The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-01-31

Mr. THO MPSON declined to scquiesce, Proternn8
that the bill for the organization Of Oregon should
DC disposed Of nrs He then delivered ms views, ano
expressed his regret that now that the excitement
gro" ing out Of the Texas question had somewhat SUP
sided, there appeared 10 little attention wiz,
regard TO this, which he conceived W be Iraught WIN
consequences of far deeper Interest He denied Ihas
was sectional measure. II the territory was part OF
our cOuntTy,i 1t was much Southern Northern
question. However public sentiment was settled ia
| relation 10 1t and, In the last canvass, Texas ana
Oegon occupied as large space as any other SUD
ecs upon bch rhe people we're called upon 10 de-
eide. But what they were now called upon 20 deter
mine was, was this our territory and could We con-
stenty with heretofore made, and The Con-
stuton of the United States, extend the protection
of oui laws Oregon? They were 10 decide how
far they could go without committing breach oil ex-
lsting Treaties. From he data which he read TO the
con miltee he contended that England never csimed,
in her negotiations with US, any thing else bot the ad-
van'ages or rights apperainng TO trade. La lola,
when Astoria was delivered mp by the British, LORD
Castlereagh admitted hat the territory In our pos
session aud by the Florida treaty Of 1879 We dtrIs-
ed from Spain clear and full title from the forty
second To the fitytourth degree and forty minutes OF
north latitude In accordance with the treaties of
1918 and 1927, we could without violation
~ either, exer"ise jurisdiction over The ter
rtory. As the British had under existing arrange
ments, merely trading advantages ard the navigation
OF the rivers, bayous, and creeks We would not be
guilty OF bad faith we would not affect their rlghs,
but, our duty, protect own citizens, and by
the appointment of nag stra es suppress vice. pro-
mote their virtue and happiness. In view Of this, in
his opinion, it would be stigma our national
honor We not to extend that protection TO our
people to which they we're justly entitled.
Mr.. McCLERNAND reviewed the conventions
of 1918 and 1927, and insisted that their object
not The sovereignty or domain OF Oregon, but trade,
commerce, fisheries, and navigation, as contradis-
He demonstrated that we had possession Of that ter
rltory prior to 1878. At the treaty Of Ghent in
1914, it was stipulated that all places taken by either
country should be restored TO the other; and in &C.
cordance with this provision, Astoria, which had
been taken by the British in the late war; was re-
stored to the United States and thus we have the
acquiescence of Great Britain herself that our claim
was just. BY the treaty of Neotka, England was
prevented from claiming Oregon, and this was ad-
mitted in the nt.mporaneous explanations Of that
treaty by her most distinguished statesmen. Russia
on the North Mexico on the South, and the United
States on the East, all agreed and well satisfied
as to the boundaries of the Oregon country; but Great
Britain alone asserted pretended any title to it, or
any portion, to that Of the United States Our
title derived from discovery, and the treaty with
Spain In 1919, and the sovereignty and domain were
vested alone in our Government. The question was
not, therefore, one of boundary, but jursdiclion-
He depicted the geographical advantages OF Oregon
rs products, etc. and future prospects Of commerce
and greatness and concluded by speaking of the de-
signs of Great Britain with regard to political suPre-
macy.
Mr.. OWEN, before acting upon this bill, contend
ed that should first give notice, through the Exc
cutive, to Great Britain, Of intention to occupy
and extend our laws Oregon, according to the
Joint solution of 1927. He not disposed 10
sneak into the possession of the territory, but as be-
longed to US, go into openly and in the face OF day.
single year wou,l effect the spirit OF the notice
He would not, however, offer any amendment to the
bill, nor inerpose opposition If the bill should pass
he would call up The resolution heretofore introduced
by him. requiring the notice to Great Britain to be
given wing THAI the passage Of the bill morally
bound them to pass the revolutions also. And this
was what he arose, the present occasion, to say.
Mr.. J. r. lNGERSOLL conceded with the gen.
tleman from Indiana; and he expressed the hope
that gentlemen would not, unaer the presumption
that title to the territory established long ago,
before the Of Oregon was known to nine-tenlhs
of The people of this country-whatever the title, and
however ii might be developed at a subsequent time
violate the good faith which ought 10 exs, in
Chnste ndOm, and beyond it, by doing that which the
world and poserity would condemn.
A message was received from the President of the
United States.
subject under debate, moved that the Committee rise
which motion prevailed, and
The SPEAKER having resumed the Chair,
The message was read.
There was not little laughter, and much disap-
pointment, when it discovered that the message
covered resolutions passed by the Legislature of l-
nois
The House again went into Committee, and
Mr.. INGERSOLL resumed and concluded his re-
marks saying in conclusion, that the bill was pre-
mature and a bad move.
Mr. HAMLIN Of Maine obtsined the floor and
was speaking in favor of The bill, with slight modn-
cation, when LET the Capitol.