The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-25
From the New Milford Republican May 3
OUR JURISDICTION IN OREGON.


is one great measure that CLAIMS consideration above
all others-the question Of the extension Of the
uona jurisdiction over American citizens Ia Oregon.
Such end and such action we find In the bill which
lately passed the House Of Representatives and
now awaits its final decision at the hands of the
United States Senate.
This bin is calculated 10 second and materially
strengthen the measures Of the nouoe-to throw
me protection Of laws over the tide of popula-
uoh which Is constantly .emlgrRting into Oregon
ron lhe States Of the Union-Io remedy the evils
OF aNlaed sleglanee-to assure To our hardy en-
grants le peculiar prerogatives of American citizen
ship, and 10 avert the injurious influences ,sung
nom distracted and rival Jurisdictions
While We give 10 Great Britain the REQUIRED no
tee for the dissolution Of the convention of Joint oc-
cupancy, II Is indisPensaby necessary that the
Of our government be extended over the DISPUTED
territory, and American Jurisdiction and laws estab-
llshed at once over It's citizens, who are thus pro-
tected from the evils and Inconvenience growing
out Of allegiance disputed and uncertain, held by
no fixed tenure is liable at any moment to abuse or
usurpation. IL is ell-known fact, to which we
need not give more than a passing allusion that
American citizens resident in Oregon are made
amenabe to British laws are tried by British courts
and are compelled into acquiescence with British
Judgments, in Consequence Of the on-extenson of
our jurisdiction over that country; while on the
contrary, the English government has carefully
avoided the like contingency by adopting a line oil
action we ourselves should have been the first 10
pursue. A native born American, fairly entitled to
all the rights and prerogatiyes such inestimable
oirth-nght coniers is liable To be summoned, tried
sentenced, and imprisoned by a Canadian court and
there is no redress, no appeal because of the non
existence OF an accredited Jurisdiction and the pro
mitigation OF declared allegiance under The gov
eminent Of the United States,
That such an abuse should exist, is in principle
wrong and radically unjust Under the protection of
a law, having in view the subVersion Of this mon
strous evil, our people would be in no danger from
The preJudices Of those who have ever cultivated
raneorous feelings towards us-would be allowed
the enjoyment ofthat inestimable privilege trial by
juries OF their own counrymen, 10 saw nothing Of
the indsputabe title of nationality they would thus
possess, and the contingent benefits resulting from
decided and firmly established jurisdiction. Amer-
can citizens should be entitled to the benefits Of
american laws, and IN no case be amenable To
nose OF another nation. IL is therefore a measure
incumbent upon Congress to throw over our people
IN oregon the shield ofits protection. -"
Inc passage OF the notice should be Immediately
followed up as collateral ISSUE by the extension OF
he Junsdeuon oil this government the territory
TO which that measure asserts our claim We saw
collateral issue-for such incontestaby il H. The
adoption Of the notice isa desirable precursor To
thus question, hnal action upon which should be
taken with all practicable expedition
The triumphant vote Of the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes upon the Oregon jurisdiction bill has
clearly demonstrated its popularity-as in the pre-
Vous instance OF the passage by that body of the
noce resolutions. Both these bills passed the lower
| branch Of Congress by immense and overwhelming
| maJontes. In the case Of the Oregon notice the
only opposition II met with was from the Senate
who, as we have seen, at length succeeded by con-
| tinued obstlnacy, In forcing the House into COM
! pliance with the amended and modified form in
which it now stands in the hands of the Executive
With the other, the jurisdiction bill, we hope the
higher branch VIII not indulge in any farther per-
yersity; but trust they will pass il n the shape con-
stituted, and spirit impaired to il by the House. as
also should have been done the issue of the no.
tice. In the present instance at least let there be
no mutilatons--no apologize, deprecatory modf-
cations. The country demands a measure which
will answer 10 the issues, and fully cover the ext
gencies for which IL il required. The question Of
the notice is now no longer exclusive or partial
monopoly-fnal action upon IL now remains with
the President; and in the faithful discharge of the
Iony daiy thus assigned him, Congress and the
whole nation rest assured. .. ..
As, therefore, Congress is now absoyed from all
further consideration upon this head il ut liberty
TO turn all Its attention to the other great desdera-
| tums OF national expediency. As we have before
remarked, the question Of the extension of our jurs-
dicton over the disputed territory is strong coat-
eral issue, and as such should follow the momen-
tous measure Of the notice.
! lhe House OF Representatives we have seem has
arrived at final action, and by a monster majority
has given the measure an almost unanimous sane
ton. The of the Senate has vet 10 be taken
Will not that body concur ia this strong express
sioni
| We have never been among those who believed
that the extension Of the notice was measure cal
cuiated to produce war. We have nm undoutted
right TO give It,. The provisions of the convention
OF 1878, entered into for the joint occu psncy clearly
conveys the stipulation of the guaranteed right Of
either power to annul the compact whenever il
shall deem such procedure best suited to its own
lnterests-conveying by implication, also, the assur
ance that the pursuance of such course shall not
be construed, directly indirectly, into an offensive
1t expressly understood that in case either
government should consider the further continu
ance of the existing joint occupancy in any way in
Jurlous, 1t was at liberty to issue the twelve months
| notice dssolving the convention. So il is with
| the jursdichon--a collateral issue Strengthening.
seconding, and adding force to the great measure
| of the notice. For reasons which are synonymous
and identical, Great Britain could take no exception
to such a procedure. And were it SO, even, we do
not see why free and independent nation is 10 be
Ieverlastingly bound down to such considerations.
Such measure is noble and legitimate auxili-
airy to the notice, and such a measure is found in
| the bill which lately passed the House of Represen-
tatlves, and is now before tho United States Senate
whose sanction we hope and trust will be granted.
/