The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-05-06

portion O1 IL the parallel OF Oh. But there
was not a single sentence or word in
any section of the bill which asserted the
title Of the United States to Sd 40.
shall be sustained by every member Of
Congress when say that it was we'll
understood that the object of that bill,
(as think is apparent on its face) was
to extend the jurisdiction and laws of
the United States over American cltl-
zcns in the territory of Oregon. Fifty
four forty was given as a part of the de-
scription Of the territory, and nothing
more. There was contained in that
bill provision, as an inducement to
emigration, making grants of land {;
and now beg leave to show, not only
that there was no assertion of the title of
the United States to Sd deg. 40 min,
but that it was distinctly admitted in the
bill that Great Britain had rights there !;
that she had asserted her pretcnsions
and that these pretenslons were re-
spected by the bill The 10th section is
in the following words -
And be 1t FURTHER enacted, That no
sale or contract of any kind, of such
lands, shall be valued before patent ls-
sues therefor, nor shall the same be ta-
ken in execution, as bound by any judg-
ment, mortgage, or lien of any kind be-
fore the patent is issued"
And Continued Mr. b there is
provlso appended to this section; which
is in the following words: =
"Provieled alscays, That the future
grants of lands contemplated by this act
| shall be subject to the settlement of any
dispute now pending between Great
Britain and the United States, in rela-
ton to these respective claims, and sub
ject also to the requirement by treaty or
otherwise of the Indian title to said
| lands"
Now, Continued Mr.. b. the bill be-
fore the committee is, in my estimation,
Identical in its objects and purposes, al
though carried out by somewhat diffe-
rent means with that which 1 have re-
ferrcd, have not the slightest objection
to vote for it. intend to do 80. With
out admitting any great obligation on
! the part of the United States to provide
for American citizens in the territory,
choose, as one who has some participa-
ton in this matter to give my vote to ex-
tend the laws and jurisdiction of the
United States over them. Eut
it will be remembered on all sides,
that during the last session of Con-
gress: the title to this country was not
the subject of discussion. 1 remember
we'll most just rebuke which the homo
rablc gentleman from Massachusetts
gave to the Committee and the House,
when they proceeded to vote for that
bill. remember that the House had
authorized the purchase of Greenhow's
book, which that gentleman, in his own
peculiar, and racy phraseology, called
the Gospel of our title. l remember
that before that book was laid upon the
desks Of ofmembers, through the pressure
of the West, this House did proceed to
vote upon the bill, as to the merits of
which they were to be enlightened by
that book. know that many others,
like myself, had no access to information
IN relation to our title, or to the quality
of the soil. l gave ,ny vote from the
confidence felt in the western gentle
men, gave it from the we'll deserved
confidence | felt in the gentleman from
Tennessee, [Mr. A. V. Brown,] who
now so worthily fills the highest office
in the gift of his State. But if, in the
absence of information then, and with
full information now before me, should
be satisfied that gave an erroneous
vote, l have no such pride of consistency
as would induce me TO adhere TO it. l
would cheerfully retract. But not ha-
wing perceived that l was in error then,
or that l am now required to proceed
one step further than l then went, am
ready 10 give my vote for this bill.
THE DEAD.-In New Orleans, chill
dren are often buried in coffiins painted
white, and sornamented with bows OF
ribbon intermingled with flowers We