Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-12-10

Columbia, and that the pending negotiatio
had been commenced on the basis of com
promise, deemed it to be my duty not ah
rubtly to break 1t of. In consideration
: too. that under the conventions Of 1918 an
} 1927, the citizens and subjects of the tw
powers held joint occupancy of the coun
try, was induced to make another effor
TO settle this long pending controversy il
the spiri; Of moderation which had givel
birth TO the renewed discussion. A propo
sition was accordingly made, which wa
rejected by the British plenipotentiary wh'
without submitting any other proposition
suffered the negotiation on his part to droI
expressing the trust that the United States
would offer what he saw fit to call ..som,
further proposal for the settlement Of tht
Oregon question, more consistent will
fairness and equity, and with the reasona
BILE expectations of the British government.
The proposition thus offered and rejected
repeated the offer of the parallel 40 degrees
of north latitude, which had been made by
two preceding administrations, but without
proposing TO surrender to Great Britain, as
they had done, the free navigation Of the
Columbia river. The right Of any for.
elgn power to the free navigation Of any
of our rivers. through the heart Of oul
country, was one which was unwilling te
concede. II also embraced provision tc
make free to Great Britain any port OF
ports on the cape of Quadra and Vancou.
ver's island, south Of this parallel. Had
this been new question, coming under
discussion for the first time, this PROPOSE.
would not have been made. The extraor-
dinary and wholly inadmissible demands
of the British government. and the rejec'
ton Of the proposition made in Difference
alone TO what had been done by my prede.
cessors, and the implied obligation which
their acts seemed TO impose, afford satisfac-
tory evidence that no compromise which
the United States ought to accept, can be
effected. With this conviction, the propo-
sition Of compromise which had been made
and rejected, was, by my direction, subse.
quently Withdrawn, and our title to the
whole Oregon territory asserted. and as is
believed, maintained by irrefragible facts
and arguments. ....
The civilized world will see in these
proceedings spirit of liberal concession
on the part of the United States; and this
government will be relieved from all re-
sponsibiity which may follow the failure
to settle the controversy.
All attempts at compromise having fail
ed, it becomes the duty Of Congress to con-
slider what measures it may be proper to
adopt for the security and protection of our
citizens now inhabiting, or who may here
after inhabit Oregon, and for the mainten-
ance of our just title TO that territory. In
adopting measures Tor this purpose, care
should be taken that nothing be done to vi
olate the stipulations of the convention OF
1927, which is still in force. The faith
of treaties, in their letter and spirit, has
ever been. and trust will ever be scrupu.
lously observed by the United States. Un'
der that convention, years notice is re-
quired to be given by either party 70 the
other, before the joint occupancy shall ter
inmate. and before either can rightlully as.
sert or exercise exclusive jurisdiction over
any portion of the territory. This notice
it would, in my judgement, be proper to
give; and recommend that provisions be
made by law for giving it in accordingly
and terminating, in this nanner, the con
vention Of the sixth of August, 1927. -
1t will become proper for Congress te
determine what Legislation they can. in th'
meantime, adopt without violating this con
vention. Beyond all question, the protec
ton of our laws and our jurisdiction, civi
and criminal, ought to be Immediately ex
tended over Our citizens in Oregon. The,
have just cause to complain Of our lont
neglect in this particular. and have il
consequence, been compelled for the
own security and protection, to establish
provisional government for themselves
Strong in their allegiance and ardent ii
their attachment to the United States, the.
have been thus cast upon their own re
sources. They are anxious that our law
should be extended over them, and rec
ommend that this be done by Congress wit
as little delay as possible, in the full exten
, to which the British Parliament have pre-
! ceeded in regard to British subjects in tho
} territory, by their act of July the secone
1921, "regula,ing the fur-trade and estat
fishing criminal and civil jurisdictio
; within certain parts Of North America.
> BY this act Great Britain extended he
} laws and jurisdiction, civil and criminal
over her subjects engaged in The fur trad
, in that territory. By it, the courts of tn
, province Of Upper Canada were empou
: cred to take cognizance of causes civil an
S criminal. Justices Of the peace ond othe
3 judicial officers were authorized to be al
: pointed in Oregon, with power to execvt
= all process issuing from the courts OF tn
! province, and to s'sit ani hold courts Of r.
i cord for the trial Of criminal offences ar
= misdemeanors," not made the SUBJECT
capital punishment, and also of civil case
e where the cause Of action shall not ''e'
|, ceed in value the amount or sum OF t"
q hundred pounds" .i1 ...
IS Subsequent to the date Of this act Of Pa