Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-04-18


Mr. McHENRY explained. He had expressly stated that
he ready for every to extend
our actual 49, after notice should have
given and the convention terminated 50 that our acts
| might not interfere with the treaty,
Mr. WENTWORTH would now ask the gentleman whe-
Their afraid Of involving in by such
Was he empowered to say that Great Britain willing to
take 49o boundary If knew that might material
y alter the not only of that gentleman but great
ny others in that Hail. But would Great Britain be equal
and apprehension Of her anger seemed to be the
governing motive in the matte we far 49o,
if went up TO $40 4Wf
Mr.. McHENRY again explained. He had said that we
ought to give notice, and then should take
as far honestly believed title extend and this
without any regard to what Great Britain might might not
accept he thought he had distinctly expressed himself
meaning that ought to look rights alone, and
not make any inquiry about the opinion Of Great Britain As
TO knowing what Great Britain would would not take
boundary, the gentleman quite well informed he
After further explanations between these gentlemen
Mr.. WENTWORTH said that he could not conceive
wherein lay the difference in title to 400 and to $40 4O
He could not for the life of him get the idea into his head
unless it because had offered 49o If some
eman would show him the precise difference it would
derully relieve his mind.
Mr. ROCKWELL of Connecticut observed that he could
for the amendment of the gentleman from Kentucky
In the original bill reported by the Committee Territories
for the extension Of laws in Oregon there express
reference the boundary OF $40 40 but after the bill had
been recommted and reported that express reference
left out and only general terms were used which
declared that the laws be extended far title
went without expressly declaring how far that He
thought this the proper course for although he thought
that the controversy ought to be settled the boundary of
49o yet did think proper that Congress should
pass law setting any precise limits long the question
under negotiation This bill is designed interfere with
the convention between the Governments and the Eng
ish laws extend their subjects the whole territory
should laws extend to all American citizens in the
territory The fixing of the boundary line the pro-
vince Of the treaty making power and did not belong Con-
gess, still less in bill like the present. which does not
20 81 any, Of nd beside tha
difficulty would not be obvated by combining the operation of
this bill to 49, because there large number of British
subjects south Of that line, and this act would interfere with
their rights much would with the rights of the people
north Of that lne if it inconsistent with their rights
The committee had acted disceety in leaving their bill with
ont the specification Of any boundary and he thought the
House would act wisely in following them. There
other suggestions in regard to the bill which, the proper
time, he should desire to make but in regard to this first
section of the BILL he would merely ask whether would not
be well to add amendment the laws of the United
States relation to Iowa., because part of the laws which
governed Iowa those passed the Territorial Legs
sre, but laws of the United States This section Of
the bill ought further to be amended by excluding from its
operation in express the subjects of Great Britain
He hoped that the amendment proposed by the gentleman
from Kentucky would not prevail
Mr. ADAMS understood say that if there any
prospect of the motion succeeding he would that the
committee now rise and that the further consideration of this
bill be postponed until the House should know definitely whe
Their the resolution give notice of the termination of the
vention in relation to Oregon pass Mr.
A. said that would be recoleced that when this bill had
been reported the first ume had come into the House be
fore the joint resolution for notice reported by the Com
mitee Foreign Affairs, and that that time there a
general uncertainty prevailing whether that committee would
report such notice ALL and that that time he had said
in his place that he considered resolution give notice
the first of all the which ought be taken in rea
ton to this subject that many would be necessary
but that notice terminate the convention the first thing
be DONE In few days after this the resolution for notice
reported the House and debated for several weeks
leaving the bill from the Military Committee in allegiance.
After three four weeks discussion which extraordinary
ability and eoquence had been displayed both Sides the
House, by majority hundred votes passed
the resolution. Mr. A. confessed that principles expe
dency well any Others when he found majority of both
the great parties the House passing the resolution of notice
by than three to he did hope that would be
disposed Of by the other House, and by the consequent action
Of the Executive He considered his purpose sufficiently
interpreted by recommendation Of this and the accompany
ing measures and he had entertained doubt that if the
resolution should be passed. the notice would promptly be
by the Presidents and the resolution had been be-
fore the Senate for than two months II passed the
House the 9th Of February, and the 9th of
April Herea portion Of what Mr. ADAMS said lost to the
Reporter from the great confusion in the House and the
Der of members who pressing around Mr. A. induced by
the unusual eebenes of his in the his remarks
When heard he was understood to say j
That arrangement believed to be Immediately pend
ing, if not already consummated by which this whole bust
be terminated by proposing Great Britain
compromise the line which she had three four times
rejected with contempt From what he told in the House.
and heard among the people, he almost afraid say that
he not in favor Of settling difficulty the parallel of
49; nevertheless, he believed he it. As the
House had been told that the consistency of great Law
in the change Of his opinion, (Which had napty been
called the philosophy of weathercock,) Mr. A. would
that he had changed his opinion And if the
House passed resolution declaring that the our
right in Oregon $40 40, which it insisted
would be the effect Of the present BILL Mr. A. would for
We had convention with Russia and long before put
forth claim in Oregon his mind had been made up
to the right of the country high $40 49, In treaty
W tn Russia stipulated that would make settlements
north OF that parallel, and Russia agreed, in like MANNER
that she would make the south Of it. No doubt there
was vast portion OF his people, and certainly of the
people OF the country who would 90 with him in this Do
son, and they already blaming him having assumed
that II was true. But this novelty with him. His
own hand had first drawn that article the treaty with Spain
which carried boundary line the South Sea- By the
Florida treaty Spain relnquished all her rights claims and
pretensons the Northwest Coast the north Of the paal
lei Of a. On the other hand, by convention with Rus
sa, she limited her claim $40 40 BY subsequent treaty
between Russia and Great Britain England acknowledged This
Russian line Of $40 40, and made the stipulation with
Russia which had done She recognised the right Rus
to make settlements north Of $40 and engaged that she
would not say, in spirit Of boasng but simply as
statement OF fact that the line Of 42o the SOUTH and OF
54o 40 the NORTH first extended the South Sea
by myself The stipulation Of Spain was Think in a.
Mr. FARAN here interposed, and desired ask of Mr..
ADAMS whether the great consideration in the treaty with
Spain had been the that Texas in that treaty. was
coded to Spain, in exchange for which got Oregon.
Mr. ADAMS said 1t consideration all that Tex
not much thought of il till years after
Mr. bad nothing to do with any bargain for the joint pas
sage Of laws the subject Of Texas and Oregon if anv
such compact had been made Baltimore elsewhere he
washed his hands of it, II such basis that