Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-12-05


free 10 Great Britain any port OF ports on the cap
OF Quadra and Vancouvel's Island, south OF this
parallel. Had this been new question. Coming
under discussion for The fist time, This PROPOSE.
ton would not have been made. Inc exIrao-di-
nary and wholly inadmissi5le demands Of the
British government, and tn rejection OF The pro-
position made in Difference alone 10 what had
been done by my predecessors, and The implied
Oolieaio which their acts seemed 10 impose, al
ford satisfactory evidence that TO compromise
which The United States ought 10 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was, by my direction, Subsequently Withdrawn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 10 The whole Oregon territory assert
cd, and, as is believed, maintained by ilreraga5.e
facts and arguments.
The civilized world will see in these proceed.
in.s a spirit ofliberal concession on The part Of
the United States; and this government will be
relieved from all responsibility which may follow
The failure 10 settle The controversy.
All attempts at compromise having failed, il
becomes Inc duty of Congress III consider wha
measures il may be proper 10 adopt Tor The secu'
rity and protection OF our CITIZENS now inhabi.
ing. or who may hereafter inhabl Oregon and
for the maintenance OF our Just lille TO that terri
tory. In adopting measures for this purpose
late The s,,pulalions oil the Convention OF 1927
which is sill! in force The faith OF treaties, il
their letter and spirit, has ever been, and trus
will ever be, scrupulonsiy observed by the UnileC
Stacs. Under thai Convention, years motto,
i, required 10 be given BY either party 10 the other
before the Joint occupancy shall terminate ant
before either can rish.fuly assert or exercise ex
elusive jurisdiction over any portion of the terri
tory This notice il would in my Judgment bt
proper 10 give; and recommend mat provision
b. made b. law Tor giving j! accordingly, ant
terminating 10 this manner The Convention OF tht
SIKH of August, 1877.
II will become proper Tor Congress 10 deter
mine what legislation they can, in !hc mean time
adopt, wi!hca: violating this Convention. Be
yond all question, The projection Of our laws ant
our jurisdiction, civil and criminal, ought 10 h,
Immediately extended over our citizens in Ore
gon. They have had just cause 10 complain o
our long neglect in this particular, and have, il
Consequence, been compelled for their own seen
ritz and protection, to establish provisional Go
vernment for themselves. Strong in their ale
glance. AMI ardent in their attachment 10 lht
UnieL States Ecv have been thus cast upon !hei
own resources. They arc anxious that our law:
shoud he extended over them, and recommend
that his be done By Congress- with as lille de-
lay as possible, in The iull extent 10 which thC
British Parliament have proceeded in regard Il
British Subjects IN that territory, hy their act Q
JAY The second, 1891, ";or regulating the fur
trade, and establishing a criminal ana civil luri>
ticioa wilhn certain paris Of North America.
BIZ this act Crca! Britain extended her laws an,
jurisdiction, civil ana criminal, over her subjects
engaged in the iu.-lrade in that territory. Py il
The courts OF the province OF Upper Canada were
empowered 10 take cogni2ance Of causes civil ant
criminal. Justices of tie peace, and other Judi
c:. Officers, were authorized 10 be appointed il
Oregon, with powcr,o execute all process isSuins
from he cnnns Of lha, province, and 10 ''si! an
hold cunus 81 rccu:d for The trial OF criminal OF
fences and misitrGeanors,' mol made he su3jeo
81 capital punishment and a!So q civil cases
where the cause 81 action shall not Exceed u
value the amour! or sun oilwo hundred pounds.
e.L--1---. :" iiie date oil thu, ~, 81 raIla
mcn a giant wa, made from me "briiish crown
10 The iiulson's Bay Company, OF The exclu
sive trade with The Indian tribes in The Oregon
territory, subject 10 reservation that Il >lal
not operate 10 The exclusion ''ot The subjects
any oreien States. who, under Or rs iufce 9
any convention ;or The time being, between u
and such foreign States respectively, may be eiii
tied TO- and shall be engaged in, the said trade"
Ii is much 10 BE- regretted, that while under
luiS HSt l'lHiSH SuDJ'St'
lection of British laws and British judicial ri
buna; lhroughou; the whole oil Oregon, Anne.
