Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-02-26
-. SPEECH
OF THE
HON. TRUMAN SMITH,
. Of Connecticut. ,,#..,....I ..
ON THE OREGON QUESTION.
Delivered in The U. s. House Of Representa-
80" . liuts, Feb. 7th, 1916. pa
1f Connecticut,


Delivered in The U. s. House Of Representa-
81" 3 tiues, Feb. 7h, 1916. ~
The House being in Committee of the
Whole, and having under consideration
the joint resolution reported by the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, directing lie
President to give notice 10 Great Britain
that the United States will terminate the
convention between the two Govern
ments. providing for the joint occupation
OF the Oregon territory, at the expiration
Of twelve months ''a.4 tstN "..
Mr.. TRUMAN SMITH, Of Connect
cut, ootaineh The floor and sdi,l- &l'
Mr.. CHAIRMAN do not know that it
will be in my power TO aid essentially
the deliberations OF the committee on this
important subject. But having, unex.
pectedly to myself, been constituted "a
mrmber of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, having turned my attentions most
anxn'usly to the consideration of the pre-
sent critical state Of our relations with
Great Britain, arising from the Oregon
controversy, and particularly 10 the. ques-
ton Of noii,'e involved in the resolution
on your table, | ask The Indulgence of
the committee while give an exposition
of the reasons and motives which will
control my action on the present occa-
sion. lam the more DESTROYS to declare
my sentiments, because, from the outset
OF the session, have INDUCED lively ap-
prehensions that this unfortunate cuntro-
versy would involve the two countries in
IL COLLISION at no distant day. did not
doubt but that the authorities on both
sidesu the Atlantic entertained, in gen
eral form, purposes IF pucitic adjust
men,. blu, I feared that one or both of
them would, by the current of events, be
swept into IL position from which retreat
would be 50 difficult as TO render d coz
fiict certain. UUiess wiser and better
cuunsels shall prevail ut both ends Of thu
avenue, than those which the last few,
weeks have made manifest, the Govern
lnent otthe United States will, in my
Judgment, within brief space, find itself
IN tina, Category. FL r"t| ..lt
The territory Of Oregon has been in
dispute between the two Governments
ever since 1878. Not being able to add
just il then, they, by the convention of
that ye,lr, in effect, agreed to adjourn it
overtor the period OF ten years, provi-
ding, in substance, that the country of
Oregon, with its harbors, bays, and
creeks, and the navigation of al RIVERS
within the same, should be open for The
period named, to tho vessels, subjects,
and citizens If The two powers, reservmg
the rights Of any Other state or power to
the territory, and declaring that their
sole object was to prevent disputes and
differences among themselves. ~ n aa~
> In 1927 1t was decmedsexpe,iientto ex-
tend the convention OF 1918 indefinitely,
with The prtviso that either party might
abroguie the convention at any time af-
Ter the Nhh Of Oct, 1928, OH giving twelve
months notice. @ .4A 4...I rs "a
Under these conventions the citizens
Of both countries acquired thu RICH, OF
access 10 the watersot' Oregon--the right
OF commerce with The aboriginrs OF the
country. and the right of entering on the.
territory, aud Of making settlements al
pleasure. -, raa. "a .s5f ...i...
Il IS sa that the conventions of 1918.
and 1927, should not be denornilialed
treaties oI joint occupation but such is
the character which both Governments
have given 10 them for many years, it is
now too late to recede; and besides do
not see how ii great change Of phrHseulo-
gy can vary the rights Ut Great Britain
or the United Stai.'s. ., ..
lsuppose that both parties have enjoy.
ed the rights ut Commercial IL tercUurst
over the whole teTriiury-Anercan CHI.
zetis in sone degrGG-Brnish subjects
much more but IN the matter of 81 tile.
nlei,is The parties have SO exer cised their
rights, that Great Britain may now be-
s"id to be substantially mposse>s OH OF ali
the territory north ut the COlunibia RIVER,
aud we Ut all south 0t the same river.
bn ut the opinion that British sub
jects are iU The rnjny meni OF more ut the
territory in dispute. than their Govern
melii, Oh u fair consideration Ut ITS pre-
tcns.olls, can justly claim; and ! will
uphold the existing Administrations in all
suitable efforts Ia vindIcilt. the American
clam, an,i la reduce The possess Ons Vi
Great Britain 10 their proper limits.
No mieini'er at this Committee, nor ciii.
2en Ut lhe c.'untry, can be more deeply
i,np.e sed lhan am with the Necessity
ri bringing This controversy 10 a speedy
close. The irritation existing, both here
and ~ Greili Britain, is getting 10 be tx
cessive twill assume more and mLre
aggravated form. Aud ihe affair will re-.
suit in the most disastrous Consequences,
unless ills properly adjusted.
II - now Proposed 10 give the notice
provided for by the convention OF 1897
and the resolution on your table declares
that the President should forthwith take
the proper steps 10 abrogalc the treaty at
the expiration Ut twelve months. The
President, IN his message. ut the opening
Of the present session OF Congress, says,
10 substance, that the notice ought now 10
b. given, and adds: e recommend that
provision be made by law for giving i,
accordingly, aud terminating. in this
manner. the convention OF the 9th of Au-
gust, 1927. .--..-
. have considerably modified my o.
piRions on the subject of notice. during
the progress of this discussion. In the
first instance my impression was, | ought
moi ia vuie for il at all hut more mature
reflection has brought me TO the conciu-
sim, that il is expedient, il not indispen.
ble,io abrogate the convention OF 1877 and
that i ought 10 vote for qualified Dotlce,
or 10 modified form. But cannot vote