The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-02
THE DAILY UNION.

efsectpn with the burlheasterDnitst branch ~ the
Columbia, aud thence down the channel OF thai
rlyer TO the sea, had been offered BY Great Britain
with an addition Of small detached territory north
OF the Columbia. Esch Of these propositions had
been rejected by the parties respectively.
In October, i643, the Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenpolentiary Of the United States in
London was authorized TO make similar offer Il
those made in 1918 and 1926. Thus stood The
question: When the negotiation was shortly after,
wards transferred to Washington; and, on the
twenty-lhird Of August, 1874. was formally opened
| under the direction of my immediate predecessor
Like all the previous negotiations, il was based
upon principles Of "compromi>e;" and the avoweC
purpose OF The parties was ito treat othe respective
claims of the Two countries TO the Oregon territory
with The view 10 establish permanent boundary be
tween them westward Of the Rocky mountains 10 The
Pacific ocean" Accordingly, on The twenly-sixlt
OF August, l4f the British plenipotentiary offered
to divide The Oregon territory by The forty ninth
parallel Of north latitude, from The Rocky noun
lains TO the point Of It's intersection with the north
easternmosl branch of the Columbia river, ant
thence down that river TO the sea leaving the free
navigation Of the river to be enjoyed in common
by both parties-the country south of this line Il
belor 10 the United States, and that north of it Il
Grea Britain. At the same lime, he proposed, In
addition, To yield to The United States a detached
territory, north Of the Columbia, extending alone
the Pacific and the Straits of Fuca, from Bulfnch,
harbor inclusive, TO Hoods canal and to make free
TO the United States any port or ports south of ai
tude forty-nine degrees, which they might desire
either on the main land, or on Qnadra and Van
couver's island. With the exception of the free
pons, this was the same offer which had been mad.
by the British, and rejected by the American gov
eminent in the negotiation of 1926 This PROPOSE
ton was properly rejected by the American plen
potentiary on The day il was submitted. This was
the only proposition Of compromise offered by The
British plenipolentiary. The proposition on The
part Of Great Britain having been rejected the
British pienipolentary requested that PROPOSE
should be made by the United States for :" an eaui
table adjustment Of the question
When came into Office, found this TO be The
state OF the negotiation Though entertaining The
settled con vclion that The British pretensions OF title
could not be maintained To- any portion of the Oregon
territory upon any principle of public law recognised
by nations yet In difference TO what had been done
by my predecessors and especially ia consideration
that propositions Of compromise had been thrice
made by two preceding administrations, to adjust
the question on the parallel of foriy-nine degrees
and In two Of them yielding 10 Great Britain the
free navigation of the Columbia, and that the pend
ing negotiation had been commenced on the basis
Of compromise, deemed it TO be my duty not
abruptly TO break II off In considerations too that
under the conventions of 1918 and 1927, The ci,i-
zens and subjects Of The two Powers held joint oc-
cupancy OF the country, was induced to make an
other effort TO settle this long pending controversy
| in the spirit of moderation which had given birth
| 10 the renewed discussion. A proposition was &C.
cordingly made, which was rejected by the British
plenipoentiary, who, without submitting any other
proposition, suffered The negotiation on his part to
drop, expressing his trust that the United States
would offer what he saw fit to call "some further
proposal for the settlement Of The Oregon question,
more consistent with fairness and equity and with
the reasonable expectations of the British govern
menl." The proposition thus offered and rejected,
repealed The offer of the parallel of forty nine de-
grees Of north latitude, which had been made by two
preceding administrations, but without proposing
10 surrender 10 Great Britain, they had done the
| free navigation of the Columbia river The right
Of any foreign power 10 the free navigation Of any
of our rivers, through the heart of our country,
was one which ] was unwilling 10 concede. II
also embraced provision to make free 10 Great
Britain any port ports on the cap Of Quadra and
Vancouvers island, south of this parallel. Had
this been new question, coming under discussion
for the first time, this proposition would not have
been made. The extraordinary and wholly mad.
missible demands Of the British government, and
the rejection Of the proposition made in Difference
alone 10 what had been done by my predecessors
and the implied obligation which their acts seemed
TO impose, afford satisfactory evidence that no com
promise which the United States ought TO accept
can be effected. With this conviction, the propo
sition Of compromise which had been made and
rejected, was, by my direction, subsequently with
drawn, and our title to The whole Oregon territory
asserted and, as is believed, maintained by rrefra
| gable facts and arguments.
The civilized world will see in these proceeding.
spirit OF liberal concession on the part Of The
United States; and this government will be relieved
from all responsibility which may follow the failure
10 settle the controversy
| All attempts at compromise having failed, il be
comes the duty OF Congress 10 consider what meas
ures il may be proper u adopt for the security ant
protection OF our citizens now inhabi'ing, or who
may hereafter inhabit Oregon, and for The mainte
nance of our just lille 10 that territory In adopting
measures for this purpose care should be taken tina
nothing be done to violate the siipula,ions of thu
convention of 1927, which is still in force. The
faith of treaties in their letter and spirit has eve
been, and, / trust will ever be, scrupulously OBJ
served by the United States. Under that conven
ton, years notice is required to be given by ethe
party 10 the olher before the joint occupancy shall
terminate, and before either rightiully assert
exercise exclusive jurisdiction over any portion d
the territory. This notice it would, in my judg
| ment, be proper to give; and recommend tina
provision be made by law for giving il accordingly
and terminating in this manner the convention O
the SIKH Of August, 1927.
| II will become proper for Congress 10 determine
what legislation they can, in the mean time, adop
without violating this convention. Beyond al
question, the protection Of our laws and our uris
diction, civil and criminal, ought TO be Immediately
extended over our citizens in Oregon They have
had Just cause TO complain Of our long neglect ir
! this particular, and have, in consequence, beer
| compelled fur tnelI own security ana projection
| 10 establish provisional government for them
selves Strong in their allegiance and ardent il
their attachment 10 the Uned States, they have
| been thus cast upon their own resources. They
are anxious that our laws should be extended oveI
them, and recommend that this be done by Con
gress with as little delay as possible, in the full
extent to which the British Parliament have pro
ceeded in regard to British subjects in that terri
tory, by their act of July the second, 1921, "foI
| regulating the fur-trade, and establishing crmi
| nal and civil jurisdiction within certain parts o.
| North America" BY this act Great Britain ex
tended her laws and jurisdiction, civil and crimi
nal over her subjects, engaged in the fur-lrade il
thai territory BY il, the courts of The province o
| Upper Canada were empo&eredtotake cognizanct
Of causes civil and criminal. Justices OF the peace
and Other judicial officers we're authorized to b
appointed in Oregon, with power to execute al
process issuing from the courts Of that province
and 10 "sil and hold courts Of record for the tria
| Of criminal offences and misdemeanors," not mad,
the subeci Of capital punishment and also Of civi
cases where The cause of action shall not "exceet
in value the amount or aum of TWO hundred
pounds"
~