The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-14
THE DAILY UNION.

urged the necessity Of Of defining in Il the extent Of
our rights TO O0gon, and Of making permanent
extension OF our jurisdiction, and the protection OF
our laws over citizens in that territory, contend
ing that we might as well do this one year in adj
vance, one month in advance OF the termination
OF the eonyenton--thereby avoiding the possl-
bility OF an interregnum OF American laws (whlle
those Of the British would continue, and those
tablished by the citizens Of Oregon themselves
would be ONO avail, having been superseded by
such temporary extension Of our laws, and arguing
especially that this extension OF jurisdiction over
citizens in the whole territory, being not in vi
olaton Of but in conformity to- the treaty, might be
voted for as we'll by those who would be willing 10
compromise our differences with Great Britain on
the line Of 4so as by those who believed our title
perfectly good TO $40 4V, and without impairing
their freedom Of action hereafter.
In the course of Mr.. C.'s remarks, Of which
more extended report will appear hereafter, he
yielded for explanations OF inquiries TO Mr.. VIM
TON and Mr. BURT.
Mr.. HOLMES said he had not heard a single
gentleman, whether democrat or WING, express an
opinion upon this bill who was not In favor OF pass
ing It, should some notifications be adopted lie
had, until yesterday, considered the bill harmless,
and he had really intended TO give Il his vote. But
the discussion Of yesterday had induced him to ex-
anime the bill more closely; and he found himself
compelled to oppose it, In doing this, he was com
PEELED to go against his colleagues and also against
the democracy Of the House, and even without the
consolation Of having the wings with him.
The notice he had deemed precursor Of evil
but it was cloud no bigger than a mans hand,
compared with the mighty influence which now
hung over the land. There was not single Prov
sion Of this bill that nota distinct violation OF
the convention. The convention stipulated that the
right OF eminent domain should be held In allegiance;
but this bill asserted for the right Of eminent do
man-the exercise Of empire over the region. The
Hudson Bay Company had received laws acting on
persons. They claimed no territorial or property
jurisdiction. They had erected some forts under the
supuations Of the treaty, they being allowed to
trade with the Indians. But what did this bill do'
IL contained three provisions, all of which were in
violation OF the convention. In the first place, II ex.
tended the whole jurisdiction OF Iowa over the entire
region; and here he would remark that this would
be as much In violation OF the treaty if il extended
to 49o as il it extended to $40 40. The convention
stipulated for Joint jurisdiction and usufruct
MIR. JACOB THOMPSON here asked the gentle
man from South Carolina whether, by extending
our laws over citizens in that region, we viola.
ted the treaty stipulation
Mr. HOLMES had, he said agreed that by ex-
tending the whole Judicial power Of Iowa over Ore
gon we had asserted and claimed the eminent do
main. His objection was TO the exercise Of en-
inent domain There was another clause in the bill,
to which he had strong objection. He meant the
provision for the erection OF military posts.
Mr.. JAMES THOMPSON explained, that this
provision of the bill was rendered unnecessary, by
a bill which had already passed the House. He
also remarked that the right to erect Qualifications in
the territory by either party had never been doubted
The establishment Of a military post at the mouth
of the Columbia was recommended by Mr.. Monroe
and by Mr.. Adams.
Mr. HOLMES said he doubted it, notwthstani /.
ing these authorities Was not the assertion OF
territorial rights violation of the treaty Of 1922
Mr.. THOMPSON said if our government exer-
else jurisdiction the whole territory during
the existence Of the treaty, that would be viola
ton of it but when the treaty was at end, it
would be no violation.
Mr.. HOLMES understood he said the question
TO be this: whether the right Of empire being in
allegiance, the erection Of military posts was not
ample assertion Of eminent domain.
Now, (said Mr.. II. il we passed this b and
give it TO the President to be executed would It not
devolve upon the President power to involve us in
a collision? There was another provision in this
bill, TO which he objected. The establishment OF
Indian agencies for the regulation of trade with the
Indians, without modification or condition. The
powers Of the Indian agent were at least pro-con-
suar-he regulated the trade with, and in fact gov
erned the Indians. Mr.. II. alluded 10 the fact that
many Of these Indian tribes had been subsidized by
the Hudson Bay Company, and that attempt to
control them would involve US in a collision at
once.
In fact (Mr. H. said,) no bill could be framed
tnat was moro COtHplttc anu explicit assertion OF
our exclusive rights in the territory. The gentle
man from Georgia Mr.. Conn goes, he says, upon
our rig hts; but, unfortunately others also adhered
to their rights. He had examined this subject OF
right and he would grant that gentlemen who stood
upon $40 40' could with more reason support this
bill than he could He had heard no argument in
favor Of the exclusive title to Oregon up the Rus
sian boundary, except that which was based on the
Spanish claim. Upon what did that Spanish title
resR He was surprised 10 hear from Protestant
gentleman, in the 18th century, the doctrine that
the title rests upon grant from the Pope, and
which, if good, would give the whole continent to
Spain. Mr.. H. remarked upon the absurdity Of this
pretension, and his surprise that one who had
grown gray in public affairs, who was high in rank
and honor, and who was par excellence the Amer.
can dplomatist should advance the opinion that we
had title through Spain from Pope Alexander the
9Th. ".Non inpideo, ad mirror nlagi,," exclaimed
Mr.. H., in reference to this doctrine. We must
rest, said Mr.. H., upon own title by discovery
and exploration. We must rest on our own title,
and not that of Spain.
five took this title, we must RELY upon Genesis
for its authority, and it might give us an Exodus
The subject was too grave for Jest, but if this ar
gument was not a Joke, it was difficult to saw what
it was. That baseless fabric Of a title we were
called upon to support, and, in defence of it. to
lead our people to battle. He believed our own title
to be JUST so far it went. Our acts made il good
and it derived no aid from the Spanish title
The gentleman from Georgia had no apprehen.
sion as to the effect Of this measure He (Mr. Fl
confessed that he had Would it not have the effect
to obstruct negotiation, which was the only alter
native to a war, by asserting eminent domain? Was
it not challenge, followed by request for an ex.
planationi Upon the day when the notice tcrmi-
mated the joint occupancy, it would place US in col
lsion with Great Britain.
The gentleman from Ohio Mr.. VMroN, had de.
monsrated that, if his amendment was not adopted
the termination of the Joint occupancv mt ia ;nso
taeto, in a state of open war. Should this bill be
passed. he would say, prepare at once-aud he
would not stand back. We owed it to the Presi.
dent, and to the country, if we gave him these
powers to give him also thirty millions, to enable
him to carry out the purposes of the bill We must
not leave our citizens in Oregon in such situation
as will Justify the accusation against us, that we
have abandoned them to destruction.
Mr.. MILTON BROWN took the floor, and on
his motion, the committee rose,
THE cHERoKEEs
On motion of Mr.. JACOB THOMPSON, the
message received yesterday from the President Of
the United States the subject of the Cherokee re
ations with the accompanying report of the Com
missioner Of Indian Affairs, were ordered TO be