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1 2 3

"If

^Uectiorv

SPEECH

MR. REID, OF NORTH CAROLINA,

ON THE

OREGON QUESTION.

(

DELIVERED

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES^

FEBRUARY 7, 1846.

■ •--■ ,^i'7" . 1-

WASHINGTON:

PRIMTED AT THE UNION OFFICE.

1846.

u^mih

"" *•>■->. u. .■i,..r.jva, BosvyyardoitHeSRony mom.

|7W>f

4 proper,

SPEECH.

On the resolution of notice to Great Britain to abrogate the convention of joint

occupancy relative to the Oregon territory.

Mr. REID obtained the floor, and addressed the
*^ committee as follows:

Mr. Chairman: The importance of the question
under consideration must plead my apology tor tres-
passing on the patience oi this House, while I give
some of the considerations which will influence the
vote I intend to give. Could I cherish the vanity
that I could, at aay time, have enlightened this body
on anv topic of legislation before it, such a hope
woula be utterly vain on this occasion, after tne
question before the House has undergone so full and
able a discussion.

The question under consideration is, whether it is
proper, at this time, to give the notice to Great Brit-
ain that the conventions of 1818 and 1827, touching
what is generally termed the joint occupancy by
the two governments of the Oregon territory, should
terminate at the expiration of twelve months. I be-
lieve that we have a good title to Oregon. We have
acquired title to it by settlement and discovery; and
if anything was wanted to make it complete, that
was supplied by the acquisition of the claims of
France and Spain. But I did not rise to discuss the
title at this time; that task has already been perform-
ed with an ability which has satisfied the coun-
try. I must confess that I was astonished to
hear the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Davis]
take the ground that the constitution had transferred
the power of giving such notice to the President of
the United States; and that the executive had en-
deavored to avoid that responsibility by throwing it
on the {legislative department of this government.
Surely the gentleman did not listen to the able
speech of the gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. Thcr-
MAN.] What is a treaty? It is the supreme law of
the land, and can only be abrogated by an act of
Congress, or by another treaty made in conformity
to the constitution. And can the gentleman from
* Kentucky desire that the President shall take into
his o)vn hands the prerogative of abrogating a su-
preme law of the land? If the L cecutive Limself
should claim such a power, how would the cry of
usurpation ring from ane end of the country to the
other? He would be charged with an attempt to
violate the constitution, and seize upon despotic
power. The whole country would condemn such
a course, and I fancy that even the gentleman from
Kentucky, and his political friends, would raise the
cry of usurpation! usurpation! If the gentleman
thinks that the notice is a war measure, and equiva-

lent to a declaration of war, as some have insisted,
then surely he will not assert that the President has
power to give it without the legislative action of
this government. The gentleman thought proper
to deprecate the idea of connecting this question
with the party politics of the day; out he departed
from this course by heaping partisan abuse upon
the President, and charging on him a design of in-
volving the country in a war without consulting its
welfare.

Does the gentleman believe that the interests of ,
the country required the President to make the
British government a more liberal ofier than he did?
if not, then, how could he charge the President with
an attempt to plunge the country into an unjust and
unnecssary war? For myself,' I believe that offer
was too lioeral; but we have been informed that it
was refused, and withdrawn, and our title asserted
to the whole of Oregon. Some of the gentleman's
political friends say that "the President cannot be
Kicked into a war;" while the gentleman himself in-
sists that the President is too anxious for war.
Whether the gentleman has met this question in the
elevated spirit of a statesman, I leave to this Hoi)se
and to the country to judge.

I know not. sir, whether the giving of this notice
will produce war; I am sure that it will not be a
just cause of war; but I deny that it is a war measure.
It ought not to be so considered here, for it is not eo
regaraed even in Great Britain. The giving the notice
is provided for in the convention of 1827; it is peace-
able in its character, and does not prevent negotia-
tion; but still so fruitful are the imaginations of
some gentlemen that they cannot speak of it in any
other fight than as a war measure. The friertds of
this measure have not advocated it as a war meas-
ure; it has only been so characterited by those who
oppose it.

