Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-10
wo eoantries, who could avoid seeing that war vas


on his success that experienced statesman said that the
tional sky was now clear and without cloud saving
speck upon the horizon, which he trusted would
disappear But how had his prediction been fulfilled That
little speck then bigger than mans hand, and
percepibIe on the fao margin Of the heavens had
become dark, and lowering and poenous cloud that had
swept the face Of the sy and hung all North
frontier gloomy night The question changed
and if we wanted maintain position the friends
of peace il time awoke TO action, asserted rights
and carried them to the very arthest verge 10 which they
could be maintained without violation of the terms Of the
convention.
Mr. H thought that by adourning this question should
bring ourselves into danger Of losing this Oregon territory al
together And why did he think sol From the whole CO..
ona history of the British empire There had been time
when Spain possessed great and extensive colonies but they
had dwinded away There had been time when France
possessed colonies but they had dwndled away, Holland
too held important colonial possessions but they had dwndcd
away while Great Britain, the contrary had gone
growing in strength, extending her power and spreading her
abroad into every part Of the habitabe globe Her
language her laws, her military prowess filed both hemi-
spheres and she had beted the globe with her ortresses
say nothing of her colonies The British people and their
Government well understood the management Of colonies
When Mr. H. had been lately in Europe, distinguished
British dplomatst had said to him. Sir France does not
understand how manage her colonies do understand it.
And he had spoken the TRUTH Since 1907 Great Britain had
owned less than orone colonies, twenty of which
she held by treaty. nine by suance and eight by conquest
Not satisfied with this she now seeking Oregon In that
factory Of the Hudson Bay Company under the of
Mr. Mclaughlin, factor to that company and coparner
therein with her Majesty the Queen Of England There
another settlement Oregon city, containing five hundred in
habitan Of which this Mr. Mclaughlin chief proprie-
or-a of fine person, Of finished and winning
ners Of great wealth and unbounded hosptaityan in
egen man. long experienced in business, and welinorm
ed all subjects connected with his position. Under the
auspices of such individual had not to expect
that Great Britain would go plant herself in the posses
and occupancy of the country in such that
could not expe her. not without struggle Should
refuse to protect the thousands of citizens who
were and the multitude who would be in Oregon,
might they conclude they neglected by their
Government throw off their allegiance and choose Go
which refused forgot protect her citizens
in every part Of the world Their right to do
cognised principle Of international law If the Government
refused its protection, citizens might throw off their allegiance
and go the jurisdiction of Government that would do
its duty Under circumstances such these, Mr.. H.
clearly favor Of extending to them laws and protection
But this question Of notice Mr.. H. decidedly
favor of giving the notice often referred TO in this debate,
and giving il promptly He thought ought to do ii nay,
that must do it, Yet he not for doing either in the
form proposed in the bill which had been reported by the hon
orabe chairman OF the Committee Territories Mr Dous
in the resolution recently reported by the hon
orabe chairman of the Committee Foreign Affairs It
was his misfortune differ in opinion from both and be-
fore he resumed his his purpose offer amend
men striking out in the resolution the words which referred to
giving this notice by joint act Of both Houses and inserting
provision empowering the President of the United States to
give such notice when his opinion the interests of the pub
lie service should require it. Mr.. H. had been at first incln
ed with the gentleman from Kentucky him, (Mr DA-
VS. consider the giving this notice exercise of the
Executive power, with which the House had nothing TO do
but further reflection he had changed that opinion
II was very that the formation of such convention
exercise of the treaty making power but it did
therefore follow that the dissovng the convention be
the exclusive act of that power That different ques
ton, because the Government of the United States
cong to the terms OF the convention one of the high
contracting parties and Of that Government this House
well the President and the Senate constituted part Yet
there grave why Congress- instead Of taking the
power into its hands, should lodge in the hands of the
President Mr. H. exclusive friend Of any particular
President he would consent to be he would give the pre-
Executive the power which he asked in this matter and
Of that power this mighty element He for giving
the Executive power all the energy and efficiency which
requisite act in matter Of this kind The country
had placed the President where he and the responsibility
was his He thought that when Great Britain should learn
that be clothed with such power they would what
mighty element it was and would be the inclined
with Difference and respect him and to He thought
that all the friends OF in that House should
such arrangement
had been said very generally that negotiations had been
renewed at London.
mr. c. j. ISGERsoLL chairman Of the Committee on Fo-
reign Affairs That is fact They have not been re-
newed
II not they might yet be. The President had the whole
field before him, and Mr. H. for giving him the power in
that FORM As proposed by the bill and by the resolution
which had been reported the notice made absolute and
choice is left to the President times and seasons which
Mr. II. considered often of great Importance The power,
given in this way would be eectua if in the other
Yet would leave the wisdom and discretion of the Exc
cutve the when and the how.
Mr. III. wished to present another view. He desired the
adoption of different plan from that which had been pro-
posed by the Committee Territories extending
laws Oregon 1t part of the plan proposed by the
committee make donations Of land to actual settlers and
this while the convention st continued in force this Mr.
could but consider violation Of the spirit Of that
instrument But he did not think respecting the principle
Of settlement he went for the establishment Of territorial
government His plan would be to send them out govern
sagacious prudent, experienced, cautious man, who
should be able sweep the whole field with his eye and give
information and counsel the Government here as what
ought to be done. This what Mr.. H. would do. But
any gentleman objected that could not establish such
government the whole of the territory, then he would
say place your governor south Of the Columbia That
least portion Of the territory which he presumed no
gentleman prepared surrender The language ofevery
here he doubted not would be like that expressed by the
poet
"And many banner shall be torn,
And many knight to earth be borne;
And many sheaf OF spent,
Ere Scotlands King shall cross the Trent"
The officers Of the Hudson's Bay Company were there,
and British magistrates Of description, there also
why should officers and magistrates be there
Would not their authority carry with respect for the Anne
rican laws and Government
There another tenn the resolution proposed by the
committee to which also Mr. H. opposed II declared
that the whole Of Oregon up the parallel Of $40
40. Now, though that his personal conviction, he
would express legislative opinion matter which be-
longed TO another branch Of the Government Mr.. H. adj
med the peace resolutions which had been introduced by
gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr. WsrHRor,) yet he