The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-12-12

mode by The United States for "an equita
Die 5usiment Of the question" ~
| Wien lcame inio Office, | ionnd ,hi,
III. be the slate of negotiation. Though
entertaining the settled conviction, thai
the BRUSH ?relensions Of title could moi
be maintained to any portion Of the Ore
gon territory, upon any principle of pub
lie law recognized by nations. YET in de-
ference 10 what had been done hy my
predecessors, and especially in consldera-
lion tina, propositions of compromise had
been thrice made by two preceding adj
ministralions. 10 adjust the question on
III, parallel Of 40 degrees, and in Two Of
theu. welded TO great Britain the free ma
vigaiion of the Colu:,bia. and tina, the
pending negotiation had been commenced
on the basis OF compromise. | deemed Il
to be my duty not abruptly 10 break il
of. In consideration, too. that under the
conventions of 1878 and 1927 the cli.
zens and subj Of ,fe two powers held
a joint occupancy Of the country, was
induced to make another effort to settle
this long.pendDg controversy Ia the spi.
rit Of moderation which had given birth
to the renewed discussion. A PROPOSE
lion was accordingly made, which was
rejected by the British plenipo.ep,iary,
who, without submitting any other pro-
position. suffered the negotiation 10 drop,
expressing his trust that the United
States would offer wha, he saw fit TO call
'some other proposal for the settlement
Of the Oregon question, more consistent
with fairness and equity, and with the
reasonable expectations of the BRUSH 90
vernmen," The proposition thus Offer
ed and rejected repeated The offer of The
parallel Of 40 deg. OF north latitude, which
had been made by two preceding admin
STATIONS, but without proposing TO sur
render TO Great Britain, as they had done,
the free navigation of the Columbia river.
The right of any foreign power TO the
free navigation of any at our rivers, thro'
The heart OF our country, was one which
| was unwilling to concede. 1t also en-
braced provision to make free 10 Grea,
Britain any port or ports on the cape Of
Quadra and VaIcouyer's Island, south oil
this parallel. Had this been a new gues.
lion. coming under discussion for the
first time, this proposition would not have
been made. The extraordinary and Who'll
ly inadmissible demands of the British
government, and the rejection Of the pro-
position made in Difference alone 10 what
had been done by my predecessors, and
the implied obligation which their acts
seemed 10 impose, afford satisfactory evil
dence that no compromise which The U.
s. ought to accept, can be affected. With
this conviction, the proposition Of com
promise, which had been made and reiec.
ted. was, by my direction, subsequently
Withdrawn, and our title 10 The whole of
Oregon territory asserted, and, as is be-
lieved, maintained by irreiragible facts
and arguments.
The civilized world will see in these
proceedings, spir, of liberal concession
on the part Of the U. S., and this govern.
menl will be relieved from all responsible
lily which may follow the failure TO set.
tie The controversy.
vi attempts TO compromise having fail
ed, il becomes The duty Of Congress to
consider villa, measures il may be proper
In adopt for the security and protection
Of our citizens now inhabi,ing, or who
may hereafter inhabi. Oregon, and for the
maintenance Of our just title to ,ha, ter
riiory. In adopting measures for this
purpose. care should be taken that moth
ing be done 10 violate the siipula,ons of
the convention Of 1927, which is still in
force. The faith Of treaties, in their let
ter and spirit, has ever been, and, trust
will ever be. scrupulously observed by
the United States. Under tina, conven.
tim, years notice is required to be civ.
en- ny either party to lie other, before
The joint occupancy shall terminate, and
before either can rightfulIy asser, or ex.
ercisc exclusive jurisdiction over any por.
ZION of territory. This notice ii wonld,
to my judgment, be proper to give, and |
recommend tina, provisions be made by
law for giving it accordingly, and ,e1mi.
mating in this manner, the convention or
the sixth August, 1897. .l- u Ha.ad
II will become proper for Congress t
dctermine whit legislation thew can in the
meantime adopt without violating this
convention. Beyond all question the
protection Of our laws and Jurisdiction,
civil aud criminal, ough, to be immedi-
alely extended over our citizens in Ore.
gon. They have jus, cause to complain
OF our long neglect in this particular, and
have, IN consequence, been compelled
Tor their own security, and protection, to
establish provisional government for
themselves. Strong in their allegiance
and ardent in their attachment 10 the Uni.
ted States, they have been thus cast upon
their own resources. They arc anxious
that our laws should DO extended over
them, and ! recommend that this be done
by Congress with as little delay as pos.
sihla in tho lnll oxtont In ,,,L;ol, A.. n.