FEDERAL RELATIONS OF OREGON 323 stained fields? . . . And I trust it will be main- tained with a vigor and prompitude equal to its justice. War is a great evil, but not so great as national dishonor. Little is gained by yielding to insolent and unjust pre- tensions. . . . Far better in dealing with England, to resist aggression, whether of territory, of impressment, or of search, when first attempted than to yield in the hope that forbearance will be met with a just spirit, and lead to an amicable compromise. Let us have no red lines on the map of Oregon. Let us hold on to the integrity of our just claims. If war comes let it be so. I do not myself believe it will be long avoided, unless prevented by intestine difficulties in the British empire. And woe to us if we flatter ourselves that it can be arrested by any sys- tem of concession ; of all delusions this would be the most fatal ; and we should awaken from it a dishonored, if not a ruined people." Within the Democratic party prior to the eve of the Balti- more convention two leaders were contending for the first place, John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, and Martin Van Buren of New York. Both were aspirants for presidential honors and each viewed the other as tainted with sectionalism. Calhoun's prospects of conducting a successful campaign against Clay, who had overtopped all other Whig possibilities long before the convention which nominated him, were looked upon as so slight that his friends recommended his withdraw- ing from the race at an early date. Van Buren, who was strong in the North, was against the annexation of Texas, and this damned him with the bulk of the southern Democracy. His followers believed, however, that this might possibly be offset in part by an Oregon issue. Accordingly about a month before the convention an open letter was addressed him to obtain a statement which might be used in the campaign. 20 It noted the disappointment which was widespread because Con- gress had failed to enact the Oregon measures, and then pro- pounded to Van Buren three questions in substance as follows : 1. Have the United States a clear title to Oregon and would you be in favor of giving notice? Buren 20 A. C. Dodge to Van Buren, 30 Apr., 1844, House of Representatives, Van Papers, Vol. 50, Mss. Div., Library of Congress.
