Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-06-03

them off to Mexico Who then, responsible for the
OF things which existed there We told that
small force had been put on the way to Santa Fe but the
purpose for which the regiment expressly authorized
by Congress had been totally neglected by the Executive anu
hence the inhabitants in Oregon had suffered Who was
responsible He did not stand here TO make particular
charges against any body mpute bad motives, but he
wished correctly understood that il not true, the
message implied that Congress had failed TO do its duty to
the citizens Oregon and If their measure had not answered
It's purpose, it because the Executive had not carried
| out the clearly expressed intentions Of Congress
Mr. B0WLIN understood say that part of reg-
employed on the route Santa Fe and 70
Oregon TO protect emgrants.
Mr. COLLAMER said this might be So but he repeated
that the Executive had violated the clearly expressed inen-
tons OF Congress raising this iorce and anmadvered upon
the nsucency Of the that he expressly
hbed from sending this force TO Mexico He did this with
have the of the correctly understood The
fault if fault there did not lie upon Congress- for they
had made express provision for this and the President
had diverted the force other service The President had
assumed send troops into disputed territory he certain
y had the right, within the acknowledged limits of the terri
tory Of the United States, dispose of the army he
fit and he should always have force sufficient TO
defend the frontiers any contingency against the encroach
of the Indians If the committee and the House thought
that additional forces should be SENT LET bill be passed
codingly but his main purpose object against the
emergency being made petext for pressing through the Ore
gon Territory bill with hot haste and without discussion
Mr. billiard called for division Of the question.
After some conversation point Of order
The question the first division, viz laying the ia
BILE, was taken, and negatived
The question recurring on the second branch, viz.
printing
Mr. BROWN Of Miss said he intended to favor the opo-
son Of his friend from Georgia who last had the oo Mr.
HARALsoS and to express very briefly his opposition to the
course taken by his other friend from Georgia, (Mr. Com.
He willing any other member of Congress that the
two Houses should act Immediately upon the proposition to
give efficient and immediate relief the people Of the Terri
tory OF Oregon he believed their duty to afford that
aid promptly But he objected to the proposition Of his friend
the way (Mr Conn, because contemplated the hur-
ried passage through the House of bill involving the
important question which agaed the people of this country
whenever that question fairly before Congress, he for
one desired to hear it discussed by Of all political
pexons and from every portion of the conedeacy He had
idea of seeing the great question of the power of Congress
the Territories forced through under the gag. Let the
two questions be sepaaei let the message be referred the
Committee Military Affairs and they report that sort Of
relief which the occasion required and when the Oregon
Territory bill came up let them have full and fair discussion
upon the territorial question He thought he the object
OF the gentleman from Georgia in the smoke created by the
Presidents the excitement at the condition of
people in Oregon, force this question through under the
and get clear OF this question, involving the most weghy
consequences to this entire conederacy and especially the
Southern portion OF it. However might affect Presidential
asPans he could sanction the attempt blink the ques
ton and force through under the gag. He wished the
proper time to express his views upon it, other gentlemen
had done upon occasions when the question did properly
arise He not willing that the views Of the gentleman
from Georgia who had first addressed the House should
the views of the Southern portion of this conedeacy He
hoped therefore, the gentemans proposition would be reject
ed and that of the other gentleman from Georgia the
sanction of the House. Whether the views of gentlemen
might agree with those Of Others with those of Presidential
aspirants matered let every gentleman express his
own views and those of his constituents boldly arlessy
This he intended to make his course.
Mr.. SMITH, Of Indiana, said he had introduced the
luton relative to the Oregon Territory bill without consua
ton with any individual without knowing that it the
intention OF the President to send In the message which had
this morning been received but upon his impression that
the House imperativey called upon this
early period He aware that the general appropr
aou bills had already been made the special ORDER and that
they acting under and also, had been stated by the
chairman of the Committee Of Ways and Means, (M VIZ
that but month would eapse between the present and
the of the fiscal year and he had not,
therefore, desired to anticipate these bills but had proposed
make the Oregon bill the special order immediately after they
had been disposed of
The gentleman from Vermont imagined he saw in this pro-
position effort TO make this exigency preiex for rushing
through this Territorial bill
MI. CoLLAMER said his remark did not apply to the
gentleman from Indiana.
Mr. SMITH said if any such purpose had been entertained
by any body not by him. and proceeded warmly
the imperative duty Of Congress long this have made
provisions for Government for Oregon. IL
thing like two years since the question of title had been
relieved from all doubt and controversy population of ten
to twelve thousand souls and had gone there having
emgrated from almost every State in the Union they
surrounded by savage tribes, who making ncursons
upon them piaging their property and attacking and
derng them. We claimed the territory, and the reciprocal
obligation rested upon extend to them the fostering
and protection Of this Government should either do this
declare that e them take Of themselves I'M
less resolution TO make the bill special order adopted,
the session would pass and il would not be acted on
He had objection to the proposition OF the gentleman
from Georgia to refer this message TO the Committee on
Military Affairs. IL its statements rue-and he had
reason to believe they were, they cooborated from
other sourcesif the people OF that territory preyed
upon by Indians, IL they the subjects Of slaughter and
massacre ought 10 provide for their immediate pro-
lection DE aware had been stated by the gentleman
from Vermont that these had been furnished at
former period by Congress- but they had been diverted
other purpose and enough for them know that
protection was not provided Let the responsibility of
dIverng the military force rest where might Congress
Obliged now either call back that force provide another
he was willing that that force should be provided
He concurred with the gentleman from Mississippi that the
questions involved in this bill Of the highest Importance
He was aware that new, and only but a
ling doctrine had been propounded in this House and else
where that this Government had right establish Terri
orial Governments He desired to this question settled
he desired with his friend from Mississippi to allow the largest
latitude IN the discussion of this and collateral questions and
he willing to meet them. He did desire delay the
action OF the House upon the which might be
say Tor the immediate protection of that people until these
other subjects could be discussed Let the message be refer
red to the Committee Military Affairs, other APP
Popriae committee and when reported let receive
the prompt action Of the House and in the mean time he
trusted the House would fix tine when this territorial
bill would be brought up and Congress had the power to