Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-02-20

N'''i etahg " fisHey tiouTduu WIZ ditrhAy
arrive yearly in the United States. They
may at their option ae naiurslized, or re-.
main on the same footing as foreigners in
other parts Of the Union. In this case they
will enjoy no political rightsi they will no,
be permitted to own American vessels and
to sad under the American flag; the per.
mission to own real property seems, 70
long as Oregon remains a territory, TO de-
pend on the will Of Congress. Thus far
collision nay Ue avoided.
But no foreign jurisdiction can be per.
mtted, fsom the moment when the sover.
eighty OF the United States over the whole
.trfritoFy shsilbc asserted and main,ainsd.
To this, all those who reside in the territory
must submit. After having taken the de-
esive step Of giving the notice, the United
States cannot, as the President Justly
slates, abandon the right of sovereignty
without a sacrifice Of national honor.
1t had been expressly agreed hy the con.
ven'inn that nothing contained in it should
affect the Claims oil either party TO the ter.
ritory, The a'important question Of SOW.
erelgnly remained therefore in abeyance.
Negotiatinns Tor division Of the territory
have failed: the question of sovereignty
remains undecided, as il was prior to the
convention. II the United Safes exrr-
else the reserved right to put an end % the
convention, and il, from the time when il
shall have expired, they prrempiory rs.
snme the right Of Sovereignty over the
whole, 1t cannot be doubted TINT Great
Britain will al once resist. She win adhere
to the principle she had asserted prior 10
the Nootka convention. and has ever since
maintained, that actual occupancy can
alone give right TO the country. She will
not permit the jurisdiction OF the United
States TO lie extended over her suhierts:
she will oppose the removal, arrest, or cx-
ercise OF any other legal process, again t
her justices UT the peace, against any 9th.
er officers who directly or indirectly act I'M
der her authority, against any Of her sub
jecls; aud she will continue 10 exercise
her jurisdiction over all Of them through.
out the whole territory. Whatever either
Dnu,ar ocaor,u n,,,.s liz q. ..,I;,,
ry occupation and war must necessarily
ensuc.
A portion Of the people, 10th in the West
and elsewhere, see clearly that such must
be the consequence OF giving the notice.
Such men openly avow lhrir opinions, pre-.
fer war TO longer continuation Of the pre-
sen, state OF things, are ready to meet all
the dangers and calamtiss OF the imppnd-
ing conflict, and to adopt at once all the
measures which may ensure success
With them, the diecussion Lrings at once
the question to it's true issue; Is war ne.
cessary for the object they have in view!
Or may it not he attained by peace,Lle
means! 1t is question Of war o. peace.
and ii is fairly laid before the nation.
But many respectable men appear 20 en-.
tertain hopes thnt peace may sill he pre-.
served after the United States shall have
assumed, or attempted To assume, px,u.
sivr sovereignty, The reverse appears to
me so clear, so Obvious, so inevitable, that
really cannotundersand on v hat grounds
these hopes are founded.
|, is thought that the President will ro', ,
after tie assent Of 20 gr'ss has cen cl.
tanned, tand whether Immediately or at The
end OF This session. il quite inpmitcliul.) J
give the notice which he has a kpd Con.
gross to autho,ze! Or is i. supposed that
Il change in the iorm which, III order to
avoid responsibility, would give hm n DIS
creiionary power, could lead 10 a different
result, or he any thing else Tut transfer
hy Congress to the Executive OF the power
to declare war!
Can it he presumed that when, after the
expiration Of the term OF notice, the cor.
vention shall have been abrogatpd. the
President will not assert and maintain the
sovereignty claimed by the United Statesl
| have not the honor Of Il personal acquain-
tance with him; res:ecl in him the First
Magistrate Of the Nation; and he is uni-
versaly represented as of irrpproachabc
character, sincere, and patriotic. Every
citizen has right to differ with him in
opinion: no one has that Of snpposing that
he says one thing and means another.
feel an intimate conviction OF his entire
Is it possible that any one, who does not