THE OREGON QUESTION 1818-1828 205
obligation of protection was owed to the allegiance of the inhabitants of that region. In addition he urges the im- portance of the fur trade and the fisheries, and scouts the preposterous claims of Russia.
Baylies, the second member of the committee, then undertook to answer certain objections. The expense of establishing a government where it was proposed would not be of long duration. 23 He gave a romantic description of the possible money turnover in the Ori- ental trade. He also alludes to the practicability of a water communication joining the two oceans. His speech closes with discussion of a topic that has not here- tofore appeared the benefits of colonization.
Baylies may or may not have deserved the first part of J. Q. Adams* stinging characterization, that "he was the most worthless and most talented man in Massachu- setts," but of his talent there can be no question. He was a brilliant speaker, which Floyd was not; was logi- cal, consistent, pleasing. His personal history shows him to have been another in whom the expansive spirit had not yet been satisfied and therefore checked. One paragraph from this speech indicates his style while the content is truly prophetic. He has just been picturing the change which those still living had seen in the trans- formation of "humble colonies to a mighty empire." 24
"Some within these walls may before they die witness scenes more wonderful than these; and in aftertimes may cherish delightful recollections of the day when America, almost shrinking 'from the shadows of coming events/ first placed her feet upon the untrodden ground, scarcely daring to anticipate the grandeur that awaited her."
He is, one can plainly see it, an apostle of the "mani- fest national destiny."
The first speech in opposition is made by Tucker. He is of an interesting type of obstructionist unfortunately
23 Op. cit. supra, p. 418.
24 Op. cit., p. 422.
