The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-18
DEFERRED PROCEEDINGS.
"WEDNESDAY, April Is, 1886.

The amendment offered by Mr. PAYNE to the pro-
viso of the first section of the Oregon jurisdiction
bill, makes the proviso read follows "Propided,
That this act shallnot be construed executed in
such manner as to operate upon British subjects,
deprive Great Britain Of any of the rights and
privileges now existing and acquired by the treaty
OF October 20th 1918, and continued in force by the
treaty Of August 9th, 1927"
Mr. PAYNE said that his object in rising TO ad-
dress the committee not for the purpose of ma
king speech, but rather to state the reasons why
he had not participated in the Oregon debate.
When the subject of notice was before the House,
some weeks past the debate, in his opinion, as
sumed character and latitude altogether improper
The question of title, peace, war, and the military
power and resources of England and the United
States were discussed then; and, from the present
aspect Of affairs, the same TO be done now.
What injury has or may result to the good under
standing Of the two countries from this unwise
course of debate, time alone develop. He trust
ed that the good sense and deliberate judgment of
both countries would prove sufficient to elevate the
feelings of each above the petty animosity which
elimination end recrmination tends to produce.
The right Of both countries to end the treaty of
joint occupancy, Mr.. P. said, was secured by ex-
press treaty stipulation. How, then, did the notice
involve war; or how did it involve the title to the
territory jointly occupied If the notice, when Civ
en- by the United States, was to be followed by i'm
mediate and exclusive possession of Oregon, then
he admitted that the title and the probabilities Of
would have been fair subjects of discussion
But as such was not the case, as twelve months
must necessarily intervene between the giving of the
notice and the adoption Of the necessary measures
before taking possession of the country it seemed to
him that the whole discussion had been premature
and Improbable. if it should not prove highly nu-
rious
IF simple resolution ending the convention
of 1927 had passed Congress, without comment or
qualification, it would have been no just cause of
offence to England; no embtered feelings would
have been engendered; and the interval of twelve
months, if both governments were wise, would have
been employed in patriotic efforts to adjust the boun-
dairy upon amicable and equitable grounds. 1t was
for these reasons that he did not participate in the
debate.
The bill now before the committee was one, if he
understood it, harmless in ITSELF and, if it does not
infringe the existing treaty stipulations between
England and the United States, can give no just cause
of offence TO Great Britain. He would here remark,
that, if England chose to take offence at the United
States without just cause, he should be among the
last to respect her captious spirit, to avoid the
consequences resulting from it. He feared to
do anything which violated the national faith or
furnished the honor and glory of his country but he
feared to do nothing which her honor and goryre-
CURED He feared to do wrong, but he feared to
do nothing which was right.
The bill under consideration was intended to pro-
tect our own cltlzeus IN oregon, and for no other
purpose. 1t did not propose to operate upon British
subjects, nor to deprive England Of any existing
right 1t was thus to limit the action of the BILL to
exclude different conclusion, and to guard with
proper caution, against the slightest infringement Of
our treaty stipulations, that his amendment was Of
fered
The gentleman from Georgia Mr.. CoBBl object
ed to the amendment Of the gentleman from Ohio
lMr VINToN, because it expired by its own linn
ltatlon, and would leave the people Of Oregon UNI
protected by law, unless subsequent legislation
should be adopted. His amendment, he said OBJ
waited that obecton it provides no limitation to the
law. IL will operate upon our own people in Ore
gon through all coming time, without subsequent
legislation. But it excludes British subjects from
the operation Of the law, now and hereafter, and
aostalns from an Infringement Of British rights now
existing. Any bill passed at this time must do
tnat, or we shall violate treaty stipuatons and tar.
nish me honor Of the country. This he would not
Mr.. 2. then said, if the object Of the bill be sim
ply to protect our own citizens in Oregon il seemed
to him no objection ought to exist in any quarter IN
the amendment he had offered But If, upon the
other hand il is intended to go further and in vio
lation of existing treaties, operate upon British
subjects and British rights, he felt il his duty to OBJ
pose it. The people Of this country are tenacious
ofnstonal rights but they were also careful in the
preservation of national faith and honor and MEM
bers may rest assured they will approve no eeisla
ton, and sustain no party, which Is reckless of
either.
Its said, after the expiration Of the notice, it il,