for the purpose of making an 
 I experiment of the adaptation of democratic princi- 
 I pies to the wants and happiness of man. 1 con- 
 ! tend, sir, that this American continent belongs ex- 
 ! rlusively to the people of the United States. 
 I We were a colony dependent on Great Britain 
 , wlien we conquered Canada in the war of 174'); 
 I this we did before we were an independent nation, 
 ', and all the rights which Great Brilaui now has iji 
 ' Canada were obtained through us. C.inada was con- 
 fpiered by our valor and our means. Even Vir- 
 jritiia contributed toil; therefore I have said th.at 
 I Great Britain has no right to it, and that it belongs 
 to ou'- peo|)le who originally conquered it from the 
 FreiK'h and Indians. I will put a case to the gen- 
 j ticmaii from Mis.souri [Mr. Sims] whi(.h lie will un- 
 derstands. I will suppose this whole continent to Ir: 
 but one great farm. (Yes, said Mr. Sims, I under- 
 |St;ind that perfectly.) I propose, ihcn, that thi.? 
 farm be oc(uipied only by American farmer:>'. 
 (1 subscribe to that, said Mr. Sims.) What farmer 
 of common sense will undertake to make his cropoi 
 , corn, or wheat, or what no', without first goine 
 : to work to extirpate the weeds and brier.<r 
 ! P.ut here we have Canada, Nova Scotia, and other 
 I British possessions around us which are tare.- 
 among our wheat. These are the weeds and brier.? 
 j which I would have rooted out. They prevent the 
 , spread of our j^rinciples, and circumscribe the bks- 
 j sings of our govermental experiment. It is time we 
 I were rid of tliese obstructions to the progress of free 
 institutions. Their baneful and corrupting influ- 
 ence is but too sensibly felt and too monifestly ev- 
 ident to escape the observation of even the most su- 
 perficial. We must remove this influence. Our 
 people are increasing in numbers, and we need for 
 our enterprising sons and daughters every foot oi 
 territory thus encumbered by the tools and .slaves of 
 aristocratic power. 
 
 The moment that England, or any foreign power 
 opposed to our system, obtaina a foothold on our 
 
t 
 
 if; llie renipm- 
 (!, and the high 
 r their country 
 viih a desire for 
 rush tl>e pertid- 
 
 lid that if the 
 would ask him 
 per position as 
 made about a 
 If and the gen- 
 explain that it 
 merely one ot 
 
 not intend any 
 understood the 
 atoned or npol- 
 ommitied upon 
 d have pointed 
 jcrtion. If any 
 has atoned for 
 She has, from 
 • forefathers in 
 he ohjects of her 
 t'lTiands have al- 
 )nab!e, and her 
 illiberal. Why, 
 e has no rig^ht to 
 lirough my re- 
 narks with the 
 ive right to the 
 i of making an 
 rnocratic princi- 
 of man. I con- 
 ent belongs ex- 
 ] States. 
 
 n Great Britain 
 he war of 174'); 
 ^pendent nation, 
 II n now has in 
 Canada was con- 
 ms. liven Vir- 
 I have said thiit 
 that it belongs 
 ered it from the 
 ase to the gen- 
 ii i(,h lie will un- 
 p continent to !)c 
 Sims, I under- 
 then, that this 
 lerican farmer^.'. 
 What farmer 
 make his cropoi 
 u)ut first goina 
 ds and briersf 
 Scotia, and other 
 which are tares 
 weeds and briers 
 hey prevent the 
 inscribe the bles- 
 nt. It is time we 
 progress of free 
 corrupting influ- 
 50 iTianifestly ev- 
 ven the most su- 
 influence. Our 
 md we need for 
 •s every foot oi 
 )ols and slaves of 
 
 ny foreign power 
 bothold on our 
 
 aoil with our permission, we lend a club to br^ak 
 ©ur own heads with. What would Great Britain 
 say if we got a foothold on her island, and put 
 our institutions into operation there? We have ju.st 
 as good a right to do it, as she had to establish her 
 institutions here. Would she permit such a thing 
 for a moment? No; our principles are so difl'crcnt 
 that they must jiroduce a perpetual collision, and 
 ■we must drivi'. out from our land all governmenis 
 founded .ipon aniagonistical principles. The coun- 
 try is merely large enougli to enable us to make the 
 republican exjieriment that we have endeavored to 
 make. 
 
