The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-03


British aggression. "True, }" he said, "Great Brit
ain disclalmed all intention of extending her laws
over American eitizens but ii senators would look
at the documents accompanying the Presidents
message, they would ind tkat the Hudson Bay
Company had more summary process Of getting
rid Of the interference Of American citizens who at
tempted to settle the north bank of the Columbia.
Our people were exempt from the operation of Brit
lsh law, but not from those proceedings which, with
out the form Of law, effectualy accomplish the OBJ
ject in View.o confess, from the general forbear-
anee which characterized that senator's whole argu-
ment, | supposed he was abiding TO some pal
pablo act Of British aggression upon our rights
in that territory; and, although the reference
was 10 the Presidents documents generally,
| took occasion to ascertain what il was pre-
eisely; and will turn the attention of the Sen
ate Of the country 10 II. Ii will, think, an
swer the senator's argument. read from the doc
uments accompanying the Presidents message, an
extract from the letter Il Elijah White, styling
himself Indian agent beyond the Rocky noun
tains;
Two young men, named la McLAughins eommuniea
ton to this government Ia copy Of which marked A. to-
ed the Columbia river and unobseryed in the midst Of
little thcket something half mile from Fort Vsncou
Of hut intending soon TO hniSh t-put up paper upon
contiguous tree stating that they had commenced and in
note ended some one about tie establishment observing
the paper and Of the hut reported 10 the
governor. who down al ami had the
removed from the vicinity the tree iesd and that with
the paper likewise removed They had hardly cleared the
Commenced surveying on section Of land embracing ths
spot FIRST commenced upon They were inquired o. the
instance of Governor heLspghlin. a. TO their object and
business and walked up 70 the fort Several
and influential happened 70 be present on
business, who, with myself were respectfully invited to
"willismsOn modest and respectable young man, de
ate an insoent bOerous hairbrsinsd scspe.g allows
caused me las occasionally others do to blush for Amer
can honor His language most insuierable, and but
for the sake OF the eouny quiet could have been
dured the governor and MIR Douglass THAT the British
oee displaying their usual csmnssS and forbsAranee"
Then there was an appeal to the citizens of Ore
gon by Mclaughlin and Douglass. They say
ITO me citizens II Oregon
person named Henry williamson time about the
10Th Of February this year took the liberty Of erecting
the premises Of the Hudson Bay Company few logs In the
form OF hut and wrote notice upon adjoining tree
that he had taken section Of land there This done
without our knowledge or consent within few hundred
yards OF house occupied by Of the Hudson Bay
pays servants and within the limits Of their
As informed Of that eeding had tn.
tree cut down and the logs removed order
any future dfculty with the person who had manner
so unjusuhsble intruded the Hudson Bay Companys
Premises'
Permit us to assure YOU gentlemen that is our earnest
friendly terms with every person IN the country We
terrain the highest respect for the provisional organization
has prevented we wish il every srccess and hore a, we
desire to continue live in the exercise and
good Offices with the iamers Of that useful institution"
They also dropped note to the executive COM
mittee of the provisional government of Oregon,
stating some Of the circumstances Of the case
Here is portion Of the answer to that note:
We regret to hear that liberties have been
taken by an American citizen upon the Hudson Bay Com
panys premises and 1t affords great pleasure to learn
that the offender after due reflection dessted from the in
'o, CIV I nnld rasn mes ;s9inn 49,,
your much esteemed colleague our mos, procn lq
the kind and candid which you have treated this
matter as we are aware that an Infringement the rights
can bsacS ~ ny sns o S oy an Ame
setting at nsught her most solemn treaties With O.,
Britain.
"A representative Of the citizens Of Oregon we beg
, y, pu ., &c eag o. me 90
cse for the high regard YOU have manifested Tor The author
tiles Of provisional government and the special anx
ETY. you have ever shown Tor our peace and prosperity"
selves, through their executive Committed touchne
this alleged aggression upon the part of the Hudson
Bay Company. II is obvious the company were
doing nothing which they had not perfect right TO
do; they were occupying no more laad than they
were entitled to under the treaty and for present
purposes-a right which our citizens are exercising
there in a very latitudnarian way although do not
complain of it. BY reference to these documents
you viii find that the land laws of this provisional
government of Oregon-they have a system of enact
ments there, l.hod them in my hand-give to every
man ovy eighteen years of age the selection and
Of six hundred and forty acres Of land
Yes, Six hundred and forty acres 10 a man-every
one OYER eighteen years of age. do not complain
Of this; but when one of these men comes and
squats himself in the back door of the Hud-
son Bay Company, and says he must settle
there, ! think it does not become us to CON-
PLAIN Of any infringement of our rights. In
that the officers Of the Hudsons bay company, to
whose hospitality and kindness. White and many
OF our citizens and agents have testified, should
have fair play when they cannot be otherwise rep
resented say, therefore, that | had the same
exceeding anxiety for "all Oregon" that seems to
Cypress the spirits of friends on the other side
Of the chamber, would take the chance of collision
There Is nothing at present indicative Of immediate
or probable collision, and years must elapse before
collision takes place But, if they propose bringing
this matter to termination now, it is of importance
to me, and desire, following the argument of my
friend from Illinois, Mr. BREEsE, to call the atten-
lion OF the Senate and the country, to the negota.
tons, the correspondence, the mode in which our
agents have endeavored to effect these objects. In
doing this, Mr.. President, trust that | shall
antca