Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1846-02-11

both. Refuse to pass bill to provide
that government and TO give that protec
ton, and what condition are you in? :
Why, if a British subject assaults ane
beats an American citizen, by whom, un'
der the present system, (Which some gen
tlemen wish to continue J is he to be tri-
led? BY our American judiciary? No
but by British court. II there is nc
British court near, then he is sent to some
distant establishment Of The Hudson's Bay
Company. Can any man believe that
looking to this conflict of jurisdiction, il
lit is continued, peace can longer be main.
tained? Daily and hourly must be the
conflict. An American citizen is indebt-
ed to citizen Of Great Britain. Where
lis he to be sued? In an American court?
If British subject is indebted he must be
sued in British court.
But the absurdity Of the thing does not
stop here. Our citizens have gone TO that
territory for the purpose Of settlement
From whom are they to obtain their titles
to the soil? The treaty says that the SOW
ereignty is in abeyance, appeal TO the
good sense to say, whether it can longer
be left so? l. has been said by travellers,
that the coffin of Mahomet is suspended
between heaven and earth; but greater
miracle will be seen, if this matter of title
to the sovereignty Of this soil can longer
be kept in allegiance.
\ u
But | am in favo, Of it for another rea-
son. How many citizens, to-day, OF tie
United States, are on the northern bank of
the Columbia river? Not one, Of whom
| have any information. What is the rea-
son? The British Government has now
established there regular system Of gov
ernment-the Hudson Bay Company, with
their forts erected on the northern side Of
the Columbia, who SO arrange matters that
no American citizen shall make perma-
nent settlement on the rorthern side OF
that river. They have not, as am aware,
iniringed the treaty; but with their great
power and wealth, and looking to the Sc
crecy with which that company operates
over the whole North American cont.
nent, they have brought other means to
bear than that of force, 10 turn the emigra-
ton from the United States south of the
Columbia river. l will read an extrac,
from work which describes this organ
ization. Iqoute from Greenhow:
Sin addition to the assistance and pre-
lection thus received from the. British
Government, the constitution Of the Hud-
son Bay Company is such as to secure
the utmost degree of knowledge and pru-
dence in its councils. and readiness and
exactness in the execution of its orders.
It's affairs are superintendent by Govern
or. Deputy Governor, and committee
OF Directors, established at London, BY
whom all general orders and regulations
are devised and issued, and all reports and
accounts are examined and CONTROLLED
The proceedings Of this body are eavel-
oped in profound secresy, and the conmu.
nications made to the Government in writ
ing, which are likely to be published, are
in terms of studied caution, and
afford only the details absolutely requir-
ed"
Here. then, CONTINUED Mr.. c. is a
perfect rganization-an established Gov
eminent operating in favor Of British sub
Jects On the northern bank Of the Column
bia.
MIR. G. here quotes from Mr.. Buchan-
ans letter Offering, as a compromise the
49th parallel, and to make free to Crea,
Britain any ports on Vancouver's Island;
and continues:
Why, sir, ifone were unacGusinted with
the history of Great Britain, he would be
struck with Arrangement that such PROPOSE.
ton should be rejected. But when we
trace her history from the day that the
Norman conqueror planted his own heel
upon that sca-girtisle, down the stream OF
time until the day tha; she chained her
honor to the rock at St. Helena with lis
royal captive, when has Great Britain ever
abandoned any claim Of territory she has
made, except she has obtained the lions
share by treaty, or has first tried the wa
ger of battle? What is her proposition
nav? What has it always been? Give
',ae the north of the Columbia river
Give me two-thirds of this territory, to
which acknowledge l have 10 claim;
give mcmore than two-thirds Of that ter
'riiory, in which have never claimed
the sovereignty Of the soil! !" Now, sir,
however we differ upon her offer, or her
acceptance, OF the parallel Of forty-lnine
degrees, do rot believe that, from Nova
Scotia to Texas -irom the Atlantic to the
PaciIic--there breathes single man this
day who will ever permit Great Britain to
come south of the forty ninth parallel.
Nr. Chairman, Great Britain is per-
tectiy content with the joint occupancy
1t effects all her objects; and she is will
ing 10 trust to time to give her all she
wants. 1t gives her, Mr. Ceairlnan, all
she ever asked or commended for, as shall
show. The joint occupancy is all she ev-
err asked or contended for. Now, what is
the basis of her title? Why, sir, in the
at London between Mr.. Gala
lin and the British Plenipotentiaries, liz
1927, hat was the claim then advanced
by Great Britain? Did she dream at tha,
day of claiming the sovereignty OF title to
any part Of the soil Of Oregon? Let us
hear her cwn Plenip hehtiary. In his
protocol he holds this language:
"Great Britain claims no erclusire sops-