 A gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Rock- 
 WELi,] has told U5 that the shipping interest will 
 greatly sutler in the event of war; and he read to us 
 ieveral letters from ship-owners on tlie subject, iul- 
 ▼isiiig us not to give the notice, because the sliip- 
 ping interest would be greatly injured by it. I ad I 
 mit his position to be true, that the shipping interest i 
 will, in one sense, be subject to detriment. I also 
 adnut whattht^ gentleman from S. C. [Mr. IJoi.mksI 
 has told us of the danger of the destruction of 
 New York, and Charleston, and other cities on tin; 
 Beabo.ird; but for the evil that these gentlemen sug- 
 gest, I will propose a remedy, and it is one that was 
 succeysfully adojitcd by an eminent physician in 
 such <;ases. Wlu-n Dr. Jackson undertook the 
 defence of New Orleans, a certain cotton merchant 
 came to him and said that his balfs of cotton had 
 been taken forllie purpose cf making bieasi\<.orks 
 for the defemr cif New Orleans, and he wanted im- 
 mediate paynieiu or restoration, inasmuch as private 
 property couiii not be taken for public uses with- 
 out c.onipensation General .Tackson heard bis com- 
 plaint, and told him he would do what was right in 
 the matter, and he pointed out a course that was 
 proper to be fiursued in such eases. He sent imme- 
 diately for aniiisket and twenlv rounds of cartridges. 
 
 The poor feleiw hearing this order, did not know 
 wlint was to be.ome of hun; but very soon Gener- 
 al Jackson put the musket in his hand, and said — 
 "Stand there, sir. and detend your cotton.'' Thus, 
 Genera! Jai kson compelled him to stand up and de- 
 fend his country. Let all others, who are interest- 
 ed in property, defend it in the same manner, and 
 there is liiile danger of loss. Why, sir, we have 
 men enough in our Atlantic and other cities to de- 
 fend succe.'^sfully every dime's worth of property; 
 and wit . liiat as one motive, iuid their country's wel- 
 fare for another, who will not bravely meet the 
 ■torm ? If ihere is one man, the .sooner liis property 
 and himself aic destroyed the better. This paltry 
 question of dollars and cents should have no weight 
 when national honor and national territory are at 
 stake. Must the private interest of a few individu- 
 als preponderate over those of the nation at large? I 
 ahall regret as much as any one that individual lo.ss 
 shall arise from any action that may seem necessary 
 to the vindication of our rights. But, have we not 
 always made liberal reparation for proiierty de.stroy- 
 ed by our enemies in time of war? The whole his- 
 tory of our legislation on this subject proves it. Ap- 
 plications for relief for losses thus sustained are now 
 of daily occurrence. 
 
 I will now pay my respect.'', for a few moments, 
 to the gentleiviun from Virginia who last spoke, [Mr. 
 Lbakk.j I .ulmit that his was a great speech; and i 
 admit all that the gentleman claims for the Old Do- 
 minion. But times change. The time was when 
 Rome was the proud mistress of the world; litera- 
 ture aiid luarniiig flouiished within her walls; the pa- 
 
 ges of her history are filled with the name.»> of great 
 men. But, alas! where is.she now? Fallen, fallen, fall- 
 en I Iler greatness has defiarted Those who gave 
 her power and fame, and maile her the terror and 
 admiration of the earth, have long since returned to 
 the dust; and now the Roman is as degraded and de- 
 testable as once he was great and noble. We must 
 now speak of them as '-degenerate sons of noble 
 sires." It does not follow, that because Virginia has 
 Ixen the mother of so many presidents that she tnay 
 not become barren, or give birth only to mi.serable 
 dwarfs. 1 fear, indeed, that the .sjiirit and vigor of 
 her womanhood have departed, and that her more 
 recent births are but sorry abortionii'. 
 
 Another gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. Bayly,] 
 I has made some remarks, to which I will briefly re- 
 I ply. That gentleman, in the early part of the session, 
 j was charged with beinga whig by a gentleman from 
 I Kentucky, [Mr. Davis.] I waa disposed to resent 
 i the charge at first, as being unjustly made upon one 
 I of my friends. But now, I am inclined to agree with 
 I the gentleman from Kentucky, though at first I be- 
 lieved it to be a (diarge made for the purpo.se of 
 I detracting from tiie influence and standing of one of 
 ' my politi 'al friends. 
 
 I Speakin;; now of Accomac: it is, if I am not mis- 
 I taken, the district formerly refiresented by Mr. 
 1 Wise. Mr. Wise came here a Jackson man, dyed 
 ! in the woid. lie liecatne after a while anti-Jack- 
 , son, and went back and appealed to his constituents, 
 ' and tliey sent him here again; andatVr a little while 
 
 ■ he made another somerset, and became a Tyler 
 i mill); still his con.stituenls, turning a somerset 
 i with liini, endorsed his new faith, and again rc- 
 1 turned him to Congress. The genileman v.ho now 
 ! represents the same people, has also made a wheel- 
 I about or two; for he was in 1840 an advocate of 
 I '-Tippecanoe and Tyler too," and made whig 
 j speeches in my Slate. When I think of the facil- 
 1 ity with whicli the good pc.ple of the Accomac 
 1 district change their tunes to suit new songs — or, 
 j in other words, change their priiKi|ues to suit the 
 I ca|)rices of their leaders — it remmd.s me of the tree- 
 I frog, which in my country is very plenty, and in- 
 jstanlly changes the color of it:; skin to suit that 
 
