Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-05


hn, with perleel candor and frankness. mere
FIRE do not hesitate 10 reply TO the gentleman, mar
there was NOT, 10 my knowledge, al that time, any
civil government OF the United States IN oregon,
and ina, The law may probably be held 10 Apply
n The countries as they we're. Opinions, however,
as 10 The construction Of the Law dlter; ana, as
have stated, have read this clause III deieienee
10 the wish Of respected colleague whose Jug
ment is of more worth than my own al ieas',
an any construction. the clause proves that more
respect was shown to American ciizsns .iidh
merely 10 save their right of hunting, since all un-
der anv civil government OF the United States at
The time are excluded wholly from The operation
of The act AS have said, however, am mol
disposed 10 conlrover the view taken py senle-
men of the mere language oil The act. wy arsu-
ment is based on the ling and circumstances oil lis
/ passage; on the assurances which were soiehihiy
given of its intended operation, and on Inc I'M
doubted fact that its application has been 70 BIZ
fish subjects alone and never extended 70 ihe ~
vason otlhe rights ofour government or sciIlzens.
Instead OF ferreting out this musy act and wranS-
| ling on the exact construction 10 be given 10 us
| mere words, let the matter be viewed practI-
| caly and substantially. Candor must admit hat
| in The time and circumstances OF The EGglish le-
| gislation, as contrasted with those OF our pro-
posed bill consists the greatest imaginable differ
ence There was then no reference beyond The
convention, and The legislation OF England was
| in contemplation al, and in suoserVience 10 us
provisions Now having already in This House
voted to give notice, and not doubling the concur
renee OF the other branch of The Legislature IN
some form, our legislation is proposed in direct
reference 10 the termination OF the convention,
and in full contemplation Of the ulterior state OF
affairs when no treaty slipulations are to exist
| Bills. the general words OF which, if adopted soon
| after the convention was entered into, or while II
| was indefinite in duration, would have been oil
| little moment and no danger would, under pre-
sent circumstances, possess peculiar signlhcance
and convey most offensive menace. 10 such
law as now proposed, had it been brought forward
when The English act passed, serious objection
might not have been entertained. Imight myself
have voted for il without note or care for lis ope-
ration beyond the convention, The termination OF
which was not contemplated. But now thought
lessness or reckessness in our legislation would
he both foolish and criminal. II is no lar Test OF
The wisdom or safety Of passing this bill TO COM
pare its provisions with The mere phraseology OF
the English act. The true touchstone is 10 reverse
the attitudes of Great Britain and our govern
menl, and TO bring home TO our own breasts the
thoughts and emotions which conduct like thatwe
propose, il adopted by Great Britain, would excite.
Suppose in the absence OF any cause OF irri-
tation on our part, in the course OF pending ne
gotiation Tor amcable adjustment OF The conflict
ing Claims Of the two nations, the government Of
Great Britain were 10 give us notice for the abro
CATION OF The existing convention, and her Paria-
menl were cotemporaneouSy not merely 10 show
an intent, but provide by actual legislation imme-
diaely thereafter 10 take possession OF the whole
territory, and dispossess our citizens and exclude
all claim on our part 10 jurisdiction or sovereign
" in any portion of The country even south OF
the Columbia, would not Indignation deep and in
La <;rIl II oil a and
would not such course be deemed most significant
OF hostile intent, and The prelude 10 certain war
We might indeed deem il wise IN our present
state OF preparation TO nurse our wrath and delay
an immediate outbreak OF hoSilities, but II would
feel that prudence, mol International obligations,
Withheld, and that we would be warranted, SO
soon as by vigorous efforts we should adequately
prepare, to seek the ultimate resort cf nations
In The reverse of positions, we flnd an admirable
admonition 10 forbear from The rashness and ag-
gression This bill unamended would eIhibii for
what we would mol endure, we may Justly expect
Great Brtain-a nation as potent and sensitive |
TO honor as our own-will promptly resent.
A strong additional argument, Mr. Chairman,
for limiting this bill by the amendment proposed
is afforded By the unanimity which will then be
secured to IFS passage. This is a consideration
which should be strongly felt By those honorable
gentlemen, lis immediate advocates IN its present
Objectionable form, who have been SO solicitous
and clamorous for unaHimity-cordial and uni.
ted action in our measures about Oregon We
have been stunned by honorable members here,
ill we scarce needed The no less frequent appeals
of the press with assurances Of the mighty in
huences 10 I've eIerted al home and abroad by The
moral effect Of united action and harmonious CO.
operation of all branches Of the Government in
relation to Oregon. Now, surely, il union and
harmony constitute such potent levers where
a. th. fkotf
not be less essential on The manifestations Of our
purpose to encourage and protect our settlers in
Oregon than in the form in which the notice TO ,
terminate The convention is 10 be given.
There will scarce be any dissent in The provi-
sons OF The bill for these objects; whereas, by
extending lis operation 10 The dispossesson and
exclusion Of Great Britain, after the convention
is terminated, from The whole territory, the BILL il
passed at all, can be carried only by meagre
majority. appeal TO gentlemen, on their own
arguments TO meet US fairly, and accord, where
ali may agree, and not 10 legislate as if the isoa
ton offriends, rather than the attainment of ends
common to all parties and sections Of parties,
were their real object
III considerations of prudence and policy con-
spire MIR. Chairman 10 dissuade US from legsla-
ting now for The exigencies which are to exist az
Ter the termination Of the convention. There is
certainly no occasion for Congress TO anticipate
events so far. Another session must occur be-
fore the convention can expire, and then, with
much fuller lights, and in view Of all incrme-
date events we may adjust our legislation 10
the necessities Of existing affairs. Should a set
Element be effected in the Intermediate time,
your present legislation would be intercepted and
overruled Should conflict prove inevitable
and by that time The development Of events will
probably allow correct decision-many men,
bers, who are now ayersc 10 the assertion oil eX-
elusive sovereignty and jurisdiction, would be
prepared to go for The who!e. Iifghtthe nation
must, then lei it fight for all that the tate OF arms
can be.,ow. But now our negotiations are pend
ins-our relations in doubtful and einbarras-
sing condition. We are on the eve OF events 10
be decisive oil our future course in relation 10 this
whole Oregon mailer How then, can we pru-
IDENTIFY or wisely legslate in advance, when we
literally "know not what day may bring forth"
Here the Chairman's hammer fell, and Mrs.
was cul of from further remarks.
-The same clause has been heretofore quoted
The following is the substance of the bill 10 es-