Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-01-01


The following is extrated from the Wash
ngton correspondent Of the Baltimore A
merican of Saturday last:
All questions before Congress and the
country sink into utter insignifcance COM
pared with that which at this moment threa-
tens war with Great Britain. 1t is certain
from letters received here by both the las,
steamers that Mr.. PAKENHAM has received
no rebuke from his Government in conse-
quence Of the attitude assumed by him in
declining to accept the proposition submit
ted by the Secretary of State, making the
10Th degree of latitude the dividing bounda-
Iry line between the British and American
possessions. 1t is equally certain that we
are going on in defence of our EXTREMIST
claim, and that any proposition thus far in
troduced by any friend of the Administra-
ton has aimed at the entire dispossession
of the British Government from the whole
Northwest territory. The most important
oc these bills is that submitted by the Com
Imittee on Territories in the House of Re-
representatives. and made the special order of
the day for the first Tuesday in January
This Bill makes the following importan,
provisions: .. j
1st That the boundary of OREGON be ex-
tended to the 54th degree and 40 minutes OF
North latitude, the Southern boundary the
42d parallel of North latitude. the Eastern
the summit of the Rocky Mountains, and
the West the Pacific Ocean including the
islands adjacent to the coast.
I'd. That the President be advised forth
with to give the one years notice provided
for in the second article of the treaty of the
9th August, 1927, whereby joint possession
is now held of the disputed territory; but
that this act shall not be enforced in man.
|ner to deprive any of the subjects Of Great
Britain of any of the rights and privileges
secured by the Convention of 1927 until
the one years notice shall have been given.
Sd. That there shall be complete terri
torial organization extended at once over
the whole of this disputed territory, and
that the laws of Iowa shall be in full force
as far as they may be applicable. Judicial
districts, judges and justices of the peace,
and all necessary ministerial officers, are
also provided in the bill, with superinten-
dents of Indian affairs, Indian agents and
Isub-agents, and whatever civil officers are
necessary for the protection of the Govern
Iment. A mail route is also established from
ISt. Joseph's, Missouri, to the mouth of the
Columbia. ...
4th. Bloekhonses, stockades and military
posts are authorised to be erected, and two
regiments of mounted men to be raised, Of
fcered and equipped to serve in the country.
9Th. Six hundred and forty acres of land
are offered TO every male inhabitant of the
territory of Oregon of the age Of Is and
upwards, who may have gone there, or who
may go within two years from the passage
Of the act, and who shall cultivate the same
for five consecutive years. Also to the wife
and child of every emigrant and settler $50
acres-the land to be secured to the heirs
at-law in case of the decease of the parties.
Should this bill become law, and the
Government attempt to enforce it, it will be
regarded as equivalent to a declaration OF
war, and all hopes of negotiation end at
once. The Senate are moving more eau
tlously, and propose subjects OF inquiry
where the House propose immediate and
positive action.
The whole question, regard it in what
ever aspect it may be presented, is fraught
with serious consequences to the country,
and it will need all the forecaste, good sense,
love ofjustice and of men, to keep the two
Governments from engaging in collision,
and even with all this it will be a miracle if
the wisdom Of wise men is not more than
overbalanced by the folly of fools. E..