Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-13
probability, war. The gentleman from iii.

sell, cause OF war. But we maintain that it will
bring about state of things, in which, unless a
settlement by negotiation lakes place, war will be
probable. We give the notice, and terminate
the convention and extend orr laws, both crimi-
nal and civil over the whole Of Oregon CT. Bri-
tain does the same. Well, one ofour citizens COM
ms crime there; he is aEprehended by a Bri-
fish officer, and imprisoned Complaint is made
10 us, that our soil has been violated by the exc
cuiisn OF British process, by British officer up
on it, and that one oil our citizens has been de-
prived OF his liberty in consequence. We call
upon the British Government for satisfaction. II
is refused upon the ground that il was En- sish
process, executed within English territory. What
would be The result2 War, inevitable war. Re-
verse The case, 'ainiatiS nlufands," and the same
consequences occur.
But the gentleman from New York, (Mr Gro.
ver) who spoke on yesterday, contends that
this conflict Of jurisdiction is as likely TO hap.
pen, il we continue the convention. But how
can that be The British criminal law oE!y ex.
tends 10 British subjects, and il an American ci-
lzen is brought before an English tribunal, plea
10 The jurisdiction would settle The question:
The gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Rock
wel contends that the English law relating 10 ci-
wi matters, extends 10 all persons, and is not con-
| lined to British subjects. differ with the gen.
tleman IN his construction OF the Law; but sup
pose he is right. is il probable that out OF The
trial Of civil suits, growing out OF contracts
say growing out OF contracts for there can be
no land causes there, as will be seen in subse-
quenl parts of my remarks-iS il probable, that
out OF The trial Of civil suits any difficulty
can arise2 The forms OF proceeding, and the
greater part OF The laws which prevail, are the
same in British and American courts. How,
them can such conflict o jurisdiction take
10 4;
tween The two nations? This is the most tAvora
BILE view OF the case, as lar as peace is concerned.
But have You any assurance, il you give This
notice With The avowed purpose, n The end of
twelve months, in utter disregard OF the rights OF
Great Britain conceded in our negotiations with
her 10 AXE possessio Of the whole territory, that
she will regard il as peaceful measure, and
wait for The state Of things which have de-
scrbed, and which must in the event referred 10,
ensue? She is ready; we are not. Does any
body believe when She sees tina, war viii
probably ensue in any event. that being ready
herself, she will patiently wait until we get
50? No. Sir Great Britain, like all other hghters,
knows that 'he first blow is half the battle" But
gentlemen will say, she cannot go 10 war about
Oregon until The Twelve months have expired,
and tina, in the mean time We can gel ready
She can 60 TO war wnen she plsases All Of US
who know anything OF her history, know that she
has much less seldom gone 10 war, in the Ian
suagc OF one OF her greatest statesmen, 'ior IN
de;nniiy for the pasl," than for security torMs f"-
TIRE" And have We any assurance, II we give The
notice with The avowed purpose of oosing cur
handsto enable US TO lay them upon The whole OF
Oregon, 10 rights in which, as have shown We
have conceded her iitie that she will wait 10 ena-
bic US TO get ready 10 do so with effect? II she
has any disposition TO pursue that course, am
Il Sbp q haf frpI
one omineny connected wi b our foreign al
fairs, that the war; il j, ensues will be war OF
systems OF government is not calculated 10 foster it,
But how do gentlemen show that II we give the
notice Great Britain is bound 10 wait for The ex
piralion of The twelve mOnlhsi For whose be-
ne6 tcnt bOa0," is that proyision} Is il not for
The benefit OF the party receiving the noce2 or is
for the benefit Of the party givingit? lsnot The
object OF il 10 prevent surprise 10 The party not
asking for the termination Of the treaiy2 II 50,
NAV she not waive il, and consider The conven-
lion at an end as soon as she receives il, and pro-
coed 10 execute her plansl Sir, The legal analo-
sies would 60 far 10 sustain This hypothetical
view. A law Tor instance, requires, in some le-
