Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1846-01-10

o It. There are questions Of public right
shich may rest in abeyance; which are ]
vt CD into daily exercise; and need
. assertB1, only when required. But
'uch il NJ the right By which we hold ,
Oregon. We must maintain it, Or aban- !,
lon 4. A vigorous and enserprising peo-
pie are fast increasing there, who will
possess the country BY the best Of all titles
-shat Of occupation and improvement;
and If we'do not provide them govern
msnt, they will provide one for .them-
selves. Already necessity has compelled
then to organize their civil society, and to !,
make those arrangements for the prserva-
tion Of order, without which no civilized
community can exist. II is only few
days since they made known to you, by !
judicious and well-written memorial, their
condition and their wants; and asked your
interposision 10 remove the serious diff
sultiss with which they find themselves
snviroasd. And think you, that if their
prayer 10 unheard, and their grievances
unssdressed; and if the present state of
things continue, that you will find dis
tant colony patiently awaiting your tardy
movements, and ready 10 admit your juris-
dirtion, when you may be ready to exer-
else i? No; they will feel themselves
neglected, cast oil, left 10 their own resour-
ces, the victims ofi.dplomatic ehicanery or
of national pusillanimity. and they will
seek their own security in their own pow
es. That great truth, not applicable 10 re-
publican governments alone, but comon to
I'll, and which lay at the foundation of our
own resolution, that protection and alle-
glance are reciprocal, will soon be heard
upon the banks Of the Columbia and will
inspire the councils Of the hardy pioneers
who, while they have sought new home
IN = distant country, have carried with
them the sentiments Of true liberty to the
regions beyond the Rocky mountains.
II Is clearly impossible that the present
state Of things should continue, nor, must
confess, do / see how it is possible that a
community, inhabiting the same region,
and possessing the same right to every
part Of it, can hold divided allegiance
and be governed at the same time BY two
distinct and distant sovereignties. Wher
the present anomalous provision was made
the country was unsettled; for the few
hunters who roamed over it could hardly
be digni6ed with the name Of settlers; ane
It probably never occurred to the nego.
tiafers, nor to their governments, that thi.
arrangement wonld outliye the then exist
ing state Of things, and would come ia
operate upon civilized, stationary, and
q rapidly increasing race.
But what kind Of order can double.
headed government preserve? How ar,
its departments, legislative, executive, ant
judicial, 70 be administered? How ar,
rights to be enforced, or wrongs to be pre-
vented or punished? Two neighbors
living within hearing Of each other, are re-
sponsible to different tribunals, and gov
emed by different codes Of laws. A,
American killing an Englishman must b
tried by an American court and by Amer
ican laws. But how are English witness
e to be summoned, q English 'sturberso
the proceedings Of the court to be remov
ed or punished? Possessory rights are t
be judged by the courts of the party las
getting possession. Contracts are to be
enforced by the courts Of the party charge,
with violating them. And wrongs are t
Ie redressed, or satisfied, or punished b,
the courts Of The party accused Of commit
ing them. A single American in the mids
q an English settlement, or single Eng
EshHaan in the midst Of an American set
clement, bears with him charmed life.--
He may do what he will, and as he will
But he 10 beyond the reach Of restraint
and almost Of punishment. He is invul
nerable; and the arrows Of justice canno
pierce even his hell. The nearest magis
ttate who has jurisdiction over him, may
BE hundreds Of miles removed; and wer,
ae nearer, his national sympathies might
naturally be excited in favor Of his coun.
trymen. There can be no grants Of land
none, in fact Of those pnblic improvement.
essential to the progress and stability ol
society. present merely the most gen
ersl views Of this subject; but they ar,
sufficient TO show how imprac.icable
would Be 10 attempt to establish this doub
le jurisdiction. 1t would be easy to pu1
sue the investigation further were it nee
Who does not see that bitter dispute!
would soon arise? That each party wou!,
accase the other Of partiality and injus
ice? That violence and bloodshed woul,
follow, and that an intestine war woul,
establish the ascendency Of one or the 9th
Of these rival and national parties? AL
this is SO plain that he who runs may
read. And we are warned by the sures
instincts Of our nature not to trust ou
rights and our cause, and the cause of hu
manity, 10 such partition of authority.
r. tneE, Mr.. President, we can neithe
retrsce our steps, nor check them, w
must e onward. And England has pla
eed herself in the path that is before us
and II abe retain her position, we mus
meet her. If the last proposition she ha
submitted Is her ultimatum, 1t is effective
II declaration Of war. Its advent ma,
Be delayed few months; but as soon a
TIE notice expires, ii she persists. as sh
win do, in her occupation Of the country
the struggle must commence. 1t is M
the notice which is beligerent measur,
for that i treaty-right-but il is tn
subsequent and immediate course the par
lies viii probably pursue that must lead i
war-I hope-or ought rather to say
wish-shat England wonld awaken TO ,
sense Of her injustice, and would viel,