The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-08

egon question attracted discussion not only here Dui
in the other branch Of Congress- Do you recolleet
the then urged for the further posponement
of energetic action on the part Of government
Il was but a repetition Of the argument made years
before, as the history Of the debates will show You
were told that negotiation pending; that il would
be improper for the legislative department of the
government to interfere when the matter was in the
hands Of that branch Of the government, which
ought properly TO consider it, and that when was
ascertaned that negotiation could not be effected,
them and not ill then, would be the time for the
Congress of the United States To act. | recollect,
while listening remarks OF this character, that fell
from the lips ola distinguished senator--one whose
voice always is listened IN with attention and re-
spect--Iha he told US Gard others incurred with
him) that the British government had reasons why
he Oregon question should 60 on and be postponed
TO later day, and that the British government
never looked forward 10 the settlement Of
the Oregon territory as an agricultural territory,
or with a view TO manufactures, or TO make
il permanent settlement that they only wanted
the right the fur lrade that il was being exhaust
ed and passing by; that at present II would bear but
small comparison to what il had been in former
years, and that soon ss this interest on the part
Of the British government had ceased, we would
have no difficulty in asserting the whole Of our rights
to Oregon. Well, sir, this argument is now at an
end You will not interfere with the executive de-
partment in determining in favor OF this notice, be-
cause you will but carry out It's Recommendations !
and trust that American statesmen VIII no longer
ask that this important result be postponed on the
ground that the British government, when Il has ex-
hausted It's interest in the fur trade will voluntarily
render and yield US up our own. No, MIR. Chair
man; our right 10 Oregon--to the whole Of Oregon
is clear and UNREASONABLE and desire 10 see II
maintained to the letter and the spirit by the ener-
geic, efficient action Of this House and of the other
House of Congress.
We are told, Mr.. Chairman, that there are not
inducements sufficient to carry our government
rashly into a contest for this territory. go not
rashly Sir, twenty-five years and more Of negoti-
aiion of reflection, Of standing still, III may man
ufacture the term) cannot be considered rash or
needless. There Is a duty which we owe not
only to our government, n government, but
duty which we owe 10 the people who have
emigrated TO the Oregon territory. Pardon me
for a very few remarks on this branch Of the
subject. We are told IL you postpone giving
the notice-h you allow this JOINT oecupa-
ZION to continue, our people will be emigratng to
Oregon, that we will be building up our defence
in the hardy sons Of the West who shall have gone
there for the purpose Of finding permanent home;
that we will be adding barriers and defences to our
possession Of the Oregon territory; and we are told
10 substantiaton Of this, that within the last two
years the emigration thilher has greatly increased
in proportion to what il few years back;
and that drawing the fair inference from the past,
we may conclude that, for the future this tide OF
emigration will continue roll into the Oregon ter.
rory until we shall have taken possession Of il by
our own people being permanently located in that
country. IL mistake not the feeling and the spirit
which has induced emigration to Oregon, it may be
fairly attributable TO the implied promise which the
action of this government heretofore has held out
to this people, that this joint occupancy would be-
fore this time have ceased and their title to home
sieads have been made secure and established. Go
10 those people who have emigrated To Oregon and
ask them il they believed at the time that they
abandoned their homes in the western part of our
western States and emgrated to Oregon territory
that this joint occupancy was to continue from year TO
year, from time to time and that they were TO be e
there without the protection ofhe laws Of their coun-
try; that they would be le there with the title toevery
foot of land on which they have so located them
selves uncertain and insufficient They settle there
not temporarily bat they build up for themselves
home in that territory which say ours, but which
we fear to declare in such terms shall authorize
that emigrant people, when they plant themselves
any portion Of the Oregon territory to feel con-
fdence that they on ground consecrated TO
American freedom, and which shall never cease TO
be made prosperous and happy by the prevalence OF
republican principles. ask you if this is not the
feeling under which this emigration is carried on to
Oregoni Mr.. Chairman, let this Congress adjourn
without giving the nouce--instead of it, proclaim
by joint resolution that it is the opinion of Con-
gress that this joint occupancy shall continue from
time to tme--that we not prepared to maintain
and assert our unquestionable rights, but that we
propose to do it at some future perlod--then, If
mistake no, the spirit Of the West, that emigration
10 at an end. Can you induce western man, when
we have so much public land, when there are
so many inducements held out to him to emigrate
where his settlement will be perfectly secure, and
where the government will guarantee to them the II,
tie to the land, to abandon all this to 60 to a
country which we have asserted, by mere decara-
tory resolution to be ours, but our rights to which
we are not yet prepared to main and defend? 81
But il is said we shall have gone far enough when
we shall have passed our laws extending the jurls-
dicton of courts the Oregon territory for the
protection of the citizens of the United States who
may go to that country. desire gentlemen to direct
their attention. for single moment, the effect Of the
passage of such laws. For one, am in favor of it.
desire TO see the laws Of the United States extend
ed over the Oregon territory, so far as we can do il
consistently with rights, consistently with our
treaty stipuations. But how long can such state
of things remain Great Britain passes her laws
extending her jurisdiction over this territory; you
pass your laws extending your jurisdiction; and
here is a territory under the operation of two sys
tens Of government, as widely separated from each
other as the north and south pole. Here are the
principles of American freedom, carried and borne
along by the officers of the American government
here are the citizens Of the British government, min
Cling with people, who have extended over them
the laws of their monarchica despotic govern
ment, under which they seek protection. Car
these different systemscan these laws OF different
countries, ike Tic Cl uusc
mngle one with the other, all going on in sweet
and pleasant harmony! Can it be soa Must there
not be perpetual collisions and difficulties resulting
from this simultaneous operation of two differcn
systems Of lawsi II may be that such state OIL
things may continue during the twelve months fol
which your notice is given; but to say that this il
asserting our rights, and doing justice to those who
have settled in the Oregon territory, in the indul
eencc ofthe reasonable expectation that they shall
Be protected does not strike my mind as bearing the
force Of reason or of justice. Mr. Chairman, /
cannot be done. tits impossible that these two sys
TENS can continue to operate together for any grea
length of time. From this, l infer that It is the
duty of this government to show that we believe
Oregon is ours, and that we are determined to re
tain it, that il is our duty Immediately to place tn
people of that country under the protection, thu
sole protection Of the laws Of the United States.
MIR. Chairman there is one objection urged, ant
one perhaps relied on with greater force than any
other-one to which our attention has been draw
by the most of those who have discussed this sub
ject on the other side. We are told that, by with