The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-12-06


United Slntes Government. in the negotiation Of 1926
This proposition WINS properly rejected by the Amer.
lean Penipoenllnry on the day II was Submitted
This WINS the only proposition of compromise offered
by the British penipoentinry. This proposition on
the part of Great Britain having been elected, tho
British pcmpotcntary requested that proposals houd
be mnde by the United States Tor an 'equiluble nd
justment Of the question "
When camo into office found this to DO the
stnte % tho negotiation Though entertaining the set
tied conviction, that the British pretensions Of title
could not he mnihained 10 uny portion Of tho Oregon
Territory upon any principle Of public law recognz-
ed by nations, yet, in Difference 10 what had been
done by my predecessors and especially 10 consider
alton TINT propositions Of compounds hn been thrice
mude hy Two preceding administrations, TO adjust the
question the parallel Of forty nine degrees and in
two of lhem yielding 10 Great Britain the free navi-
gnon ofthe columbia, and that the pending nego,ia-
ton had been commenced on tho ba4s of comprn-
misc, deemyd Il to be my duty not TO abruptly
break II of IN consideration, too. that under the
conventions Of 10 and 1927, the ciiizrna and sub.
rcts Of the Two Powers held Joint occupancy Of the
country, WINS induced 10 make another effort to set
tie this long pending controversy, in the spriof mod
erat ion which lind given birth To the renewed discus-
sion proposition accordingly made, which
reject I'd by the British plenipoteniinry, who
without submitting any other proposition, ufered the
negotiation drop on his part, expressing hs trust
that the United States would offer what he saw fl 10
call Some further proposal for the settlement of tho
Oregon question, more consistent with fairness and
equity, and with The reasonable expectation Of the
BRUSH Government"
The proposition TINS offered and rejected, repeal-
ed the offer Of the parallel Of lory-ninc degrees Of
north latitude, which had made by two preced-
ing administrations, but without proposing surren.
der to Great Britain, they had done the free nHyi-
CATION Of the Columbia river, The right Of any for.
ega power 10 tho free navigation Of any OF our rivers
through the henri Of our country, was one which |
unwilling concede. I, so embraced proyis
lou to make free TO Great Britain any port or ports
on the chpe Of Qundrn and Vancouver Island south
Of this parallel. Had this been n new question con
ing under discussions for the fret time this proposton
never would have been mndG The extraordinary and
wholly inadmissihr demands Of The British govern.
men, and the ~cion or the proposition mndc in dc
ference alone hat had been done by nv predeces.
sofs, and the implied obgatnns which their acts
seemed Ia Impose, afford satisfactory evidence that TO
compromise which the United States ought 10 accent
be effected. with this convirion The proposi.
IL Of compromise which had been made and eject
ed, Was, nv my direction, subsequently Withdrawn
and te the whola of Oregon territory asserted
and Us is believed maintained by irrcfmgnble facts
and Arguments.
Al attempt. at compromise have tliled it becomes
the duty OF Congress 10 consider what measures will
be proper adopt, for the security and protection Of
oar citizens inhRbiing, who may inhrhit here
after Oregon and for the Of our lust H.
tie Ia that Territory IN adopting Tor this
purpose, care should be taken that nothing be done
violate the siipuaiios OF the convention Of 1927
which Is still IN force. The faith cf treaties in their
let aud spirit, has BEEN and tru,I will ever
be, scrupaluusly observed 10y tho United States Tn
der that conyen,ion ears notice Is required be
given by either party 10 the other, before the Joint or
cuplncy shall terminate, aud before either cnn right
fully assert exercise exclusive Jurisdiction over any
portion Of the territory. This notice II would, ia my
judgment. he proper TO give; aud | recommend that
PROV sions he made by law for giving it accordingly,
and terminating. IN this manner the convention Of The
sixth of August, 1927.
II will b'cnmr proper hr Congress 10 determine
what legislation they can. in the mean time adopt /
without violating tins convention. Beyond III qucs
Iur the protection of laws add our juri-liciinn
civil and criminal, ought to be Immediately extended
over our citizens in Oregon. They have Just cause
TO complain Of our long neglect in this particular .
and have in consequence, been compelled, for their
own security aud protection, establish a ptovis
iona government Tor themselves. Strong in ihclr 4
allegiance and ardent in their attachment % the .
United Stairs. they have thus been uion their own .
resources. They anxious that our laws should .
10 extended over them, aud | recommend that this /
I've done hy Congress with little delay as poss!hl
in the full extent to which the BRUSH Parliament
have proceeded in regard To Brili.h subjects in that
territory by their Of iuly the second, 1891 "inr
reg ula,ing the for trade and eslnhlishnga criminal
and civil jurisdiction within certain paris of North
America Nv this act Great Britain extended her
laws aud jurisdiction, civil and criminal, over her
subjects engaged in the fur trade in that territory.
BY it, the courts of the province of Upper Canada
cmpoN cred to take cognizance of causes civil
and criminal. Justices OF the peace and other judi
rial officers were authorized TO he appointed in Ore
gon with power execute all process issuing from
the courts of that province, and TO sit and hold
courts of record for the Trial of criminal ofncPs and
not made the subj Jet of capital
and also Of civil cases, where the cause
IF action shall not exceed in value the of
The sum of two hundred pounds"
Subsequent to the date OF this ac, of Parliament
a 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, sub.
ect To o reservation that it shall operate 10 the
exclusion i''of the subjects OF any foreign States
Who under or by force Of any convention for The
line being between aud such foreign States
:pec,vcy, may be entitled to, and shall be engaged
II the said trade"
It is much to he regretted, that, while under this
,ct British subjects have enjoyed the protection of
British laws and British judicial tribunals through
,ut the whole of Oregon, American citizens IN the
anne territory, have enjoyed no such protection from
heir government. AZ the same tme, the result H.
usiratcs the character of people and their nsti
utions. In spite of this neglect they have multi.
,led. and tner number is rapidly increasing in that
crrltory, They have made appeal to arms, but
lave peacefully fortified themselves in their new
homes, by the adoption of republican institutions;