In giving the notice, the only legitimate inquiry
for an American statesman is, whether this question
ought to be settled as early as practicable, or delay-
ed for an indefinite period of time. The convic-
tions of my mind are decidedly in favor of the for-
mer course. Let us examine this point. For the
purpose of postponing the adjustment of )*he Ore-
gon dispute, it was agreed in the third article of the
convention between tne United States and Great
BriUin, signed October 20, 1818, that—

"Any country that may be claimed hy either party on the
northwest coast of America, westward of the Stony moifn-

1 , « ^ ^

UiM, (now called "'"cky mountain*,) ihall, logether\flth
it< harbor), liaj t, ui.. r«eka, and the navigation of all riTvrs
-within thu Karnt , be fi e nnd opun for the T«rm ol ten year*
from the date of the ttignature of the present convention,
to the venirla, citi/.uni, and aubjects of the two powers; it
being well undtrktuod that thii agreemrnt ii not to becon-
■trued to thtt piejiidicu of any claim which either of the two
high contractinj' partiuK may have to any part of said co>in-
try, nor ahnll it bu talien to affict tho claims of any other
power or Stattt to any part of laid country, the only ob-
ject of the hiKh cotitructini; parties, in that respect. I)eirig
to prevent disputob uivl ilitt'crHnces amuiig themselves."

This convention remained in force till it was re-
newed by tlie convention signed at London, Au-
gust 6, 16^7, which provided:

"Art. 1. All tlic provigions of the third aiticlo of the con-
vention concliuU'd between tho United StuleH of America
and his Majrsty the King of the United Kingdom of (Ireat
Britain and Irolaml, on the -iOthduyof Oct., 1818, shall be,
and they are hereby, further indefinitely extended and con-
tinued in force, in tlie same manner b« if all the (>rovi«ionB
«f the laid article were herein ipecilically recited.

"Art. a. It khall be competent, howfcver, for cither of the
contracting parties, in case either thoiild think At, at any
time after the dOth October, \»)S, on giving due notice of
twelve monthe to the other contracting party, to annul and
abrogate this convention; and it shall, in &uch case, be ac-
corUngly entirely annulled and abrogated, after the expi-
ra'ftn of the said term of notice.

"Art. 3. Nothing contained in this convention or in the
third article of the convention of the 30th October, 1B18,
hereby continued in force, shall be construed to imnair, or
in any manner affect, the claims which either of the con-
tracting parti>-s may have to any part of the country west-
ward of the Stony 'or Rocky mountains."

From 1818, up to the present time, repeated ef-
forts have been made to settle by negotiation the
dispute between the two countries in regard to this
'territory; but Great Britain has always refused to
.propose euch terms as this country could accept,
without a sacrifice of her rights. In this condition
• the question standa at the present moment; and it
might so remain, but for the change of circumstan-
ces which will in a short time render it both im-
practicable and impo.ssible. While the country
was only used for hunting, fishing, and fur-trading,
there was but little difliculty between the two gov-
ernments in relation to their conflicting claims, and
it was not indispensably necessary to adjust them.
But things have changed. Within a few years
thousands of our iniluatrioua and enterprising citi-
zens have gone with their families to that country
to engage in ngrir.nltural, mechanical, and other
pursuitB uCcivilizeil life, ai\d they are now cultiva-
ting the soil, and caniitig forthemselves permanent
l.omes, and an inheritance for their cliiUlren. Docs
any one suppose that v^c have arrived aL audi perfec-
tion in thcsci nreofgovcrnnientasto jiiaify the hope
thnl two difliiict racea of people, each governed by a
diflerent code of laws, and owing alleiriance to g ov-
emments totally differing in their character, can set-
tle and occupy the same territory, and maintain
peaceable relations towards each other? Such a
nope is illusive. Why then should we indulge
further delay, when every moment we live this ques-
tion becomes more difficult to settle? When a dis-
pute arises between two neighbors m to the boun-
dary of their loi^ds, the dispute mav often be easily
. adjusted at first; but if they once drive their fence-
stakes, cut their ditches, and build their houses on
the disputed territory, a friendly settlement of the
boundary becomes almost impossible. So it will be
in regard to Oregon. This territory is now rcgard-
«d as greatly more valuable than it was in 181B;
and if you wait ten years longer, its estimation will
no dot(Dt be more than quadrupled. Is it not im-
portant, then, that this question should be settled
•8 early as practicable? In view of all this, 1 ask,

ia tt not our dut]|r to take such measures as will fa- 3
cilitate the decision of this question? For one, I ',
believe the country is ours to 54*^ 40', but the ex- "<
tent of our title is not the Question now under con- v
sideration; and all who believe that we have rights
in Oregon, no matter to what extent, &o they be
greater than the British government has offered to
concede, ought to vote for this measure. *

e President of the United States, ir. his annual

The

preeei

sessior.

