The daily union., 1846-09-30

are subject to our municipal jurlsdction. So Of the
straits which go north, Az first they open out large.
IN behind VancOuyeTs island and make the Gulf Of
Georgia, then they contract" dc.
ssThese narrow waters, like those Of Pugets
sound &c, are private property, subject TO the mu-
nieipal jurisdiction Of the BRUSH % whom they be.
loag. ] hold the proysO TO be eonfofmable to the
laws Of nations, and fair and equal in ITSELF and
fully approve oft"
f,,laabls 10 hs ldes Of aaiOnsa UNFAIR and uHsqlal
IN itself and fully dsappTous Of IT, This doctrine Of
mare elausum is unsuiied TO the age, and unaecepl-
tble To it, IL is antiquatsd like the treaty Of
Utrecht Il seeks to appropriate TO one nation
what God gave 10 all the earth--ihe use Of the
waters that surround IT, At one time Il almost
made Of the British channel BRUSH river, upon
which England claimed, that the ships OF other na-
rions should not sail without an acknowledgment Of
her supremacy.
Bur there is an obvious difference, which, how.
ever has escaped remark, between the waters, such
as Puget's sound, and others which penetrate our
lerritoTy and there lernIDate, and the arm OF the
sea- extending from Cape FIauery TO Cage Caution,
Sbieh separates Vane0uyeT's island ffom the Con-
tnent snd is great line OF communication, open
o the ocean, and communicating win II lhToush lA
VI ole extent
n find this subject so clearly stated, and the true
loctTne so ably laid down In letter from M.
Buchanan TO Mr.. MeLane, dated February 26,
1876 that am tempted % make quotation from II:
There 10 one point which II 10 necessary 10
guard, whether the fist or the second proposition
mould lie s,bmiued 10 by the Bri l.h government
The s rats Of Fuea 10 arm OF the sea, and under
he uu1lle law all nations would possess the same
sht 90 navigate il throughou It's whole extent, 40
hey now have To the navigation ofIhe British chan.
ne Sull, 10 prevent future difficulties, ths ought
10 be clearly aud distinctly understood lt Ia rea'
dsred the necessary when we recollect IhaIthe
Russian government, not many years ago, asserted
clam TO the exclusive navigation of the northern
Pacihc ocean, oetWeen its Aslae and Amefiean IsT-
rt"ues, on the principle that it WAS close
sears
Under these Circumstances what should We do
Voluntarily exclude the American nag hom an am
# the ocean aud thus shut u up or amend this pro-
yiso by declaring that the whole Of these straits
rec 20 u.s. as we'll 10 all oher nations, so that
lhey shail neither expressly, nor by lmPllcaIiUn,
pass under the sovereignty Of single Povsh
WhaI pos IDLE objection can be urged against this
.oursei Would England reject this convention, be-
cause we refuse TO aceede this proposition, which
even here is construed ~ a surrender OF an essen.
al Characteristic Of national sovereignty No; and
u che did, she would do AT the risk OF encounter
ng the reproaeh OF the world, and the indignant feel
Ings Of this whole country.
Now, sir, what is our posiunni There are serl-
Gus objections 10 this treaty. We all agree 10 that
every one Of us. Doubts exist as TO the extent Of
some ofIs spulauons, bot none as TO thtir unfaSor
able character whether more or less by con-
struction. Neither our own minister, nor the Brit
Ish government expects It's ratification, without
nod Ihcauon. That 10 evident There 10 an ample
remedy within our reach for some Of these evils,
II not for all Of them. A remedy without hazard
and without cost. Let US ask, and We Ihal
receive. Let US not accept as an utimatum what is
not intended as such. IL we must hasten, let Us
hasten slo,Oiy. Ii is a wise old maxim, and none
the less wise for It's age. The responsibility IsupOn
the Senate. We have taken It. IL becomes US
faithfully to meet it. To gain all we can for our
country, without too great a sacrifice. The whole
matter - within our reach Our hand is still upon
the instrument Not one obligation is yet imposed
uprn US. We may, therefore, fully expose The
nature Of the duties shall take upon ourselves,
we become party to this treaty. We ought
searchingy to examine them, in order 10 reject or
modify them, il found too onerous. This is equally
the dictate Of wisdom and Of patriotism. by con.
dItional ratification, we can assert own honor
and strip these Objectionable stipulatons Of their
most obnoxious features. Ii imposed upon Us
without an effort to avert them, and with the know
edge, that We can avert them, or some of them and
will not, afraid shall regret our precipitate
action, and the country arrangement, which will
give us, neither what we demanded, nor what we
offered Neither 6Uo nor $40 40, nor $40 nor 49o
nor the line of Utrecht, the line of rgh, nor the
valley of the Columbia, and which creates oblga-
tons, not less injurious, than unacceptable.
cit will he perceived that this extract inserted here
though read in the Senate because 1t fully illustrates
the subject II had been municated 10 Congress
when this discussion took place.