Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-24

For the construction put on this article by Great
Britain, il is necessary to again to the state
ment of her claim, given by herself, and to her
own acts subsequent to the convention. ast
Her claim and views are laid down in her state
ment of December 1926: q Great Britain claims
no exclusive sovereignty over any portion Of that
territory. Her present claim, not in respect 10
any part but TO the whole, is limited to right Of
Joint occupancy in common with other States,
leaving the right Of exclusive dominion in abey-
ance. *a* The pretensons of Great
Britain tend to the mere maintenance Of her own
rights, IN resistance 10 The eIciusUe character Of
the pretensions of the United States.
+ These rights embrace the right TO navigate the
waters of those countries, the right TO settle in
and ouer any part Of them, and the right freely to
trade with the inhabitants and occupiers of the
same. 1t is fully admitted that the United States
possess the same rights. Butheyond these rights,
they possess none. To the interests and estab-
lishments which British industry and enterprise
have created Great Britain owes protection. That
protection WiH be givea, both as regards settle
ment and freedom of hade and navigation, with
every attention not to infringe the coordinate rights
Of the United States"
The acts of England, subsequent to the conven-
ton of 1873, are to be found in the various charters
Of the Hudson Bay Company, observing that
some Of their most important provisions, though Of
much earlier date, stand unrepealed,) and in the
act Of Parliament OF the year 1921, which confirms
and extends prior one Of the year 1903. It must
also be recoected that by grants acts subsequent
to the convention, the ancient Hudson Bay Com
pany and the Northwest Company Of Montreal
have been united together, preserving the name of
Hudson Bay Company.
This Company was and remains body corporate
and polite, with provisions for the election Of
Governor and other officers, who direct its BUSH
ness; and amongst other powers the Company is
empowered to build fortiications for the defence of
its possessions, as well as to make war or peace
with all nations or people, not Christian, inhabiting
their territories, which now embrace the entire Ore
gon. By the act of Parliament Of 1921, the juris.
dicton of the courts Of Upper Canada is extended,
in all civil and criminal cases, to the Oregon terri
toryi provision is made for the appointment Of JUS
toes of the peace within the said territory, with
limited jurisdiction, and power to act as Commits
soners in certain cases, and to convey offenders to
Upper Canada. s e
1t must also be observed that, although the Com
pany is forbidden to claim any exclusive trade with
the Indians, to the prejudice or exclusion of any
citizen of the United States who may be engaged in
the same trade, yet the jurisdiction above mention
eds. by the letter Of the act extended to any per-
sons whatsoever residing or being within the said
territory The British PIenipotentiaries did, how
ever, explicitly declare, the course of the negotia-
tons of l626-l627, that the act had no other OBJ
ject but the maintenance of order amongst British
subjects, and had never been intended to apply to
citizens Of the United States.
1t is perfectly clear that since it has been fully
admitted that the United States possess the same
rights over the territory as Great Britain, they
fully authorized, under the conventions to enjoy all
the rights which Great Britain claims for herself
Il L. L
sumed as being consistent with the convention.
The citizens of the United States have, therefore,
at this time full and acknowledged right to navl-
gate the waters Of the Oregon territory TO settle in
and over any part Of 1t, and freely to trade with
the inhabitants and occupiers Of the same. And
the Government OF the United States is likewise
fully authorized to incorporate any company or as
ISOLATION Of men for the purpose of trading of
cupying and settling the country to extend the ju-
risdcton of the courts of any OF its territories lying
within its acknowledged limits, in all civil and cri-
mnal cases, the territory aforesaid to appoint
within the same Justices Of the peace and such
other officers may be necessary for carrying the
jurisdiction into effect; and also to make war and
peace with the Indian inhabitants Of the territory,
including the incidental power to appoint agents for
that purpose. W
On the other hand il seems to be understood that,
so long the convention remains in force, neither
Government shall lay duties IN the Territory
tonnage, merchandise, or commerce; nor exercise
exclusive jurisdiction over any portion of it,, and
that the citizens and subjects of the Powers re-
siding in removing to the territory shall be ame-
nable only to the jurisdiction of their own country
respectively.
II has been contended by the British Government
that the establishment of any military post, or the
introduction Of any regular force under national
flag by either Power, would be an act of exclusive
sovereignty which could not be permitted to either
whilst the sovereignty remained in allegiance. I'm
der existing circumstances, tits believed that such
an act would be highly dangerous, and prove unfa-
vorable to the United States.
But the establishment by the United States OF
Territorial Government over Oregon is also objected
to on the same principle. The want Of such govern
ment appears to be the only serious inconvenience
attending continuance of the convention, and re-
quires special consideration. This question will
be examined in connexion with general view Of
the probable consequences of prolongation of the
present state Of things.
ALBERT GALLATTN.
YASKEE DooDLE.-A late number of the Knickerbocker
contains amusing adventures Of Yankee Doodle The
following pretty fair illustration of the adventurous and
wandering character of the hardy Of New England.
Speaking Of the wonderful ubiquiy Of the Yankee the
writer says