message at the opening of tl e
Congress, says;

"The jxtraordiiiury and whol'j Ir.adnii«i8il;le derr.anda oi
the British govcrnmi nt, and the rejin 'ion of the propositioi.
mude in deference nlone to what hud beer, done uy my pr«-
decusfors, and the implied obligatioK which their act-
seemed to impose, uffbrd satisfactory evidence that no com
promiru which Ihi- United States ought to accept can be ef
ffcted. With this conviction, the proposition of compro
mise, which had been made and lejected, was, by my direc
tion, subsequently withdrawn, and our title to the whole
Oregon territory asserted, and, as 's believed, maintained b>
irrufragable facts and arguments.

"The civilized world will see in these proceedings a spirit
of liberal concession on the part of the United States; ai^ii
this government will be relieved from all responsibility
whicli may follow the failure to settle the controversy.

"All attempts ut compromise having failed, it becomeif^thr >
duty of t'ongress to consider what mausurea it may t>e prop
er to adopt for the security and protection of our citizen.) '
now inhabitiug, or who may hereafter inhabit Oregon, and ,
for the maintenance of our just title to that territory. In
adopting meaiures for this purpose, care ithould be takci '
that nothing be done to violate the stipulations of the con .«
vention of 18-27, which is still in force. The faith of treatiea ..
in their letter and spirit, has ever been, and, I trust, will evei
be, scrupulously observed by the United Statea. Undei
that convention, a year's notice is required to be given bt ^
either party to the other, before the joint occupancy shal! k
terminate, and before either can rightfully assart or exer ^
cise exclusive jurisdiction over any portion of the territory
This notice it would, in my judgment, be proper to give;anJ 4
I recommend that provision be mado by law for giving it ac \
cordingly, and terminating, in this manner, the conventioi t
of the sixth of August, 1327." ,

Now, sir, in the face of these facts, can we shrinli
from giving the notice ? Some gentlemen take it foi
granted that this measure will cut off all negotiation i
but they are mistaken. It only carries out whai|
public opinion has declared, and what the true poll
cy of the country requires. I{ further negotiatioi .
shall be necessary or proper, then this notice in ik
wise prevents it; if further negotiation is unnecessarj
or improper, it is our imperative duty to give tli
notice. Passin* tlu.s mea.iure, then, will not pre
vent our government from doing anything th;i
ouiiihtto be done, while it will untie our hands aii:
leave u.s free to pursue such measures as the intri
estsof the cnusUiy dcnuuid. In doing these thing;
we must observe our national faith, nnd violate v.
treaty .Jtipulalion. At the last session of Congre.'-t
a l.iill to oij;aiii!;e a Territorial government in Ort
gon passed tliis House by a vote of 140 to 6' i
This bill contained a section providing for the giv j
ing of the notice, in the following words: t

"Skc. 43. Jlndhe it further enaeltd. That the Prc'sid;'; '
of the United Slates bo, and he is hereby, required to cans
due notice to be given to the British government of the d<
sire and intention of the government of the IJiiiled States i ^
annul and abrog.ite the convention with Great Britaia rol
live to territory on the northwest coast of America, concl'
ded August 6, H27, agreeably to the provisions of the '■
article Of that coLvonlion; frovidei, that nothing in th
act contained shall lo eo construed or carried into effc
by any of the officers or citizens of the United States, as :
interfere in any way with »ny right which any of the si:
jects of Great Britaia may iiave in the territory herein me
tioued. as provided (or in the convention aforesaid, until II
expiration of twelve months rtftcr notice shall be given,
above provided, bv the President of the United States."

