The daily union., 1846-04-28
MEASURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF
OREGON

MEASURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF
OREGON.
The second great branch of the executive policy
in relation to Oregon is the protection of citizens
there, and has yet to receive the de6ntve sanction
of Congress. 1t yields in importance only-if in
fact, it does so yield-to the question Of notice
which has preceded it, This branch of the policy
urged by the President looks to the full and efficient
protection Of all rights and interests in Oregon
pending the convention and after its termination.
1t looks to the reception of citizens in Oregon
into the full brotherhood Of our equal laws-to their
protection against all foreign force whether savage
sions among themselves. 1t looks, too, to the due
encouragement of emigration to that region, and to
the cultivation Of intercourse and of sympathy with
those who may emigrate.
These noble objects. They fll the mind. They
warm the heart They embrace the welfare and the
destiny off great region Of country. They comprise
our duty to the men of our own blood, who IN the
face of all privatons and dangers, are planting
our lineage, our language, and our civilization on
the shores of our great western sea- If we do this
duty it should be done, its fruits VIII surely come
back to US thousand fold in augmented national
power in increased national resources, in the mighty
expansion of our national system, in the heartfelt
and patriotic gratitude Of growing population,
whom we shall have called into safe and established
civil life, and whom we shall have bound to our
selves forever with links of iron by that friend.
ship-the best of all frendshp-which comes in the
hour of need. And this is our great encouragement
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doing, we shall be true to our duty and to our
selves. II, in so great matter, we have in times
past procrastinated, let us procrasnate no more,
Now is the golden hour; let it pass and no man can
say what new difficulties the future may bring forth.
See what promptness of action has done for US in
Texas Let us learn from this, what promptitude,
and the harmony of counsel which brings prompt
tude, will do for us in Oregon.
We have said the Oregon policy proposed by the
President was comprehensive and complete. Let
US add that it is wholly adequate to the demands Of
the exigency in which placed. We feel that
we can do the country better service at this juno
ture, than to reproduce this subject, in our col
umns, the wise suggestions Of the message. We ask,
and we do not doubt, that our friends will ponder
them anew, and to good issues
"All attempts at compromise having failed it be-
comes the duty of Congress to consider what meas
ures may be proper to adopt for the security aud
protection Of our citizens now inhabitng, or who
may hereafter inhabit Oregon, and for the mainte-
nance Of our just title to that territory. In adopt
ing measures for this purpose, care should be taken
that nothing be done to violate the spulations of
the convention of 1927, which is still in force The
faith Of treaties in their letter and spirit has ever
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served by the United States. Under that conven-
ton years. notice is required to be given by either
party to the other, before the joint occupancy shall
terminate, and before either ghtfuy assert or
| exercise exclusive jurisdiction any portion of
the territory. This notice it would in my judgment
be proper to give; and ! recommend that provision
be made by law for giving it accordingly, and ter.
minatng in this the convention Of the sixth
of August, 1897.
at will become proper for Congress to determine
| what legislation they can, in the mean time, adopt
without violating this convention. Beyond all ques-
ton, the protection of our laws and our jurisdiction
civil and criminal, ought to be Immediately extended
over citizens in Oregon. They have had just
cause to complain Of our long neglect in this par
tcnlar, and have, In con sequence, been compelled
for their own security and protection, TO establish
provisional government FOR themselves. Strong in
their allegiance and ardent in their attachment to the
United States, they have beef thus cast upon their
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should he extended over them, and | recommend
that this be done by Congress with as little delay
as possible in the full extent to which the British
Parliament have proceeded in regard to British sub
ects that territory, by their act of July 3D. 1921
for regulating the fur-trade, and establishing Grim
inal and civil jurisdiction within certain parts o.
| North America BY this act Great Britain ex
tended her laws and jurisdiction civil and criminal
over her subjects engaged in the fur.trade in tina
territory. BY it, the courts Of the province Of Up
per Canada were empowered to take cognizance o
causes civil and criminal Justices Of the peace anc
other judicial officers authorized to be appointed
in Oregon, with power to execute all process ssun,
from the courts Of that province, and to sit and ho
courts Of record for the trial Of criminal offences AM
misdemeanors, not made the subject Of capital pun
ishment, and also Of civil cases, where the cause
action shall not exceed in value the amount or sun
} Of two hundred pounds
| "Subseauent to the date Of this act Of Parliament
la grant was made from the British crown to tn
Hudson Bay Company, Of the exclusive trade wit
the Indian tribes in the Oregon territory, subject
reservation that il shall not operate to the exclr
sion of the subjects Of any foreign States wht
under or by force Of any convention for the tim