Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-07-08
SPEECH OF Mr.. ROCKWELL,
or MASSACHUSETTS,
On The Government Of the Territories, Sc.

under consideration the Civil and Diplomatic bill
Mr. ROCKWELL, Of Massachusetts, proposed to address
the committee upon subject Of the power of Congress
OF the country and particular
" Of this mower in reference the Territory Of Oregon. The
Committee ON Territories, said Mr. r. of which
member has reported bill for the organization of Terrific
rial Government for that Territory, and that bill before
this committee AT what time will be reached, how much
discussion will be allowed upon il cannot be foretold il is
perfectly apparent however, that there will be but very little
opportunity for discussion deem my duty therefore,
member Of that committee, to improve this opportunity prin-
cpay in speaking upon matters connected with this subject
Sir we are again at peace with all the world We find
ourselves upon the of this peace the posses
sion territories the acquisition OF which has been the
result Of the which we have been engaged and the
treaty by which has been concluded The importance OF
the polcy Of the towards its Territories by these
events has been greatly enhanced The questions connected
with the power OF Congress the Territories have become
of intense importance and, sir, believe there are no
questions connected with the progress Of the which
occupy greater share of public attention. which in them
selves are Of greater Importance than the which this
Government is to pursue with reference its Territories.
The emigan from the States Oregon, he reaches the
crest Of the Rocky Mountains looks downward to the Pacific
ocean upon tertery north Of the AID parallel north la
tude and south of the OF Great Britain comprising
about three hundred thousand square miles, sufficient
to form eight large Pennsyyan Although this
has yet been but mpeecy explored enough is known
OF il 10 show its great value country for settlement There
are now within limits about eight thousand nhabans
aside from the Of the Indian tribes OF this popua
ton about thousand emgrants from the United States
and the remaining two thousand French Canadian emf
formerly servants of the Hudson Bay Compa
nv and those whose the blood OF the white and red
races is mingled Upon the Colunfba and the Willamette
rivers there are settlements which have the OF Cities
the considerable of which, however, is Oregon City,
which contains about hundred inhabitants Portions OF
Oregon extremely fertile but this not probably the case
the larger portion Of the territory but wellmay be that
the fertile portions will not prove to be ultimately the
most valuable Those portions Of any country where, by
If
climate, the virtues of industry ugahy, and temper
become the necessities Of life, usually found in the
Of ages be clothed with the most valuable popua
ton The popuous North from its frozen lonsp sends
forth the most vigorous elements empire This may prove
TO be true both of Oregon and California.
The Of the native Indian tribes in Oregon num-
Der scarcely than thirty thousand souls and seem TO be
pershing away fate which will doubt be accelerated by
the presence of the white race
The people Of Oregon have repeatedly urgently, and
nuay petdoned for the organization OF Territorial Govern
In this they be unanimous Theeyes OF The
people of Oregon not gratefully and Loyalty to the
rising sum- rely not more confidently upon his light and heat
than upon the protection and laws of this Government Then
relations with the Indian ubes the titles to the land the
of the necessity Of stable government to
encourage emigration the necessity OF permanent representa-
ton here urge upon this Congress the propey of immediate
action The people Of Oregon in the year ls43 established
system of organic laws satisfy their temporary exgences
and have enacted certain temporary laws indispensable
to their condition hut nevertheess with renewed urgency
petition for Territorial Government The Executive Of the
United States has repeatedly urged upon Congress the expe
diency and necessity Of the organisation Of Territorial Gov
in Oregon, and particularly in his annual message to
the present Congress Well the President Of the United
States urge upon Congress this attention and for Oregon
Great the prices which he is accustomed 10 pay for ter
rcy, he has purchased at mghier price than paid
for Oregon When he entered upon the duties Of President
found he declared that the title of the United States to
all that territory west of the Rocky Mountains and between
the parallels of 42o and $40 40 Of north latitude to be clear
and unquestonabe and supported by nefragabe arguments
OF these twelve degrees of latitude he has given up five to
cure the peaceabe possession of the remaining TAX
ing his own solemn declarations be e he has paid nearly
mile for mile and for purchase the peaceabe pos
session Oregon. Well may be- them extend towards Ore
son his paerna care and he has done all that his constu
uona rights and duties required of him this respect Upon
as now rests the responsibility responsibility which trust
will be promptly and fully met.
Mr. Chairman, question hes arisen with respect to Ore
gon Territory which have reason TO believe, until the
Congress- been seriously prominently made
in respect that Territory II is the question whether it shall
be Free whether shall be subject the institution If do
mesc slavery; and sustain this new position, new read
ngs Of the constitution for the first time presented We
hear commended for the first time in the history OF tins Gov
ernment that Congress has the power institute Terri
oral Goxernmens contend that Congress has that power
contend that has that power from the nature Of the Coy
and Of all Governments and contend that II is
pressy given in clearly defined language the constitution
Itself in language explicit SO definite that with
reasonable intelligence and judgment can, after candid eEam
nation, doubt i.
maintain first that this power must belong TO Congress
from the Of the Government ITSELF IL Is principle of
universal law that unnhabed country be discovered by
number Of individuals and possession taken under the an
thoty Of existing Government which acknowledged by
the discoveries the discovery made for the whole nation
the soil end dominion it. The tcrrtog becomes the prop
ey Of the Government, becomes part OF the nation II the
territory thus discovered partially and mperfecty occupied
by savage tribes the Government whose name possession
taken obtains the right to purchase aEd extngush their title
to the lands occupied by them If the Government has the
power to acquire territory In hs way Oregon was acqur
ed then in department rest the power TO control
and govern H. 1.-THE constitution Of the Government definite
y appoints such department must OF necessity be the
awmaking depameDthe legislatve-in this country the
Congress To say therefore, that this power OF making laws
for the government of territory does exist IN Congress-
say that this Government has the power to acquire and
hold territorial possessions all will not illustrate this po
sion further for most confidently contend for the second
position that the plenary power organize Territorial Gov
is explicitly given by the second paragraph Of the
third section Of the fourth article Of the constitution in these
sufficient words
"The Congress shall have power dispose Of and make all
need rules and regulations respecting the territory or other
property belonging to the United States"
The Of the revolution the trainers Of the constitution
Of the English language. They just words
enough, They invoked the power of the language
in the beest and ceares this penay pow
upon Congress They obtained it. used it and set the mat
Ter at rest forever $40 dispose and make all needu rules
and regulations words comprehensive enough to include
constitutions and oil iaws'Hespec,ng the territory" What
means the word territory Docs il moan simply "pubic
lands " Clearly II means more. When the Govern
tha nd foit