The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-01-08
Il III E N + w E II A
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN q. ADAMS ON
THE OREGON QUESTION

THE OREGON QUESTION.
In the House of Representatives on Friday, the
bill making provision for raising two companies of
Titlemen being up for reference
Mr.. j. O. Adams rose to address the House
lie said that he ought perhaps TO commence with
an apology 10 the House for addressing i, at all
on this question. The state of his health was
such as 10 render it impossible for him 10 enter at
all on the many important questions connected
with this subject, and, whatever observations he
might feel il his duty TO make upon it, must ne
cessarIy be brief. His physical power would not
enable him 10 90 at any length into the question
The question immediately before the
House he understood To he, whether the bill ma
king provision for raising two regiments of rifle
men should be made the special order for the first
Tuesday in January.
The Speaker said that that constituted one
part of the question but was not debatable. The
other part of the question referring this bill
to committee nt the whole on the state of the
Unun. and that question was open To debate.
Well, then, (said Mr.. Adams) WILL at the
risk of heing arrested for irrelevency (Which
seems OF late tavourate mode of preventing dis.
cusSl"n) speak in reality and in substance To the
question of making the hill a special urder-while,
IN form, my remarks will be on the Question ufre-
ference.
The measure now proposed 10 be referred is one,
which, t"r variety of reasons is as important as
hereafter come, before this House for discussion.
1t is difficult 10 speak of the bills relating
To this subject without reference 10 all the 9TH
ers. For example this is bill To raise two req
In1ents Uf rifl.men. Now, find there has been
reported in another part Of this building bill pro-
vldIng for regiment of mounted rilemen.
The question then presents itself IN mellow are
these two bills 10 GO together and whether they
ought not To be considered together? fbut one
onI % If mn riff &c
he miintained then it does not follow that two
regiments of unmounted rIilpmen are needed the
one bill depends In measure upon the other. |
refer Ia this merely as an illustration To show The
variety OF measures which are at the same Time in
contemplation Of the House | find further in
the same bill 10 " ich have just alluded an an.
preparation of - dullarS for the expense of any
military dcIrures which the President may deem
necessary on the line of our communication with
Oregon. Now the importance Of that provision
depends on The sum which shall he put in The
hands Uf The PRECEDENT. All infer from This is,
that II is contemplated that other expenses (and
in my Oplnlun very heavy ones) must be cOnsid
cred as concurrent measures measures with the
raising of these regiments of rlflemen. This is
The only measure that will be accessory, and there
fore 1t may be doubtful if there is any necessity
for wasting the time of this House in discussing
the question whether these TWO regiments of rifle
men shall be raised, unless the necessity is made
apparent Tor their employment. Why, what rea-
son Is there that two regiments one regiment
shall be raised at this Time q? We have hereto
fore gone through some measures which presented
prospect of war: we have gone through them,
and there has been no war. We are al profound
peace with all the world. Why then increase
orr military establishment? 1t must be recolec
ted that the spirit which prevailed in this House
two, three, or four years ago, was very different
as To this matter OF increasing our military force
We who we're then here voted not only to pre-
vent the increase Of our military establishment
but we reduced thy very nearly one third That
was four years ago, when the prospect of war was
quite al great as now, and will lake this oppor-
tuniy IL say that / do mt belieUe al all IN ANY
DANGER IF tvnr at this time.
du not any testimonials, of the probability
of war at this time but, it any danger is APP
pretended by any gentleman here, il appears to me
that the very fist measure to be taken-ihat
which should procede all military measures
OF any kinds 10 give notice to Great Britain
HAT We mean to terminate the existing joint occu
pancy Of Oregon That is the first measure to be
taken. How can gentlemen apprehend war other
wise? Does Great Britain tell us that she shall
take offence at the continuance Of The treaty of
int occupancy? She does not, though [ have
heard OF some question being made IN England
whether they shall not give notice of the ter
minalion OF The JOINT occupancy. Yet il is not
joint occupation, and | have been surprised at the
language held by some gentlemen on the subject
The treaty acknowledges no occupation Of the
territory hy either party: it is commercial con
venli"n Tor free navigation, but it does not admit
by either party the occupation of one inch of ter
rtOry by the other II is no occupation But
whatever it is, neither party can permanently nc
cupy the country without notice to the other 10
terminate the convention of commerce and trade,
which would not be permitted without such con
yentlUn. 1t is not treaty of joint occupation il
is a treaty for the exercise of navigation rights
commercial rights aud trading rights with the
Indians. II precludes The occupation of the coun.
try by either party. Exclusive occupation cannot
he assumed by either without notice Ofall the
measures for occupancy and for assuming jurisJic
ton over citizens Of the United States who have
gone into Oregon, and there in actual possession,
notice is the first thing. Twelve months after
that notice shall have been given the right will
accrue TO the United States TO occupy any part Of
the territory they may think proper
In the bill which passed at the last session
myself moved, a first section to the bill, that
such notice should be given. The House did not
think proper 10 agree to it,, and passed the bill
without any notice.
Mr.. G. J. Ingersol. No; It was put into the