Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-24
D, VA, TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH a. 1876


had 10 do was to adhere 10 the convention; 10 OBJ
serve all its provisions with most scrupu!ous
fidelity, in order 10 obtain the actual occupation
and possession OF The " hole country.
AS far as could perceive, there was but orc
impeachment in the way, and that was Great Rri.
TAIN in order 10 prevent US from obtaining pos
session BY settlement, nigh, give notice hefselfto
terminate the convention Ul joint occupancy
| But OF This | entertained lte apprehension.
| had read The correspondence OF former negoia-
lion: with attention and my inference was, that
she placed but little value upon Oregon as 4
place for permanent settlement, and that she had,
! in Il great measure made up her mind, from its
| geographical position, .hat !. wonld ultimately
! pass into our hards Blu, be ih,s as il may,
| could mol bui see that lneIc were great lmPedi
nents in her way Q. giving such notice, as wcui',
! preclude us from The right oil setting. She has,
| indeed, The same right terminate The conven-
ton of1S27 that VIC hare, as il is expressly provid-
ed thai either may give il. But there is another
! convention which she claims TO be sill in eIs-
| tence, and 10 which we, holding under Spain, are
/ parties with her refer TO the Nuntka Sound
convention. II is strictly analogous in IFS objects
with that OF 1927, though dssimilar in Tits Ian
/ gaagc. But unlike tie latter, il contains To pro-
vision for giving noiice and can only be annuil"6
by violation. Under il, sc, accordingt 10 her own
show ing, have eqsal Igtis with herself 10 joint
i OCCUPANCY and settlement, Of which cannot DC
| deprived on the ground on which she places her
rights . the territory: without breach CT our
/ faith.
Ii seemed then 10 me clear, that our true policy
was such as have stated: TO adhere 10 The con-
yention and let settlement dce!nin: 10 whom the
Tertiary should belong a!iordirg in Inc mean
time whatever facilities we might think proper TO
orr people cmisraing 10 the territory, no; incon-
sisifnt with The provisions Of The convention, and
extending our laws over them personally in !ik"
manner and 10 The same exlen! thai Great Hri-
tain had BY act OF Parliament. 70 me il seemed
clear lha, we onghl not to so beyond, and that
We should by no means extend our laws over il
lsrilorialir. The necessary effects Of that would
be 10 extend our larli acts 10 me territory, under
an express provision OF The Constitution, which
requires that all duties and lakes shall he laid
uniformly throughout the United States. The
restrictions imposed ~ our hiea tar:ll duties, on
The infant commerce d! the territory, would 20
tar, MOI only 10 diminish The intuccmcnl 10 chi
grafton, hul 10 alienaa The affection Of is people
To ENJOY the blessings Of Tree trade over The
broad Pacific, with lis numerous islands anu
widely extended coast, will prove in the end n
be The strongest nduceTenl Ia eBietalion ard
to impose high dulles, wonlG DO mole IN check
emigration, 10 ALLEVIATE lis inhabitants, and
separate them FROM our Union, llan any
o:her cause. Oregon will be 70 tie Pacific
what New Englani was to tie Atlantic in
its colonial State; and the Oregonese will cen.
tend as earnestly iur the unre.triccd enjoyment
Of The trade of the Pacific as New Engiandars
did Tor that Of tie Atlantic before Ii. Reva'riion
II was indeed, one of The principal causes which
led 10 the Revolution. Should we restrict BY our
high tariff duties their infa!.l trade, they nigh,
readily find pewcr prepared 10 extend 10 them
all lie advantages Of fee tiade TO be followed by
consequences rot dilIicu 10 BE- perceived. lrtiu-
enced BY these considerations, came 10 the con-
cusion that our true policy was TO lei our people
emisrale and govern themselves Tor The present,
with as lille interference as possible ON our part.
In lhat respect they possess great capacity ir:.n
their origin and their native instincts. would
let them &C there and ceitle the country IL their
own way, giving them all the aid. coun,enance
and support which w could wIhout extending
our authority over them ,erriioIiav Until i coni
be properly and SAFELY done. Duf, he il done
when II may, great judgment ana canton vii! iic
required, Ter Their" lies the great difficulty Of
concilins their iDieres, with tina; on tie Eastern
side Of he Rocky --.ouniains
The DINER line Of policy ooscl 10 the le!nina-
lion hy giving notice and taking adverse posses.
sion OF the territory The bill OF lsi3, alrca3y
alluded 10, was intended as the first STE. | op
posed it, mol only becauscl believed thai some o
course il indicated was highly imrclilc. ltseem
ed 10 me- indeed require little reflection 10 per
ceive that if the bill should pass, and he policy
il indicated be adopted, that negotiation or wal
would necessarily follow; and That, if the former
should be resorled 10 in the first instance 10 pre-.
vent war, 1t would!erminate either in compromise
or war. There could be 10 oher result. Nor
was j, more diisicnl 10 perceive. tGat II ,he
question was compromised il must le on Inc
haS pf the iQfh narnllel TIE mn .c.f,. 81
tue affair, the fact that il had been frequent
IL offered By us substantially as an ul'iina;un,,
added 10 the fact that 40 Gess. was the bounda-
rs on this side oil The Rocky monnlains eil no
doubt on my mind That, if settled iy compromise,
j! must be on lha! basis Il is true that our
offer heretofore on that basis had been rejected
and that it might thence he inferred that Great
Britain cond not accced 10 consistently with her
honor. | am not Of that impression. Things
have greatly changed since onr offers were made
and rejected by her. Then tie advantages under
the convention were al in her favor; but now
they have turned in favor 0; NJ. Then our ca
pacy 10 settle the country was small; but now,
for reasons already stated iheg ale great; and
what is far from bring imHaierla This increased
capacity 10 settle and colonizs strengthens tie
foundation Of our claims 10 The territory. The
capacity 10 settle and colombo contiguous open
region not capable of being settled CT co!unized
by any other power, GOES back 10 The original
principles or which all claim TO territory is found
ed.
Seeing that such would necessarily he the con-
sequence Of The line Of policy indicated by The
bill, and wishing 10 avoid both compromise and
war, took decided stand against it. was We
ry ably seconded in my opposition; SO much,
that Notwithstanding the apparently large major
ity in It's favor, when the discussion commenced,
il passed This body by an equvocal majority OF
one. say eqnivocal, because one OF The sena-
Tors lct himself constrained by accidental causes
10 vote TOR The Measure, after he bad av6wei. als
opinion against il. Sincc then, session alter ses-
sion, measures have been introduced 10 give no.
tice and extend uur authority over The territory,
with view ultimately Of taking possession o Inc
Whole. rs anticipated, negotiation. IN order TO
avoid war, foowec and now we are brought 10
The alternative oi compromise or hghtng, as
oughi 10 have heen iore.ecn from The beginning. ]
again repeat, that | am in 20 way responsible Tor
The present Stale If things; and il am compelled
in consequence 10 vote f.. compromise and notice,
The responsibility rests on my friends behind me,
whose course has forced on The government INFO
thy the line If policy they haze pursued. ldo
mol impeach their patriotism; bet canno; bet
lhirk that ihev permitted heir zeal in hehali ri
the territory and The Impotence ofhose they REP
resent 10 occupy il, 10 get the control of their bc;
erjudgmeni.
Remainder on Second PGcc
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FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.
From the Baltimore Sun. iiarrh 2ll
Arrival Of the sGi5crEia !!