The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-29

Mr.. DouGLAssl contends that we have right
give the notice under the treaty and that il is n
cause Of war. ] believe no one has been stupi
enough to say that giving notice is Of ITSELF eaus
Of war But we maintain that il will bring abou
state Of things in which, unless a settlement b,
negotiation takes place, war swill be probable
We give the notice, and terminate the convention
and extend our laws, both criminal and civil, owe
the whole Of Oregon. Great Britain does the same
Well, one Of our citizens commits crime there; h
Is apprehended by British officer, and imprisoned
Complaint is made to us that soil has been VIC
lated by the execution of British process by British
officer upon IL, and that Of citizens has beer
deprived Of his liberty in consequence. We cal
upon the British government for satisfaction. IL i
refused upon the ground that it was English pro
cess, executed within English territory. VIVA
would be the result War, inevitable war. Reyers,
the case, ''nr,taii' Huiandis, and the same conse
quenees occur.
Bot the gentleman from New York, (Mr. Gao.
YER who spoke on yesterday, contends that this
conflict of Jurisdiction is as likely to happen, il W,
continue tho convention. But how can that be
The British criminal law only extends To British
subjects and II an American citizen is brought be-
fore an English tribunal, a plea TO the jurisdiction
would settle the question. The gentleman from
Connecticut, Mr.. ROCKWELL, contends that the
English law relating TO civil matters, extends 10 oil
persons, and Is not confined to British subjects.
differ with the gentleman in his construction Of the
law but suppose he is right is il probable that
out OF the trial Of civil SUITS growing out of
tracts say growing out Of contracts for there can
be no land causes there will beseen in subsequen
parts OF my remsrks-s il probable that out OF the
trial OF civil suits any difficulty is probable TO arisei
The forms Of proceeding, and the greater part OF
The laws which prevail, are the same in British and
American courts. How, then, can such a conflict
Oh jurisdiction take place. would be likely 10 lead
to difficulty between the two nationsl This il the
most favorable view Of the case, az far as peace is
haty
this nouee with the avowed purpose, at the end OF
twelve months; IN utter disregard of the rights OF
Great Britain, conceded in our negotiations with
her, TO take possession Of the whole territory that
she Will regard II as peaceful measure, and wait
Tor the state OF things which have described and
which must, In the event referred to, ensuel She 10
ready we are not. Does any body believe, when
she sees that war will probably ensue 10 any
event, that, being ready herself she will patiently
wait until we get sol No, sir; Great Britain, like all
other lighters, knows that "the first blow is half the
battle" But gentlemen will say, she cannot 60 to
war about Oregon until the twelve months have ex-
P,red, ana that IN the mean time we can get ready.
She can go to war when she plenses. All of US who
Know anything Of her history, know that she has
much ess seldom gone TO war, in the language
OF one Of her greatest statesmen, "for Indemnity
for the past" than for security for the future. !"
AND have we any assurance, II we give the notice
with the avowed purpose Of loosing our hands to
enable US TO lay them upon the whole Of Oregon,
rights in which, as have shown we have conceded
her title, that she will wait to enable us to get
ready to do 80 with effectI IL she has any dispo-
siton to pursue that course, am perfectly certain
that the admonltion she has had from one promi-
nenty connected with our foreign affairs, that the
war, If il ensues, will be war of systems of
government, is not calculated to foster il.
But how do gentlemen show that if we give the
notice, Great Britain is bound to wait for the exp-
ration Of the twelve monthsI For whose benefit,
ho,,n vtof Il =. r.. H.
ht Of the party receiving the notice or il it for the
benefit Of the party giving ita Is not the object Of
TO prevent surprise to the party not asking for
the termination Of the treaty. II 30, may she not
waive 1T and consider the convention at an end as
soon as she receives it, and proceed execute her
plans Sir, the legal analoges would 60 far to sus-
tain this hypothetical view. A law, for instance,
requires, in some legal proceeding, that ten or
twenty days, or six months notice should be given
to defendant. But in all such cases, may he not
waive il and make his appearance at oncef Now,
sir, wish 10 be distinctly understood this point
do not express positive opinion that Great Brit
ain might take this course with proprety; but this
do say, her right to do 80 would be much less
questionable than her right to insist for instance,
that the Nootka Sound convention, if abrogated by
the war between her and Spain, revived by the
treaty ofl6l4 Who can say that we give this notice
with the avowed purpose, at the end Of twelve
months, Of taking possession Of the whole of Ore
gon, that we will not have in one month there
after' But, sir, shall not insist on this point.
1t is enough to justify the vote which shall give
on this occasion, that if the notice is given, and no
settlement takes place within the twelve months,
war may ensue. Are we ready for III If not,
with all of our energy, can get ready in twelve
months' To answer this question, it is necessary
TO look into the state of our defences; and upon this
point, we arc not left to vague speculatons. The
reports Of our public officers answer the question
In what condition those defences' Let the Sec
IF In hisl he
1.-THE number of non.commissioned officers musicians
and privates authorized by law thousand five
dred and ninety but according the latest returns recev
ed the sduant generals office the actual fierce available
for service does exceed sir thousand five hundred The
difference between the authorized force and that for service
will, probably, be at no time proportonably less.
inees from Maine 10 Lake Superior rtent Of thousand
miles there is stationed but a single regiment From
n9 BORDERING on TING
dian country fifteen hundred miles and extending south
infantry are stationed The artillery Regiments reduced
in strength by having four companies detached each
from Newport in Rhode Island New Orleans the exigen
cies of the public service having required the withdraw
and Maine The residue Of the army, consisting of one
regiment Of Dragons sixteen companies of artillery and
the whole military force Of United states, is
ing in Texas This important change in the position OF our
military force was made in the course of the last sum.
mer.n
In subsequent part of his report, he tells US that
the force in Texas cannot be withdrawn; but, on
the contrary, in what is now probable contingent
cy, it must be increased He says:
Though yet has been made on the part
Of Mexico to carry into effect her often repeated
change the relations of peace between her and the
United States she still continues to manifest hostile feel
ngs, and threatens invasion Of Texas This attitude
long it shall continue will require the presence Of
military force in that quarter at least equal to that
toned there It presumed that this equvoc state which
has not the settled character OF peace or war will not be
much longer continued Should Mexico deny right to
possess the country to the Rio del Nore to the extent
Justly claimed by Texas before annexation and the free
of the waters of that river is presumed that
authority will be given to enforce ii In both respects In
the event of resistance there may be occasion TO employ
additional force and authority should be given
ing ii in that contingency"
Our population, Mr. Chairman, since 1903, has
more than doubled; and the extent Of the inhabited
portions of territory have also more than dou-
bled. How stand our means Of defencei The re-
port Of the commanding general of the army informs
us, that exclusive Of commissioned officers, the
peace establishment from 1908 to 1912, was 9, 1913
men; from 1915 to 1921, II ,967" We have already
seen what it now is, viz; $500, "of actual force
available for service" The country to be defended
more than double the extent, and the actual avail
able force the army but little more than half!