The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-02

vIdes that il shall continue only 30 long both OF
the parties desire II TO continue. We can, then,
give il without reasons there is necessity for
specifying our reasons. ''''
! What then, is the position Of the parties Great
Britain and the United States jointly occupy the
territory. All property is laid down in the law
books under three diyisons-possesslon, the right
Of possession and the right of properly. In what
relation do we standp We have the right Of pos
session. This was clearly yielded to US IN 1914
and this was assumed by our negotiaor at the out
set of the late negotiations. Mr.. Calhoun said IN
his letter to Mr.. pskenham, Of September 8 1874,
and the position was not controyerted by MT fa-
kenham, that
I'VE are then as admitted by Lord Caseresgh entitled
he considered the party possessions and the conVen
on Mhch stipulated that the territory should pe ss ana
open the from the date oil us signature
the vessels citizens and subjects Of the two countries
without prejudice 70 any claim which ensr ps, ~
our claims 10 the territory including the acknowledged
tight TO be eo,d' ~ u ~ - thsy The dsy
the convention signed Ofth there can be no doubt
We are, then, at this moment the party in pos
session; are entitled 10 possession; we are the
party in possession; and when connect that with
The statement Of Messrs. Husksson and Adding
ton British commissioners in 1896, how do the
parties stand They say
Great Britain claims exclusive sovereignty any
portion Of that territory Her present claim not In respect
to part but to the whole is limited TO right Of Joint
with other States leaving the right
Of exclusive dominion in allegiance"
Now, then, we have the right Of possession; they
claim exclusive sovereignty over no part Of that
territory. What, then, is the exact position Of
the parties under the convention Of 1879 We
were then the party IN possession she sets up no
claim of exclusive sovereignty, and inevitably she
can be put in no other attitude than that Of re-
ceving from US franchises; we being in pos
session, give her citizens the same privileges en-
joyed by our citizens. She claiming no exclusive
possession, and we being in possession, and having
the right OF possession, IN what position VIII
the notice place herr We give the notice and ter
inmate the treaty; these franchises OF course erml-
nate; and instead Of we being the aggressor, as
maintained by the gentleman from South Caro-.
lima, Mr.. RHErr, should she attempt TO thwar our
law, to resist US, she will be the party aggressng
upon us They have already agreed that we are the
party in possession, that they claim no exclusive
possession; and when we give this notice we throw
ourselves back in the precise position occupied
in 1873 and in 1897 He will then necessarily pass
hws and extend our jurisdiction over Oregon; and
not only that, but we not necessarily called on
to drive out every Englishsubject there Their oih
GERS cannot exercise jurisdiction, but at the same
time their citizens will stand in the Oregon territory,
while relations continue Of friendly character,
in the position that English subjects remain in
this city. But suppose that government sends
thither regiments Of Dragons, takes possession Of
those forts which are now the forts Of the country,
| and hangs out her flag from them: than we assume
military possession Of the country, and not till
then.
Then if this is the position into which the par
ties are thrown, have the most perfect right
under the treaty and "a il is stipulated that we
can give the notice at any time, what reason can
they urge, IL we give the notice, why it should be
considered a cause Of ohence' He defed gentlemen
10 give the opinion Of any British statesman, who oc
cupied position Of responsibility, that the notice
would be just cause Of war No; it is reserved
right We safe to the British government that
''lhis territory which were willing to occupy in
times gone by-that the circumstances have changed
in reference TO ii; that our settlers have gone there;
they will 90 there; perfectly Wiling have
them go there; and we want to know where our
boundaries are; we are unwilling to hold out the in
ducement to them to 60 and settle your territory.
In order to avoid future difficulties between we
TO terminate The treaty, and draw the line dis
tinctly between u.s." Could any gentleman say this
would be war Il has been assumed on all hands. |
Omit to give the notice, and pass your bill granting
titles TO your settlers, securing them homes and pro-
lection, and there Will be war, and war for which
attempted seize and take exclusive possession of
territory secured to her joint occupancy with US.
War may come under the notice; the British gov
eminent may take offence at stubbornness; she
may say we demand too much; demands are
such as she will yield to; but if stubborn
and hostile spirit should rule the hour, and we be
involved in war, il will be consoatory to every
member this floor that he has followed the line
which honor and good faith point OUT that he has
acted in accordance with the reserved rights pos
tons of honor and Justice.
Then, he said that the notice, instead Of being war
measure, was the only honorable peaceful measure;
| and assuming that the people Of the United States,
their masters, demand, some action of them-some
earnest of what they intend to do to show that they
| were for Oregon-they could only Take that step.
He rad voted against giving the notice last year,
and when il inserted in the bill, he did not vote
at all. He did right then, in his Judgment and he
should now, with equal confidence in the correct
of
time there was a pending negotiation. II was I'M
derstood daily that it would soon be brought TO a
close. Both houses Of Congress called for the cor
respondence. The Executive declined to give it;
and then it was that he used this expression in his
speech, which would justify him. at all events, for
the vote which he should now give:
II object to this amendment because this House has call
ed for the correspondence which we al know has taken
and that correspondence has not yet been eommunica
sS Il ps bs @
determination for frivolous causes shall checrfuly
gGse he notice. Which the
till then for my own part hope this question will not be
pressed"
has made most liberal proposition; that he has of
fered to concede everything which he could justify TO
his own conscience or to the people. And how
was that proposition received II was supercious-
" rejected The British minister returned it, say
| ing that he could not receive it, and that
THE undersigned, therefore, trusts
penipotenary will be prepared to offer further pro-
osa for the settlement OF The Oregon question more con-
with fairness and equity and with the reasonable
| expectations Of the British government" .,...
Then he took these points, TINT for us to extend
10 settfeIs III oregon Tho i- LtL ~ ..H say
| their situation demands, to give to them magistrates
and prolee,ian, and above all the homes they seek
without bringing this treaty to termination, will
he considered by the British government-will bel
considered by large portion of our peeple-takng as
| the index Of their sentiments the expressions of
some of their statesmen-a gross violation Of exist
ing treaty stipusiiops. Then it is that we cover
ourselves with dshonor, and Involve ourselves IN
warm clearly Of disgrace.
lie sold then that can give this notice without
giving the reasons for il; but we have ample rea-
aons. The circumstances Of the country are
changed; our citizens now settling II; they will
settle; and we do not intend to stop their settling;
and il is necessary for to know how much OF the
territory we are entitled TO, and to draw the line
diatinc,ly between the two governments. Then IT
war came, we have to say let it come. We are not
| oo;,g IN start back from our lust position by