Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-08-20


As some points were touched npon which are more or
less unsetlcd growing out of the indefinite language
of the treaty. extract such portions of the debate
as applies TO them:
Mr. Adams addressed the committee but in a voice so
feb that nearly impossible hear him any per
tion OF the hall. Members crowded arouad him. fill up
the in front Of the Speaker nsmuch that in the
IL Insisted by the chairman beha: Of those few
ilemea who remained in their sea that the should be
cleared in accordance with the rule. Under these ciscum
stances the reporter regrets that but little OF what he
said reached his desk.
He was unders God 10 refer 10 printed bill he held in
his hand, reported some time since fiom the Committee
Territories which fixed the boundary north the line Of
So 40 and enquire Of the chairman Of lbe Committee
Teriitoes why the boundaries not also specified
this bill
Mr. Douglass (ur yielding) said he supposed the
boundaries definitely 6xed by the Ii The bill said
that all that part OF the territory Of the United States which
lies Of the summit Of the Rocky be- and the
is hereby organized into Territory, TO be called the
Territory Of Oregon. The southern bourd fixed def
niely BY treaty with M xco the northern boundary is
fixed definitely, informed by the President, by
treaty with Great Brain the western boundary Of course Is
the Pacific and the boundary the
BILL supp therefore, Of course, ere be ques
tiOn the boundary
Mr.. Adams said he reaiing fom the printed bill be-
fore him, in which the boundaries expressly laid down.
being the south and by the 42d degree OF atnde
east by the summit If the Rocky mountains on the north
by the line Of 54' 49, and ~ Pacific
These boundaries defined with gIeai precision. lie
should have been happy they had been settled that
Mr. Douglass would have been equally happy could
have reported the boundaries under the treaty
stipulaons
Mr. Adams insisted that the boundaIie should be defined
by the BILL aud that if they left the Of
treaties by the government Of Oegn il would lead
fusion and perhaps conflict with foreign governments.
Mr. Douglass remarked that the present bill stood in
gard to boundaries precisely The bill which this
House had passed during the session. and seat to the
Senate.
Mr. Petit was understood to say that the President had
sent in the treaty which had been lately ratified, this
morning.
Mr. Adams further that the describing it as the
territory Of the United States of the Rocky
saying what the boundaries WERE appeared
10 him that it safe for them anything
definite. The boundaries should be described reference
10 existing treaties authority whatsoever the
governor government of the Territory Of Oregon
tablshed. When constituted government over terri
tory defined the boundaries Of that territory that the
government established there might know how far they
might claim jurisdiction and how far they might
avoid all Of quarrel He hoped therefore the
bill would be amended as 10 describe the boundaries For
after ALL there might be question what the boundary
under the treaty We have not the treaty The gen.
tleman MI. Pettii it has been communicated the
House this morning, but it has been printed, and
know nothing Of what the boundaries established by il
except by
He understood clear what the obligations
of the treaty For instances at the time the treaty
ratified here il stated in the newspapers that The
navigation of the Columbia river granted the British
Hudson Bay Company and British subjects trading
with, only during the existence of the present charter
that company stated in the British papers that this
erroneous, and that the grant is permanent There is
great difference And confess continued Mr.. it was
consolation for that present which made
of six degrees of latitude Great Britain that the remain
der of the sentence lost to the repoTer Now per-
manent right to the navigation Of the Columbia river
part Of Great Britain Of the things 10 which would
have assented hope il is hope least
that the treaty such that hereafter maintain
yes maintain 10 the last moment that the navigation of
Columbia by Great Britain shall be temporary If should
live TO that me-and God knows shall would go
TO with Great Bitain rather than agree the pema-
ncn navigation by her Of the Columbia liver. Sir at very
carly period OF the session declared firm belief
right Of the United States the boundary line 540
40 north 1t was not idea to for years years
had entertained that opinion and the eth CongIess-a
Wing Congress- had the honor of being a member of
committee of which Mr. William Cost Johnson chair
man. a report made to this House that position was
distinctly taken by the nine members of that committee
Great Britain, IN my opinion, had claim inch Of
the territory she has now received We have given to her
present the navigation of the Columbia Iver together
with Quadras island bat is the right name tn ugh
call it VancOuver) I'VE have adhered to the line
which the fighting line Of the forty-nnes-we have
given her part Of the territory south OF 49'.
But this course of remark perhaps not entirely per-
unent 10 he Dill UNDER consderatnn His objection 10 that
bill was that 1t did not precisely define the boundaries Of the
Territory.
Mr.. Petit nterpOsed and wished the gentleman from Mas
sachuets to give his opinion whether the of the nav
cation of the Columbia Great Bain was a PEI
nsnt merely temporary grantl
Mr.. Adams. 1 would the gentleman from Indiana
with great pleasure if had treaty have not
know the representation made OF it in the newspapers here
among others, in the organ Of the administration, the
Onlun-In which it is said be tempoTaTy-duTng
islenee of the Hudson Bay Companys charter
terminates in lS5S-and not permanent. Bat have OBJ
account Of that treaty. that grants them the posi-
live right Of navigation of the Columbia perpetuay There
fore am unable to answer the gentleman from Indiana
which would do with great pleasure especially if
state Of the according 10 the representation
made hee-that is to say temporary ana only during
existence Of the charter of the Hudson Bay Company
As said before, hope that the phraseology
will at least allow to put in claim in chanccy
hope that the chairman Of the Committee Territories
some other gentleman. will move amendment to define
the boundary Of that Territory question as
what the boundaries hope this bill will lay them
distinctly. But The gentleman from Hin lis the chairman
OF the Committee Territories if judge by the nde-
mite expressions Of the BILL leaving be inferred only
how far moth the territory extends TO be ashamed
the boundary which by treaty have obtained. That
boundary cuts off from the Puget sound those
har0oIs which are described valuable and essential
commerce the Pacific by gentleman hem Indiana
whom l see near me, Mr. Owen Ia his speech on the
Oregon question he Ike in strong Terms this subject
Mr.. Owen Mr. A. yieldng) said, it true that spoke
in the strongest terms Of the safety and Of TO US
the future of Oregon Of waters of Puget
sound But IS also true that the parallels Of 49,
to the at what believe called the Gulf Of Georgia
and continued thence down the straits of Fuca
to the Pacific leaves that line the whole Of
Puget sound and Of Admiralty inlet Great Bitain by the
treaty, renquishes these to
Mr. Adams. think, if the gentleman i'll examine The
map he will End that the line in question US of from
Puget sound.
Mr.. Owen. have examined the mater carefully and
am certain of the statement make.
Mr. Adams Well, be il as it may, Great Bain Sc
cured the ee navisan Of that sound and the adj lining
straits repeat that have made a present 10 Great
Britain of six degrees Of latitude; aud the y
forties seem ashamed enough Of their .siliou.
Mr. Douglass would state 10 the gentleman from Nassa-
chuses That be ashamci Of the boundary Of 49 and
instead Of making mention Of IT, preferred report
fnns the boundy in precisely such m1nneI as was done
in bill which the gentleman om Massachusetts himself
had voted for this And he had gh he msht
follow the gentleman, $50 i0 man, with safety
Mr. Adams Did vote for such 5ill Has there bill
on the subject Of Oregon passed the House at this
paSSed this House establishing Territorial government over