Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-03-05


tizen Of The United States all The time, il
The same territory, was amenable 10 GU
laws In addition to this, how has EngIan'
interpreted her own rights in This matter
hold in my hand an act of Parliament
passed I'd July, 1921, entitled IAN act fo
regulating the fur trade, and establishing
criminal and civil jurisdiction within Ger.
laiD parts OF North America BY this
enactment, courts are established, suits can
be instituted, criminals can be arrested
and process cnE issue and be served
"witLin Tho said Indian territories, and
other parts Of America not within the IL.
mits OF either of the provinces of Lower
or Upper Canadl, or Of any cipil gororn-
mcnt Of The United States" Bysthis il
would appear those English Courts have
jurisdiction over all that vast territory
which lies west OF Arkansas, Missouri,
and Iowa, being " within no civil govern.
ment Of tho uailcd Slates.'
[Mr. yINroN, Of Ohio, said, what does /,
say about landsl
Mr.. I. continued, am glad the gen.
llcman has reminded me Of that. Il onacts
tina. "all suits and actions relating TO lands,
or to any claim 10 respect TO land, not be-.
ing within the province Of Upper Canada,
shall be decided according 10 the laws of
that part Of tho United Kingdom called
England This evidently extends all
the principles Of the common law in re-
gard to land 10 this very country now
claimed by the United Suites. The only
clause excepting the citizens Of the United
Staieg from the operation Of this law, so
far as can ascertain, is found in the fourth
scction--viz: "lhat nothing in this oct con.
tanned shnll be deemed or construed TO au.
ihorizc any body corporate, &c. TO claim
or exercise any such exclusive trade with.
in the limits specified in said article (re.
ferring 10 the convention Of lSlS) 10 the
prejudice or exclusion Of any citizen Of the
United States Of America who may be en-.
gagged in said trade"
Hero is practical Interpretation of the
provisions Of this treaty given TO it by one
Of tho contracting parties. Under this
law our citizens may be arrested for impu.
ted offences, and carried more than thou
sand miles 10 stand a vexatious trial before
hostile court nnd foreign Jury. A
troublesome trader may be forced 10 desist
from lawful traffic by threats and me-
nacos of an unprinciped and unscrupu-
lous company, backed by the posse Of the
country, and the power Of the courts. -
For hearty quarter of century we have
submitted to this Interpretation of the tren.
", and this exercise Of jurisdiction, with
out protcst--wlhoui murmur. This
government, therefore, has acquiesced in
this construction of That convention. But
TO remove all difficulty with gentlemen on
this subject, hope tho friends of this bill
will consent 10 the insertion of n proyiso
securing 10 British subjects in the Oregon
Territory all the rights md privileges
which they may claim by virtue of exist
ing stipulaiions. And for the purpose Of
being clearly right, would consent to
further proviso that, in the event British
subject was arrested on charge of any
crime or felony, no should be delivered up
TO the British authorities, 10 be tried by a
British court aud jury. The bill only pro-
misses that provision shall hereafter be made
for grants of land TO such citizens as be.
como actual settlers in Oregon; and | |
would consent that still further proyiso
be inserted, restricting the location OF
such setllementrights 10 such lands as
may DO ultimately exclusively vested in the |
United States. The bill, thus cautiously
guarded, would leave no Just ground of
complaint, either nj home or abroad. On
the contrary, il seems 10 me difficult for
patriotic minds 10 differ as to the line of
duty Tor this Congress 10 pursue. When
tho American citizen leaves his own coun.
try and becomes a stranger in strange
land, he presses forward, fearing no evil,
because he knows that an insult or injury
done or offered to him is an indgnity 10
his government. and that her protecting
shield will ward off danger, and her strong
arm will avenge his wrongs. Destroy this
faith, this confidence Of the citizen in the
protecting caro- and consideration of his
government, aud you strike from his bosom
all love of country, oil national pride; you
beget in him n feeling of unwllingness
TO make sacrifices to promote her interest,
md no becomes coward and cringing
knayc,
On this principle of determined guar.
our flag flies at tho masthead of
our vessels in the remotest seas of the
earth; and our soamcu are safe in person
and property. They point to the stars and
stripes as the emblem of their country's
power and greatness and their hearts
swell with emotions Of patriotic pride and
DEVOTION No one would impair the force
OF SO noble an impulse, and least of all, n
member OF an American Congress. Then
you must pass this bill; enact laws for the
government OF our people; check, restrain,
xsIan