Sir, I voted for this bill then, os did a very lars
majority of the members of the House, but it I

■ 'I

urea as will
? For one,
, but the eX'
>w under con-
wre have rights
nt, BO they be
t iiaa offered to
ure. '

I, in his annual
ei!t session of

dsillu Jerr.andj p( .
of the propositioi, ,
r. ilone uy my pn ■•
ivhich their act
cncc that no com
acceptcan be ef
iitioc of compro
wa«, by my direc
lie to the whole
ed, maintained b)

rocpedings & spirit
Jnited Htates) and
ull refiponBibility
controversy,
ed, it bpcomei^thf' •
•es it may be proji ■
on of our citizen.) ':
habit Oregon, anil ,
that territory. In
! tihould be takc-i '
ations of the con n
tic faith of treaties ■.
1, 1 trust, will evei
ed Statei. Undei
■«d to be given bv 3
: occupancy shall i;
iy assert or excr ^
>n of the territor)' .
;)roperto give; an.' ?
,w for giving it ac \
er, the conventioi (

>, can we shrink
emen take it foi
' all negotiation ,
rriea out whaij
at the true poii
Lher negotiatiot i
his notice in n(|
n is unnecessari, !
luty to give th
, will not pre
anything th;i
our hands an
ires as the iiifn
ng these thing;

nnd violate i; -.
ion of Congiewl
rnment in Orf I
! of 140 to 5' I
ling for the giv
ords:

hat the Presidorjj
required to cauti
itnmuntof tfae d?
e United States i|
[iceat Britain relit
f America, concIi|
)vi8ion8 of the
It nothing iu tbii
' carried into effeif
litcd States, as !^
ch any of the su'j
ritory herein mef
aforesaid, until tq
'hall be given,
nited Statca."

id a very lars
use, but it di

r.ot pass the Senate. Was it considered a war
measure then? No, sir; and why should it be con-
sidered so now? Without a knowledge of the views
of my constituents, I voted for the bill then, and
they sustained me; but in giving the same vote
cow, I nit only believe that I am doing right, but
feel sure that I am obeying the will or those who
sent me here. I repudiate the idea that this is a
war measure. It is merely proof of our anxiety to
settle the question, and of our determination to
raaintain our rights in that tenitory, and repel those
who trespass on them. But while 1 repeat that this
in no war measure, I would not be understood as say-
ing that this country will not take such further steps
aa may be necessary to secure our rights in Oregon.
The territory is ours, and we miffit not part with it.
Sir, the time has ceased with us when we can act in
that spirit of forbearance to Great Britain which
characterized the conduct of the patriarch Abra-
ham, when he said to Lot, "If thou wilt take the
left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou de-
part to the right hand, then I wiu go to the left."
That might have been possible once when very lit-
tle value was attached to territory. But not so now
with us. We need all the territory we have, and
ought not under any circumst inces to part with
any portion that we possess. But highly as we
pri7e territory, we do not propose to take any that
does not belong to us.

Sir, I am aware some gentlemen, who do not appre-
ciate the importance of Oregon, represent it as a dis-
tant stri{^of land of but little value; and they ask,
are we going to fight for that' I tell such gentle-
men that Oregon is of vast importance to this coun-
try, and that its loss would be deeply felt and sore-
ly regretted to the latest moment of the existence of
this great republic? Because Oregon is at a great dis
tance from this Capitol, shall we treat her as the
Roman empire once treated the island of Britain —
clip her off, and tell her to take care of herself?
Britain was once a part of the Roman empire; but
that government thought her of so little value
that Uiey cast her off, and told the people if they
could defend themselves against their enemies,
good and well, let them do it; the Roman eagle
would no longer take llicm under its wings On
this strip of country, thus severed — which is
infinitely smaller than Oregon — is planted that
mighty government, whose invincibility has thi*?
day been so eloquently described! It i."? the nation
inhabiting this territory which now struggles for the
conquest of the world, and cariics terror with her
name to tlic most dis; 'nt parts of the earth! This
teaches us ihi increasing importance of territory, and
13 a warning to us to guard against the loss of any
part of our country, or of any portion of our peo-
ple. It is quite natural for us to suppose, that, under
any circumstances, Oregon is destined to be a part
of our confederacy, but it may perhaps turn out
otherwise. I here express the hope, and cherish
the belief, that she will never be a British colony;
that that country will be a republic, inliabited by
freemen, I believe almost certain; but whether she
is destined to remain a part of this confederacy,
or to become a separate and distinct republic, de-
pends upon the policy pursued towards her by this
government. If we now refuse her protection, may
she not hereafter scorn our proffer of reunion and
refuse to be received by us as a State? The case of
Texas was different. Texas was a distinct and in-
dependent nation, and we were under no obligations
to protect her people or territory till she became a

