Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-02-28

litiunal dscisntioa oG tfs srport Of the Chair
nan u the Committee @ Forcign Affairs,
Town to the last end most timid OF all the re-
solutions which had ben before the commit
Tee. The more positive they were the bet
ter they suited his miud. But. by way OF
compromise. aud with a desire TO show as
strong 4 majority Ne possible ON the final vote.
ne wOah consent to 90 for the least positive
and the most ccpcili,tosy Of hem all. He
wanted to terminate the convention: NJ to- the
mode and manner in which IL should BE- done
he was willing To adopt that which would
shoald be the rnost conciliaiory. He wonid
agree to almost sny iorm OF long II. provi-
drd only. that Congress should say that the
convention should continue in force no long
cr.
So much had becn said. and with - much
ability, on the question at title, that Inc I've
lieved il would b. almost a waste Of time IN
him TO say any thing more about it: unless the
chairman had on the table before him a little
book that the Speaker sometimes employed in
administering the solemnly ofsn oath To mem
bers elect briore they were admitted tn seats
in that Hall. II that book WIS there. he
would thank the Clerk To read from IL what
he considered ~ the foundation OF our title To
Oregon. II he would turn TO the 10Th, Z1th.
and 18th verses Of the first chapter Of Gene
1t<sl wv WYNN - -
dams considered the foundation of the title OF
the United States to the Oregon territory.
THE & ERIK here read ~ follows: And
God said, Let us make man I'm or image, at
I r our likeness; aud let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea. aud over the fowl Of
the cir, aud over the cattle, aud over oil the
earth, and over every or eping thing that
creepcth upon the earth. SoGod created man
In his own image: in the image Of God Great
ell he him; male and female create, he them.
And God blessed them. and God said unto
tlsem. BE fruitful. aud multiply. aud replen'
ish the earth. and subdue IL: and have domin.
ION over the fish oi the sea. and over the owl
of the cir. and over every living thing tina
movc,h up, n the EARTH
That. (ssid Mr.. Adam,) in NV judgment. Is
the foundation Of our title TO Oregon. aud oi
all the ,itlr we have to any oil the territory we
pos,ess. IL is the foundation OF the title 10y
which you. sir, occupy that chair. and by
which we are now called on 10 occupy Ore
gon. and cannot do IL without the termination
OF the convention in which we have agreed
that we will not occupy it.
Aud here let me rcprst the idea ! urged
when up before: that there j. a great miss ppre'
hcnsion as TO the real merits OF the provisions
al our convention with Great Britain respect
ing ihr Oregon territory. A very great mis-
tAftttT " ~ Ist1 w NAtaN wv -
cal ing il a convention Tor joint occupancy
IL is no, a convention OF join, occupation, but
oil soS occupation. IL is. in fact, a promise
that neither power will occupy the t%erntor,
Tor amy indefinite tiinc-st first Tor ten years.
but subsequently, extended INTERCHANGEABLE
notice of twelve months should have been
given from one power To the other. Ihis
stipulation il the restriction which irtiers our
hands, and prevents III from occupying the
and carrying out that Law al God
which the Clerk has just read TO Us from tho
Holy Scriptures.
II our controversy respecting Oregon bad
been with any other than a Christian nation,
! could not quote from that book: il We were
la dispute with The Chinese about the territory
would b. O din rent question. So II n a
question between us aud the ssvsges
~ho. IL any body, have now the rightini occu-
OF the country. because they do NO, be
iev- the book. (Which l suppose the members
If ,his HOUSE generally do; because | SO them
going up to that Chair aud taking their osths
upon it-and somr IL them kissing IL, IA to-
ken. N I suppose. of their respect ios IT'D
But. az between Christian nations, that com
msnd Of the Creator lays the foundation al oil
titles TO land: Of titles To territory; Of titles 10
Of titles To- the eminent domain,
Of titles to individual property. All these;
~ ~ itufs lNitON iItm tlitf rlutttS rup-fs
pueni to that, but that Is the foundation, OF.
them all.
! will ask the Clerk to read another short
extract FROM that same book: hc will please to
read The 5th verse ot the second Psalm.
THE Clerk here rad a. follows ASK OF
me. and ! shall give thee the hesthcn ioS thine
lube utsnce, aud the uttennost parts Of the
earth for uhy possession.
Mr.. Adams. Will the Clerk read one or
two verses which preoedc that passage
showing to whom il refers.
THE Clerk here read ~ follows: Then
he speak unto them in his wrath, and
vrt them IN his sore displrssure. Yet have ]
se, my king upon my holy hill Of Zion. ] will
declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto
me, Thou art my Son this day have | bcgoi-
thee"
Mr.. Adams resumed. That is the person
age TO whom this promise was made, 10 give
him tn. heathen for his inhe nisnce and the
u,temost parts of the earth for his possession.
That verse is understood, ! believe without en-.
by oil commentators. TO refer To our
Jesus Christ. IL was Jesus Christ who
sas TO have the ''uttermosi parts OF the earth
for bis possession" Now, all Clristcndom,
before the times OF Iuther, 10 Understood the
passage: aud il was then held, with = few ex-
c~epiions. by all Christians and all Christian
nations. Ii am speaking % OF the law of ma
tions) that the Pope was the representative oI
Chris, upon earth; and from this verse in iht
Palms, and from arothrr verse near the close
OF one Of the Gospels, (Mstth"w) where IL Is
said that Jesus Christ, after has resurrection
aud before his ascension To Heaven. said "a
his apostles; "All power IN given unto me in
Heaven and In earth: q ye, therefore and
teach all nations. bapiising them In the name
Of the Father. aud Of the Son. and of the Uul,
Ghost; teaching them 10 observe ell thing,
whatsoever | have commanded you. and 10.
AIN with you always. even unto the end q
the world" On the ba j. OF these passseri
nj Scripture the Pope Of Rome asserted, an,
Tor many ages IL was admitted by ali Christian
peol le. that he had the power To give To en-,
king OF kiagdom he pleased. authority TO e
and subdne baftarous nations. and poss,s,
themselves OF territories occupied by such bar
hsnans. AMI 60 convert them To ChFislisnity.
~ the time Of the discovery of North AM