The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-22
'haTIesIoWn Va bpIrit OF JeIie
CONGRESS-OREGON,

n From the Charlestown Vs) Spirit of Jefferson, jan TO-
Pn CoNGRESS-oREGoN
Six weeks Of the present session of Congress hay,
passed away and we regret TO say that but little has
yet been done. Too much Of the time of the House
has been taken up in personal alterations between
members. They should recollect that they are
wasting the peoples money, and pursuing course
we'll calculated to bring disgrace upon an American
Congress.
We have no hesitation in saying that we believe
that if members would attend properly to their du
ties, and let the Inconsistencies and the faults o
others alone, these personal difficulties would moi
arise And we do hope that in future the floor Of
the House Of Representatives will not be made the
theatre of quarreIling and snahing between mem
bers IL their own private sense OF dignity and
sefrespect is not sufficient to restrain them prop
ef regard for our national character should
l We have however, read with great deal of IN
terest the debates tpun the subject Of giving, adj
visng the President TO give the twelve months no.
tice To England to terminate what usually called
the joint occupancy Of the Oregon territory. Blu,
we are truly grieved TO see that SO many OF our
southern friends opposed to giving this notice
at least Tor the'present These admit, too-ay,
prove-that our title to the territory is clear and
deniable; yet they seem unwilling TO adopt such
measures viii secure TO the exclusive jurisdio-
ton over il. And why' Because, say they it is the
subject Of negotiation; is u stretch Of the power Of
Congress to interfere in giving the notice being the
power of the treaty-mahiHg branch Of the gov
eminent, and that war might be tho result
| of such notice. As 10 the first point let il
be remembered that the Oregon has been the
subject of negotiation between this government and
Great Britain for upwards Of quarter of century,
and that it is nearer settled now than when the
question was first opened. And besides, il the ar
gument be II good one the hands Of Congress would
be forever tied upon the subject of foreign rea
tlonsj but this, we contend, ia not the doctrine OF
our republican institutions. The people, through
their representatives have the right TO express their
views upon oil subjects, whether foreign or domes-
nc, in which their prosperity, interest, or national
character ;, the least involved; for whout this right
the voice Of the people could not be heard beyond
the boundaries Of our Country, and not even beyond
the limits Of congressional district IL Is
only necessary to refer those who assert and rely
upon the second proposition, to the provisions Of
the convention nC- existing between us and Eng
land, tn prove conclusiVsy that Congress have The
power to interfere in the matter Of giving the no
tce II is provided that the goperittrt shall give
the notice; and the Congress- composed Of the Sen
ate and House of Representatives, is certainly
part and very important part, too, OF the govern
ment Of the United States. But is said also, that
If the notice is given, will be the consequence.
Even admitting that such result would follow, are
we ouch dastards to shrink from the performances
of an oct tina, has for it's object the promotion of
Justice and the securing Of the exclusive control of
our UNREASONABLE rights, because the probability
of war is seen in the attaining Of the objec' We
would say those who this argument, yon do III
Justice the feelings and chlvarous spirit Of America
But we believe, with Mr. Bowlin Of Missouri that the
giving Of this notice will afford to Great Britain
cause Of hostility, and that war will not grow out Of
IT, We will only act IN accordance with the ex-
press sipulaoDs OF the treaty; and surely this can
give offence to no one. And believe, moreover,
that to dissolve this quasi partnership, will have the
effect to hasten the adjustmenrof the question by
negotiation, because, England has at present all OF
this territory and every privilege in it, tina, she
desires. Her policy is, therefore, to battle and
hwart every attempt at further negotiation upon the
subject. But soon the provisions OF the
present treaty in relation to this pretended Joint
cupancy, annuled by the notice, then viii it he
her policy secure by negotiation whatever interest
she can in the territory speedily as possible.
We feel ourselves much indebted to the able and
lucid speech Of Mr. Bowin for clear conceptions Of
rights under the existing treaty. and for the cor
reciion Of an error which we had, without proper
examination of the subject, fallen into, relative To
the rights of Great Britain occupy the soil jointly
with ourselves. We now repudiate the idea Of "a
Joint occupancy" 1t is term which has been
grossly misaPplied in speaking of the rights Of
Great Britain in that territory 1t is plain, to our
mind at least thai she cannot Justly claim any right
TO the occupancy further than incidental! to the
right Of navigating the rivers, fishing, hunting &c
which alone the ghts guaranteed IN the treaty;
and these seem to have been given more on account
of the special favor Of government, than on &C
count Of any right the part of England Then
we would no longer hesitate 10 extend our laws and
jurisdiction over that territory.
As to the basis upon which the question should
be negotiated, we only say that, having been
long since satisfied Of our "cear and unquesuonable
title to the whole of Oregon" we would not concede
one inch to any claim set up by Great Britain But,
by way of u compromise, and for the sake of lib
eral spirit, we would consent to a boundary on the
49lh degree of north latitude; but not one hairs
breadth south of that latitude should the line be-
And if a citizen of the United States has settled
r. IL a.. ,.ha tboI Ipa ha onf n
ly north to include him, unless he would consent to
change his allegiance; for we hold that we have no
right to ccde away an inhabited territory without
the consent of the inhabitants.