The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..


Mr. G. j. lNGERSOLL moved that the House
resolve itself into Committee of the Whole on the
state Of the Union. .. .... ..
Mr. G. 5. HOUSTON rose to inquire whether
the joint resolution from the Senate on the subject
Of "the notice" had been received from the Senate'
The SPEAKER. Not to the knowledge Of the
chair '. n. ... FIN. A.. .....
Mr.. COBB. How could they have been receiyed'
The question on the melton Of MIR. q. j. NIGER
SOIL having been taken and decided IN the amir
native #-"|
The House resolved itself into Committee of the
Whole on the state Of the Union, MIR. HAaLis, OF
Maine, in the chsir.)
THE NOTICE.
The chairman had just taken his seat, when
The SPEAKER resumed the chair, Informally
10 receive
A message from the Senate, by the hands of
A. Dickens, esq, secretary, informing the House
that the Senate had passed the Joint resolution Of
notice to Great Britain to annul and abrogste the
convention between the United States and Great
Britain, Of the 9th day Of August, 1921 relative TO
the country on the northwest coast Of America,
westward OF the Stony mountains, commonly called
Oregon, with an amendment, in which the concur
renee Of the House was asked
JURISDICTION OVER rHE OREGON rERRroRr.
The chairman again resumed his seat in commit
tee and the committee resumed the consideration Of
the bill protect the rights Of American settlers in
the territory Of Oregon, until the termination Of the
Joint occupation Of the same.
Mr.. REUBEN CHAPMAN addressed the COM
mittee during his hour. He explained and yindica-
ted the position which be occupied in so small MI
nority-a minority Of three of the democratic par
ty-at the last session in opposition to the bill or
ganizibg territorial government over Oregon, as
signing as the principal reason therefor his belief,
from the hasty examination he was then able 70
give il, (Which had been strengthened on more ma
ture reflection, and which was now claimed by the
friends Of the bill that il committed those who sup
ported il 10 the line Of $40 40; and from his belief
also that il was in violation Of the convention OF
1877 az was declared in substance by the President
IN his annual message at the commencement Of this
session. He alluded TO the events which have Ia
ken place since the last session Of Congress, TO the
advancing opinion on the part Of the people general
y throughout the country Of the extent and Of the
necessity Of the protection Of our rights in Oregon,
and said he was willing to carry out the rscommen-
datons OF the President. He read several extracts
upon this subject from the message, and in confor-
nifty thereto said he had voted for the notice; and
was now willing to vote for the BILL il made in like
manner TO conform thereto as well az TO its title,
which purporied that it provided for the protection
Of the rights Of American citizens IN this territory
during the continuance OF the joint occupation Of
the same. He earnestly opposed the passing any
permanent measure at the present time as viola
ton of the subsistng treaty, and also as committing
all who voted for it to $40 40. He was willing, in
compliance with the views OF the President, to ex-
tenn Sucn prOtectlOn 10 our settlers IN oregon as
could be done under the treaty, but opposed further
or more stringent measures as calculated to produce
irritation the part Of Great Britain and to throw
additional embarrassment around the subject. In
the bill remained in its present form, per-
nanent measure, he should be compelled to take the
responsibility of voting against il, even though he
should stand alone; but he warmly appealed to his
friends who took the other view defer such action
until the next session, and thus avoid a separation
at present, and still to present an unbroken front
upon this embarrassing question Of our foreign re-
ations. He objected also TO many details Of the bill
especially to the promise of grants Of land to set
tiers (Which he considered tantamount TO grants
themselves and infraction of the treaty stpula.
tions) 30 II
In the course Of his remarks (of which a repor,
will appear hereafter he yielded for explanation to
Mr. G.. s. HOUSTON. " " OF
Mr.. DOUGLASS had no desire again to enter
into the discussion Of the Oregon question. He did
not propose at this time to discuss the validity or
the extent of title to the northwest coast, the
question Of notice, or rights under the treaty Of
Joint occupancy, any further than il became neces-
sary to how far the provisions of this bill
consistent with the treaty of joint occupancy. His
object in trespassing upon the committee and the
House at this time to explain the provisions of
this bill, comparing them with the British regula-
tons the same subject, and answering such OBJ
econs had been urged that this bill was in con-
ict with the treaty Of joint occupancy.
He was unwilling to do any act during the con-
tnuance Of the treaty which could, by any process
of reasoning, be construed to violate any one of its
provisions or its principles As much as he desired
10 see this country maintain its rights to Oregon,
and the whole of Oregon, and as unwilling as he
was to give any vote for any measure which might
surrender, or propose to surrender, or contemplate
the probability of future surrender of any portion
of that country, he did, nevertheless, regard that
was incumbent upon this country to preserve its
honor and its faith well its territorial rights
For that he should vote for no bill which he
believed violated any provision or principle of the
treaty of joint occupation
Various gentlemen, in the discussion of this ques-
ton, had objected to this bill because it did not pre-
scribe specific boundaries territory west of the
Rocky mountains, and, as far he could gather,
these objections came from the opposite sides of the
House-trom the two extremes--those who went
for the whole of Oregon, and from those who are
ready to compromise on the best terms we can get.
Some OF those who called $50 4O men :"
were unwilling to go for the bill unless the boun-
dares are prescribed in it, because it will be conced-
ed a REIMBURSEMENT of some of our claim. Others
object, and his friend from Alabama, mr. CHAPMAN,
without boundaries, asserted our claim to $40 40,
and pledged every who voted for it to this line
Et!lf this bill should pass, he (Mr. d. should
be very glad to put the construction upon it which
was argaed by these gentlemen; and he would be
very glad to get this governmet committed, and by
acommlt'a too, so firm, that they be held to it,
to the stand of $40 40. But candor reoured him,
the government 10 $40 4U, or any other line There
had been other acts on the part Of this House, and
the Senate, and the executive department, which in
his estimation, have committed the government to
$40 40; and if these commttals were not strong
enough, were not firm enough, and sacred enough
to hold our government to that point certainly there
was nothing in this bill that could do So He con :,
tossed, when this bill was originally brought for
ward into this House by himself, il did specify
$40 40 as the northern boundary; that he felt un-
willing to see It stricken out; that he felt it his duty
to bring in the amendment which he had offered to
show his own dissent, as well that of his COL
eauge upon the committee the gentleman from
Missouri, Mr.. PHcE. He objected to striking out
$40 40 not because he considered it of any prscti-
cal utility in the bill, but because he was apprehen.
slve that It's omission would be considered as a sur
render or a disposal to yield somewhat in regard to
this question. He would rather have had a line in
il which should commit the government.
But he found nany members Of this House who
were unwilling to vote for any particular line, and
-