"'[S]pecimen of eloquence' from an authentic speech made by General Buncombe, in the House of Representatives, in the days of 'Fifty-four Forty or Fight'"
(Knickerbocker Magazine 46 (2), 1855: 212; cit.
B.A. Botkin, The American People: Stories, Legends, Tales, Traditions and Songs, New Brunswick: Transcation, 1997: 123. [originally published: London: Pilot, 1946: 119]):
[...] When I take my eyes and throw them over the vast expanse of this expansive country;
when I see how the yeast of freedom has caused it to rise in the scale of civilization and extension on every side;
when I see it growing, swelling, roaring, like a spring-freshet—when I see all this, I cannot resist the idea,
Sir, that the day will come when this great nation, like a young schoolboy, will burst its straps,
and become entirely too big for its boots!
Sir, we want elbow-room—the continent—the whole continent—and
nothin’ but the continent! and we will have it!
Then shall Uncle Sam, placing his hat upon the Canadas, rest his right arm on the Oregon and California Coast, his
left on the eastern sea-board, and whittle away the British power, while reposing his leg, like a freeman,
upon Cape Horn! Sir, the day will—the day must come!
In Botkin's 1946 book, this "authentic speech" appears in Part Two: 'Booster and Knockers' under the heading 'Tall Talk'.
'Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!' was the slogan of Democratic presidential candidate James K. Polk in his 1844 election campaign.
It refers to the line of latitude serving as the southern boundary of Russia's Alaska territory and claims control
over the entire Oregon Territory, which had been under joint control of the United States and the United Kingdom since 1818.
The Oregon Treaty of 1846 established the boundary between British Canada and the United States at 49° northern latitude.
Slightly different versions of the text appeared prior to the Knickerbocker Magazine's, viz. in
The Texas Ranger of April 28, 1855, which
features a piece entitled "Speech of Gen. Buncum" ("The following is an extract from a speech of Col.
Buncum in favor of 54.40", p.2, col.6) adjacent to one on "What 'Sam' Means", and in
The Texas Planter of June 27, 1855,
which introduces "Speech by the Hon. Spit-Fire Buncome" as follows: "The Wheeling Intelligencer must be held responsible for
giving to the world the accompanying eloquent extract from a patriotic and thrilling speech of the Hon. Spit-fire Buncome
in favor of 54.40 or fight" (p.1, col.6).
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