Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1846-02-04
But, Mr.. Chairman, %


tween this Government and tho Governmonte-
Great Britain, which provides for The JON. occu-
pancy by the citizons of the two countries Of the
Oregon territory. | canno. regard the notice
quired to terminate that convention leglsla-
tive act. As member of the committee
Foreign affairs my views upon this point have al
ready been submitted to tho House in tho report
Of the minority of that committee. | believe the
positions assumed in that report 10 be sound and
well founded. The Constitution has wisely d.
vided the powers Of the Government, between diff
ferent departments. The limo which separates
those departments is clear and we'll defined. Tho
legislative department ought not TO trench upon
invade the province of the other departments. 1t
will find enough occupy its attention in its
legitimate sphere of acton. Tho power to dis
solve tho convention with Great Britain IS
power which belongs to the treaty making depart
mont Of the Government. BY that department
was tho convention created, so far this Gov
eminent had an agency in it, and by 1t alone can
it be terminated. Congress can neither make
treaties alter modify those already in exs-
tence. The Joint convention by which tho two
countries have agreed to regulate tho rights of
their citizens to ingress to tho country between
tho Rocky Mountains and the Pacific, is treaty
between them. An abrogason of that part of the
treaty. which creates tho right ofjoin. occupancy
would be an alteration Of that treaty, and this
alteration only be effected by the ,no powor
which created it. The convention originally
created IN 1919, was limited by its own terms to
q period of ten years. Before tho expiration Of
that time il removed for indefinite period
to be terminated by cthor party upon ono years
notice. This notice, by which the convention Is
TO be thus dete rmined, must DO given by one OF
tho parties to tho treaty TO the other.
Tho treaty making power of the Government,
it seems clear to my mind. is alone capable OF
giving tho notice. Congress, ii IS true, may
adop, resolutions advisory in their character, and
calculated to stimulate the Executive IN tho dis
charge Of the du.ios properly pertaining TO that
branch Of the Government. But such resolutions
would have weight beyond the moral power
attached to them, as the opinions of those who
Immediately represent tho people. Tho RESPONSE
bility of tho measure is placed by tho Constltu
ton in the hands Of the Executive, and | SEQ no
good reason why that responsibility should be
taken from that branch of tho Government and
exercised by Congress. There are other reasons,
Of great we ght in my mind, why the question Of
giving the notice should be left with the Execu-
tive. The proprie,y Of giving il, will, of course,
depend much upon the state Of negotiations with
Great Britain. Al tho commencement of the
present session, the President informed us that
the negotiations had been brought to closo
They may, however, be renewed, and rumor IS
rife that they have boon renewed. Great Britain
may reconsider her hasty rejection Of tho PROPOSE
ton which has been made by tho President; and
hesitate not to say, that, should she do so, and
agree to accept tho forty -ninth parallel as the
boundary line between US, II would be the duty,
as we'll as the interest, of this GOVERNMENT to
settle the question upon that basis. The Presi
dent WILL Of course, at all times be advised Of the
state Of tho negotiations, and can better Judge
than Congress of the time when II would be pro-
per to give the notice.
But, Mr.. Chairman, if it should DO admitted
that the notice to terminate the Joint convention
can only DO given through the action of Congress,
it becomes US to deliberate maturclv before we
H,l.- 49, a..
involve consequences moro serious than are now
anticipated. The step, when once taken. cannot
be retraced. and should look we'll TO tho effect
which the measure may produce. before we adopt
it. l am free to confess, that havo not boon
able to discover sufficient 10 satisfy mo
that we should give the notice at this tirno. The
Joint convention between tho United States and
Great Britain has now been in force ,wonty -soven
years. During that period. effort has been
made by Great BrtIaln to terminate 1t except by
such negotiations would SETTLE definitvely. tho
whole question. Until within the last two yoars,
but few in tho United States have expressed tho
opinion that we should terminate it. There is
no point of national honor which requires 10
terminate it. Its continuance involves no sacrifice
of principle or of interest. Our title to Oregon
has lost nothing Of its strength by the continu-
ance of the convention, and surely will not be-
come weaker by its longer continuance. But
what is to be the effect Of giving this no,ico2-
Thosc who advocate tho resolution TO give notice
assure that it is pacific measure. and cannot
be the means of producing If there is any
gentleman here who desires 70 prccipi.ato the
country into a war, he has not the holiness to a
vow it. All apparently the advocates OF
peace, and desire to adopt such measures as will
produce pacific results. Is this measure o. that
character! confess, sir, am not without scr
Gus apprehensions to It's results The language
used by the President in his message, to my mind,
very clearly indicates that he regards 1t the
commencement of series of measures which
must result in war. know not what are his pri-
vate opinions, or wha, opinions he has expressed
in his inte recourse with others. can only Judge
Of his opinions from his official declarations. In
his message he says:
sThe extraordinary and wholly inadnissble demands
British and the rejection of the prop