The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-09
CONGRESSION AL.
SPEECH OF Mr.. DOUGLASS
OF ILLINOIS,


On the resolution authorizing the President to
give the notice for the termination OF the joint oe-
cJpsney OF the Oregon territory,
Mr. DOUGLASS who was entitled 10 the foor
from yesterday, proceeded 10 remark; Had for
eisner, unscquainled with our proceedings, been
prssent listening this debate, he would have come
10 the conclusion that were gravely discussing
the propfiety and policy OF declaration OF war
AGAINST Great Britain. Gsailemen opposed 70 giy-
ing siss MOTIFS, yervsss N consfdeyns Nn nostie
movement tantamount 10 a declaration OF war
They 90 SO far as TO denominate us rs the war
party, while they call themselves the friends OF
peace; and indulge their funces and fears in giving
the most terrible descriptions Of the rayages OF war
and beautiful pictures Of the blessings Of peace
Mr. ID. was unable to coincide with them IN opn.
ion that the convention CASUALLY called the treaty OF
Joint occupancy was adopted 40 substitute for
war and that its annulment would necessarily in
yolye the immediate dissolution Of the ami
cable relations between the two countries He
did not understand such to have been the object,
the effect, or the history Of that measure. II
gentlemen will reflect Tor moment, they will recol-
lect that the convention was entered INTO IN 1915
more than three years after the close OF the
war; when the United States were at peace with the
whole world, and there was not cloud TO darken
the national horizon. There were no wars, nor
fears, nor threats, nor panics OF war Peace had
been restored and an amicable adjustment had been
effected between the United States and Great Britain
in regard 10 the rights Of each in the Oregon terri
tory under the treaty Of Client The hrst article OF
thai treaty provided that "al Territories places, and
possessions whatsoever taken by either party from the other
daring the oar ,Veh may be taken after The singing
Of his treaty. creeping only the islands hereinafter
fOnsd I'm The bay Of Eudy shall be restored piihoui
delay"
Al the commencement Of the war, and for some
time previous, the valley Of the Columbia river had
been in the possession of citizens Of the United
States under the name Of the Astoria settlement
During the war this settlement was captured and
passed into the hands Of the English, and Of
tervards known the settlement of Fort George"
When peace was concluded our government de-
handed that the Astoria settlement SHOULD be re.
stored without delay, )" in compliance with the first
article of the treaty of Client. To this demand, the
British government replied, "that the place had not
been captured during the late war, but that the
Americans had retired from 1t under an agreement
| Of the Northwest Company, which had pur-
chased their effects, and had ever SINCE peace
able possession Of tho coast" and that "the ter
riory itself was early taken possession OF IN
his Majesty's name, and had since been consid-
cred as forming part Of his Majesty's dominlons.
Thus the two governments found themselves at
issue in regard to their respective rights in Oregon
under the treaty Of peace. How this difficulty was
reconciled and amicably settled, by the parties
themselves, will be seen by the following extract
from 'Greenhow's History Of Oregon and Califor-
MIA" ....
Mr. Bagot ,he British plenipotsntisry wsshingtonl
the time communicated the circumstances to his
government they became the subject Of discussion be
ss and Mr. Rush the American plenipotsntlary At Lon
don Lord Castsresgh proposed that the question respect
ing claim post the Columbia should be refer
red to commissioners many other disputed points had
been sgreeaby to the treaty Of Ghent to which Mr. Rush
session Of the Americans before the war; that fell BY bel
gercn capture into the hands Of the British during the
war; and that under treaty which stipulated the mutual
restitution Of all places reduced by the of either
party the right Of the United States to immediate and full
i repossesson could not be impugned'
The British secretary, upon This admitted the right Of the
am.eans be rsinsttd and 70 D. the party in possession
Of the United States should have employed means
to obtain restitution which might lead to fcues;
Mr. Rush had approximations OF that kind and 1t was
finally agreed that the should be restored to the
and that the question Of title to the territory should
bescussed in the negotiation 10 limits and other natter
which soon Commenced Lord Bathurst the Brit
h secretary for the colonies accordingly sent to the agents
the Northwest Company at the mouth OF the Columbia
despatch directing them to afford due fac es for the re
occupation the post at that point by the Americans snt
order the effect also sent from the admiralty
the commander OF the British naval forces in the Pacific
The rights Of the parties in regard the possession,
Of the country having thus been adjusted and de-
fined, the restoration was accordingly made, as the
following official documents will show:
in obedience to the command of his Royal Hghness the
Prince Regent sgnied in despatch from the Right Hon
Osbe the Earl Bathurst addressed tho partners agents
~ 1873 and in subsequent order dated thu
aSh of July from w H. Sheriff ESQ., captain Of his Males
the first article Of the treaty Of Client restore 10 The Cop'r
msnt Of The United States through its agent J; B. Provost
Given under our hands in triplicse at Fort George
i Columbia rivera this 9th day Of October, 1873
-; Hl6 ot,
'ap'a'" Vi Ills "''''' 81 fKpITH
"of the Northwest Company"
The occen,ance On ,bo mar, or tho JT,,ed State,
i. in ,hcae words.
81 do hereby acknowledge to have this day received il
behalf of the government Of the United States ne posses
non Of the sei,msnt DISTRACTED conformity TO tn
first article Of the treaty Of Client Given under my hand
n,Tp,Sae' az OH oe''se' N'"" '''' ' "' 'a.
81 B. PROVOST
Il Agent of the United States"
81 On the contamination of these acts Of the resora
ton of the valley of the Columbia river in conform
ity with the treaty. of Client, and the acknowledg
ment of our right "to he the party in possession
while treating on the title" Mr.. Greenhow re
marks:
tn, British fac rn then formally Io,r.red and that Of
United Sa'ss 6acins Been hOs,d in It's Head the for
~a' sahIed by the Blossom; .-.,,., -, ,....
M %, Sny ,"I 10 ,S",r s
ma rs,.rr., ~. 80 MI nm Us no If Great Bri