Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-16
SPEECH OF Mr.. MILLER,
OF NEW JERSEY,
OF NEW JERSEY,
On The Bill 10 establish Territorial Governments
in Oregon, California, and New Merico.
In SENATE, july "a, ls4s.
Mr.. MILLER addressed the Senate as follows

Mr.. MILLER addressed the Senate as follows:
Mr.. President desire briefly to express my objections
to the bill under consideration. II provides for the
Enlistment Of territorial governments in Oregon California
and New Mexico The which induced the commit
tee to unite these three Territories in law have been
given TO the Senate and why Oregon found in this
connection, do not understand. Her history her position
the character Of her people, and their claim upon for gov
ernmen entirely different and disconnected from the
two other Territories that cannot comprehend the proprey
OF this alliance. ..
Oregon is native Territory her people are our people,
with the same manners customs, and language. She had
claims for territorial government long before these foreign pro-
ynces were conquered by California and New
Mexico became the 4h Of July. Our title them is
month DID, Many Of the people nhabng these Ter
rtoes do not know this hour that they citizens Of the
United States The character Of these people, and their feel
ngs and disposition towards this Government unknown
We have but little information as to their local laws
customs and Of the nature Of the soil and productions of the
country All the information we have is that have
qured many thousand square miles Of territory, and that
this territory is inhabited by mixed Of men, ranging from
the proud Spanard down the unaduerated negro but
what proportion they exist there and what their relative
rights, altogether ignorant Now, sir not pre-
pared do think the country is prepared say what kind
Of political connexon ough; TO form with these strange peo-
pie Are we now prepared 10 say that the government pro-
posed in this BILL which places all the power legislative ju
dica and executive, in the hands Of the men, uniting
the three branches Of Government in body is the proper
form Of government to train up these people the ways Of
our republican institutions
If understand this bil il authorizes the judges and COVER
nor with the aid Of the secretary make the laws, and then
consrue and execute them This strange form Of gov
eminent II is neither republican, democratic, theocac
II is triocacy-three in Now, although ready
and willing to give to Oregon proper government not
prepared to egsae for California and New Mexico and one
objection which have this bill Is thst compes me ley
late for oil or Is this fair and just towards Oregon
Why should her fate be united with that Of these Mexican
Territories Why should the free born he associated with the
basebom Why should the free Territory Of Oregon be Join
ed with the conquered Territory Of New Mexico ShouId
the native citizens Of Oregon he told that the laws and cons
tuition Of their country will not be extended them unless
at the time and in the BILL they he also extended
the pebad Of suhugsed Mexico I this part Of
the compromise Is the understanding Of the committee
that the claims Of these Territories upon for government
equal that they stand fall together II So let the
friends OF Oregon look to H. another session Of Congress
may pass, and Oregon still left without government did
suppose that the friends Of Oregon had found by this time
that there danger these Mexican connexions
There believe, sort Of understanding between Tex
and Oregon that they should in the Union together
slave territory and the other free but owing to some
inattention by being put the BILL Texas got in
knocking for entrance since and she is told
that she cannot in unless she brings with her other
Mexican slave Territories
But this bill is presented as measure Of compromise
and in that point Of view desire examine it. We all IN
dcrstsnd that the subject Of compromise slavery the Ter
rtores named In looking into the BILL find that the sub
ec is named referred in but two sections of the act In
the 18th section (Which relates to Oregon is declared that
the existing laws 10 force in that Territory under the
authority Of the provisional government established by the
people thereof shall continue TO be valid and operative therein
until three months after the meeting Of the first Territorial
Legislature o.
One Of the laws in force in the Territory is known "