The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-27

troversy, the feelings of the people on both sides wi
become rrtated until the cry for justice will be over
come by the louder cry ofvspsngs. have said tha
; approve, heartily approve, OF the Presidents ei
fort 10 compromise this question: the whole coun
try has approved il, and will sustain him in an
just settlement he may hereafter make; butt wi
say, that the voice of the people in favor Of takn
possession Of the whole country is getting stronge
and stronger. every day. and fear il will continue
in that direction until the question is settled, as
have an abiding confidence il soon will.
| have said, Mr.. Chairman, that the President, b,
the course he has pursued hitherto, has given ui
plainly 10 understand what he will do hereafter
That he sincerely desires to preserve the peace o
the country, If he without sacrifice Of our ma
tional honor, no one can doubt. That he may b,
enabled to do this, let not, by hasty and incon
siderate legislation, embarrass him. And this bring
me to the consideration Of the bill now before US
a bill, in my humble judgment, pregnant with mis-
chief in the present state Of the question. | say
IN the present state Of the question: Mr. Chairman; be
cause, whatever acts Great Britain may have passed
IN relation TO her citizens 1.-THE character Of which
are greatly misunderstood,) we have subsequently
entered into the joint occupancy treaty with her. and
80 assented TO them. Besides, Great Britain had
not, at the Tune Of passing her acts, given us notice
as we have now provided to give her so that oui
legislation be considered in connexion with the
notice of the sbrogation of the treaty.
The President informs that the people ol
Oregon "are anxious that our laws should be ex-
tended over themj" and he says IL recommend that
this be done by Congress, with as little delay as
possible in the full extent which the British Par
Lament have provided in regard to British sub
lects IN that territory by their act Of July 2, 1921
BY this act, Great Britain extended her laws and
jurisdiction, civil and criminal over her subject, en-.
gagged in the fur trade in that territory" The Pres
ldent further says that subsequent 70 the date OF
this act ofParllament, grant was made from the
British crown TO the Hudson Bay Company, Of the
| IL al I,N,- IL
territory, subject to reservation that shall not
operate TO the exclusion Of the subject of any for.
eign State, who, under or by force Of any conyen.
ton for the time being between US and such foreign
State respectively, may be entitled to, and shall be
engaged in the said trade"
Here is a recommendation that we extend our
laos orer our otcn citizens In Oregon, Great Brit
ain has extended her laloS opsr her citizens. Thus
far, am more than willing to 60; but the bill does
not stop here. IL proposes TO extend our laws,
after twelve months, over all citizens ia any pari
Of the territory, up to $40 4V. Does not every one
see that this must necessarily bring the two coun-
tries into state Of hostiities' The President saw
it would not only do that, but would cut off all
prospect of settling the question amicably, within
| the twelve months, which he tells us he is an xious
to do This bill proposes that all British subjects
shall, after twelve months, be expelled from the
Oregon territory. This we threaten to do while
we have a treaty providing that the citizens OF
each country shall occupy it Jointly; and while
we are negotiating with Great Britain for an ami
| cable settlement Of the question. Do not gentle
men see that such an act must TO say the least OF
! II, embarrass the negotiation Can we calculate
that we can pass this bill without interrup,ing
negotiation? To enable us TO appreciate the irri.
tation that the passage of such a bill would pro-
duce on the part Of Great Britain, let US suppose
that she had given US the notice las she had the
right to do under the treaty. Of the abrogation Of
the convention, and then that Parliament had passed
law, that at the end Of the year citizens were
to be driven from the Oregon territory: is there
man this foor-is there an American citizen
| anywhere, who has the heart OF an American
who would not consider such acts as equivalent TO
declaration Of war; For one, | would not only re-
fuse all negotiation with her under such circum.
stances, but prepare at meet her. and decide
the contest by arms. do not believe there is a man
on this floor, whether he is for ago or $40 4O who
would not, under such circum stances be for ending
| all negotiation.
The President, after recommending the measures
before stated only, says: at is submitted to the
wisdom OF Congress to determine whether at their
present session, and until after the expiration OF the
years notice. any other measures may be adopted
consistently with the convention of 1897 for the se.
curity OF our rights and the government and protec
ton of our citizens in Oregon. That it will uli
matey be wise and proper to make liberal grants oil
land 10 our citizens there, am fully satisfied"
| have, Mr.. Chairman, stated every recommends
ton the President has made in relation to the exer.
else OF our authority, by congressional legislation
IN Oregon. All are carefully expressed with an
eye to, and in view of, our solemn treaty stpua-
IONS. "The faith Of treaties (the President says,
in their letter and spirit, has ever been, and trust
| will ever be, scrupulousy observed by the United
States" To all these recommendations, heartily
subscribe. | will vote for them all most cheerfulIy,
because they are wise and proper, and in no respect
in violation of our treaty obligations or calculated
TO interrupt the free course of amicable negotiations
yD,1.h .lu...-. i
required to go; and, for one, riH not.
| Having shown, Mr.. Chairman what the Presi.
dent recommends on this subject, ask whether this
bill does not go great deal beyond his recommen-
dation-beyond what he says, as plainly as he can
say it, we can 60 consistently with our treaty obi
cations with Great Britain This bill is entitled
"A bill to protect the rights of American settlers in
he territory of Oregon, until the termination of the
Joint occupation of the same" | will vote for any
bill that this title can apply to; but the first section
extends the laws of Iowa over the Oregon territory
provided that it shall not be construed nor execu.
ted in such manner as to deprive the subjects OF
Great Britain ofany Of the rights and privileges &C.
cured to them by the treaty of 1927 with the Uni
ted States, until the said treaty stipuIations sha
cease by virtue of the notice provided for in the sec
ond article Of the treaty"
The very first section extends the law over British
subjects after the twelve months; thus it violates the
title of the bill and the treaty obligations which the
President so earnestly recommends US to hold ga.
cred. | was pleased to see my colleague [Mr
HoUsToNl move an amendment to avoid this objec-
ton, Gas he no doubt intended it to do, but which
would not have that effect) to strike out of the bill
the latter clause Of the first section in these words
until said treaty stipulations shall cease by virtue
Of the notice provided for in the second article of
said last mentioned treaty." and so prevent the op.
Grafton of the law on the British subjects, as well
after the expiration Of twelve months as before.
But inasmuch as ne treaty stpulations will exist af-
ter the twelve months notice is given the proviso
in the section would have nothing to operate upon
and the section would apply to British subjects as
well with my colleagues amendment as without it,
As my colleague intended his amendment to limit
the operation Of the bill to the term of Joint occu-
pancy, and he must that it will not effect his
object he cannot object to such alteration Of it
will accomplish what he designed.
Mr.. HousToN explained that his colleague did not
understand him correctly. His object was 80 to
frame the bill for it to say nothing about the ter
mination OF the joint convention. Let 1t go into OPP
Grafton as law of the land, and 80 continue until il
may he superseded by other legislation. He did not
propose 10 limit il to the abropaon Of the treaty.