The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-13

O.,
then members of this House,) knows was a bill TO
extend the Jurisdiction and the laws Of the United
States over citizens Of the United States in the terri
tory of Oregon described that territory, and desig-
mated portion of it the parallel OF $40 But there
was not single sentence or word IN any sectloh oi
the bill which asserted the utle OF The United o'ales
u $40 4U. shall be sustained by every member
of the last Congress whenI say thatit was wei I'M
dsrstood that the object of that BILL las think APP
parent ON its face was 10 extend the jurisdiction
and laws of the United States over American siu-
zsns in the territory Of Oregon. fb'y.iour iotty
was given as part Of the description oil me 'efri-
tory, and nothing more. There was contained IN
Thai bill a provision, as an iDducement 10 emigra-
ton, making grants of land and now beg leave to
show net only that there was no assertion OF the
ttIs of the United States TO $40 40 but that 1t was
distinctly admitted in the bill that Great Britain had
rights there; that she had asserted her pretensons;
and that these pretensions were respected by the
bin. The 10th section is in the following words:
"4nd be IL further enacted That sale or contract
of any kind, Of such lands shall be valid before a
putent issues therefor; nor shall the same be taken
IN execution, as bound by any judgment, mortgage,
or lien Of any kind before the patent is issued"
And CONTINUED Mr.. B } there is proviso APP
pended TO this section; which is in the following
words: .- 1917. -sr
Provided sl,sass, That the future grants oflands
contemplated by this act shall be subject TO the
Great Britain and the United States in relation to
these respective claims, and subject also TO the
requirement by treaty or otherwise oil The Indian
title TO said lands"
Now. Continued Mr. b. the bill before the COM
mittee is in my estimation, identical IN It's objects
and purposes, although carried out by somewhat
different means with that TO which have referred,
have not the slightest objection to vote for It. I'M
tend TO do 80. Without admitting any great
obligation on the part Of the United States to pro-
vide for American citizens in that territory, choose,
one who has some participation IN TINS matter 10
give my vote to extend the laws and Jursdlc-
ton Of the United States over them. But 1t Will
be remembered on all sides, that during the
last session Of Congress, the title TO this coun-
try was not the subject Of discussion.
remember well a most just rebuke which the hon
orable gentleman from Massachusetts, gave to the
committee and the House, when they proceeded 10
vote for that bill. remember that the House had
authorized the purchase Of Greenhow's book, which
that gentleman in his peculiar, and racy phrase
ology, called the Gospel OF our title. remember
that before that book was laid upon the desks OF
members, through the pressure OF the West, this
House did proceed to vote upon the bill as 10 the
merits Of which they were TO be enlightened oy that
book. | know that many others, like myself, had
no pccess to information in relation to our utle, or
to the quality Of the soil. gave my vote from the
confidence felt in western gentlemen gave from
the wel-deseryed confidence felt in the gentleman
from Tennessee, [Mr A. V. BRows, who now so
worhy fills the highest oficein the gift OF his State.
But IT, in the absence Of information then, and with
full information now before me, should be satisfied
that gave an erroneous vote, have no such pride
of consistency as would induce me to adhere to It
would cheerfully retract. But not having perceiv
ed that | was in then, or that l am now re-
qured to proceed one step further than then went,
/ am ready to give my vote for this bill
The question was then taken on the amendment
r n III Il 10 -fs1
Mr.. G. 8. HOUSTON moved to amend the sec
ton by striking out the following words from the
end thereof:
"Unu said treaty stipulation shall cease by virtue
Of the notice provided for in the second article Of
said aforementioned treaty"
Mr.. g. 8. HOUS ron advocated the amendment
which he had proposed At the end Of the years
notice. the subject could be legisated upon. IL was
unnecessary to make any provision in advance.
Mr. TRUMAN SMITH was opposed to the bill
az stood because IL took the war power from the
hands Of this House and conferred il upon the Pres-
dent He would move to amend the first section, so
a. to provide that its provisions should not extend
to British subjects. lfhe believed that our title was
clear and unreasonable up to $40 40; if he was
willing TO hazard upon the assertion Of that
claim, then he would not object to the bill il
stood. The provision Of the bill would be so used
by the President to plunge us into war, without
any authority from Congress. He protested against
a course which would take the war power out Of
the control Of Congress. He moved to amend the
bill by adding the following proviso:
"Propided That this act shall not be SO executed
as TO apply to the subjects OF Great Britain in the
territory Of the United States which lies west Of the
Rocky mountains, until it shall be Otherwise provi-
ded by law"
Mr. SMITH, Of Indiana was opposed to the
amendment, and also to the modification proposed by
the gentleman from Alabama, Mr.. HoUsroN.l The
amendments proposed would leave us where we
were.
Mr.. JAMES THOMPSON said the amendment
offered by the gentleman was ingeniously canrived
to defeat the object Of the bill. 1t would make
complete inversion of the object of the measure.
Great Britain had extended her laws and jurisdc-
ton over the territory.
Mr.. J. R. INGERSoLL disputed the fact tina,
the line of Great Britain was at all simar TO this.
He also asked whether the bill was intended to ex
tend our jurisdiction up to $40 40. If so, it ought
to be canddly and explicitly stated.
Mr.. THOMPSON replied that those who, like
himself believed our title to be good up to $40 40
would consider the bill extending up to that line.
If his honorable colleague stopped at 400, then he
would consider our jurisdiction as stopping there.
The laws we're extended by the bill the terri
tory belonging to the United States
Mr.. MCDOWELL stated that he should, at
proper time, propose an amendment explicitly sta
ting that jurisdiction was extended, by this bill,
up to $40 40. '... .. =
Mr.. J. X. INGERSOLL wished to see the objcc,
and meaning of the bill candidy and plainly stated.
He asserted that the British act did not extend the
laws of the Canadas over citizens Of the United
States. There was a reservation in their FORMS
Mr.. JAMES THOMPSON explained the pro-
visions of the British statutes of 1923 and 1897, and
showed that they male reservations to c-
zens Of the United States The provision referred
to by his colleague was intended only to guard
against interference with American traders. Amer.
lean citizens were liable to be prosecuted and udg-
ment to be given, without appeal, before one, two,
or three justices. AT the expiration of the years
notice, there would be 10 British jurisdiction in the
territory; and, if the amendment offered by the gen.
tleman from Connecticut prevailed, British subjects,
after tina, time, would be amenabe to no jurisdic-
ton at all.
Mr.. THURMAN spoke at length on the subject,
and opposition to the amendment offered by the gen.
tleman from Connecticut. He thought the bill
ought to show on its face an assertion of our claim
up to the Russian boundary. Those who had de.
nounced him and his friends mere hawks, ultras,
and Hotspurs, because they hal advocated our claim
up to 5io40 ought go farther back and look at the
origin of that pretension. 1t would be found
that this government; was committed to the mainte-
L