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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1846
England may desire to gain time, and she may have a desire to amuse the United States as long as possible. It may be that England at this time is not prepared for war, and therefore does not wish to bring things to an issue with us upon this subject; for if she contemplated any such basis for negotiations as that offered by this government, and rejected by her envoy, she has had, and yet has, an opportunity to renew it. Does delay on her part arise from the fact that the resolutions now under considera- tion have been introduced into the Congress of the United States in accordance with the recommendations of the Executive in his annual message? Can it arise from the fact, that England con- siders herself insulted, because the Executive assumed our right to the whole of Oregon in that state paper? Can she allege this as a satisfactory reason to this government for not stepping for- ward and making such an offer, if she really had it in contempla- tion? To be sure, honorable senators have suggested that the measure recommended by the Executive would be regarded by England as held in terrorem over her, and that she cannot, con- sistently with her national honor and dignity, accede to any proposition, nor make one, until after Congress has adjourned. Such opinions are advocated in and out of Congress, and hon- orable gentlemen may really entertain them. But I apprehend they will find that England has other reasons, and that those which they render to themselves are fallacious. It has been said that the President could have withheld this recommendation to Congress, and thus relieved this body from unpleasant embarrassments produced by no agency of theirs. I cannot conceive how that omission could have been properly made. In my estimation he was bound to assume his present position. The decision of the American people, in his elevation to the presidency, left him no alternative. The question of Oregon was one of the leading subjects in the last presidential canvass, by which he was called to his present station. If the President had not assumed a claim to the whole of Oregon-if he had not declared that our right to it was unques- tionable-that it belonged to us, (as I have no doubt he believed to be the fact,) certainly he would have fallen far short of the discharge of his duty. The question had been mooted and can- vassed before the American people. It was a thing not done in a corner. The popular voice was conclusive upon this subject. Enlightened statesmen now entertain opinions in unison with the recommendations of the Executive.
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