The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-02
rHE pALY UNION

so the people Ihey VIII reJoiCe Al tuSH uellNcfance
from delusoni they will shudder 70 think they have
been led TO the verge of war upon the mistake Of
treaty, and blunder in geography And l am
ready TO abide their judgment upon my correction
OF this mistake, and their perseverance IN them after
they were exposed. This day has been the most
humlatlng of my senatorial life. have felt for the
AJnehean Senate when have seen a member cling
ing TO error and endsayoring TO keep the people in
error, at the risk of war by endeayoring TO do
| away the plain words Of treaty by garbling and
muulatng scraps Of speeches TO depreciaie another
senator-when the great question was one of the
peace and honor of the country, in the presence of
which every selfish feeling should have stood abash-
| ed and rebuked.
tell the people there is no such line as $40 40
from the sea TO the mountains. | tell them that so
far such line was ever proposed by the Ameri-
can government, it was proposed As a northern line
for the British, and not as northern line for our
selves. | tell them that 49o was offered by Mr..
| Jefferson, by Mr. Monroe, and by all the early
statesmen, without exception, who negotiated the
treaties which gave US LouIsPns and the Spanish
claims to northwest America. tell them that the
British claim TO Frazsrs river Is precisely the same
with our own u the Columbia. And say to them
that, whoever says the contrary Of this, will be
henceforth wiful deceiVer. | make great allow
ance for ignoraDee-for the mistakes OF ignoT-
ance-but ignorance ought 10 be docile, and sur
| render on conviction | make broad distinction
between the wlful and the ignorant deceiver, and
broader one still between the deciyers and the de-
ceyed The former are generally few, the latter
many-the former are more or less culpable, the
latter always innocent OF the myriads, nay mil
lions who have propagated the error Of $40 40, all
but few were the Innocent repeaters Of what came
10 them in way that they could not doubt it, All
these will rejeOe TO be relieved from their error.
Instead of geltlnE angry with me, they will thank
me for the trouble take 10 set them right. They
want nothing but truth and justice, and | thank
God that have the courage 10 give il TO them re-
| VaFdl nf earthly 1 rio 4
speak TO save my country from the calamities of a
war upon mistakes and blunders. | rely upon the
equity and intelligence Of the people, and give def
ance to ignorance, malice, and misrep representation.
When the vote is taken on the instruction which
| | have submitted, let the senator from Michigan
move TO strike out 49o, and insert SO 4U. We
shall then the sense Of the Senate, and the coun.
try will see who perseVeres in error and converts
into DESIGN what at first the mischief Of MIA.
| TAKE.
Mr.. B. having concluded, and the question being
| about to be put
! Mr.. MANGUM desired a division Of the ques.
ton, and il was accordingly divided, and being IA.
ken upon the first branch, viz: the reference TO the
Committee on the Judiciary, it agreed to.
| Mr. WESfCOTf, as the question was about be-
ing put on the first branch of the instructions rose
and said that he felt to be his duty To ask the at
tentIon Of the Senate for few moments in relation
! TO the proposed instructions. He had intended 10
renew his motion for postponement OF the whole
subject tl the FIRST Monday in December next, but
il had been suggested to him that the decision of the
Senate could well be obtained by the vote upon
the recommtment Of the bill, and he had therefore
| not renewed his motion. Besides, his opinion had
in some degree altered. Though he still thought
there necessity for the proposed legislation ut
this session, yet the country perhaps looked for it,
| and something due 10 their wishes and expec-
tations. Mr.. w. had therefore voted for the refer
ence to the Judiciary Committee. Though the Com
mittee on Territories were unable to agree to the
proper legislation upon this subject Mr.. w said he
did not doubt the Judiciary Committee could and
would. He was on both committees and had no
feeling whatever as TO the disposition Of the bill But
he did not think any instructions to the Judiciary
Committee necessary Dr. proper. The Senate having
by The vote Just taken, indicated its disposition TO
legisate in regard to Oregon this session, it was
not necessary for this chamber to do more at this
time
Now, (sad Mr.. w y what are the proposed in
structons' Its proposed to extend the laws Of the
United States over Oregon, as temporary govern
ment, all the year after the "notice" to end the
JOINT occupation had elapsed, to the same ex tent
the British Parliament have extended the laws of
England and Of Canada over il. Mr.. w. said he
was opposed to this lnsruction--frst, because the
extension proposed was too lille; and, secondly,
because it was to much Mr.. w. said he had on
former day briefly given his views to the Senate
with reference to this proposed extension Of the laws
OF the United Stotes over Oregon. He had OBJ
jected to it because it would answer no practical
purpose, do no good, afford no protection to our
| citizens there. Why, sir, might well hoist
the American flag there, and do nothing more
Just about as much benefit would result from the
one as the other The people Of Oregon want To-
cal government there-a municipal government, I'M
der the sanction Of Congress. This they have ask
| ed for This is all they want. What law Of the
United States extended over Oregon will regulate
the descent of real estates the distribution of per-
sonal property Of deceased persons there? How is
will tn he 8 al, tn
be obtained? How is a debt to be sued for? What
claw of the United States" can be invoked by the
people there to aid them in the organization and es
Establishment Of their local municipal government, or
to regulate their Intercourse between themseves'
There is none whatever. So, too, under what act
of Congress are riots, assaults or even murders in
Oregon to be punished, and by whom, and when, is
an offender to be tredi The inability TO answer
these questions satisfactorily, shows that the ex-
tension proposed Is too lhle-that it would answer
no beneficial end.
Again. If we extend the laws of the United
States over Oregon, and your tariff laws amongst
them, you must establish custom-house and make
custom-house offlcers, or no foreign merchandise
can be admitted there Besides, if you attempt to
enforce your import laws on British subjects there
before the "notce year" has expired, you will at
once come into collision with them. They will re-
sist such attempt. While the convention of joint
occupation is in force, we have no right to attempt
the enforcement of such laws against British sub
jects in Oregon. Therefore the extension proposed
is Objectionable also as being TOO much. II we do
extend the laws Of the United States over Oregon,
and the tariff laws amongst them, and even confne
their operation to our own citizens (Which, blythe
by, would be futile, for then the British could enter
the goods to avoid the duty,) you must not only es-
tabsh custom-houses and custom-house officers, |
but you must have federal Judge, federal attorney,
federal marshal, &C., to enforce the laws. | am OPP
posed to all this (said Mr.. W. in the temporary
government to be established there prior to the ex.
piration of the "noce year." and to expire itself
with that year. He said if any instructions were
given, he hoped they would be modified in this re-
spcct also.
Mr. w. said he had heretofore, on two occasions,
called the attention Of the Senate the constitution,
or form of government, or organic law, framed and
ordained by the ostiz6ns of the United States in
Oregon in July last, for their temporary govern
ment He solicited senators to read that document,
which had been printed by order of the Senate and
laid on tables. He understood there was
dearth Of copies, but, if desired, more could be
printed So far no he (Mr wy was cnnnetent IN