Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-12-04

made. Inc extraordinary and wholly inaCl-
missable demands vi the British gover, mcnt.
and ,h' INJECTION OF the proposition made i'm
deiiefen,c alone 10 what had been done by
my predecessors, and the implied Obligation
which their acts seemed TO impose. afford sa.
tisactory evidence that no comprc mise that
the United States ought . accept. can he ct.
/ icctcd. With this conviction. the proposi-
tion Of compromise which had been made
and rejected, was, BY mi direction, srbsc-
quently withdrawn snl our title to the whole
tOrSon territory asserted and, IN is believed.
maintained by irreiragablc facts and argu-
meuts.
The civilized world will scc in these pro.
ceedings spirit OF liberal concession on the
part u the United Stoles; and this govern
mcnt will bc relieved from all responsibility
which may follow the failure 10 settle the
controversy.
AL attempts 10 compromise having failed,
1t becomes the duty OF Congress TO consider
what measures ii may be proper 10 adopt for
the security and protection Of our ci,izcus now
,inhabiting, or who may hereafter n ,b.t Orr.
gon, and Tor the maintenance Of our just title
to that territory. In adopting MEASURES for
this purpose, care should b. taken that moth
ing be done To violate the slipulations Of the
convention of 1927, which 10 still in fos e.
The faith OF treaties. in their letter aud spirit
has ever been, and, trust will ever BE-, scru.
| pulously observed by the United States. I'm
der that convention, a year notice is required
10 be- given by either party to the other, b..
fore the Joint occupancy shall terminate. and
before either can rishtiully assert or exercise
exclusive misdiction over any portion OF the
territory. This notice il would, in my judg.
ment, b. proper TO give; snl | recommend
that provision b. made by law for giving it
a, cordingly. and terminating. in til, manner,
- m Inn A no, six ia ~ A,o
1t will become proper Tor Congress TO de-
tarmine what legislation they can. in the
mean time. adopt without violat:n, this con-
renlion. Beyond all question. the protection
oil our laws and our jurisdiction, civil AMI
criminal, ought to b. immedia ELY extended
over our citizens in Oregon. They have Just
cause 10 complain at our long neglect in this
particular, and have in consequence, been COM
PEELED, Tor their own 'Curity and protection
10 establish a provisional government Tor
themselves. Strong in their allegiance and
ardent III their attachment In the United
States, they have been thus cast upon their
own resources. They are anxious that our
laws should b. extended over them, and r.
commend that this b. done by Congress with
as lIlic delay as possible. in the full exeut I,
which the British Parliament have pgoc edcd
III rgsrd TO British sub)ccts in that territory,
by their act OF JJiy the ,c)nd, lS2l, :. for
r'guia:ing the tur trade, aid g ablishing a
criminal and civil jurisdiction within cer,ain
parts oil North America" BY this act Great
Britain extended her laws and jurisdiction,
civii and criminal, over her subjects engaged
in the fur trad i'll that territory.
BY 1t, the courts OF tn province Of Uppsr
Canada. were cml .,owcr-d 10 TAX. cosnizance
ui causes civil ana criminal Justic' OF the
p ace and other Judicial officers were au,ho !.
z.i Ia b appointed in Oregon with power to
execute all process issuing from the courts of
that province, and to (" sit aud hold courts of
r"corl for TIL trial Of criminal offences and
isd,meanors, not made tho subject of cap
ital punishment, and also OF civil cases where
the caus of action shall not exceed in value
the amoant or sum OF two hundred pounas."
Subs q i;nt 10 the date of this act OF Parlia-
m,nt, .ran; was made from the British
! Crown" TO the Hujson's Bly Com any, Of
the xclusivc trade with the Indian tribes in
|, tn. Oregon territory, subject to servaiion
that II shall not operate 10 tn. excl. sion g OF
the subjects OF any foreign States who, under
or by i.gcc OF any convention for the time
b ing, between us aud such foreign States res.
pectiyaly. may be entitled TO, and shall be
e,g sed in, th- said trade"
i,is much TO b. lifted, that, while under
this act british subj ccts have enjoyed the pro-
t3ction of British laws and British judicial
u.
Am rican citiz ms, in the sam. territory, have
enjoyed no such protection from their govern
ment. AT the same time the r. suit illustrates
the character of our people AMI their institu-
tons. In spite OF this neglect, they hav.
multiplied. and their numb r is rapidly in
creasing in that territory. They have made
no appeal to arms, but have peacefully forti-
fled thems Ives III III 'ir new HON IS, BY the
adoption OF r,pnbican institutions for tn IN
selves; furnishing another example OF the
truth that self-govenm mt is inherent in the
American breast, and must prevail. Ii is due
to thrm that they should BE- embraced and
protected by our laws.
1t is deemed important that Our laws regu-
ldting trade and lat recourse with tn: lnlian
tribes east OF the Rocky mountains, should b.
extended IN such trib.sas dwell beyond them.
; The increasing emigration to Oregon, and
the care AMI protection which is ddr from the
government to its citizens in that distant re-
gion make ii our duty, asst is our interest, TO
cultivate amicabe relations with the Indian
tribes of that territory. For this purpose, |
recommend that provision b.. made for estab
fishing AN Indian agency. and such sdb-agn.
cics as may be deemed necessary, beyond the
Rocky mountains.
For the projection Of emigrdnis while on
their way to Oregon, against the attacks Of
The In iiin tribes occupying the country
through which they pass, | recommend that
suiabl, numb vi stockadcs and block
house forts b. ar ctcd along the usual 70 ite
b TWEEN or 'front.' st l.m 'nts on the Mis-
oiri and Rocky mo mt i>; AMI that an ade-
| 4 tate force OF IN Juntcd rlh,n n b. raised to-
5aar.i ani protect them on their journry. The
immediate adoption OF tl,s, rcCom.n nlations
~ Consr'ss will not violate the provisions OF
tn, existing tr atty. 1t will b. doing nothing
'noe~ FOR Am 'riran citizens than British laws
have long since done for British subjects in tn /;
sam, territory.
IL r"qir's s'veral months to perform the
voyag b; s'a ffoin tn Atlantic s dtcs To Or.
I eg NJ; anl although we have large number
: OF whdle ships in ih, Pacific, but few OF them
aif)rl All opportunity of intrchinging intel
ligrnce, without great d'lay, between our
: seltlcmsnls in thlt distant region anil the