National Intelligencer. (Washington [D.C.]), Vol. 47, No. 6807, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 8, 1846 Page: 4 of 4
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convention desired to be heard upon the subject of the facts
connected with it.
Mr. SEVIER observed that the bill for the government of
Oregon had nothing whatever to do with the treaty with Great
Britain regarding the boundary.
Mr. HANNEGAN said it measures were to be passed re-
lating to Oregon, as a matter of course they must expect a
debate upon that convention, which he would take this occa-
sion to say was neither more nor less than a convention for
the joint occupation of Oregon south of the forty-ninth de-
gree of latitude—a convention which had ceded to the Hud-
son’s Bay Company in perpetuity the navigation of the Co-,
lurnbia river. It was a convention for the joint occupation of
Oregon south of 49°, while before its formation we held as
far north as 54° 40'. He repeated that those who were op-
posed to the convention desired to be heard in reference to it,
in an appeal to their constituents and to the country.
Mr. SEVIER said that when the proper time arrived, he
wished to say a few things himself upon that subject. But
here was a communication, the object of which was to bring
to the attention of the Senate the propriety of organizing a
territorial government. To do this, nothing was necessary
but to follow the beaten track ; to report a bill containing the
provisions applicable to all territories. If it were deemed de-
sirable to discuss the terms of the treaty with Great Britain
upon the occasion of passing such a bill, he of course, so far
from having any objection, would desire to participate in such
discussion, provided the time would permit; but he could see
no real necessity for connecting the two subjects. A bill for
establishing a territorial government in Oregon had, in fact, been
reported some time ago—long before the question of bounda-
ry was settled. It was his intention to call up, some time this
week, perhaps to-morrow, the bill which had been reported
from the Committee on Indian Affairs for the purpose of mak-
ing better provision for the regulation of matters pertaining to
the Indian tribes in the West. That was a bill which he
thought ought to be passed.
Mr. ATCHISON said he could not see that any thing was
to be gained by referring this communication to a committee,
for it contained precisely what was stated by the President in
his message to Congress in the early part of the session.
There was a bill already reported for the establishment of a
mail route to Oregon, and one also to establish a territorial
government. If it were referred, the committee could do no
more than had been done already.
Mr. BAGBY, (without rising.) The reference can do no
harm.
Mr. BREESE said he thought the reference would do
harm, because the recommendation of the President contain-
ed in this communication had been anticipated by two distinct
bills—one for the establishment of a regular territorial govern-
ment, and another for an Indian agency and other matters
connected therewith. The reference, then, to the Committee
on Territories, if followed by the report of another bill, might
produce some confusion.
Mr. SEVIER asked why it was that gentlemen desired to
take a different course in regard to this message from that
which had been taken in regard to every other ? But the mo-
tion of the Senator from Indiana was still broader; it propos-
ed to postpone all the measures relating to Oregon until the
next session. He hoped the communication would be refer-
red, and that the committee would report a bill, in good faith,
and that it would be acted upon.
Mr. ALLEN said he hoped that all those measures which had
for their object the extension of our laws over the little rem-
nant of Oregon would be permitted to take the usual course
and be proceeded with to their final consummation. He was
disposed to give to so much of Oregon as remained to us the
benefit of our laws. This far he would not withhold his aid
from any measure which his friends might desire ; but as the
grand consummation of their labors had been the dismember-
ment of Oregon, he was also desirous that a full exposition of
the whole proceeding in relation to it should be presented to
the eyes of the whole country. It was a matter with which
he had been somewhat closely connected on account of the
position he had held, and it was one in which he had been
compelled to differ from many gentlemen for whose opinions
he had always entertained the highest respect. It was a ques-
tion the final termination of which had, in his opinion, inflict-
ed not only a large sacrifice, but deep humility upon the na-
tion at large. These were his views. He would, neverthe-
less, aid by his vote, as he had before said, in the extension of
our laws over so much of Oregon as we had left, as speedily
as possible ; for he would not make himself responsible for
exposing the little remnant of Oregon that was still ours to
the danger of ultimate separation from the United States.
Three or four weeks of intervening time after the ratification
of the treaty might produce a state of things in Oregon which
would render it impossible lor them hereafter to incorporate
that territory into the body of this Union. For these reasons
he would be compelled reluctantly to differ with his friend
from Indiana in the motion which he had made, and to offer
what assistance he was able to offer to keep together these few
fragments of our empire. He trusted that the law would be
so framed as to prevent any man who held allegiance to the
British crown from holding an acre of land in fee simple in
that territory. He wanted no British subject to possess any
rights within our territory there. He wanted to legislate the
Hudson Bay Company out of the territory, and that as spee-
dily as possible.
Mr. HANNEGAN said he would amend his motion by mov-
ing that the communication be laid upon the table and printed.