gal proceeding, that ten or twenty days, or SIX
months notice should be given 10 defendant
But in all such cases, may ne not waive II and
make his appearance al once? Now, sir, wish
10 be distinctly understood on this point. ! do
not express positive opinion that Great Britain
might lake this course with propriety; but this
do say her right 10 do so would be much less
questionable than her right 10 insist-fori instance,
that the Nuotka Sound convention if abrogated
BY the war between her and Spain was revived
BY the treaty Of 1914. Who can say that if we
give this notice with the avowed purpose, at the
end oftwelve months, OF taking possession OF the
whole OF Oregon, that we will not have war in
one month thereaiter2 But, sir, | shall not ns 81
on this point. 1t is enough 10 justify the vote
which shall give on this occasion, that il the
notice is given, and no settlement takes place
within the twelve months, war may ensue. Are
we ready for in If not, with all our energy, can
we get ready in twelve months2 To answerthis
question, it is necessary 10 look into The stale OF
oar detsnces; and, upon this point, we are not
left 10 vague speculatons. The reports OF our
public officers answer The question. In what con-
dion are those deience>? Let the Secretary OF
War answer. In his last report he says:
"The number OF non-commi>sioned officers,
musicians, and pEirates, authorized by law, is
seven thousand FIVE hundred and ninety; but,
according 10 The latest returns received al the
allulanl generals office, The actual force avaiia-
Die for service does not exceed SIC thousand fire
hundred. The difference between the authorized
force and that for service will, probably, be al 10
time proporlionaby less.
son our Northern borders along The line Of
TIC British provinces, from Maine 10 Lake Snpe-
nor on extent Of tiro homsand Mules, there IS ao,r
sloftOned but a single regiment. From The Falls
Of ST. Anthony ont The Upper Mississippi along
IN. Western and Southwestern frontier, bolder-
ing on the Indian country fifteen hundred miles,
and extending South 10 New Orleans, only one
regiment OF dragons, and Two OF infantry, are
Stationed The artillery regiments reduced IN
strength by having four companies detached from
each. now garrison 4 lew ot the ioflIhcalions up
on The seaboard, from Newport in Rhode Island
10 New Orleans, the eYicencies of The public
service having required the withdrawmeni OF
all The troops IRON Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire and Maine. The residue OF the army, con-
ssling Of one regiment VI dragons, sixteen COM
panies Of artillery and FIVE regiments oil inian-
Try, constituting more than hall oil The whole nj
liiary force Of the United States, is now serving
in Texas. This important change in The posi-
ton of our military force was made in the course
of the last summer.
In subsequent part Of his report, he tells us
that the force in Texas cannot be Withdrawn; but
on the contrary, in what is now probable con-
linuency, il must be increased. he says:
aThough no movement as vet has been made
on The part OF Mexico TO carry into effect her often
repeaed mt naces, or 10 change The relations oil
peace between her and the United States she still
continues 10 manifest nostile ieeIhSsi dnu 'icd'-
ems an invasion OF Texas. This attitude, as
long as il shall continue wllrequire the presence
Of military force in that quarter, at least equal
10 tina, now stationed there. II is presumed that
This equivocal state, which has mol The settled
character OF peace or war, will not DC much
longer continued. Should Mexico deny our right
10 possess the country upto The Rio del Nore,
to The extent Justly claimed by Texas before an
nexaton, and the free common use Of the waters
Of that river, i, is presumed that authority will
be given to enforce it in both respects. 10 the
event ofresistance, there may be occasion 10 EN-.
nlov an additional force, and authority should be
given for raising it in tina, contingency"
Our population, Mr.. Chairman, since 1893,
has more than doubled; and The extent q the in
babited portions Of our territory have also more
than doubled. How stand our means OF deiencef
The report OF The commanding general OF the ar
nv informs US, that exclusive OF commissioned
officers, the peace establshmenlffom lsos.o 1912,
was . l2s men, from 1915 TO 1921, 1857" We