human
Of course, this conversation is entirely irregular--I mean to say, wholly unofficial, your Excellency? hesitated Pakenham.
gpt
It takes no part in our records?
human
Assuredly not, said Mr. Tyler.
gpt
I only hope the question may never come to a matter of record at all. Once our country knows that dictation has been attempted with us, even by England herself, the North will join the South in resentment. Even now, in restiveness at the fancied attitude of England toward Mexico, the West raises the demand that we shall end the joint occupancy of Oregon with Great Britain. Do you perchance know the watchword which is now on the popular tongue west of the Alleghanies? It bids fair to become an American _Marseillaise_.
human
I must confess my ignorance,
gpt
Our backwoodsmen have invented a phrase which runs _Fifty-four Forty or Fight_!
human
I beg pardon, I am sure, your Excellency?
gpt
It means that if we conclude to terminate the very unsatisfactory muddle along the Columbia River--a stream which our mariners first explored, as we contend--and if we conclude to dispute with England as well regarding our delimitations on the Southwest, where she has even less right to speak, then we shall contend for _all_ that territory, not only up to the Columbia, but north to the Russian line, the parallel of fifty-four degrees and forty minutes! We claim that we once bought Texas clear to the Rio Grande, from Napoleon, although the foolish treaty with Spain in 1819 clouded our title--in the belief of our Whig friends, who do not desire more slave territory. Even the Whigs think that we own Oregon by virtue of first navigation of the Columbia. Both Whigs and Democrats now demand Oregon north to fifty-four degrees, forty minutes. The alternative? My Lord Aberdeen surely makes no deliberate bid to hear it!
human
Or fight! exclaimed Pakenham.
gpt
God bless my soul! Fight _us_?
human
Such things have been,
gpt
That is to say, he resumed calmly,