Upon this motion, Mr. SEVIER demanded the yeas and
nays, and they were ordered.
The question was subsequently divided, and the yeas and
nays being taken on the first branch, viz. to lay upon the table,
it was decided in the affirmative.
The motion to print was then agreed to without a division.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr. SEVIER, from the Committee on Indian Affairs,
reported that the committee had before them for investiga-
tion a message from the President of the United States, ac-
companied by numerous petitions, for the revision of the
Seneca treaties of New York, to relieve the Tonawanda band
of Indians from the operation of said ireaties, and stating that
their case had been made out fully and satisfactorily by the
counsel of said band of Indians ; but that the committee, from
want of time, had not been able to report at an earlier stage
of the session ; and the more particularly, as the documents
requiring their investigation were very voluminous; the
committee, therefore, asked to be discharged now, in order
that a. full examination of all the merits of the case and report
thereon might be had at the next session of Congress.
Mr. JARNAGIN, a member of the said committee, rose to
state to the Senate that it was for want of time only that a
report had not been made ; that the committee, in the multi-
plicity of its business, had not had time to fully examine the
case this session; and that, in asking to be discharged from
the consideration of these memorials, he wished it distinctly
understood that the committee had not done so from any op-
position to the views of the petitioners. He made this obser-
vation in order that the Tonawanda Indians might not be pre-
judiced by said discharge, and that a full examination and re-
port might be had at the next session.
The question was then taken on discharging the committee,
which was agreed to ; and the papers were left on file in the
Senate for future action.
Reports were then made by Mr. JOHNSON, from the
Committee on Pensions ; by Mr. NILES, from the Commit-
tee on the Post Office and Post Roads; by Mr. LEWIS,
from the Committee on Finance ; by Mr. SEMPLE, from
the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads ; which
were wholly inaudible to the Reporter.
Mr. ASHLEY, from the Committee on the Judiciary, re-
ported without amendment the joint resolution authorizing the
Secretary of War to settle with David Ames, and recom-
mending its passage.
The bill for the relief of the heirs of Robert Fulton waa
taken up, on motion of Mr. J. M. CLAYTON, and, after
considerable discussion, in which the bill was advocated by
Messrs. CLAYTON, WEBSTER, JOHNSON, of Louisi-
ana, McDUFFIE, and others, and opposed by Messrs.
ATHERTON, FAIRFIELD, BENTON, LEWIS, and
others, it was passed by a vote of 32 to 15.
On motion of Mr. EVANS, the Senate proceeded to con-
sider the bill for the relief of Mrs. McRae, widow of Colonel
McRae ; which was by unanimous consent read a third time
and passed.
On motion of Mr. McDUFFIE, the Senate proceeded to
the consideration of Executive business, and, after some time
spent therein, adjourned.
pared a bill providing for the establishment of a government in
Oregon. This bill was drawn with reference to the conven-
tion recently concluded, and would be found not to conflict
with the rights of any Power ; and he asked leave to report
it at this time, and to have it considered in connexion with the
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. McCLERN AND, from the Committee on the Public
Lands, to which was referred the bill from the Senate to sur-
render to the State ofTennessee all the title the United States
have to lands in Tennessee, south and west of the line com-
monly called the Congressional reservation line, and to release
to said State the proceeds of such of said lands as may have
been sold by the State of Tennessee, as the agent of the Unit-
ed States, reported the same without amendment.
Mr. HAMLIN moved that the bill be laid on the table ; but
withdrew it at the request of—
Mr. McCLERN AND, who went into a history to show the
title to and legislation of Congress and of the States of North
Carolina and Tennessee in relation to these lands.
Mr. DANIEL moved to lay the bill on the table. Ne-
gatived.
The bill was then read the third time and passed by yeas
and nays—88 to 52.
OREGON.
The message received yesterday from the President of the
United States was laid before the House by the Speaker and
read. - . .
It communicates a copy of the treaty with Great Britain for
the settlement of the Oregon question, and recommends that
measures be immediately taken for the establishment of a gov-
ernment in that territory; and also that liberal donations in
land be made to emigrants. We were unable to obtain a copy,
as it was necessary to send it immediately to the public printer.
Mr. DOUGLASS said, in view of the state of affairs dis-
closed by the message, the Committee on Territories had pre-
message.
Mr. DROMGOOLE said the message ought to be first dis-
posed of, and moved that it be laid on the table and printed.
This was agreed to.
Mr. DOUGLASS then reported his bill to establish a Ter-
ritorial Government in Oregon ; which was read twice.
Mr. THOMPSON, of Pennsylvania, from the minority of
the Committee on Territories, reported an amendment to the
bill, which went to exclude slavery or involuntary servitude
from the said territory, except in the punishment of crimes;
which was also committed to the Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union.
