Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-12-12


ain the free navigation Of the Columbia: and that. he
compromise, deemed It to be my duty not abruptly to
break off, In consideration that under the conventions
powers held joint occupancy Of the cSuntry was in.
duced to make another effort to settle this long pending
controversy in the spirit Of moderation which had given
birth to the renewed discussion. proposition
oordngy made which rejected by the British pleni.
poten,iary, who without submitting any other PROPOSE.
Ing HI. trust hs, The United states would osr what he
saw fit 70 call some further proposal for the settlement
and equity, and with the ressonsbe expectations Of The
rejected repeated d. offer parallel Of forty nine de-:
preceding administrations, but without proposing
70 surrender to Great Britain a: they had DONE, the
foreign Power the free navigation Of any of our rivers,
through the heart Of OUT country, was one which was
unwilling TO concede Il also embraced provision to
;ss M Esi sn s s:
51d s sn Sss S9 oG Sssn
made. 1he extraordinary and wholly inadmissibe de-
mands Of the British and the rejection Of the
done BY my predecessors, and the implied obligation
which heir acts seemed to impose, afford satisfactory
evidence that compromise which the United states
oughtto accept, be effected With this conviction,
the proposition ofcompromise which had been made and
nd o s IN wos oregon
as is believed maintained by rresgabe facts and argu.
The civilized world will see in these proceedings q
spirit Of liberal concession the part United states;
and this will be relieved from all RESPONSE
bility which may follow the failure to settle the contro.
versy:
All attempts at compromise having failed, it be-
comes the duty Of Congress to consider what mea-
sures il may be proper to adopt for the security
and protection OF our citizens now inhablting, or
who may hereafter inhabit Oregon, and for the
maintenance of our just title to that territory. In
adopting measures for this purpose, care should be
taken that nothing be done to violate the stipua.
tons OF the convention OF 1927, which is still in
force. The faith Of treaties. in their letter and
spirit, >a.as-s4sAs and, trust will ever be,
scrupulousy observed by the United States. I'm
der that convention, years notice is required 10
be given by either party to the other, before the
joint occupancy shall terminate, and before either
can rghtuy assert or exercise exclusive )urisdic.
ton over any portion of the territory. This no.
tice it would, my judgment, be proper. to give;
and recommend that provision be made BY law
for giving it accordingly, and terminating, in this
manner, the convention of the sixth OF August,
1927.
1t will become proper for Congress to determine
what legislation they can, in the meantime, adopt
without violating this convention. Beyond all
question, the protection OF our laws and our jurs-
diction, civil and criminal, ought 10 be Immediately
extended over our citizens in Oregon. They have
had just cause to complain of our long neglect in
this particular, and have in consequence been COM
PEELED, for their own security and protection, to
establish provisional government for themselves.
Strong in their allegiance and ardent in their attach.
ments to the United States, they have been thus
cast upon their own resources. They ATE anxious
tina, our I.l.iHeNld be extend d ovtS them. and
recoiMMla(D( s,hs BID done by Congress- with as
little delay possible, in the full extent to which
the British Parliament have proceeded in regard
to British subjects in that territory, by their act Of
July the ID, 1884, for regulating the ur.trade and
establishing criminal and civil jurisdiction within
certain parts OF North America" By this act Great
Britain extended her laws and jurisdiction, civil
and criminal, over her subjects, engaged in the fur
trade in that territory. By it. the courts OF the
province oil Upper Canada were empowered to take
cognzance OF causes, civil and criminal. Justices
of the peace AMI other u lical officers were author.
iced to be appointed in Oregon, with power to ex.
zcute all process issuing from the courts of that
province and to "sit and hold courts of record for
the trial OF criminal offences and msdemeanOrs,"
not made the subject of capital punishment. and
also OF civil cases. where the cause OF action
shall not "exceed in value the amount or sum of
two hundred pounds"
Subsequent to the date of this act Of Parliament,
| grant was made from the british crown" to the
Hudson's Bay Company of the exclusive trade with
the Indian tribes in the Oregon territory, subject to
reservation that it shall not operate to the exclu
| sion t:otthA1kects Of any foreign States who,un-
der or by force Of any convention for the time be-
ing, between US and such foreign States respective.
ly may be entitled to, and shall be engaged in the
| said said trade"
!
act British subjects have enjoyed the protection of
| British laws and British Judicial tribunals through.
out the whole OF Oregon, American citizens, in the
same territory have enjoyed no such protection
from their government. Atthe same time, the result
illustrates thecharacter OF our people and their inst
tutions. In spite OF this neglect they have multi.
Piled and their number is rapidly increasing in that
territory. They have made no appeal to arms, but
have peacefully fortified themselves IN their new
homes. by the adoption OF republican institutions;
furnishing another example Of the truth that self.
| government inherent in the American breast. and
must prevail. II is due to them that they should
be embraced and protected by our laws.
| Ii is deemed important that our laws regulating
trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes east OF
the Rocky mountains. should be extended to such
tribes as dwell beyond them
The inc easing emigration 10 Oregon, and the care
| n which is due from their government
10 its citizens in that distant region. make it our
duty as it is interest, to cultivate amcable rela'
tons with the Indian tribes OF that territory For
this purpose, | recommend that provision be made
for establishing an Indian agency, and such sub
agencies as may be deemed necessary, beyond the
Rocky mountains
For the protection Of emigrants whilst on their
way to Oregon, against attacks of the Indian tribes
occupying the country through which they pass,
recommend that a suitable number OF stockades and
block house forts be erected along the usual route
between our frontier settlements on the Missouri
and the Rocky mountains and that an adequate
force of mounted riAemen be raised to guard and
protect them on their journey. The immediate a.
dopt,on of these recommendations byCongress will
not violate the provisions OF the existing treaty.
II will be nothing more for American citizens than
British laws have long since done for British sub
jects in the same territory.
1t requires several months to perform the voy,,
age BY sea from the Atlantic States to Oregon and
Although We have q large number OF whale
shsIsSe sSasiicihc. but few OF them ahord an op.
SSl(Q,-y ~ ihterehangins intelligence. without
great delay, between our settlements in that DIS,
tspt region and the United States. An overland
mail Is believed to b entirely prssticable and the
importance Of establishing such mall a. once .
OF Congress
II is submitted to the wisdom Of Congress TO de-
termine whether. at their present session. ana un'
til after the expiration Of the years notice. any
| .Ahar pnaasura nav he adonted consistently with