Speech of Mr. Caleb B. Smith, of Indiana, on the Oregon Question

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Excerpt from Speech of Mr. Caleb B. Smith, of Indiana, on the Oregon Question: Delivered in the House of Representatives, U. January 7, 1846Mr. Caleb B. Smith, having obtained the ¿oor, said, that an impres sion seemed to'prevail, not only with gentlemen here, but through the pub lic press, that the Oregon question was peculiarly a Western question. Ap peals had been addressed to Western members, which seemed to indicate an opinion that the West alone had an interest in the question. It has also, said Mr. Smith, been frequently intimated that the West desired to involve the country in a war with Great Britain. The gentleman from Alabama, (mr. Yancey, ) who has just taken his seat, has made an eloquent appeal to Western members to abate their warlike propensities, and to suffer the peace of the country to continue undisturbed. As a Western man myself, identified with the people of that section Of the country, and sympathizing withtheir views'and feelings, I disclaim, utterly, on their behalf, the sec tional character with which it is sought to stamp this question. I deny that it is to be regarded in any peculiar sense as a Western question, or that it should be determined with any special reference to Western interests. It is true, Mr. Chairman, that the people of the West feel a deep interest in this question, and look with anxiety for its ultimate settlement. His true that they appreciate fully the importance of the Oregon territory, as well as the title by which our Government claims it. It is true that there is, throughout thewhole valley of the Mississippi, an ardent desirethat the honor as well as the interest of the United States should be preserved in the maintenance of the just rights, not of the West alone, but of the whole country, in the Oregon territory. But, sir, I do not believe that the people of the. West, any more than those of other sections of the Union, desire war with Great Britain, or any other nation. I do not believe that they desire that the settlement of this question should be submitted to the stern arbitra~ ment of the sword, while other means of an honorable adjustment are left. A war with England would not, in my opinion, be the most certain means of securing our rights in Oregon. Without. War they will be maintained. The arts of peace will more certainly and securely accomplish what we de sire than war. For, although I cannot believe that the strong. Arms and patriotic hearts of the American people will ever suffer the territory to be wrested from us by a foreign foe, yet it cannot be denied that a war, at this time, with Great Britain, would greatly hazard its loss.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.