Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-02-01

Il -. - I.
the letter Of the treaty. but certainly did the spirit o. thai
instrument Like those who preceded him. be held our utle
to be perfect and complete and believed that we might AZ s
tune extend our jurisdiction proposed had not laid our
selves under restriction IT, however, this bill should pass,
he should follow it up by calling up the joint resolution de.
cang that the joint occupany ought 10 cease lie objected
particularly to the land clause in the bill and maintained hat
in this respect went further than the British had gone
Mr. BROWN, OF Tennessee, chairman Of the Committee
on Territories, who had introduced the bill numaied ms VIII
ngness to amend il by inserting the clause making e grants
Of land to citizens in Oregon subject 70 the result OF e
pending negotiation. t4 &1sSa. et@ s
But Mr. OWEN thought settles would be satisfied with
such an arrangement. fat
/ Mr. j. r. INGERSOLI opposed the bill as involving
breach of good faith He objected not only to the grants Of
land but to the whole project of establishing Territorial
Government He considered this very Idscree when the
negotiations were far advanced and probably near close
Such proceeding might put abrupt end to them and lead
Il was robbmg coordinate banch OF the Goyerp-
mcnt of the exercise Of its appropriate power Its tendency
was to excite spirit and the whole measure
cessary and premature He was for waiting till the negota
ton ended
deal Of warmth, deprecated British rapacy and ambition, and
especially British diplomacy, which had led to dsmember
of the State Of Maine, without her appreciation, and
against her consent He referred to the extension Of British
jurisdiction citizens, and the alleged execution Of
Of them in Canada and argued enormously both for the
passage Of this bill and for immediate notice the British Go
vernment that the joint occupancy must cease.
Mr.. ELMER ready TO give the notice OPP
had dragged quite long enough already and ready
extend jurisdiction in Oregon provided limited to
american citizens. As the bin STOOD it was in direct
violation of the treaty He denied the authenticity of the
port that the British had executed any Of citizens had
much pretended to extend jurisdiction them. On
the contrary they had suffered settlers to set up govern
ment of their within sound of the British Had
they laid hands citizens, would be part good
Of war; and attempted to do the same it would be
equally good of their side He suggested several
particulars in which the bill ought to be amended.
The question taken the pending motion Of Mr.
BRcws to strike out nine in the first section which was
agreed to.
Mr. AARONV. BROWN, chairman Of the Committee on
Territories from which the bill reported sent to the table,
and had read for information, the following amendments
which, at the proper time, he will propose 10 the bill
Add to the 10th section
Provided afoays That the future grants land contemplated
by this shall be subject the settlement OF dispute now
pending between Great Britain and the United States in rea
ton to their respective claims
Add to the bill the following section:
And whereas by Convention entered into his Bri
fannie Majesty and the United States of America, stpu-
lated and agreed that country the Northwest coast OF
America the westward the Stony Mountains should be
free and open to the citizens and subjects Powers
being competent however, either OF the contracting Pow
es in either should think fit at any time after the Goth
October 1S8 giving due notice OF twelve months to the
other contracting party annu and abrogate this convention
BE therefore enacted That nothing il this act shall be
construed close obsct of the harbor bays and
creeks the navigation OF rivers within the territorial limits
OF the Territory hereby organized part OF the country
that may be claimed by either party the Northwest coast Of
America, between the AID degree and saith degree 40 min
utcs Of north latitude against the vessels, citizens and
subjects Of Great Britain agleeaby to the provisions OF the Sd
article Of the Convention of Goth October 1885, between the
United States and Great Britain, until the termination of the
said stipulation Of said Convention.
Mr. A. Y. BROWN also proposed to add to the 30th
ton OF the bill the following proviso
Prorad dfrags, That in where British subject
resident Of trading said Territory Of Oregon, shall be arrest
ed charged with the commission OF mdemeanor felony
the shall be delivered over to the nearest tribunal OF the
provision not to apply after the period Of twelve months from
notice which may be given By the United States contem
plated by the third article of the Convention subsstDg be-
tween the two countries in relation to said Territory
Mr.. HUNT, of New York. entered into argument to
show that the present bill amounted to inaction Of
treaty spulaions, and opposed implying violation Of
the national faith He went into pretty OBSERVE
tons the lust Of territory and spirit Of conquest contend
ing that had quite much territory already could be
well governed in our Republic.
Mr.. MORRIS, Of Pennsylvania after avowng his full be-
lief in the validity Of e and discoursng the grasp
ing character of the British policy opposed the adoption of the
bill until the notice stipulated in the treaty respecting Oregon
should first have been given He had expectations from
further negotiations but he thought this bill
II looked rather like plan to extend Executive patronage,
nasmuch it provided apparatus Of Government not
needed by few settlers rude country The people did
not need any interference from They able to act
Government Of their II duty, however, to
protect them till Them and when they should have passed the
Infancy OF their existence community, he would make
present of the country for he did net entertain the
American Confederacy.
Mr. DOUGLASS next took the floor and went with much
warmth into reply to the speech Of Mr. MoRRIs whom he
charged with having virtually proposed dissolution Of the
Union by alternating important portion Of territory
He denied that the Rocky Mountains presented any for
ndabe natural barrier to justify such separation than the Al
eghanes did to justify separation Of the States in the Mis-
ssppi valley from those the Atlantic He deprecated the
idea of abandoning the settlers and compelling them to set
up Government of their He insisted that the bill inn
Piled violation of treaty. and proposed than Eng
land had already done He contended that ought to adj
far at least she had DONE He had hope from
negotiation and dwel the necessity of bringing the ques
ton TO close by taking decided stand, and insisting upon
rights. II came let but the best way to
avoid to prepare ourselves to meet it. and to demand
nothing more than we might rightfuly insist
Mr.. SEVERANCE opposed the bill Should such a sys-
quired customhouscs be up, and the tariff enforced
which would lead TO immediate collision. He thought the
whole plan unnecessary for letting the settlers alone, and
allowing them TO make the experiment of free trade Nobody
would disturb them and, until they assaed, he was fol-
letting things remain they werc and suffering the joint
cupation to continue.
Mr.. ADAMS complained Of the precipitancy with which
the bill passed and the debate curaled after the House
had ordered book the subject and had called the Elk
ccuve for information, but had got neither the book an
answer 10 the call He then gave his general views on
the subject Of the bill, full report Of which is in pre-
paration He for passing joint resolution direct
ing the President TO give notice TO Great Britain that the
JOINT occupancy Of Oregon must be terminated In twelve
months from this time. This he thought the most likely mode
Of bringing the pending negotiation to point After that
notice had been given he should not object to the passage OF
the present bill with some notifications and expressed
hope that in this might obtain possession, not
of the whole that claimed, at least very large part oil IT.
without But pass the bill in its present form, with
out that notice. must lead to war; if il was not itself war
measure
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