The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-06

lei winch forms It's entrance from Fueas straits.
Mr. PERRY | desire 10 ask the gentleman
from Indiana, whether he is in favor of the treaty
lately rathedl
Mr., OWEN. | say, frankly, so far from being
ashamed, Ito the language Of the gentleman
from Massachusetts, Mr.. ADAMs,) of the boundary
we have obtained, that should be glad to have the
terms Of that boundary incorporated, in the yery
words OF the treaty, IN the first section Of this bill
say, further, in regard 10 the treaty ITSELF that
calling TO mind the facts, that President Monroe in
lols, voluntarily, and as first offer, proposed to
Great Britain the line Of ago expressly adding the
free navigation Of the Columbia; that the same
president, IN 1898 after the acqulalon Of the Span-
sh title, caused a similar offer to be renewed, init
mating, indeed, that IL would be desirable to Obtain
5lO, but If Great Britain earnestly insisted upon it,
we would consent to the parallel Of 40 TO the sea-
considering, further, that the gentleman from Mas.
saehusetts himself, Mr.. ADAMS, in 1926, caused
his Secretary Of State (Mr. Clay) third time to
propose the extension Of the line Of 49o TO the Pac
nc and again to offer, in conjunction with that line
the free navigation of the Columbia 10 British sub
ects, without single restriction either as to time or
10 the commerce ofthe Hudson Bay Company; con-
siderng, yet once more that proposal Of the same
parallel was renewed in lo43, and finally, that il
was made even last year by our present Chief Ma.
glstrae; IN view Of these various offers Of compro-
mise, say, that men who have looked calmly and
disrassionately over the whole ground, must have
come long since TO the conclusion IL Great Britain
neutrality-suspicious. stoutly maintained for
quarter OF a century-did at last, offer to US the
very line we had five times offered 10 her; that the
public opinion of the world would not permit US %
reject il.
Mr.. CHAPMAN. Will the gentleman allow me
10 ask him question:
Mr.. OWEN. Certainly
Mr.. CHAPMAN. Then | wish TO inquire Of him,
whether he so consrues the wording Of the late
treaty as TO give to all British subjecis perpetuity
the free navigation Of the Columbia.
Mr.. OWEN. | am not lawyer, sir, and be-
sides, have had no opportunity TO examine this ques-
ton with sufficient care, TO offer a matured opinion
My present decided impression is, however, that a
grant OF this night 70 particular corporation, and
that grant specially restricted the term Of their
charter, cannot, in any fairness, be construed into
remuneration Of the right To British subjects gener-
ally or in perPetuity, even to the company named.
Mr.. THOMPSON Of Mississippi, chairman of
the Committee on Indian Affairs, (Mr. DOUGLASS
further yieldlng,) said he had drawn, under the in.
struetIons OF the Committee on Indian Affairs, two
amendments which he intended to offer as additional
sections 10 this bill The first provided for the ex-
tension of our Indian laws over this territory; and
the second, as the governor Of Oregon was made
superintendent Of Indian affairs, provided for the
creating one additional agent, and giving him the
same powers and compensation as allowed to other
agents. This the committee thought would be
enough
Mr.. DOUGLASS, resuming the floor, said he
had examined these two sections, and thought it
proper they should be added to the bill.
He did not desire TO 60 into the discussion Of the
Oregon question, but merely to explain the proys-
ions of this bill: He had no wish to enter into an
examination Of the question raised by the gentle
man rom Ohio Mr.. ScHEscK in regard to the ad.
ditonal regiment which was said to be destined for
California. He would only correct what he con-
ceved to be a Misrepresentation on the part Of that
gentleman, and to say that no promise Of property
"A k.A Loxs 4
authority more than was given to any other reg-
ment.
Mr.. SCHENCK explained that he did not un-
dersand that the instructions Of the Secretary of
War included any offer TO Colonel Stevenson's regi-
ment, but he heard that il had been made, and also
a similar offer TO body Of Mormons, on con.
dition that they would emigrste to California.
Mr.. DOUGLASS (resumng) could only state
that he had no knowledge in either instance of any
such offer having been made. He was not author
zed TO deny it, but he believed that nothing of that
kind had taken place. He was authorized to state
thing of any snch Instructions having bean given,
or IN contemplation.
Now, in regard to this Oregon bill; the bill as now
presented, was simple proposition for the estab
lishment of a Territorial government west of the
Rocky mountains, to called the Territory of Ore
gon In drawing the bill he had had reference TO
the various charters for the Territorial
that had existed IN this country, and especially in
the northwest, commencing with the North west Ter
rltory, and embracing those of Indiana Illinois
Michigan, and Iowa. He found all these Territorial
governments had been based on the same principles
and had the same general provisions running
their charters. There had been slight
notifications made as experience had indicated ne
cessary; and Of all Of them, he believed that of
Iowa was most perfect. Hence in drawing this
BILL he had made it abstract Of the Territorial
government OF Iowa, with few such changes only
as were necessary to adapt it TO the territory the
other side of the mountains.
There was greater propriety in this for this
reason. The people OF Oregon had established for
themselves provisional government Finding them
selves without law, yet being accustomed to the
laws and institutions of republicanism, and being
moral, upright, and religious, they found it became
necessary for them to establish a government for
under which they could be governed,
until the government Of their native country should
prescribe one for them They established, therefore,
me provisional government of Oregon; and he found
hey took many and nearly all the statutes of Iowa.
md declared them in full force in the Territory
of oregon, making slight notifications and add
ions to them. And these laws. adonted bv them.
selves, and copied principally from the laws of Ore
ron, now constituted code of laws for the govern
nent OF the people Of Oregon. Hence. he had
provided in this bill, under the instructions of the
committee on Territories, that the laws now exist
ng IN the territory of Oregon, by authority of the
Professionally should continue in force and
'e valid until altered modified, repealed, or amend
"a oy THIS government proposed to be adoped.
ihey lett therefore the present code of law.
y force, believing them better adapted to the people
here than any we could adopt, and that it was bet
er Tor them under this bill to remedy them than to
emedy them ourselves; so that we provide that all
ne JUSTICES OF the peace, constabes, and other min
sterai officers under the authority of the Existing
provisional government shall continue in Office un
Ter the authority Of this bill until displaced by the
appointment of their successors under il. Conse-
al -
'ut gradually changes their subsis,ing government
nto territorial government, such as we have in
me gentleman from Ohio tMr. VNroNl asked
i'm II there was any provision in the bill that Con-
'ress may repeal the laws Of the Oregon legislature
"a reply, WI state the usual powers OF legislation
uSn es are possessed IN all the other Territories of
~ OF oregon, provided that the laws now in force in
'regon shall continue in force until altered or re-
'eaeu by authority OF the Oregon legislature. II is
'so provided that when a law is passed bv the Ore
ION legislature il shall be reported 10 The Cnnorss.