The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-02-29
REMARKS OF MIR. OWEN OF md.

On January 4, Mr.. Owen introduced into
the House OF Representatives joint resolu-
ton, requesting the President ofthe. United
States te give notice oftweige months. in ac-
cordance with the provision of an existing
treaty, to the government of Great Britain,
that, after the terms of that notice. the Joint
occupancy of Great Britain with the United
States throughout the Territory of Oreeon
shall cease. The joint resolution was refer
red to the Committee on Foreign Relations,
and by them January %, reported back
to the House, with the following resolu-
ton:
RESOLVED, (as the opinion. of this Com
mittee.) That it is inexpedient for Con-
gress, at this time, TO act in any manner
upon the subject referred to in the said reso-
luton.
This resolution being before the House
for consideration
Mf. OWEN said: | am aware of the effect
which the adverse report from committee
of character SO high as that q Foreign AT.
lars, IN regard to the Joint resolution which
submitted to this House, is likely 10 pro-
duce. regret it. do not understand the
committee, however, as expressing an opinion
that the resolution should not pass at all, but
only, that, for the present, it should be DELAY
ed. They are disposed we NAV presume to
wait the action of time, and of certain ex-
posted contingencies, before they adopt this
measure. differ from them in this policy
: ofdelay. | think We ought TO act now. The
views of those who hold to the opposite opin-
ion are entitled 10 much consideration L shall
always receive their opinions with respect;
yet, with the lights now before me, must
adhere 10 my own.
lie IS but hot-headcd politician who
seeks to urge on faVorite measure, that may
hejust in itselfrashly, prematureIy, and in a
hasiy manner, at ali improper time But
there is such thing as temporsing weak
ness, as-sFell- -szls Is----4-ess-s
egl day is a bad policy, in public as in pri-
vate afflirs. That which is surely impend-
ing-that which we must meet. to-day or to-
morrow, selfrespect and wisdom bid us meet
to-day.
If these be correct views, let us enquire
how far they apply 10 the subject before us.
The effect of the joint resolution in question
and which a majority of the committee re-
commended TO postpone, is to terminate
treaty or convention with Great Britain. BY
that treaty, Great Britain aud the United
States may, for the present, Jointly occupy
Oregon; with provision, that years notice
from either nation shall terminate the occu
pancy. The resolution provides for giving
that notice; and the question TO be decided
is, whether il be sxpedient to give that notice
at the present time.
To proper understanding of this ques-
tin, and just estimate its importance, we
should distinctly beg in mind, what, and
how large, this Territory of Oregon is. Its
southern boundary, fixed bg4lle Florida treaty
of 1919, is the parallel of degrees north
latitude. Its northern limit, determined by
the Petersburgh treaty of 1924, is the par
alleI of 81 degrees 40 minutes. Its front,
then, on the Pacific, is about II degrees
aud /, or upwards of $50 miles. It's aver
age depth TO the Rocky Mountains is some
five hundred and fifty miles. 1t contains
nearly half million of square miles, or more
than three hundred million acres of terrific
sy; one fourth more-let US remember thai
than the territory of the thirteen original
States, whent they claimed neutrality-suspicious.
This stock farm of ours, therefore in the Far
West, is no paltry possession. The great
est revolution the world ever saw was kind
led in defence of a territory OF smaller ex-
tent, and, ifrecsnt accounts may be trusted
of scarcely less intrinsic value.
The subject is of an Importance such as
demands careful investigation. PERM
nae, then, sir, to ask your attention, and tha
of the house, to a brief review of the negoti
atoms that have passed, and the measure:
that have been proposed, relative to this rlci
and extensive country.
In October of the year 1918, before W.
had acquired the Spanish title to this portion
Of the continent, convention was signed a
London, providing, that any country on tn
northwest coast of America westward OF tn
Stony Mountains, which may be claimed b.
Great Britain or the United States, shall TO
len years thenceforward, be free and opel
TO the citizens and subjects of both powers
without prejudice TO She title, in whomsoeve
residing.
Six Years later, in 1924, about the Tins
we agreed with Russia on our northern
boundary. the venerable gentleman from
Massachusetts, (Mr. ADAMS then secretar.
ofState, set ON foot negotiation Tor the II
nal adjustment Of the boundary questlon;a
thorizinr Mr.. Rush, our minister at the cour
of ST James, to propose, first, the latitude
6fy-one. and it Great Britain persisted i
refusing that, then the latitude OF lorty-nln
"a the dividing line between the territories c
the two countries
The offers were made in succession, an
the British minister refused them both. The
expressed their willingness TO run the forty
ninth degree to where it strikes the nortf