Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-12-11

"NSi oui CiliZSuS III OrSSOn. Hey hdNC nou
just cause to complain of our long neglect IN
this particular, and have, in consequence,
been compelled for their own security and
protection, to establish a provisional govern
ment for themselves Strong IN their allie
glance and ardent in their attachment to the
United States, they have been thus cast upon
their own resources. Ihey are anxious tnat
our laws should be extended over them, and
recommend that this be done by Congress with
as little delay as possible, IN the tull extent to
which the British Parliament have proceeded
in regard to British subjects in that territory,
| by their act of July the second, 1921, Z" for
regulating the fur trade, and establishing
criminal and civil jurisdiction within Certain
parts of North America" Ry this act Great
Britain extended her laws and Jurisdiction,
civil and criminal, over her subjects, engaged
in the fur-trdde in that territory. BY 1t, the
courts the province of Uppe r Canada were
empowered to take cognizance of causes civil
and criminal. Justices of the peace and other
Judicial officers were authorized To be APP
pointed in Oregon, with power to execute all
process issuing from the courts of that prov
ince, and to "sit and hold courts of record tor
the trial of criminal offences and miSdemean-
Or" not made the subject of capital punish
ment, and also of civil cases, where the cause
oil action shall not exceed in value the amount
or sum of two hundred pounds
Subsequent to the date of this act of Parlia-
ment, grant was made from the British
crown to the Hudsons Bay Company, of the
ex elusive trade with the Indian tribes in the
Oregon territory, sulject to reservation that
1t shall not operate to the exclusion OF cot the
subjects of any foreign States who, under or
by force OF any convention for the time being,
between us and such foreign States respec
lively, may be entitled to, and shall be en-
gagged in, the said trade"
ii is much to be regretted, that while under
this act. British subjects have erj' 'yed the pro
lection of British laws and British Judicial
tribunals throughout the whole of Oregon,
American citizens, in the same territory, have
enjoyed no such protection from their govern
ment. AT the same time, the result illustrates
the character of our people and their institu-
tions In spite of this neglect. they have null
tlplied, and their number is rapidly increasing
IN that territory. They have made no appeal
to arms. but have peacefully fortified them>
selves in their new homes, by the adoption of
republican institutions for themselves furnish
ing another example of the truth that self
government is inherent in the American breast
and must prevail. 1t is due to them that they
should be embraced and protected by our laws.
Ii is deemed important that our laws, regu-
lating trade and intercourse with the Indian
tribes east of the Rocky mountains, should be
extended to such tribes as dwell beyond them.
The increasing emigration to Oregon, and
the care and protection which is due from the
government to its citizens in that distant re-
gion, make ii our duty, as ii is our interest
to cultivate amcably the relations with the
Indian tribes Of that territory. For this
purpose | recommend that provisions be
made for establishing an Indian agency,
and such sub agencies as may be deem
ed necessary beyond the Rocky Noun
tains.
For the protection of emigrants whilst
on their way to Oregon, against the at
tacks Of the Indian tribes occupying the
country through which they pass, recon-
mend that suitable number of stock
AIDES and biockhouse forts be erected along
the usual route between our frontier set
Elements on the Missouri and ihe Rocky
Mountains, and that an adequate force of
mounted rlfemen be raised to guard and
protect them on their journey. The i'm
mediate adoption of these recommends
tons by Congress willn violate the pro
visions of the existing treaty. 1t will be
doing nothing more for American citizens
than British laws have done long since for
British subjects IN the same territory.
1t required several months to perform
the voyage by sea from The Atlantic States
TO Oregon; and although we have large
number Of whale ships in the Pacific, but
few of them afford an opportunity of in
terchanging intelligence. without great
delay, between our settlement in that re
gion and the United States. An overland
mail is believed 10 be entirely practicable,
and ihe importance OF establishing such |
a mail, al least once month, is submitted
to the favorable consideration of Con
gress.
1t is submitted TO the wisdom OF Con |
gress to determine whether, at their pre- |
sent session and until after the expiration
OF the years notice, any other measures
may be adopted, consistently with the
Of 1927, for the security Of
our rights, and the government and pro
lection of our citizens in Oregon. That
it will ultimately he wise aud proper 10
make liberal grants Of land TO the patriot
&c pioneers, who amidst privations and
dangers lead the way through savage tribes
inhabiting the vast wilderness intervening
between our frontier settlements and Or
egon, and who cultivate, aud are ever