 ■ of the bark of the tree to which it clings. No 
 j doubt these Accomacers, or political tree-frogs, are 
 
 properly represented on this floor. Some gentle- 
 men here have charged me, and my friends who 
 act with me on this question, with following the 
 lead f the venerable gentleman from Massachu- 
 setts, [Mr. Adams.] 1 tell those gentlemen that in 
 making this charge they only show their ignorance 
 of the principles on which the true democrat acts. 
 One gentleman remarked that compliments from a 
 source always unfriendly to that distinguished mem- 
 ber, [Mr. Adams,] could not be considered aa 
 inaist^ But I will say to that gentleman, that in 
 this remark he has shown that he does not under- 
 stand the true f;rinciples of democracy. The time 
 was when the democratic party considered that the 
 gcmtleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Adams] was 
 acting wrong, and they censured him accordingly; 
 but thii did not prevent them from approving of hi.s 
 course when he acted right. But, sir, you cannot 
 point to a single instance in that gentleman's long 
 public career wherein, in any controversy with u 
 foreign jiower, and especially with England, he has 
 not t.iken the side of his own country. Ten thou- 
 sand times, sir, would I rather follow the lead of 
 that gentleman, than follow a distinguished leader 
 iin the other wing of the Capitol, who was once a 
 
8 
 
 Jn';i(son man, and then hcramn a l)ittRr foe to the Old 
 Hero; and not only aided in passing ii rnsolntion 
 of rensurc u(ion him, imt nftorwiirds reftisrd to 
 make rcpariition for the injury nnd injustice 
 he iiad done by cxpnn-iinj.^ the infamous reso- 
 lution from the journal. Put your fin<rer, sir, on 
 that genllfiu.m, .'.nd, likf; tiio Irishman^ llfc, lie 
 iM not there. IIi; han been in favor of, and ai;iiin..t, 
 t;vi;ry adiiiinii'tratiDn. I do nut dor.bt tiiil the 
 (jctiliemaii from Virginia, aa he has said, has 
 been tlislinj;:;i;;!ind I'y many hijrh tniKts from 
 ihe people fiince hcf.r.-t nonv) into public life, but it 
 i.s not iiiipoKMble lii.it they )'.uo bfon decei^rd; for 
 1 doubt whether t!ie a;crm of dcmdcracy \v:is ever 
 planted in hiir When he 'liiiir-^e,? i;s v.-itli f(;l;o\v- 
 Jiig the lead of t!;e i;entienian from Mo.ssaiiai-ctts, 
 or of any other rnati, he .speak.'J for eQ'ict — and an 
 cfTeet not \ovy credualde to himself. 1 will not say 
 of him as the (^-entlem in fr.im Alai^saeiiuKeits [Mr. 
 Adams] once said of ;m cniineiit per.son at the other 
 end ofilic Ct'.pitol tlK\t after expre.'-.'-ini: sucli senti- 
 ments lie iia-' but or •• more fUep to take — and that 
 Y.'ill carry him nver to the enemy. 
 
 1 h.'.- e no do(;i)t thu the IJraish prcfis v,'ill pas.s 
 hij;h eiiromiu:tiS on the centleman'H speech, a? ihey 
 did on that of a diuin'^uislied Honator who .spoke in 
 j'^^aeuil Mail; but an to my .--pecch, and that of my 
 friend from Miss^oini, [Mr. Irh.Ms,] nnd a hundred 
 others, they will receive no favors. The sen!ia;ents 
 ihey breathe, the views they advueate, ;.nd the prin- 
 ciples they advance, will fnid no respon-je fiom 
 British heart ;. I very much fear that British inter- 
 ests arc not without advocates and friends on this 
 Jloor; and I fear that the vote upon the question nov/ 
 pending will show the number to be far j^reater than 
 would seem possible in an American Conj^ress. 1 
 will here read from an article headed "The Ameri- 
 can War Mania," which recently appeared in the 
 "Eoonomisf," an English paper, ami which pur- 
 
 ports to be an extract frcm a letter written by f. 
 American: 
 