part of this Union. But we are under very differ-
ent obligations to the people of Oregon, because we
own the territory, and it is settled by our own citi-
zens. If we leave her in the moment of her strug-
gles to shift for herself by withdrawing our protec-
tion, will she hereafter, when she has established
her right to the soil, come and ask to be again in-
corporated into this Union.' I believe not. I must
here remark that I would be the last man on this
floor, or in this country, to claim a single inch of
territory which I did not believe to be ours, but, on
the other hand, I say with eqiwl determination that
I will never consent to the surrender of an inch that
is our own — I care not where it lies, or what may
be its value — to gratify the ambition of Great Brit-
ain or any other government upon the earth. We
boast of being u great and glorious republic; but
what constitutes a great government? It is the jus-
tice of its laws — the preservation of its rights — and
the protection of its citizens. I care not how
wealthy or powerful a nation may be; as soon as
she ceases to preserve her rights and to protect lier
citizens she ceases to be great and is destined to
fall. If we ever surrender any portion of our
territory to Great Britain, gentlemen may rest
assured that it will be but the beginning of
surrenders ; she will never be satisfied with de-
manding. Peace is our policy. We do not seek a
war witli Great Britain ; but if she declares war
against us for defending our right to Oregon, we
shall stand justified in the eyes of the world, and
every American heart, and every A merican arm will
be found on the side of their country. Sir, the
country is in favor of notice, and for maintaining
our right to the territory. Even in North Carolina
Oregon is stronger than any political party; and, as
an evidence of this, I will refer to the fact that my
whig colleague from Lumber river [Mr. Dockert]

Cublicly proclaimed during the canvass, that, beforo
e would surrender any part of OrcMn, he would
march barefoot over prickly pears to fight for it. I
repeat that the "Old North State" is for Oregon.

Mr. DocKERv rose, and asked his colleague to
give him leave to explain. His colleague [M-^^
Reid] knew more of the geography of his State
than to speak of him as his colleague from Lumber
River district. The remark to which the gentleman
alluded was, that he was ready to contend for all
to which we had a valid title. 1 .said that there were
in Oregon Urilish rigiits and American rights; and
that, when the line was run, I would defend our soil
to the utmost extremity; and what he had said about
marching over prickly peaiw was .s.iid in that con-
nexion. He iiad said tiiat, when our rights were
determined, then he would be ready to figiit for
them, though he had to march barefout over prickly
pears.

Mr. Reid. Where does my colleague think our
rights extend to ?

Mr. DocKERY. Just where the gentlemanVi fa-
vorite President settled it in his negotiations. A
laugh. •

Mr. Reid. Then the gentleman is with the Pres-
ident, and the President says, "our title to the lohole
of Oregon has been .\sserted, and, as is believed,
maintained by irrefragable facts and arguments."
The gentleman's location arose from this connex-
ion: him and myself were members of the legisl.'^-
ture at the same time; he had a favorite project for
the improvement of Lumber river; and from his zeal
in favor of the measure, he became associated in my
mind with the name of the river, so that I thought

with Oregon incli|ld«9; and ought we to mrrtnifer t<&^
juRt no I feti in regard to (hef that govemnitat any portion of our mA\f^ VTo, "ir^Q,

Lumkn rifcr ovriKinly muat ran through hiodktfiet.
lAlHagh.l '

Mr. IJocRBHT The gcntteman miatakea the
rtttiir< oi rny piiitl iti^m. He thhikt that a iTMUi*a
nii('>'>MMm mn^^t >»' «!onfined to hii o#n diatriet.
]V'>w, I itrn Aiiliii' lit improve NOrth Carolina in

ony "'"■< "'* i'l •"'''
ITiiiteil Stales.

