Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-06-11

This was opposed by Mr. Wcslcott, of Florida
and also by Mr.. Webster.
Mr.. Webster said he entirely concurred in the
proposition which had been greed to by the Sem
ate, to refer the bill to the Committee on the Judi
ciary and he concurrcd in what appeared TO HIM
to be the general scope and object of the instruc-
tons moved by the Senator from Missouri but, in
regard to most of these Instructions, lie thought
suggestions might be made which the honorable
Senator himself would say we're deserving of his
consideration.
There appeared 10 be three objects embraced in
those Instructions In the first place. the establish
ment OF a temporary Government for the protection
OF our citizens until n regular Territorial Govern
ment should be provided; IN the second place, for
the organization and establishment of such terrific
rial government; and in the third place. decara.
ton in present. of what shall be the line of boun-
dairy until boundary be established by treaty.
The first object sought to be obtained, viz. a tenn
porory provision for the protection Of the citizens
of the United Stotes now in Oregon, appeared to
be by proposing to adopt under the authority of
Congress, law analogous to that adopted by Eng
land in 1891, for the protection of her subjects with
IN the same territory he phraseology of the first
part Of the instructions being that the committee a.
mend the bill Ivy extending the jurisdiction and
laws Of the United States, civil and criminal, over
the citizens of the United States in Oregon, to the
same extent as British laws were extended over the
territory by the net Of Parliament; but the condo
ton Of the two countries in regard to legislative
pow or was SO very different that We could not ac-
compsh our object by adopting the phraseology of
the act of the British Parliament.
lie believed that the laws extended over British
subjects in Oregon, by the act of the British Par
lament, were the laws of Uppe: Canada. Those
were the laws which operated for the protection of
their subjects beyond the Rocky Mountains and
that was practicable, because they we're municipal
laws and laws for the punishment of crime. But
under the general phrasoology of these instructions,
no such object could be reached. Suppose the laws
Of the United States were extended over Oregon
What were they' The crime Of murder, commit.
ted in the Territory could not be punished bv anv
authority Of these laws. Congress had no mini
cipal power. except within the District of Colum-
bia and such places as tnipht be confled ,o IL,
care. The Senator from Florida had sngros,od
many other cases. in repard to which there were
no laws of Congress- W hch would applv hecarso
Our system excluded the enactment Of municinal
law. We have (said Mr.. W. no laws repulatinr
descent and the title to propertv none re9tip.r -
deyses. or any of the relations ofpersons and 6ron.
ertv.
The first iro,,,rv then. which would subn,it -
tho senate is how Far il il necessar, nndor,h
rumstannes IF tho rnse IN nrov,de any ,o,nmoran,
enactment far tho Toyornn,ent IF orr ci,;gPo. y
Ororon2 This viii donond VOW ,n,,cb man o,,.
booes mr. fears that tho d,snpte betweon iho ,mo
coi,n,r;os viii sno, ho ,or,i,atoj NJ bon,, ~.
dominate over nv feors mon This nont IIoolt Co..
u snttlsment of Tho ouosiion and the 6vinr = I,na
ba,weon ,ho rossossions NJ tho ,y,o cnrntr5o, .I
in n short neriod The onestion then ia yybo,bar;t
is necessary or expedient. on the whole to distn~h
the eyisting state of authority there nv tho 1ntor.
posion ol any authority Whatever IF tho Vim,
that have taken be taken also bv the Sen,,o, Sc
we believe that the country will soon he in con.
dition that we NAV apply 10 il and establish ovor Il
n Territorial Government perhaps il viii bo CON.
sidered tho most wise course Tn leave tbo,,
|
Tho now tb,nr is the nronor,t,or Of - hin 49,,
l,inr nrovision E,T tbe ostobIshnon, rf IN ao,,al
Territorial Govorr,ne,f oyor rroron trjis on,,r-
10 meets INV annrohatinn ,b;ni IL IL bioh 80
that some NJ he comrnif,oos NJ tbis bodv sbonid
have nnder ito Consideration and in nr3osoSs 81
nertec,ion nm organic law Of this kod ana in his
resnec concnr with nil tho sngoes,ions cortoino5
| in inns broncb of the instructions
Thon co,nos tho third ohiect which soo,,, ., 49,.
tennlata fvnr tho nor,born honndor,, WI -.
nnon ench rnaection ne bayo boa, ,,, ~ ,; '.''
the .ubinct sbonIJ ratbar ncIino 70 ao,t a. c
the preSent should rather incline ~ confno o,
selves for the present TO the nrenaration of I'm
for the Denomination of a permanent Territorial
Government. entertaining the hone that baG,ro ra
separate the northern boundary NAV bn fvod h.,
treaty: and if So no provision Of law m tbo az
of Congress- will be necessary. If however tLnrc
should be no settlement of the bonndorv wbv thor
will be time berenfier oven nj tho Iost ~,
session. TO decide. if we must decide bv INV mon
northern boundary. womb he Glad tbo,e gto'
! if the Senator from Missour, would aorne 90 ~
mend those instructions rs n abstain ron toncLin
upon the onestion Of boundary or If anv tennorass
ry IeoisIotion Far rho territory IF 0ronon II ho,
been animated. however. thai it would be we'll IN
give This matter some further consideration. and 7
move. therefore. that the Senate do now ndionrn
Mr. w bowevar i,nnojinteIv w;tbdrew HE mo-
ton for ndonrn,nent ot The reonost Of
Mr., Calhoun Who rose and said his own ;mnres-
sion was decidedly in favor of referring the sinh
ioct to tho Comu,,;,n on ,6o Iud;car ,s;,b,, an,,
insrrnctions and his reason in The fyst nlaca wa
this. He ,bought il would he altogetherr imn,oner
n oncnn,bor The Committee with anv instr,r,inn
R,t he ,youid 10 Curher TIs ,r,nresson ,.os ox
ceedincIv stro3o ,hat onr v;sos, rP,rse -, ,,sont
was to do notbing He dil not thin. i would bn
adyisab1e 70 mss any ten,norar, i,u i, rofornnto
that terr;torv Whst nossble GOOD conIJitdo9 IF