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

lorrcu 10 ASK OF the gentleman W ihahe ''o W
get the specific line OF $40 40 inserted IN the bill
Il Mr. DOUGLASS was not prepared TO promise
his friend from Pennsylvania at this time that he
would make the effort to get the line OF $40 40 IN
troduced He was not yet determined whether
he would or not and il he did not, he presumed that
the, gentleman understood very we'll the reason why
he would not; and the gentleman's anxiety to get
rather cooled his ardor for having put 10; for
he apprehended that his friend if he went for "the
whole or none," would probably 60 for none, and
would rather have the bill defeated IN toto, and
bill at all passed; and IL he thought the insertion OF
$40 4U would defeat all our legislation, abandon
the whole country, forfeit all rights, throw our
citizens there TO the mercy of the British the In
dams, he would deem il wise and prudent TO put in
that boundary for this purpose.
MIR. ]. X. lNGERS0LE (Mr. ID. again yelding)
was understood TO call upon the gentleman to put in
the form of positive enactment what he had so well
argued before the committee.
Mr.. DOUGLASS (resuming) repeated his disln-
clinaton TO crafty the gentleman by giving AN in
direct blow at this bill, having learned if he wished
10 gain object, Il sometimes better TO yield n
little that one might desire, in order to get the sup
port OF majority rather than being lmpractcable
and insisting upon his own peculiar views to hazard
the whole, and lose the object he had IN view.
He understood the gentleman from Pennsylvania TO
occupy the position that this country of Oregon be-
long TO nobody, and thus that we have no country
views, the gentleman deemed II consistent with hon
or and patriotism to attempt to defeat this bill by a
Parliamentary attack.
But as Mr. D.s object was different-as he be-
lieyed we had title TO the whole territory, he
would vote for bill which extends our jurisdic-
ton the whole territory In general terms, and
thereby furnishes protection people, and sends
our officers there for the purpose Of protecting our
rights, and al the same time avoiding collisions with
tho Indians or the Hudson Bay Company; and
when the time comes, he would prescribe the bOun-
dairy hereafter. And he said TO the gentleman now,
in answer to his question, that when the time came
TO prescribe the boundary, he would find him Mr.
D. voting for $40 40, and nothing short; and he
hoped the gentleman would be with him upon that
question.
Mr.. HOLMES here addressed remark TO Mr..
d., which was not heard by the reporter, (but the
purport Of which may be gathered from Mr.. d, 5
reply)
tell the gentleman. The gentleman from South
Carolina asked him how he reconciled what he had
just said with the sentiment he had before uttered,
that il he could not get the whole, he willing TO
take part. lie would tell the gentleman, when
it question Of his rights, he went for his
rights, and the whole Of his rights, and the mainte-
nance Of his honor. Honor, the gentleman said
was unity he wished the gentleman to understand
that hrs rights and the rights Of his country
unity and he knew not how it was that the gentle
man went TO make division of his country's rights
and thought it consistent with honor and patriotism
to protect that portion of the countrys rights that
lie in one section Of the Union, and abandon that
portion of the countrys rights that lie in another
portion Of De Union, Our rights, as well as our
honor are a unit, and TO be the subject Of no
promise at all.
This bill made no boundaries A difficulty might
arise to how far this bill extended our iursdlc-
ton. In principle there could be no conflict. The
bill said that jurisdiction is extended to the ex-
tent of our title. But it might be said that the
tent Of our title was unknown. That was true; so
that whilst there conflict in principle, there
may be in practice. There might be difficulty in
ascertaining where the dividing line was. He
thought there difficulty others thought there
was. Then, If our people were scattered that
whole territory at this moment, from 400 to $40 40
he conceded that there would be an immediate colls-
ion arising between citizens and British subjects
IN the execution Of these laws. But it so happened
that our people there all confined to the south
Of the Columbia. Our laws, under this bill, would
be executed Just as far as settlements extend;
they would expand as our settlements increase
Their execution, therefore, at first would be con-
fined to the south side Of the Columbia; when our
people spread over 1t, they would go with them and
when we found the Indians and the bearing ami
mails reeeding from our settlements, we would find
the Hudson Bay Company following them, and our
settlements would take their place Thus under the
operation Of this bill, our laws might at first, be
confined to the south side of the Columbia river and
proceed from point TO point up to CORTLAND chan
mel. Thus 1t might be many years before conflict
arises (if any ever should arise between settle
ments on the other side of the mountains and the
British or the Hudson Bay Company.
He could not express positively the firm convic-
ton that collision would arise; but he thought it
would be much less likely under this bill than if you
do not pass 1t, for the simple reason that this bill
provided for the sending of our justices Of the peace
our Indian agents, and other ministerial agents into
that territory. Our superintendent of Indian Affairs
would execute our laws under the direction of the
President. Through this superintendent there, the
President could exercise that wholesome restraint
upon our settlers there that would avoid collision,
and keep them at peace, when, perhaps, if left to
their own will, their own enthusiasm and passions,
they might create conflicts and plunge the two coun-
tries into war. 1t was remarked by gentleman
near him that there was now no law, and that this
bin ives them law; and in that remark was a most
powerful and unanswerable argument in favor OF
this bill.
But his esteemed friend from Ohio, [Mr. VNroN, |
had disparaged this bill as fimsy and Ineffective
Compared with the bill he Mr.. D. had introduced
in the amendment which he had offered, or COM
pared with the bill he had brought forward for the
organization Of territorial government, with its
whole machinery, to be put in operation at once,
perhaps that judgment might he correct. But he
thought this bill would not be found quite as inef
cient as was imagined. 1t was susceptible Of being
made one of the most efficient and powerful bills
ever passed by this Congress. 1t gave discretionary
power and discretionary means, and these vested in
the hands of man of frmness, of prudence, and
wisdom, might be made most efficient and power
ful enginery of government The right kind of
should be placed at the head of It; and he was
willing to trust the Executive with the appointment,
and direction of the mode in which his duties should
be performed under this bill. He believed this bill
would furnish ample and full protection to our set
tiers there, during the continuance of this joint oc-
cupaton.
He proceeded to notice other objections. Gentle.
men had urged the objection that this bill should be
limited in its operation to the continuance of the
treaty of joint occupancy; and he was sorry to hear
some gentlemen say, unless it was thus limited
they would not vote for it. The reason which thew
urged was one, in the facts of which he fully con-
Cured; but he did not think they ought to conduct
to the conclusion at which they arrive That reason
was, that this bill was just what it should be during
the continuance Of the Joint occupancy, but when
the JOINT occupancy ceases, that new and different
and perhaps, more efficient legislation, will be-
come necessary. Now, he concurred fully in this:
but this 10 W hv tbe,, sbo,,IJ