Mr. iiKiu if^MDi' 1. 1 nin happy to hear of the
eciulitiiiiiirri pidi'itriiii, itnd I Nhall be atill more ao,
\>.\ y ii> II It uiMif < < > 111)) votfl, he Hhnll show that his
piitru>iiMin, wliii'i h.ii« nirrndy rnaclicd Lumber riv-
et , i ^ fiMiMil mjjl ■')• ■i!ly rxpanded to extend tn Oregon!
1 hi>|><' III ii wt' ^ 'i ii' l<»<i.< nil this ad a great rtutional

a>\«Mii.Mi. Mv tV-t linj^H arc wiih the South — my
eB'itiy \» will I't'-', out I will suflTDr no Incat or
wciinn.ii vicw" in i<>l1<i' nee my CMirse on thia im-
portHnl inurtNiiri' M was* wiili extreme reluctance
that I henril llf r r.iiik in idn liy a member on this
floor, that wluituv i iiii>;lit do tlie fme of (hia ques-
tion, he Dhonlit li'W tlxr ronsnj tijon to know that
Ji6 h^'il not fnllowr i: III the lortrl itf the uentlemaii
from Mimcn'tniHii.;. [Mr. Adamh ] 1 relief thiit it
sliould lie tli'iir'iii ru ccaniiry to invoke i^xiaiina; prc-
judicuH ni^niiiHi II I ii 'ivtiiuul to operiiic iigaiiibt a
greiit nHiioiml ni! :> hru

Bui, sir, ill nqily 'o ih«t remnrk, I miijhf, with
equal pi-n|>riety, ^mv Unit we who Kupport the notice
willhavethe <i>i><m) n<>i) to know tlinl wo are not
followiii!; in the jc id il' Great Britain But such a
•declaration would n it lie an argnmcrit for or against
the notice. It h;H i » e»t s lid Ihnl Hie member from
Ohio [Mr. (jIiddivc.- ] i-< for the iiniite, and that he
is aciiittieil l>y i>i"'!ve.M iinworiliy of a statesman.
But even tt^ix I'li'il imt deter mc from giving my
"vote for a mviiMi'it; V !iich I beliive to be rii^ht. I
'! ', berausR one of the clioaen
nmi bntniyod the Siivior, that
je-i Chtisiiiuiity I follow in
I K" ft r my country. We are
'i. Hi't lest H war fnsue. lias it
j^tivrrnrnfiit eaii rarry out no
wiih liir domestic or
of ^\•nl• being raised
War and ruin pan

thia,linMl boMTfiiiMod to

•eonft^i44«^i#MlMtlMi^lUu| ltol>«:'piM%Md
at (ho tmifMM- of tile bittoittMr and the hdnelrdr my
eoiintrf. Th« ttorritot^ 6ldamd by Grekt B^tain
on this continent, is greater ni extent tiiM oar own'

tm we al
tim«
rery mi
lur polic]
Hm in tl
jcen si

ilom

we have none to spare. It has been with deep IBP^'-au hold
thai I haTe heard remarks on this floor morodhipa^^ "^'°

want o|
:en sold
heir cov

T armor
retire td
r deeds I

mi^ht lu well 't
twelve wti.s ii '
therefore I in..
the lead ot no i.vii.
told that wF niii.i •'.
conic lo this thiit '>'
iinportiuii 111. usiiTi- cojiitM-.ted
foreign poli y vv'!l">ijt the c-y
and lii'ld up nn n u r

ir > ver u r
jca have ulieniitoly ,irc;vail'd «m, siiic the com-
jnencemi-nl of our g.neri.ineni, »iid if we wait for
thi-ni tu ccrtso bci'iire wt act wr h!j.i!| never do any-
tliiiig. If wp ii!trin|!t to ]>r'<u!e indemnity for
BpoliationH ••n. the pii'nri-'y <if our citizens by a
foreign coutii I y, ! he vsjir .;iy i;i liise:!! — if we at-
tempt lo annex 'lVv;i;., v, r iii nil \iH horrors is do

pictt'd HH the cun.<i

-Uiid V. !icn weatt< mpt lo

mands in the spirit of freemen who know their
rights, and dare maintain them. If the preservation
of our rights did not require it, such a course would

