Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-12-11

!. o's W oCttiC haAS iouS Pa
ding controversy in the spirit of mod
Grafton which had given birth TO the
renewed discussion. A proposition
was accordingly made, which was re-
Jected by the British plenipotenliary,
who, without submitting any other pro-
osition, suffered the negotiation on his
part to drop, expressing his trust that
the United Srates would offer what
he saw fit to call some further proposal
Tor the settlement Of the Oregon ques-
ton, more consistent with fairness and
equity, and with the reasonable expec-
tatlons of the British government. =
| The proposition thus offered and reject
ed, repeated the offer of the parallel of
forty nine degrees of north latitude,
which had been made by two prece-
| ding administrations, but without pro-
posing to surrender to Great Britain,
IS they had done, the free navigation
OF the Columbia river. The right of
any foreign power to the free naviga-
ton of any of our rivers, through the
heart of our country, was one which
| was unwilling to concede. 1t also
embraced provision to make free to
Great Britain any pot or ports on the
cap ofQuadra and Vanconver's island ),
south of this parallel. Had this been
new question, coming under discus
/, sion for the first time, this proposition
would not have been made. The extra
ordinary and wholly in admissible de-
mands of:he British government, and the
rejection oftheproposition made in defer
ence alone to what had been done by
my predecessors, and the implied OBJ
legation which their acts seemed to i'm
pose, afford satisfactory evidence that
no compromise which the United States
ought to accept, can be effected
With this conviction, the proposition
Of compromise which had been made
and rejected, was, by my direction,
subsequently withdrawn, and our title
to the whole Oregon territory asser-
ted, and, as is believed, maintain
ed by irrefragable facts and arguments.
The civilized world will see in these
proceedings spirit Of liberal con-
cession or the part of the United
States; and this government will be
relieved from all responsibility which
may follow the failure to settle the con-
troversy.
All attempt at compromise having
failed, it becomes the duty of Congress
to consider what measures it may be
proper to adopt for the security and
protection Of our citizens now inhabi-
ting, or who may hereafter inhabit Or
egon, and for the maintenance Of our
just title to that territory. In adopt
ing measures for this purpose, care
should be taken that nothing be done
to violate the stipulations of the con-
vention of 1927, which is still in force.
The faith oftreaties, in their letter and
spirit, has ever been, and, trust,
will ever be, scrupulously observed by
the Uuited States. Under that con-
vention, a years notice is required to
be given by either party 10 the other,
before the joint occupancy shall termi-
nate, and before either can rightfully as
sert or exercise exclusive jurisdiction
over any portion of the territory. This
notice it wonld, in my judgment, be
proper to give; and | recommend that
provision be made by law for giving it
accordingly and terminating in this
manner the convention of the sixth of
August, 1927.
1t will become ploperfor Congress to
determine what legislation they can, in
the mean time, adopt without violating
this convention. Beyond all question,
the protection of our laws and our iu-
risdictions, civil or criminal, ought to
be Immediately extended over our citi-
zens in Oregon. They have had just
cause to complain of our long neglect
in this particular, and have, in conse-
quence, been compelled for their own
security and protection to establish a
provisional government for themselves.
Strong in their allegiance and ardent in
their attachment to the United States,
they have been thus cast upon their
own resources. They are anxious that
our laws should be extended over them,
and | recommend that this be done by
Congress with as little delay as possible,
in the full extent to which the Parlia-
ment have proceededin regardto British
subjects in that territory, by their act
of July the second, 1921, 'for regula-
ting the fur-trade, and establishing
criminal and civil jurisdiction within
certain parts of North America By
this act Great Britain extended her
laws and jurisdiction, civil and crimi-
nal, over her subjects, engaged in the
fur-trade in that territory. BY it, the
courts Of the province Of Upper Can
ada were empowered to take cogni-
zance of civil and criminal. Justice of
the peace and other judicial officers