Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-06-16
MIR. BENTON'S SPEECH ON THE
OREGON BOUNDARY.

ave. MT PRESIDENT. SAID he, the bill be-
lore the Senate proposes to extend the
Sovereignty and Jurisdiction of the United
States over all our territories ives: of the
Rocky Mountains, without saying what is
the extent OF this territory. This is wrong
in my opinion. We ought to define the
limits within which our agents are to do
such acts as this bill contempIates, other
wise we commit TO them the solu ion of au-
thorty IN case which requires the utmost
precision, forces me 10 speak, and to give
my opinion OF the true extent OF our terri
tories beyond the Rocky Noun aims.
have delayed doing this during the whole
sess on, MOI from anv des re o conceal my
opinions, (Which, in fact, were told to all
that asked for them bl because thought
|; the business of negotiation, not of egis-
latlon, TO settle these bounda;es | waited
tor negotiation; butnegoiaton lags, while e
vents go forward and we are in the process
OF acting upon measures upon the adoption
OF which II may no longer be in the power
either OF negollat on .or Of legislation to
control the events 10 which they NAV give
rise. The bill before rs is without definl-
ton of he territory to be occupied. And
why this vagueness in a case requiring he
u most prec sion? Why not define the
boundaries OF tlese ,erri'oriese Precisely
because we do no; know them! And this
presents case which requires ma TO wait
no longer for negotiation, but TO come for
ward with my own opinions and TO d. what
can % prevent the evils Of vague and in
definite legislation My object will be 10
show, # can, the true extent and nature
- our "'ritoral claims beyond the Rocky
Mountains. with view TO inst and wi'e
decisions; and, in doing So shall endeav-
Of tosact upon the great maxim, Ask moth
ing but what is right-subect TO nothing
that is wrong.
1t is my ungracious task,in attempting TO
act upon the great maxim, to Commence
by exposing error at home, and endeavor-
ing to clear up some great mistakes under
which the public mind has labored
1t has been assumed for two years, and
the assumption has been the cause Of all
the Oregon exc tement in the country, that
we have Il dividing line with Russia, made
so by the convention Of 1924, along the
parallel o! 81 degrees 40 minutes, from
he sea to the Rocky Mountains. up 10
whch our little is 200 /. This is great
mistake. No such line was ever establish
and, so far as proposed and discussed
as nolthern British, and not as a northern
American line. The publ C treaties will
prove there is no such line; documents will
prove that. SO far as 5i-l0, from the sea
TO the mountains, was ever proposed by
US for the Bri ish, and not for ourselves.
10 make myself Ineligible in what shall
say on this point, it is necessary to 90 back
10 the epoch of he Russian convention Of
1924, and TO recall the recollection Of the
circumstances out Of which that convention
grew. The circumstances were these, in
1921 the Emperor Alexander, acting upon
i Leading idea of Russian policy Tin rela-
ION TO the moth Pacific ocean) from the
time OF Peter the Great, undertook 10 treat
that ocean as close sen, and to exercise
municipal authority over great extent of
It's shores and waters. In September Of
that year, the Emperor issued decree.
bottomed upon this pretension, assuming
exclusive severe gnty and jurisdiction oyei
both shores of the north Pacific ocean. and
over the high seas. in front o. each coast,
. the extent of one hundred Italian miles
ION Behring's Straits down 10 lat ude
nifty one, on the American coast. aud TO
40 on the AsiatIc; and announcing the pen
atles OF confscaton upon all ships, OF
of whatsoever ma ion, that should ap-
Proach ihet coasts within the interdicied
distances This was very startling de.
cree Coming from a feeble nation, il
would aave been smiled al: Coming from
Russia ii gave uneasiness 10 all nations.
Great Britain aud the United States. as
having the !argest commerce in the moth
Pacific ocean. a d as having large terrific
rial claims on the northwest coast Of A.
mer:ca, were the first TO take the alarm
and TO send remon>tr noes 10 81. Peers
burg against the formidable ukase. The,
found themselves suddenly thrown togeth
er, and standing SIDE bv side ~ this new
and portenIous contest with Russia. They
demonstrated in concer /, aud here he wise
aud pacific conduct 1t the Emperor Alex
ander displayed self in the most prompt
! and honorable manner. Tie Immediately
suspended the uka>e. (Which. IN fact, had
remained without execution and invited
the I'M ed S ates and Great Britain 10 u
mite with Russia in a convention 20 settle
amicably and in spirit OF muiu | conven
fence all the questions between them, and
tspeci liz their r.spec i've territorial claims
on The northwest Coast OF America. This
maghanimous Propnsii. was Immediately
me; by the two Powers in a corresponding
spirit; and, the uka>e being voluntarily re-
| llnqulshed by The Emperor. conven on
vas quic>lv signed ty Russ with each
Power. settling, so far as Russia was con
cefned. with each, all their territorial
CLAIMS in No'thu est America. The En-
peror Alex nder had proposed that II
! should be joint convention OF the three
Powers-a tfIpuTtile cunven'Ion-sei'ling
the claims Of each and of all at the same
lime; and, If this wise suggestion had been
followed, all the subsequent ana all TIE
present difficulties between the United
States and Great Britain with respect &c
tins Territory would have been entirely "a
yoIded. But u was not followed; an ac'
OF cur own revenied il. After Great Brl.
tain had consulted. the non-coloniz tior
principle-ihe principle OF Eon-cooniza-
ton IN America by any European Power
was promulgated by our Government