can citizens, H. the same territory have ENJOYED
no such protection from lhsr Government. a
Inc same tine the Icsnli illustrates the charac
Ter OF oar people and their institutions. /.
spite Of Ills neglect they have multiplied am
their number is rapidly increasing III thai ter
;i,ury They have made no appeal 10 arms bu
have peacefully fortified themselves in their new
homes, by the adoption of Republican ins,iiu
lions for them. elves; furnishing another exam
PIE If the truth Thai selt-go"ernmenI is inheTen
in the American breast, and must prevail. III
due 10 ,hem ,ha, lhey should &c embraced ant
protected " our laws
Ills deemed Important: that our laws, regulating
trade and Intercourse with the Indian tribes Eas
OF The Rocky mountains should be extended Il
such tribes as dwell beyond them.
The increasing emigration 10 Oregon, and the
care and protection which is due from The go
vcrnment to It's citizens in that distant region
make il or du,y as il is our interest," 10 cultivate
amicabe relations with The Indian tribes OF ;ha
territory. For hi, purpose, recommend ma
provision BE made for establishing an lndlai
agency, and such sub-agencics as may be deem
ed necessary, beyond the Rocky Mountains.
For The protection OF emisranis, whilst on hei
way to Oregon against the attacks OF me indiai
tribes occupying the country through which they
pass, | recommend that suitable nunpel 0
s,ocka,les and block-house forts be erected along
The usual route between our frontier settlement:
on The Missouri and The Rocky Mountains; am
tina, an adequate force Of mounted ri1emen o'
raised /, guard and protect hem on ,heirJoufney
The immediate adoption OF these recommends
tions b. Congress will not violate the provisions
OF The existing treaty. II will be doing nohin:
more for American citizens than British law:
have l,o since done for British subjects in thu
same territory.
II reouires several months to perform the voy
= % hy sra from the Atlantic States 10 Oregon
aud although we have large number oil whale
ships in the Pacific bu! few ul them afford an op
porlnnity OF inlerchanging intelligence, w'ilhou
eraa,dclay. between our settlements in that dis
Ia n, region and The Uniled States. An oveflan
nails believed 10 he entirely practicable, and 'ii'
importance Of establishing such mail, al leas
once month, is submitted to the favorable con
sidcration of Congress.
hi. submitted 10 The wisdom Of Congress {;
determine whether, at their present session, an
until aiier The expiration of The years notice, an,
o.her measures may be adopted consistently VII
Inc convention OF 1927, for the security OF on
rights and The government, and protection oil on
citz4ns in Oregon. That it will ultimately b
wise and proper 10 make liberal grants of lard
The pa,rioi;c pioneers who, amidst priTaiions am
dangers. lead The way through savage tribes inha
hing The vast wilderness Intervening bctwce
our Eontisr settlements and Oregon. and who ca
iiya,e ana are ever ready 10 defend lac soil, o.!
luIiy satisfied. To doubt whether they will OF
tain such grants as soon as The contention bt
lw..n he Uniled States and Great Britain sha
hive ce3sed 10 exist, would be TO doubt Inc jnslc
Of Congress; but, pending The years notice, il
worthy of consideration whether stipulation
this effect may DC made consistently with the Sp
lit Of that convention.
The recommendations which have made, q
10 The best manner Of securing our rights in Ore
con. are submitted 10 Congress with great def
isnce. Should they, in their wisdom, devils
am ether mode bcl,er calculated 10 accomplis
The same object, il shall meet with my heat
concurrence.
Al the end OF the years notice, should Congre'
think il proper 10 make provision for giving IN;
no,ice. we shall have reached period when IN
national rights in Oregon must either be aba'
done, or firmly maintained. That they cann
be abandoned without sacrifice OF both nalioi
al honor and interest, IS too clear TO admit
cou5i.
Oregon is par Of The North American conl
uen,, 10 which, il is confidently affirmed, the Iii
- s-,1 YrfA ~a