oging to oar claim to Oregon than anyihine that Thave
ever seen in the correspondence of the British min-
ister himself. It has always been anfortunate forJS"!{|^ ^'
this country that in all of her controversies withS-^?__I:!
foreign governments, sentiments have been uttered
hero which wpre calculated to mislead other coun-
tries in relation to the state of public opinion in^, rwtriol
the United States, and thereby to render the ■•l^ecUaiujeMl
of dispute the more diflicult to ftdjust. Such, t 'w.Xreencv
will be the case in the present controversy. Sir, i'S-n-joil
is time we had hamed to stand on our own feet.|Ti .u n
Great Britain is, year after year, bytho force of hcr|T' g^,,,|,
diplomacy, and the power of ner sword, bringingn . ^jj •. ,
nation after nation to bow to power and dominioi),^ >erenui,ij
until her possessions dot yonr map over a consider- . ,«|^,. j
ablo portion of the globe. With our love of liber-„ ,j A.f.j.1
ty, we could not withhold our sympathy from, |), g^
those whoso misfortune it has been, trom time to. ' •
lime, to fall within her grasp; but we have stood by. ^y^^ l °°
and behold all these thmgs in silence, adhering to, „y),JQ,.
the policy not to interfere in foreign disptatea in |g„i|^|ir
which our own saiety does not require us to take, ^-^f .J
part. But when she cornea upon oVr own shores,^ ^y^^ f •
and seeks to possess herself ofa part of our terri-. -^
tory, every consideration of interest and of pitriot-^^
ism requires that we should resist her arrogant de-

greatly

in budi

rn warf

improv

assert our cUiini lo Oi po^on, we tut! t'>ld an unjust
and sanguinary war will be inuvila! -K ! The horrors
of war have been ile-<cribcd in i^o vivid and forcible
a manner that one ini^ht almost iinngine that they
saw the Britiwh ui< amers dartin? from p liiit to point
along our coast — that they heard the (hunderins of
British cannon, and beheld our cities with their
temples of justice and their tem^lcN of religion
wrapt in flames! But in the miJst of ihis gloomy
picture, the reflection rises in my mind, thai what-
ever may have been the devastating iffects of
past wars, it ia nevertheless certain a ftortion of
mankind are so consiituted that they grieve much
about wars that neve'r happen; and su 'h, I hope, is
the choracter of the lamentaiions of the. •{entlemen
■wr have heard on Ihis occasion 1 am for ficace,
I love peace; 1 npnrcciate its cffefta upon commerce;
and, above all, I admire its h.xppy inflm n<cs in a
moral and political point of vlf.w. ilui while t say

then be absolutely necessary even to command the i
respect of Great Britain herself. In all the pictures .{
that have been drawn of the horrid results of war, |
gentlemen have taken it for granted that w!e are |
to bear all the loss and make all the sacri- ';
flees, and that Great Britain has nothing to ,
lose. But such is not the fkct. Disastrous as i
such a conflict might prove to us, she has more to <
fear from it than ourselves. She cannot but foresee ':
that the prosecution of a war against the ttnited »
States would lead to a dismemberment of nearly all \
of her colonial possessions, and, perhaps, ultimate- h
ly to an entire dissolution of her form of government, k
ii-'C has her domestic feuda and her immense debt; \
she has a commerce to suflTer as well as ourselves; i
and the loss of our trade will injure her more than ^
the loss of her trade can injure us. The defenceless ^
condition of the United States has been freqi^ently I
alluded to; and the gentleman flrom Alabama [Mr. I
YancevJ said that there were perhaps no United 1
States soldiers in his own State at this tinfie. I
learned almost my first lesson on this Oregon. ques- ^
tinn from that noble State. At the last session of
Congress she sent to this House a resolution, passed «
by her legislature, in the following words :

Retolved, That the true policy of the United States re- ^

quire* that the Joint occupancy of Oregon by the United J

States and England »houI I cease ; and resolved , that the title ^

oftheUnitedStates to the territory of Oregon is clear and i
indisputable.

This was the language of that gallant State one
year ago. But, sir, Alabama has soldiers — citizen
aoldiers— the best in the world. Let a British sol-
dier act his foot on Alabamans consecrated soil, and

en we ahall tee wheie the ■oldiera are. Sir, *'it

M time to dieeipline the ilaves of deepotiam, but

try man is a aoldier when he eombata tyranny. %

r policy forbid* the keeping of large standing ar-

lea in time of peace, but we depend on our

isen aoldiery, who are the eafeet reli-

Sound the* alarm that the inradera

hand, and the queation will not be

that I would

Mi'ptlKdlMed',
hbnolrmmy
3reac 0^tain
fiiandar own
} atirrrinder to

^ \, ^!liIll!i'4'«om can you uige to meet them, but whom can
l.llL«!SifcSSlf*" hold back from the conflict? Tell me not of
"*"* ' want of aoldiera to defend our country. Our

