Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-05-23

Of our citizens beyond the Rocky Mountains would be subject
10 British law and British law only This would be the
whether new treaty formed between the United States
and Great Britain Whether the country divided or
not the same the would exist He DESIRED there
FORE simply submit the question to the Senate and espe-
ciay TO the consideration of the intelligent committee who
were charged with this particular subject whether was
their design that Congress should adjourn and leave the whole
American population between the Rocky Mountains and the
Pacific Ocean subject to British law, and no other
Mr.. WESTCOTT observed, in the nterrogato-
of the honorable Senator from Ohio that the committee
hid not intend to leave the citizens Of the United States in
Oregon subject British law the honorable Senator
ed to apprehend would be the effect OF passing this bill
this session. The committee, at least majority Of its
members did suppose this would he the result Of not pass
ing this bill at this session, by any In the first place.
Mr. W. said he not satisfied that the British Government
had attempted to make citizens Of the United States in Ore
subject to British laws, that any act Of Parliament had
been passed with reference that country which would
justify such attempt He had looked at the British laws
lang to Oregon and he nothing in them which author
zed such conclusion He repeated that the citizens of the
United States in Oregon had local Government Of their own.
Mr. w. had been informed that the chief measure which
they desired with reference to local Government there
acknowledgment by the United States Of that they had
already established That Government if Congress did
thing, would continue. II would continue till expressly
nulled by Congress. Ii not set up Independent
Government 1t acknowledged the authority Of the United
States The Governor, Judge, Legislative Council and all
its officers and all subject to it, citizens of the United
States and the people there founded their right orain it,
and to make sl the Laws s they had made the fact that they
he understood pretty WELL There was, he thought no great
danger be apprehended from it this fall Next
winter Congress most probably be able to form and esab
lsh proper permanent Territorial Government with def
mite acknowledged boundaries It would, by that me be
decided and settled whether the whole, or not what part
was acknowledged by Great Britain to belong us.
Preciptae legislation might involve the country in difficult
ties Pass the bill before the Senate without alteration
and its construction by the Oregon judge the Federal
ecuve, may troubles the end of which might be war;
The citizens Of the United States in Oregon and the British
subjects there are the last people earth desire collision in
relation to that They live there peacefully and
tremendously together, and unless difficulties were excited
by unwise action here, Mr. W. said he apprehended none
from them He had been satisfied of this fact from
ton with intelligent gentlemen who had been in Oregon and
were acquainted with the country and its inhabitants.
Mr. ALLEN desired to ask question, which was
whether the design of the committee head Of which
the honorable Senator from Florida that the present local
officers within the territory Of Oregon should become by any
legislation Of Congress, officers under the Constitution of the
United States
Mr.. WESTCOTT said he would endeavor TO answer the
further inerrogato Of the Senator from Ohio He could
pretend for every member Of the committee he
would say for HIMSELF individual member of it, and
Senator, Gas he had just before saed) if decided
have further action this subject at this session. he
should at the proper time propose amendment this BILL
adopting, with qualifications, and tempora the local
government already established Oregon by the citizens Of
the United States there, with provision encouraging
grafton TO Oregon He thoughtle else of legislation
pedent Judcous at this Other members of the
committee differed with him TO this Each had his own
views and opinions this perpexng subjects and he pre-
sumed the Senate decided further the subject at
this session, they would prepare them
Mr. ALLEN said, the Senator had replied very candid
to his inquiry, he would any further the time
of the Senate, but would merely his motion.
Mr.. BENTON then addressed the Senate. Mr.. Presi-
dent sad he the bill before the Senate proposes extend
the sovereignty and jurisdiction Of the United States over all
territories Of the Rocky Mountains without saying
what is the and what the limits Of this territory
This wrong in my opinion ought to define the limits
IN do
templates otherwise commit to them the solution Of ques
tons which find hard for ourselves This indefinite
extension OF authority, in which requires the
precision forces to speak, and to give my opinion Of the
true extent of territories beyond the Rocky Mountains
have delayed doing this during the whole session. from
any desire to conceal my opinions (which in fact told
to all that asked for them but because thought the bus
of negotiation, not Of legislation, settle these bound
ares waited for negotiation but negotiation lags while
events go forward and in the process Of acting
upon measures upon the adoption of which may no longer
be in the power either of negotiation Of legislation to con-
troll the events to which they may give The bill before
US Is without definition OF the territory be occupied And
why this vagueness in requiring the precision
Why not define the boundaries of these territories Precisely
because do know them And this presents case
which requires me to wait longer for negotiation but 10
come forward with opinions and to do what can TO
prevent the evils of vague and indefinite legislation. My OBJ
ect will be to show, the true extent and
our territorial claims beyond the Rocky Mountains with
view to just and wise decisions and, in doing So shall
deavor to act upon the great maxim, Ask nothing but what
is nght-submit to nothing that is wrong.
IL is my ungracious task, in attempting upon this
MAXIM to commence by exposing home and endea
vorng to clear up great mistakes under which the public
mind has labored.
1t has been assumed for two years. and the assumption has
been made the Of all the Oregon excitement the
try that have dividing line with Russia made by the
convention OF 1924, along the parallel of fyour degrees
forty minutes from the TO the Rocky Mountains up 10
which title is good This is great mistake. No such
line established and far proposed and discus
sed proposed and discussed northern British and
not as northern American line. The public treaties will
prove there such line documents viii prove that far
fifty four forty, from the the mountains was ever
proposed northern boundary for any Power il was pro-
posed by us for the British and not for ourselves.
To make myself ineligible in what shall say on this
point is necessary go back TO the epoch Of the Russian
convention of 1924 and TO recall the recollection the cir
cumstances out of which that convention grew The crcum
stances these In the year 1921 the Emperor Aexan
der acting upon leading idea Of Russian policy Tin relation
to the north Pacific OCEAN, from the time Of Peter the Great
undertook to treat that close sea- and to exercise
municipal authority great extent Of its shores and
waters In September Of that year. the Emperor issued
decree bottomed upon this petenson assuming exclusive
sovereignty and jurisdiction both shores Of the north Pa
cc and the high seas in front Of each coast to
the extent Of hundred Italian miles, from Behring's Straits
down to latitude fyone, the American coast and forty
i've on the Asatc and denouncng the penalties Of consca
ton upon all ships Of whatsoever naon that should approach
the coasts within the ntedcted distances This very
startling decree Coming from feeble nation il would have
been smiled coming from Russia gave
nations.
Great Britain and the United States having the largest
Ia H. ID