Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-02

cation, although well knowing the views OF the
United States still declares that 1t sees no reason
why q concilatory spirit may not enable the two
governments to overcome all obstacles TO salts
factory adjustment on the subject"
/ And the President adds:
aThere Ia however, reason to apprehend that,
with Great Britain in the actual occupation OF the
disputed territories and the treaty therefore prac
tcally null 80 far as regards rights, this inter-
national difficulty cannot long remain undetermined,
without involving in serious danger the friendly
lations which IL Is the interest well as the duty
Of both countries to cherish and preserve Ii will
afford me sincere qualification If future efforts shall
| result in the success anticipated heretofore with
| more confidence than the aspect of the case per-
| mits me now to entertain"
1t is as well the duty of the President to
recommend to the consideration of Congress
such measures as he shall judge necessaryand
expedient," as ito give Congress information
Of the state of the Union" What measures
has the President recommended on this sub
ject? None.
/ SO, then, the treaty has been in force nearly
six years Great Britain still occupies the dis
puted Territory; the treaty is practically an
nulled Great Britain refuses to admit our
construction of the treaty, which is palpable
one the President is assured Of the correct
ness of this construction he has "no conf
dence that future efforts at negotiation will re-
suit in success "and get he has nothing TO re-
commend! We would be the last to counsel
rashness the last to aid in plunging the
country into war, without adequate cause, but
Great Britain should be distinctly notified at
Il
once by order of the President, that the Clay
ton Bui,oer treaty must DO respected, and ITS
provisions complied oith, and if no satisfactory
response be forthwith returned, then Congress
should be asked to consider the propriety Of
furnishing the mems Of enforcing the treaty.
This, in our judgment, as We understand the
| case, is the plain duty of the administration.
1t is obvious to our mind that the British
ministry has trihed with our government in
| its negotiations on this subject. That minis
| try perfectly well understands the position of
this administration, its calibre, its spunk, and
is standing with the people. 1t has presumed
upon its weakness-it may eoen noac, hope to
obtain from it some new construction Of the
treaty, favorable to its aims and interests IL
Is too late. The country is now in possession
of the merits of the dispute-and all its power
and strength, in men and means, will be at
service of the government, unpopular though
it be,) to vindicate the rights or the honor of
the nation.
Is the country aware of the vast Importance
of the commercial interests and advantages Sc
cured by the Clayton-Bulwer treaty? We win
refer to these hereafter
Hon. Howell Cobb, and others.--Their
Consistency.
One of the Texas annexation resolutions
contains the following provision (which Sena-
tor Douglas is the author:
"And in such State or States as shall be formed
out of said territory north of said Missouri Com
promise line slavery involuntary serviude Eek
ccpt for crimes) shall be prohibited"
For this Messrs, Cobb, A. H. Stephens, Jno.
H. Lumpkin, Slidell Jacob Thompson, who is
now a candidate for United States Senator
from Mississippi, voted. The "Wilmot Pro
viso" only applied to Territories, but the above
| which we designate as the Douglas prohibit
ton, applies not to the Territory, but to the
estate or States;" SO that according to the
compact of annexation, all that portion Of
Texas lying north of the Missouri Compro-
mise line, which was extended through Texas,
when formed into any estate or States" the
state or States" shall be free. The same
may be organized into Territories, and while
in this embryotic condition slavery is admis'
sible within its boundaries, but so soon as it
becomes estate or States" the institution is
prohibited by the Douglas prohibition, which
| is q part Of the compact of annexation. The
inhabitants of the Territory may enjoy the
institution, but it is denied to those of State.
This is direct blow at State sovereignty
and estate rights" which these gentlemen
profess to guard and protect This Douglas
| prohibition denies to the people of State the
right or power Of framing their own constitu-
| ton; whereas the Kansas-N Nebraska bill, of
| which he is also the author, is based upon the
principle that the people (not residents) of the
Territories not only have the right but the
power also to establish their own institutions
Here are. two principles, directly antagonistic
to each other--of both Senator Douglas is the
author-and for the Douglas prohibition these
gentlemen voted, and now all are advocates of
the "squatter sovereignty principle
In 1S4S, during the first session of the 30th
Congress, Oregon was organized into Terri
tory. The law contains the slavery prohibi-
ton; and for this bill Messrs. Howell Cobb,
Douglas, George S. Houston, Geo. w. Jones,
49, Reed, jacob Thompson, and Lumpkin
voted These are all administration men, and
are now in Congress excepting Mr.. Thompson,
who is a candidate for the Senate and bases
his claims for the seat upon the ground Of his