The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-06
wrote as follows to the British Secretary for the

wrote as follows to the British Secretary for the
colonies,
"B2h care and protection, The British dominion may no
sEly Be prsss red this country which IL has bssa sA d.
.iA n Rassa and i%sfea 10 oess 60 ne fIet4seg y ',a
maintained as paramount On mis- fai@syHng part s esd
ofhs Paeife."
Sir, mark the pointed and significant language Of
the governor with care and protection, the Brit
country shut British interests and British infu-
ence may be maintained as paramount on this inter
esting part Of the coast Of the Pacific"
On the lst Of February, 1887, George Simpson,
esq, agent Of the company in America, writes 10
Gov. Peby ON the same subject He says;
The possession Of that country tor-gon TO Great Brit
nsthrins their cai~ 1y fOyasms n~eis 81
colony through the establishment Of arms and tho ssle
culturists"
Not satisfied with complying with the words and
spirit Of the conventions of 1878 and 1927, which
authorized them to trade upon soil, and for the
purpose Of strengthening the claim Of Great Britain,
they were forming The nucleus Of a colony" ~
Mr.. Chairman, take the blowing extracts from
Grssnhow's History of Oregon, TO show the com
mittee the aspect Of affairs upon our own sou;
Wherever an American trading post has been sstab-
shsd o. an American party has sssn snsssed 70 raas 90
Ss.s ~ nn%bsr Of h.bisr. ar with .pss .seK o. msr
chande % 2rse amount Of sseis IN hand whioh were
than those by citizens Of the United states and
the latter In consequence finding their abors vain
soon Obliged TO retire from the feld'
Again:
As this fur trade in the countries Of the Columbia de.
creased the Hudson Bay Company began 10 turn Its at
tenon other objects. Farms laid
sire scale and mills for grinding grain and saving wood
were erected near the lower part Of the great river near
Bulhnch hsbor PugetS sound and in other places
The policy Of the English government, for sew
eTal years past evinces settled determination, by
forming The nucleus Of colony" to retain perma-
nent possession Of the country. Perhaps they have
based their calculations upon a continuance Of that
line OF policy which wihhods from our citizens in
ducements TO settle the Oregon territory, and leaves
our people, already there, TO struggle with the con-
cen,rated power Of an incorporated company, with
out any certainty that their rights will ultimately be
protected. But, Mr.. Chairman, If the English gov
eminent has come to such conclusion, they have
again mistaken the character of the masses in this
country. Although our affections cling around our
family affairs and we rally the readily TO their
defence yet the patriotism Of the American people
is as broad as the land we inhabit
But Mr.. Chairman, II IL urged that the present
Executive Of the United States rendered to Eng
land the 18th degree Of North latitude the boun-
dsry and that, although il was rejected by England,
and subsequently withdrawn by the United States,
yet, IL il was now rendered by Great Britain, we
should be bound TO accept it. To this conclusion
cannot agree. IL the tender had been accepted, we
certainly Should have been bound by it; but, il
was declined and then withdrawn, the two govern
ments occupy the same position they did before
il was made. The argument is, that we could
not refuse an offer which we had been liberal
enough to make ourselves. All agree that the Pre-
sident could not have made liberal Offer con-
ssent with the honor Of our country; and yet sir in
1918 and 1926 we rendered to Great Britain the ago
Of north latitude, together Nth The free navigation Of
the Columbia riper south Of that latitude. Now sir, II
we are bound as gentlemen Insist, to accept lib
eral an offer from Great Britain we have rendered,
should be compelled to accept the parallel OF ago
il offered, giving to that power the free navigation
Of the Columbia river south Of that parallel. No
member upon this floor WILL trust, so far forget
the interests of his country 10 surrender the free
navigation of river which flows through terri
tory. regret, Mr.. Chairman, that gentlemen, in
their anxiety to compromise upon age, should have
placed themselves in so false position.
Sir, have no hesitation in saying, that il is my de-
iberae opinion, after the most mature reflection, that
IL England tenders the 49th degree of north latitude
as the boundary between the two countries, or any
other parallel south Of $40 4V should be promptly
S %sos osssss fq be- .svs to M VI.
Chairman, in this connection, TO state that England
never will, in my opinion compromise nj ago. The
hsrbors and territory which she desires to possess
are between the 49tho and the mouth ofthe Columbia,
and we shall be compelled to present to the world
the Illuminating spectacle OF purCHdSHS punt w
offering to surrender still more of our soil
II may be well to recollect, Mr.. Chairman, that
the amount of territory gentlemen propose TO sur
render between ago and $40 40 north latitude, is
about 100, 600 600 acres, and that the people may
regard peace purchased at such price rather too
dear.
The Executive, in his message asserts the fact
that our tide to the whole Oregon territory has been
''rnaoined bp i,refragabie facts and arguments"
In his message, the President states the following
principle:
"Near quarter of century ago the principle was dis
one OF my predecessors that the American continents by
the and independent condition which they had assumed
AMI maintained henceorh not to be considered sub
ects for colonization by any European power This
principle will apply with greatly increased force, should
in North America. In the existing circumstances Of the
world the is deemed occasion to reterate
and the principle avowed by Mr. Monroe and to
Nate my cordial concurrence in its wisdom and sound
p City"
Now, sir, if it is the settled policy Of this counS
try that the American continents are not to be con-
sidered rs subjects for future colonization by any
Europ can power, it applies to territory to which we
have no claim, as we'll as to that which belongs to
a: and il we cannot suffer the powers of Eu-
rope to celonize parts Of the American continent
over which we have no claim, how can we surren-
der territory to which title is 'clear and unques
tionable," upon which foreign power can form the
"nuclers of a. colony" | am decidedly Of opinion
Mr.. Chairman n, that the joint right of trade in
Oregon should terminate soon as possible. The
English are erecting forts, and forming the 'nuceus
of colony 3" north Of the Columbia. Our citizens are
settling south of that Ifths is suffered TO
tinue the Columbia river will become the boundary
between the two countries. To extend our laws ove
the territory and build FORTS will be proper, lone
as our citizens and the subjects Of England occupy DIFF
fsrsni portions of the territory But once let our peo
pe pass the river and erect forts, where the cross
ST. George, floating upon the breeze, comes in con
tact with the stars and strpes-let the English bay
onet and the American rife glitter upon opposite
hiIls-while upon the same plains, TO the blasts o
the bugle dash the American cavalry, and the ser
ried ranks of the English Infantry move TO the note
of the ife and the rolling Of the drumsir, let tbi,
state of affairs exist for two weeks, and insults will
pass, blood would be shed, and the English o.
American flag would trail in the dust.
am in favor Of erecting forts and extending oui
laws to protect our citizens in Oregon. But with i
I think we should no,o give tho notice, as the ONLY
means to prevent rupture with England, or TIT
surrender Of portion Of our territory.
A distinguished senator in the other end of thu
Capitol, mr.. WEBsrER,l believe, has expresse,
,b,t the peoDe in OREGON phOuld be lief