The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-10

pancy a IL Oregon territory.
Mr.. REID obsainsd the aoor, and addressed the
eommiitse = Sotlovs
Mr.. CnAlsxAs: The impoeapes Of he question
S Ssasl on n. psssnes o. this Hoass ss s,s
some Of the considerations which will indaenes The
, sss could s 4 ~ one sS,snsl his body
on any topic of legislation before il, such hope
would be utterly vain on this OCCASION after the
question before the House has undergone so full and
able a discussion.
The question under consideration is, whether il is
proper at this time 10 give the notice 10 Great Brit
ain that the conventions OF 1918 and 1927, touching
what is generally termed the joint occupancy by
the two governments Of the Oregon territory, should
terminate at the expiration Of twelve months. be-
lieye that we have good title TO Oregon. We have
acquired title 10 IL by settlement and discovery; and
II anything was wanted TO make il complete that
was supplied by the acquisition Of the claims Of
France and Spain. But did not rise TO discuss the
title shs time; that task has already been perform
ed with an ability which has satisfied the eoun-
try. ! must confess that | was nstonished to
hear the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. DAvrsl
take the ground that the constitution had transferred
the power Of giving such notice TO the President Of
the United Staies and that the executive had en-
deayored to avoid that responsibility by throwing il
on the Legislative department Of this government.
Surely the gentleman did not listen TO the able
speech Of the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. THUR
sIsl What 10 a treaty. II is the supreme Ia " Of
the land, and can only be sbrogated by an act Of
Congress, or by another treaty made in conformity
To the constitution And can the gentleman from
Kentucky desire that the President shall take into
his own hands the prerogative OF abrogaling q STU
prems law Of the landi II the Executive himself
should claim such power, how would the cry Of
usurpation ring fron one end Of the country 10 the
other, He would be charged with an attempt to
violate the constitution, and seize upon despotc
power. The whole country would condemn such
q course, and | fancy that even the gentleman from
kentucky and his political friends, would raise the
cry Of usurpation! usurpation! II the gentleman
thinks that the notice Is war measure, and equiys-
lent to a declaration OF war, us some have insisted
then surely he will not assert that the President has
power to give il without the legislative action Of
this government. the gentleman thought proper
10 deprecate the idea Of connecting this question
with The party politics Of the day. but he departed
from this course by hesping partisan abuse upon
the President, and charging on him design Of in
volvng the country IN war without consulting its
welfare. ...
Does the gentleman believe that the interests of
the country required the President to make the
British government liberal offer than he did
II not, then, how could he charge the President with
an attempt to plunge the country into an unjust and
unnecessary war, For myself, believe that offer
was too liberal; but we have been informed that it
was refused, and Withdrawn, and our title asserted
to the whole of Oregon Some OF the gentleman g
political friends say that "the President cannot be
kicked into war; while the gentleman himself in
sss that the President is too anxious for war.
Whether the gentleman has met this question in the
elevated spirit Of statesman, leave to this House
and to the country to judge.
know not, sir, whether the giving OF this notice
will produce war; l am that it will not be n
lust cause Of war; but deny that it is war measure
ought not to be so considered here for it is not 80
regarded even in Great Britain. The giving the notice
provided for in the convention Of 1927 il peace
able in its character and does not prevent negotia-
ton; but still so fruitful the imagina,ions of
some gentlemen that they cannot speak Of il in any
other light than as a war measure. The friends Of
this measure have not advocated it war meas
ure; it has only been SO characterized by those who
oppose it,
In giving the notice, the only legitimate inquiry
for an American statesman is, whether this question
oughtto be settled early as practicable delay
ed for an indefinite period of time. The convc-
tons of my mind decidedly in favor Of the for
mer course. Let us examine this point For the
purpose Of postponing the adjustment Of the Ore
gon dispute it was agreed in the third article of the
convention between the United States and Great
Britain signed October 20, 1918, that
ANY country that may be claimed by either party the
northwest coast of America westward Of the stony noun
haIbors bays and creeks and navigation Of all
within the same be free and open Ter the term Of ten
ne rs
being well understood that this agreement
rued to the prejudice Of claim which either Of the two
ny shall taken to affect the claims Of any other
power State any part Of said country the only OBJ
sct the high contracting parties in that respect being
to prevent disputes and differences among themselves"
This convention remained in force till il was re-
nswsd by the convention signed at London, Au-
gust 8, 1927, which provided: ,..
"Asrl All the provisions Of the third article Of the con
sention concluded between the United States Of Amercs
and his Majesty the King OF the United Kingdom OF Great
and they are hereby further indefinitely extended con
tnued IN force in The ail the provisions
ef,he said article were herein specifically r.eited
AsI Il shall be competent. however for either Of the
contracting parties in either should think IT.
time aer the 2oh October, 1928 giving due notice
twelve months to the other contracting party to annu ant
abrogae this conventions and shall in such be
corngy entirely aDnulled and abrogaed after the eSPi
"AaT Nothing contained in this convention or in tn,
third article Of the convention OF the goth October 1915
hereby continued in force shall be construed to impair
In affect the claims which either OF the con
tracing parties may have to part OF the country west
ward Of the Stony or Rocky mountains" .a ... b.
From 1918, up to the present time, repeated ef
forts have been made to settle by negotiation thu
dispute between the two countries in regard to this
territory; but Great Britain has always refused tc
propose such terms this country could accept
without sacrifice Of her rights. In this condition
the question stands at the present moment; and 4
might so remain, but for the change Of circumstan.
ees which will IN short time render it both i'm.
practicable and impossible. While the country
was only used for hunting fishing, and fur trading
there was but little difficulty between the two gov
ernments in relation to their conflicting claims, and
u was not indspensably necessary to adjust them
But things have changed. Within few year:
thousands Of our industrious and enterprisng c.
lens have gone with their families to that country
to engage In agricultural, mechanical and othe
pursuits Of civilized life, and they now cultiya
ting the soil, and earning for themselves permanen
homes, and an inheritance for their children. Doe
any one suppose that have arrived at such perfec
ton in the science Of government as to Justify the hop
that tive distinct races Of people, each governed by
different code Of laws, and owing allegiance to gov.
emments totally differing in their character can set
lie and occupy the same territory, and maintain
peacesble relations towards each otherl Such q
hope is Elusive. Why then should We induS,
further delay when every moment we live this que.
ton becomes more difficult to se,tle' When n dis
pute arises between two neghbors m TO the boun
dairy Of their lands, the dispue may ofen be easil
adjusted at hrst but If they once drive their fence
stakes, cut their bitches, and build their houses o.
The disputed territory, friendly settlement OF III
boundary becomes almost impossible. So II viii b
inrsgsrd 70 Oregon. This territory is now regard