The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-13
OBJECTIONS TO TIE NOTICE.

OBJECTIONS TO TIE NOTICE.
One OF the most potent objections to the continu-
ance Of the "joint occupation" of Oregon, under
the convention and, Of course, one of the strongest
reasons for giving the notice required to terminate
it, il To be found in the fact that the true effect OF
that convention has been from the first, in this
country, so much inexperienced. To the United
States and to England ii has been by no means the
same instrument. II granted common settlement TO
the two nations in 1918, and forthwith, in 1921, az
we saw ia our last article, England extended her
law over the whole territory, built forts in all parts
Of il, and monopolized its only lucrative business.
II this, in her view, be "jont occupancy" well may
she say that "she claims nothing more" Mean
while, we have remained inactive in respect Of le-
gislaton, up to the present time. For near quar-
ter Of A century we made no considerable ttort TO
Iegislate In 1929, the House Of Representatives
did attempt to pass bill providing for the exPIora-
ton of the country, and afording some legal pro-
lection or at least recognition, TO our Oen citizens
there. The BILL though strictly combining our juris-
diction TO American citizens, was instantly opposed
and voted down, infringing the convention Of joint
oeeupaney-when, at that very time, the whOIs land,
and ,perp dsoeller IN IT, psre, and had been for eight
wears, entirely under the jurisdiction Of British lar.
In 1912, a similar bill was brought before the
Senate 1t sought to protect our citizens in Oregon,
and 10 give them under certain conditions bounties
ofland It also failed in the Senate, mainly for the
same reason-thst il infringed the convention Mean
time the bay company was governing the country,
hunting il all over for furs, and holding its own
so well, as to keep its shares only lao per cent
above par on change Every one knows how all
attempts to extend our laws over American citi-
zens in that region failed in the last Congress.
The "ioint occupation" was as lion in the path
Of every such effort Under it We could do nothing,
and we did Il, exactly. England could do, and was
doing, everything she thoughtful
In this state Of things an effort was made to give
''no,ice" of the termination Of convention OF
common occupancy SO wholly one-sided That
efor, was successfully opposed, mainly on three
grounds: First, it was said negotiations are
pending-nny, have just been renewed. The notice
now is unreasonable and ungracious." In tho sec
ond place, it was urged, "This British occupation
Of Oregon is the hunters occupation, and will wear
itself out when the region shall be no longer valua-
BILE hunting ground. England will retire of her
self, if we only wait till the game disappears
This was the argument Of grave wing senators
Mr.. Choaie in particular labored through seven OF
eight columns of the Congressional Globe to prove
that neither the Hudson Bay Company nor the
Britiuh government had the slightest intention to
COLOMBO the region-that the company could not
sustain itself in or agricultural population
and. in his own words, that the company must re-
tire before agricultural life not enjoy it." From
all this. notice, he inferred, was alike unwse ant
unnecessary.
In the third place, it was urged against the notice
that emigration in the natural course OF events
would Gil Oregon with our people, and 80 give vi
the territory peacefully; while active measures, by
precipita,ng conflict, would force us to cope unde
immense disadvantages with the great military ant
naval force of England in the Fest, and so deprive
US of the country.
These three objections to the notce-its unsea
condolences pending renewed negota'ions-the tenn
porary character Of the British occupancy-and TIT
safety of inactivity, coupled with the peril to GU
rights of decisive measures-these were the man
grounds on which the notice was opposed
The first of these objections is now abandoned
No man stands up to say that the notice il un
seasonable. So far the present posture OF on
negotiations is concerned, the notice, whatever els
may be said of it or against it, is certainly not III
timed. At the last advices, negotiation had come to
dead stand The notice can never interrupt nego
,ations less than now.
The other two objections, though certainly en-
titled to very different degrees OF consideration, ar
both TO some extent relied on. The one-the alleges
Temporary character Of the British occupancy-ha
hardly come up directly in debate this session. Blu
having been much insisted on before, il yet fingers
or seems to lnger in a portion Of the public mind
II, is, indeed, most gratifying view ofthe question:
il one could only persuade ones self to take IT. In
idea that England does not wish TO hold and coloniz
Oregon, and will of herself recede from Oregon,
we only let the Oregon question alone, would ID
quite delightful IL il only had little spice Of pta''s
Oiiig The ingenuity OF the thought brings to min
Sir Abel Handy in the play. He, too, was inge
niousfull of inventions-and Of oil his inventions
the very best were those desgred TO put out fire.
His own house took frp--none Of his various up
para,us was quite ready to work--like the notice
not quite Gin season." as he might think Blu
something must be done ,or at leastsad He was des
Perae--at last happy thought struck him. "WeH
let It Alone said he; sit may go out % hssB!" In
man who invented the idea Of 'letting Englan'
alone I'LL she should go out OF Oregon Of herself,
was the very Sir Abel Handy Of politics. In tn
"party Of expedents," il there be such party Of
I this question, he must win great eminence
But unfortunately England, now in Oregon
leaves no pleasing doubt on the mind that sh
thinks very seriously Of staying there Ifher law
all over the country, and her forts all through tn,
country, and her avowed claim Of a right to col
onze any unoccnpied part Of America, urged s,
strongly against Mr.. Nonroe's just and statesman
like PositionO on that subject, and Mr.. Adams's pow
stful argument in support Of that position in 1924
all these things do not speak the intention of Eng
land loudly enough, other proofs Of her purPos
and policy ere at hand. They are to he found u