:en aoldiera fight, not for pay, but for the rights
heir country; and when they have achieved the
ry their patriotiam deaerves, they lay aside
armor — they put oflT their martial character
retire to the boaom of their familiea, and tell
ir deeds to inapire the rising feneration with the
e patriotic ardor. These, Mr. Chairman, are
aoldiera, and they will be found equal to any
rgency. Let not Great Britain calculate on
naiona among ouraelvea, for when the first
ahall be atruck, whether it be in the North or
e South, all local distinctions will bo forgotten,
ahall alone remember that we are citizens of the
m republic; and the South will be ready to fly to
rescue of the North, and the North will be
id defending the institutions and the rights of the
|th. But it has been said that our navy is
so large as that of Great Britain. It ia true
she has a large navy, and out-numbers us in
ships: but it » equally true that our situation
[finitely better than it was at the commence-
it'of the last . war. Our resources are greater,
the facilities for commandins them vastly in-
The efliciency of the British navy has
greatly exaggerated. She has laid out mil-
in building fleets which the improvements in
rn warfare have rendered next to useless,
improvements are constantly going on, and

rmorediiipar-'
inethatThave
B Britiah min-
nfortunate for
reversiea with'
D been utteredj
id other coun-|
lie opinion in
der the silbject
Such, T fear,
versy. Stir, it
our own feet.^
ho force of her^
word, bringing
and dominion,
ver a consider-!
ir love of liber
empathy from
, from time to
I have stood by
ce, adhering to
gn dikpUtea in
juire ua to take
itr own shores,
artofour terri-
andofpitriot-
sr arrogant de-
ho know their
:he preservation
1 a course would
command the
all the pictures
results of war,
ed that W.e are
all the sacri-
|BS nothing to
Disastrous as
he has more to
not but foresee
list the Vnited
nt of nearly all
haps, ultimate-
of government,
immense debt;
I as ourselves;
her more than
he defenceless
len frequently
Alabama [Mr.
pa no United
this tinlie. I
Oregon, ques-
laat sestdon of
ilution,. passed
rds :

Inited States re

by the .United

|red. that the tiUfc

ton is clear and

have aleady reached a point wfiii i rmJora u large
portion or the voat navy of (rrrnt Britain on
which ahe haa lavished buch nnnii'iiaf niimR ut-
terly unavailable in a war w.th the United Smiea.
If we need fleeta we can builil lit-m; and ii ia Ix-tter
for ua that we have not exhansinl nur rraourcra in
the conatruction of a large navy. ..inrh would oomt
be unfit for service. Durinsr i >i; I .«i witrour enllnnc
little navy won for herself (milnni'.: fninc; nod I un-
dertake to aay that when the eoi- ".;• ncy nhall a^ain
arise, she will fully mainiain (Hu logh I'.tianv icr lo
which her noble deeds ao juailv •.ttle her In con-
clusion, permit me to reomi-k, )lia' while I rc8|>ect
the opinions, and do notnrraign ilir motlvpu ofthoHe
v'ho difler from me on thin qnesitoti, on net of mine
shiXll ever sanction the surreod'-r < f any pordon nf
our territory, without a jiiste(|oivt)lfni. Entertain-
ing the opinions I do, if I w>n: 'o n -t ntherwisH, I
should feel that I had not rait'itiiMy peif ir<n.d the
high and responsible duty wliu-.ii I owe to my con-
stituents, ana to my country. L't ns ima * thu no-
tice, and follow it up by i;;ivinK l)ouniieH of iHud to
such of our citizens as may t; > thure to brave the
hardships and privations of a Iroiiier life. L'-t us
extend the laws and protection of the United Stmea
over that territory. Do these (hini;ii, and my wor 1
for it, these brave pioneers wdl do much towards
protecting themselves. We RMall then prove to the
world that we regard the (;reiit principle that the
protection of our laws shall extend to every citizen
of this republic, and that we arc determined that our
rights shall be respected all over the earth. It ia
natural that there should exist among a free pe iple,
some differences of opinion as to the best mode of
accomplishing any end; but on thia great question,
let us present to England, to Europe, ancl to the
world an undivided front, and this will (jpsure ua
peace, if peace is attainable.

lllant State one
Idiera — citizen
British sol-
ated soil, and