 • If I co'ilil tr.ke the ja.ne lihuly with Sir 'lotn-rl IV < 
 tliat 1 usc'il to do v.'ith my |)c;;i;.i,ilfi'i(ii'!s I. outs (.aiisdowr 
 iuiil Moi.tt:,i'_'lf, when tiiey wimi' in ollicf, 1 hlio.iM vc;. 
 fr.iiikly t<.-li liim tli.it Ihi; policy oi' l",ii:,'l;iiiil, ir, oi.ier to -,..1' 
 seivc (K ■icf, i.s lo riinrii.i i:cik":tly '|uit:t, and periTijt ',., 
 s Misiljlc ami hoiii'st poitioii ol ti.e Ariiericiin -'ec'ili! to K' ' 
 ill cijiii|.li i-t fhixk trie dislionrst ari.l n-cUlcss puitioii cl , 
 Korluiiati'ly for I'oth couii.;!! ;. your r.uliuintut does .; 
 iiiuet iiiiUl 1 iilimury, oal thi/rofori; Sir itotjcrt IVel cmr... 
 lie calli-i! ii|ii)ii foraiiy ihiIjIIo J'llanitioii l«r or iigfti.i-t li. 
 I'ri'sifiLMit's );.iSCona;l<;, iiiitil soiix- d( nioii'';ri;lioii ii;is I • 
 mnde ill i.'oiiijress to sh'-'.v tlic leeliiigs of ]>iuu(':j in to: 
 
 huil-l!.':. 
 
 • of the V. ickc^dacK'; of siidi a wsr. niidof tli'' blessinti' 
 .1 coiiiiiiiicii pLiicc, 1 !i('i"i not rnliirLM-'. as thi'v are '^eli-'. 
 ilfiit to c.vi'i-y honijst man; but ! wii) say, lliii .should ho::, 
 jtii's (j;iu\v out 0; swell it!i iiisi';ni;'.o.i.it caii^c. thi; name'; • 
 those who v.'ilfelly oi;ca<i<i;i it w M ho tnnisiiii'tt''d to pes:- 
 ily wilh no cnviuhic! iioiiioiiality. 'i'h(,' nu'irhants, t.,. 
 ers, siilp-owiitrs. f-nd lajiilalists of AiMeiiea .ire opjiose . 
 war; the peliti":iiis au)iit.' are i.i lavor ol i;. It is, tli- • 
 for;-, till' iiioiv to he iU'.-.irt d tha' iio h.'.sty step on tliw | 
 of t'.u; Iliitis!: ,'cr. er;;ni<;nt >lioiili! yivi; her foti; any atl .u 
 t i;^e over !u:i' I'liciids. ' 
 
 The views here e:.;nre.':sed by one who calls hir- 
 self ."in "American,"'' i.vwever ba.^e and discrust; 
 to the true jti-.triof. are not so very dissimilar 
 views advanced by some irentlcmen on this fii.'^ 
 But I hojie for the honor of my country thac '.I: 
 feeling is co;.fmed to the breasts of a very few. 
 
 Nov.-, sir, in order to carry out our views, and ; 
 this whole continent of Briti.sh pov.er, we mv'st ' 
 tend our law.s £:r.idu:illy but resolutely over : 
 whole country, till we possess all that nature a' 
 nature's Grd desii:;ne(! for us. Let our covernm^ 
 be coextensive with the continent, and the soo;i 
 the better; though we meet with wars and difnculti' 
 they can be overcome. And 1, for one, will u^e r 
 be.4t eflbrts to hand down to posterity, pure nnd i 
 adulterated, that freedom we received fVom the 
 iherts of the revolution. 
 
 i 
 
 "A 
 
 
 ti^tfr 
 
■er written by 
 
 with •iir TJnln'rl Pi f 
 I'ls I.oiils l.ansdowr 
 illicc, 1 sliO'.iM vt;;. 
 \.n\i\, in oiiior to ','.;i 
 ui(;t, niiil perrriit ti. 
 .'liciili •■eC'pln lo i-.c 
 fcklcss [luitioii ol . 
 r.u liumt'iit doo-i .:i 
 ■ itobfit J'i,'el cmn.. 
 nil lor cr HL;Ri.i-t ti. 
 iioiiPtrsitioi !i;is !;■ 
 s ol' piuUL's in be; 
 
 iid ol' tlii; blessing- 
 iis tlicy ;iro ';ell -■. 
 y, thit .-hould ho;;. 
 ; caiii-c. 'he ni\;nfii < 
 ritiisii'ittcil to {>o-^;- 
 li(' nn'rfi.i.Hits, t.,. 
 leiicii .110 op;)0.sfc'. 
 )r ol it. It is, tli-" 
 .sty step on tlw | 
 her fots any ail.^ 
 
 )iie wiio cnlls hir: 
 3C and discru.sti 
 very dissimilar 
 nen on this fl(>r 
 country thu: '.I: 
 fa very few. 
 our views, and : 
 '.ver, we inv.st ' 
 solutely ovfr t 
 that nature m 
 et our irovernmf 
 nt, and the soon 
 nrsanddifncultif 
 r one, will use r 
 rity, pure and i 
 iived fVoiTi the : 
 
 iiw^