Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-06-04
@ 10 entp.Nintb Gouaress
In Senate, Nay %, 1916
Speech Of Mr.. Benton,

the United States over Oregon, to the first Monday
In December next, &c.
Mr. BENTON rose, and thus addressed the Senate.
Mr.. President-The bill before the Senate proposes
to extend the sovereignty and jurisdiction OF the Unit
ed States all territories west of the Rocky
mountains, without saying what is the extent and
what are the limits of this territory This Is wrong
in my opinion. We ought TO define the limits within
which agents to do such acts as this bill con-
templates otherwise we commit to them the solution
of questions which We find to hard for ourselves.
This indefinite extension of authority, in case which
requires the precision forces to speak, and
to give my opinion of the true extent of our terrific
ries beyond the Rocky mountains. | have delayed
doing this during the whole session. not from any de-
sire to conceal my opinions, (Which, in fact, were
told to all that asked for ihem but because thought
il the business of negotiation not of Legislation, to
settle these boundaries. waited for negotiation
but negotiation lags while events go forward and
now we are in the process OF acting upon measures
upon the adoption of which il may longer be in the
power either of negotiation of legislation to con-
troll the events to which they may give rise. The
bill before us is without definition of the territory to
be occupied. And why this vagueness in a case re-
curing the utmost precision! Why not define the
boundaries of these territories Precisely because
we do not know them And this presents
which requires me to wait longer for negotiation,
but to come forward with my opinions, and to do
what can to prevent the evils of vague and ndef-
mite Legislation. My object will be to show, if can,
the true extent and of territorial claims
beyond the Rocky mountains, with a view to just and
wise decisions and in doing So shall endeavor to
act upon the great maxim, Ask nothing but what is
right-subrnit to nothing that is wrong.
II is my ungracous task, IN attempting to act upon
this maxim, to commence by exposing at home.
and endeavoring to clear up some great mistakes
der which the public mind has labored.
1t has been assumed for years, and the assump-
ton has been made the cause of all the Oregon ex-
citement in the country that we have dividing line
with Russia, made so by the convention of 1924,
along the parallel of ftyour degrees forty minutes
from the sea TO the Rocky mountains, up to which
our title is good This is great mistake. No such
line was ever established: and, so far as proposed
and discussed, it was proposed and discussed as
northern British and not northern American line
The public treaties will prove there is such line
documents will prove that, so far y-four forty,
from the sea to the mountains, proposed as
a northern boundary for any power, IT was proposed
by us for the British, and not for ourselves.
To make myself Ineligible in what shall say OF
this point ii is necessary to go back to the epoch of
the Russian convention of 1874, and to recall the
collection of circumstances out of which that conven-
ton grew The circumstances were these: In the
year 1921 the Emperor Alexander acting upon lead
ing idea of Russian policy Gin relation to the north
Pacific ocean, from the time of Peter the Great, un-
dertook to treat that close sea, and to ex-
ercise municipal authority great extent of its
shores and waters. In September of that year. the
sion, assuming exclusive sovereignty and jurisdiction
over both shores of the north Pacific ocean, over
the high seas in front of each coast, to the ex-
tent of one hundred Italian miles, from Behrings
Straits down to latitude 6fty-one, on the American
coast and TO forty-fve on the Asiatic and denounc-
ing the penalties of confscaton upon all Ships of
whatsoever nation, that should approach the coasts
within the interdcted distances. This was a very
startling decree. Coming from feeble nation, it
would have been smiled at; coming from Russia, it
gave nneasiness to all nations.
Great Britain and the United States having the
largest commerce the north Pacific ocean, and as
having large territorial claims the northwest coast
of America were the first 10 take the alarm and to
send circumstances to ST. Petersburg against the for
midabe ukase. They found themselves suddenly
thrown together and standing side by side in this
and portenous contest with Russia They demonstrated
in concert, and here the wise and pacific conduct OF
the Emperor Alexander displayed itself In the most
prompt and honorable manner. He Immediately sus-
pended the ukase (Which, in fact, had remained with
out executon,) and invited the United States and
Great Britain to unite with Russia in convention to
settle amicably and in spirit Of mutual convenience
all the questions between them, and especially their
respective territorial claims on the northwest coast of
America. This magnanimous proposition was imme-
diately met by the two powers in corresponding
spirit and, the ukase being voluntarily reinquished
by the Emperor, convention was quickly signed by
Russia with each power, settling, far as Russia
was concerned with EACH all their territorial claims
In northwest America. The Emperor Alexander had
proposed that it should be joint convention of the
three powers-a tripartlte conyention-settng the
claims of each and of all at the same time; and if
this wise suggestion had been followed all the subse-
quent and all the present difficulties between the Un-
tied States and Great Britain with respect to this ter
rtory would have been entirely avoided But it was
not followed: act of our prevented it. After
Great Britain had consented, the non-colonizaton
principle-the principle of non-coOnizaton in Amer
lea by any European power-was promulgated by
our government and for that Great Britain
chose treat separately with each power, and so it
was done.
Great Britain and the United States treated separ-
ately with Russia, and with each other and each
came to agreements with Russia but to none among
themselves. The agreements with Russia were con-
tanned in two conventions, signed nearly at the same
time and nearly the words, limiting the ter
rtoral claim of Russia to "a deg 40 min. combining
her to the coast and islands, and leaving the continent
out TO the Rocky mountains, to be divided between
the United States and Great Britain by agreement
between themselves. The Emperor finished I'D his
business. and quit the concern In fact, it would
SEEM from the prompttude, moderation, and fairness
with which he adjusted all differences both with the
United States and Great Britain. that his only object
of issuing the alarming ukase of 1921, to bring
these powers to settlement, acting upon the homey
but wise maxim, that short settlements make long
friends.
These are the circumstances of which the Brit
ish and American conventions grew with Russia in
the years 1924 and 1925. They public treaties.
open to all perusal, and eminently worthy of being
read. will read the third article Of each-ihe one
which applies to boundaries-and which will confirm
all that have said. The article in the convention
with the United States is in these words:
Arr g. II is agreed, that, hereafter there
shall be formed by The citizens Of the United States
or under the authority Of the said States any establish.
he Sfo Of vof