Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-13
TwENTy-NISTH CONGRESS.
SPEECH OF MR.. BAYLY OF VIRGINIA.
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notice YOU facilitate negotiation, and peaceabls
settlement, at the question. Is u possible lhat
Ibis is SOL This was no! ny OPINION AT ne CON-
mencement OF this session oil congress, ata j %
sill less so since the violent and @ars'he ueod'e
which we have heard Sir, the TWO nations are
mi in a temper 10 make il prudent 10 risk that
an amicable adjustment, will take place IN tWeiVe
months. Our people have been taught TO be,
Iieve that our title was perfectly clear oil all
difficulty; thai Eneland's claim originates IN
her cormorant appetite for agsrandizsme9', :"
the qualification of which she has tramPleu u
On every people upon earth, upon wio .aa b Has
could trample with impunity; ana 'ne ea,s ~
been likened 20 that OF her making pr, -,
rons claim 10 Rhode Island, for instance; anu VIC
~ ,srad If in such case we would negotiate?
have shown that tine analogy Is anything on!
strong. And so, rice aerss, the English press ara
the English statesmen have made similar OF
even stronger impression upon the English peo-
ple: and they are told BY them thai our Claim
10 Oregon originates in the same thirst lot yer
ritorial acquisition in which Inc annexation "
Texas had its birth. The public mind in nei'her
nation-and both OF them are under Inc coulo''
although in different degrees OF puollc opinion-
The public mind neither there nor here, IS IN
condition propitious TO an amicaole settleneh'
of ,h. question: and would no more force TWO
nations, within a given time, while they are
in rage to settle an old and inveterate leui,
or fight, than would Two individuals similarly
situated In the one case as in The ether would
allow cooling time. would wa, until con-
seriousness Of their mutual dependence upon each
other for prosperity, as is peculiarly Inc case
with the United States and Great Britain, had
mutually inclined them 10 peace. A most pro-
pilious condition ofthinss IS now occurring. IN tne
two countries. The prospect OF more intimate
commercial intercourse, mutually benehciai, Is
dawning upon u.s.
In The mean lime the presses ofthe TWO countries,
are taking up the subject, and discussing II more
dispassionaley Is This condition OF things 70
be pu, an end 10 rudely? think not Is the po-
sIon Of our affairs in Oregon SO critical thai we
must fight under the wa,chword "cH or nonr-nec
or nercy?" / maintain thai they are not. But
as this is an important view The subject, niuss
be INDUCED in some detail. | will show lhat The
present posture Of affairs in Oregon is entirely
favorable 10 MS. We can settle Oregon-l mean
in an agricultural sense; The English cannot. In
the first place, their laws and treaties place them
in a situation in which they cannot do il, 70 say
nothing about the physical imposbiiy. | VIII
establish this in few words. In 1921 the North
west Company was merged in the Hudson Bay
Company by ac, Of Parliament. The rights con-
ferred upon that company east and west OF the
Rocky mountains are very different East oil
the mountains il is lord Of the soil, and may
make grams ofland in fee simple. Yves, olthem,
its charter only provides "for The exclusive trad
ing with the Indians in all such parts of North
America 10 The Dorthward or 10 the westward OF
the territories of the United States as shall no,
form part Of any OF the British provinces or Of
the territories OF any European power"
an English writer oil high character, comment
log upon this charter, says:
at will be observed, that the charter contains
no clause authorizing the company 10 form set
Elements Not only have they no power 10 grant
lands but they have no power even TO hold Them.
The charter gives them, as against all other British
subjects, but only as against them, the exclusive
right of trading with the natives, according to
regulations to be approved BY the crown; and II
requires then to deliver mp their own servants 10
the jurisdiction Of British tribunals. This is the
whole amount OF the privileges which il grants,
and OF the duties which it imposes. They can
not acquire for themselves the property, or for The
crown the sovereignty over single acre."
