The New York herald., 1845-12-03


latitude, which had been made by two preceding
administrators, but without proposing 10 surrender
to Great Britain as they had done, the free naviga-
ton OF the Columbia river The right OF any Tor
elgn Power to the free navigation OF any OF our
rivers, through the heart OF our country, was one
which was unwilling to concede. Il also emora-
ced provision TO make free to Great Britain any
port or ports on the cap OF Quadra and Vancouvers
island, south OF this parallel. Had this been new
question, coming under discussion for the first time,
this proposition would not have been made. The
extraordinary and wholly inadmissable demands OF
the British government, an the rejection OF the pro-
position made In difference alone 10 what had
been done BY my predecessors. and the implied OBJ.
legation which their acts seemed 10 impose, afford
satisfactory evidence, that compromise which
the United States ought to accept be effected.
With this conviction, the proposition o compromise
which had been made and rejected, was, by my
direction, subsequently Withdrawn, and our title to
the whole Oregon territory asserted and, as Is be
lisved, mslntained by rretragable facts and argu-
ments
The civilized world will see in these proceedings
spirit Of liberal concession on the part OF the unl.
ted States; and this government will he relieved
from all responsibility which may follow the failure
to settle the controversy
All attempts at compromise having failed. it be-
comes the duty OF Congress to consider what mea
sures il may be proper TO adopt tor the security and
protection OF our cltzens now inhabltlng, or who
may hereafter lnhabt Oregon, and Tor the mainten-
ance OF our Just title 10 that territory. In adopting
measures for this purpose. should be taken that
nothing be done tn violate the stlpuati0us OF the
convention of 1927, which is sulI in force The
talh of treaties In their letter and spirit, has ever
been, and trus will ever be- scrupulonsly observ
ed by the United States Under that convention,
years notice is required TO be gwen by either party
to the other, before the joint occupancy shall term
nate and before either can rlghtuIy assert exer-
else exclusive jurisdiction over any portion OF tlts
territory This notice II would In my judgment,
be proper to give; and recommend that provision
be made by law for giving 1t accordingly, and ter
mlnang, IN this manner, the convention OF the 9th
| of August, 1927.
II will become proper tor Congress TO determine
what Legislation they can, in the mean time, adopt
without violating this convention. Beyond all qnes-
ton, the protection of our laws and our jurisdiction,
civil and criminal, ought TO be Immediately extend
ed over our citizens in Oregon. They have had just
cause to complain OF our long neglect In this parti
cular and have, IN consequence been compelled, tor
their security and projection, 10 establish pro-
vlsonal 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 delav
possible, in the full extent to which the British Par
lament have proceeded in regard British subjects
in that territory, by their act Of July the second,
1921 "fcr regulating the fur trade, and establishing
criminal and civil jurisdiction within certain parts
of North America" BY this act Great Britain cx-
tended her laws and jurisdiction, civil and criminal
over hei subjects, engaged the fur trade IN that
territory BY it, the courts OF the province of Upper
| Canada were empowered to take cognlzancc OF
|
other judicial officers were authorized TO be appoint
ed in Oregon, with power execute all process Is.
suing from the Courts Of that province, and to est
and hold courts Of record Tor the trial of criminal Of
capital punishment, and also Of civil cases, where
the OF action shall not .exceed in value the
amount or sum Of two hundred pounds"
Subsequent to ,he date o. this act Of Parliament
Hudson's Bay Company, OF the exc luslve trade with
the Indian tribes In the Oregon territory, subject to
reservation that shall operate to the exclusion
''Of the subjects OF any foreign States who, under
or by force of any convention for the time being,
between and such foreign States respectively,
may be entitled to, and shall be engaged IN, the said
,irade =
1t is much to be regretted, that, while under this
act British subjects have enjoyed the protection OF
British laws aud British judicial tribunals through
out the " hole OF Oregon. American CITIZENS. IN the
same territory, have enjoyed such protection
from thelrgovernment AT the same time tine result il
usrates the character Of our people and their nsti-
tltions. In spie OF this neglect, they have multi
Piled, and their number is rapidly increasing in that
territory They have made no appeal to arms, but
have peacefully fortified themselves in their new
homes, by the adoption Of republican institutions
tor themselves; furnishing another example OF The
truth that selfgovernuIen is Inherent in the Amer.
can breast, aud must prevail Ii is due to them
that they should be embraced and protected by our
laws
| Ii is deemed important that our laws regulating
trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes east OF
the Rocky mountains, should be extended to such
| tribes as dwell beyond them
The increasing emigration to Oregon, and the
care and protection which Is due from the govern
ment to Its citizens in that dstant region, make II
our dpy as II Is our Interest, 10 cultivate amlcable
relations with the ladlan tribes OF that territory
For this purpose, recommend that provision be
| made tor establishing an Indian agency, and such
sub-agencles as may be deemed necessary, beyond
the Rocky Mountains.
For The protection OF emlgrants whilst on their
way to Oregon, against the attacks OF the Indian
ri ibtsy
pass, recommend that a suitable number oil stock
AIDES and block house forts be erected along the u-u-
| al route between our frontier settlements the
Missouri and the Rocky Mountains; and that al
equate force OF mounted rilemen be raised to guard
aud protect them Oh their journey. The immediate
| adoption OF these recommendations by Congress
wil not violate the provisions OF the existing treaty
IL will be doing nothing more tor American citizens
than British laws have long since done tor British
subjects in the same territory.
IL requires several months to perform the voyage
by sea from the Atlantic States to Oregon; and al
though we have large number of whale ships in
| the Pacific, but few OF them afford opportunity
OF lnterchanging intelligence, without great delay
between our settlements IN that distant region and
the United States. An overland mail is believed to
be entirely practlcable and the importance of esta
bshlng such mail, at least once month, is sub
mllted to the favorable consideration of Congress
| Ii Is submitted TO the wisdom of Congress TO de-
| termne whether, at their present session. and until
after the expiration OF the years notice. any other
measure may be adopted, consistently with the con-
vention OF 1927, for the security OF our rights, and
| the government and protection of our citizens In
Oregon That it will ultimately be wise aud proper
to make liberal grants OF land to the patriotic po-
neers, who, amidst prlvaons and dangers, lead the
way through savage tribes lnhabitiDg The vast viii
derness intervening between our frontier settlements
and Oregon, and who cultivate, and are ever ready
to defend the soil, am fully satisfied. To doubt
whether they will obtain such grants as soon as the
convention between the United States and Great
Britain shall have ceased TO exist would be to doubt
the justice Of Congress but, pending the years no
tce, il is worthy Of consideration whether stlpua-
tion to this effect may be made, consistently with
the spirit OF that convention.
The recommendations which have made, as TO
the best maniler Of securing our rights IN Oregon,
are submitted TO Congress with great Difference -
Should they, in their wisdom, devise any other
mode better calculated 10 accomplish the same OBJ
lect, IL shall meet with nv hearty concurrence