Ii is true the charter reserves 10 The crown the
RICH, OF Establishing any colony within lhe terrific
ries in question: or OF annexing Them 10 any ex-
listing colony. But il mus, he borne in mind,
that 10 settler Oregon holds out lew induce
nents, except as hunting eronn1 ana a matt
for furs. Agricultural produce is almost value
less as is shown by the fact that the settlers feed
their stock upon the finest wheat. The only
means Of making money there is by turS None
other than the Hudson Bay Company can trade
in them and they cannot hold or grant lands. II
is no, probable tina. persons not connected with
i, and enjoying lis privileges, and subject 10 The
restrictions OF its charter, will go there Besides,
Great Britain contends that the Nooka Sound
Convention is still in force, and H. according TO
lis admitted construction, prohibits colonization
Its provisions, applicable 10 his question, We
have already seen. Commenting upon IL Mr.
Buchanan says:
This convention OF 1890 recognises no right
in Great Britain either present or prospective, to
plan. permanent colonies on the norlhwes. coast
OF America, or 10 exercise such exclusive juris-
6icion over any portion Of il as is essential 10
sovereignty Great Britain obtained from Spain
all she then desired-a mere engagement tina, her
subjects should mot be disturbed or moissted' IN
landing or the coasts Of those seas. in places not
already occupied, for the purpose OF carrying on
their commerce with the natives Oh the country,
or Of making settlements there. What kind Of
set,lements2 This is nc specified, but surely their
character and duration are limited by The object
which the contracting parties had inylew They
must have been only such as were necessary and
proper for the purpose OF carrying on commerce
with the natives of the country Were these SET
Elements intended TO expand into colonies TO ex-
pei The natives; 10 deprive Spain Of her sovereign
rights and 10 confer the exclusive jurisdiction
over the whole territory on Great Britain? Sure
w Spain never designed any such results ana il
Grea, Britain has obtained these concessions by
The Noo,ka Sound convention. i. has been By the
most extraordinary construction ever imposed
upon human language"
Mr. Benton places the same construction upon
the convention. In his speech in lS43, he says
at conters nothing bu, the privilege G. fishing
and hunting along The northwest coast and erect
ing temporary hus which The pursuit oil their oc-
cupation might require Colonization they re-
nounced
This construction Of the Nootka Sound con-
ven!ion is not only not disputed by Great britain,
but is most clearly acquiesced in.
In 1897, MIR. Galla,in, in letter 10 the Anne
Iican Secretary Of State, observes:
1.-THE British ne2otatorS declared that there
was no intention on the part OF Great Britain TO
colonize the country (Oregon,) or TO impede the
progress Of American settlements
In the British House Of Commons, MIR. Fox,
speaking Of the Noo,ka Sound convention, SAID;
"By the 81 article, We are authorized 20 navi-
gate The Pacific Ocean and the South Seas unmo
Tested, for the purpose OF trading win lne natives.
But after this pompous recognition OF right 10 ma
viga,ion fishery and commerce, comes in another
article (the 6h) which takes away the right of
landing and erecting even temporary buis, Tor
any purpose but that of carrying on The fishery,
and amounts 10 a complete dereliclion OF all right
10 settle in any way for the purpose OF commerce
with the natives"
These are The restrictions under which Great
Britain labors. We labor under none SUCH
Besides, il is no, desirable TO Great Britain and II
il were, ii is hardly possible for her. TO coloaize
Oregon. In the frs, place, from England 10 Ore
CON is upwards OF twenty thousand mes-sail-
ing distance. 1t is al least six months voyage;
and 10 make it, you have TO cross the Equator
twice, No other than salt provisions Will keep
To say nothing about the expense, the emigrant
going 10 Oregon would be compelled 10 incur all
the horrors of six months sea voyage, scurvey,
disease and death. He could land upon our
shores, or those of Canada, in about one-sevenlh
oflhe time, and at one-sevenlh OF the expense,
Besides if he desired to make more distant pill
erima sc than to our shores, there are the English
colonies in New Zealand and New Holland open
10 him. situate in an infinitely better climate, ana
blessed with an infinitely better soil. There is
much better field Tor European colonization for
$500 IA, Zealanl j. nearly one