Mr. DOUGLASS asked the House forthwith to proceed to
the consideration of the bill. It contained no objectionable
feature ; and he believed it might be passed in a very few
minutes.
Many voices. “No, no; commit it.”
The bill was then committed.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a letter from the
Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a report in relation to
improvement in the lighthouse system of the United States ;
which letter was ordered to be laid on the table.
On motion of Mr. RATHBUN, the Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union was discharged from the
consideration of the bill to regulate the proceedings in the
Circuit and District Courts of the United States, and for other
purposes.
Mr. BRINKERHOFF moved an additional section to give
to the district attorney of Ohio the same compensation as the
district attorney of the southern district of New York.
Mr. RATHBUN moved an amendment to abolish the term
of the United States Circuit Court held in the city of New
York, in July annually. Agreed to.
A very large number of amendments were subsequently
moved, principally by Mr. Ratkrdx, some by Mr. Wood,
Mr. Thurman, and others—all of which were agreed to.
We had not time to make copies of them.
As there seemed to be no end to motions to amend—
Mr. HOUSTON, of Alabama, ‘moved the previous ques-
tion ; which was ordered.
And, under its operation, the bill was passed, and sent to
the Senate for concurrence.
THE NAVY APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr. McKAY moved a resolution to close all debate on the
amendments of the Senate to the navy appropriation bill in
half an hour after they shall have been again taken up in Com-
mittee of the Whole.
Mr. J. R. INGERSOLL moved to extend the time to two
hours. Negatived.
And Mr. McKay’s resolution was then adopted.
Mr. HOUSTON, of Alabama, said the veto message on
the river and harbor bill had not been ordered to be printed,
and he asked leave now to make a motion to print it.
Mr. WENTWORTH objected.
And the House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Union, (Mr. Cobb, of Georgia, in the
chair,) and resumed the consideration of the amendments of
the Senate to the navy appropriation bill.
The amendment immediately under consideration proposes
that if any appropriations in the bill shall exceed the objects
for which they are made, the surplus shall be applied towards
the construction of a dry-dock at Pensacola.
Mr. STANTON spoke some time very earnestly in favor
of keeping up and going on with the improvements at that
yard, and concluded by moving an amendment to the amend-
ment taking the appropriation for the Memphis navy yard from
its operation, and providing that, if there be any excess, it
shall be applied to the construction of a ropewalk and to the
construction of iron steamers.
Some explanatory remarks of a personal nature here took
place between Mr. CROZIER and Mr. HOUSTON.
Mr. McKAY opposed Mr. Stanton’s amendment, in a
speech which occupied about two-thirds of a minute, when the
half hour allowed for the debate ran out, and the Chairman’s
hammer brought him to his seat.
And Mr. Stanton’s amendment was rejected ; when—
Mr. S. immediately offered another to provide for pay-
ment to the corporation of Memphis for property taken by the
Government for the navy-yard at that place. Negatived.
Mr. RATHBUN moved to substitute for the aforesaid
amendment of the Senate an amendment appropriating
$100,000 for a sectional floating dry-dock and railway, &c. at
Philadelphia, and $100,000 for a similar work at Pensacola.
Lost : Ayes 58, noes 74.
Mr. TIBBATTS moved to add to the amendment the fol-
lowing : “ For the improvement of the navigation of the Ohio
river below the falls, and Mississippi river and the Arkansas
river, $240,000, and for the Ohio riverabove the falls $80,000.”
Mr. DROMGOOLE said the amendment was not in order,
as the Committee, by refusing to adopt Mr. Rathbun’s sub-
stitute, had placed the amendment beyond further amendment,
and that the vote was tantamount to a vote of concurrence.
The CHAIR sustained the objection, and ruled the amend-
ment out of order.
Mr. TIBBATTS appealed against this decision.
But the decision was sustained : Ayes 68, noes 63.
Mr. WOOD moved to add to the aforesaid amendment of
the Senate-
The CHAIR said the Committee had just decided that no
further amendment could be entertained, and that the amend-
ment was adopted ; and directed the Clerk to proceed to the
next amendment, which the Clerk read ; when—
Several remonstrated against this sideway mode of agree-
ment to an important amendment; on which the Chairman
went back.
And the question was put, directly and affirmatively, (as
it ought always to be,) on the amendment of the Senate, and
it was negatived.
Mr. WENTWORTH moved an amendment to the amend-
ments of the Senate, which we did not hear.
The CHAIR, however, ruled it out of order on the ground
of irrelevancy.
Mr. TIBBATTS moved an amendment appropriating a
pretty large sum of money for the improvement of the Ohio,
Mississippi, and Arkansas rivers, with a provision in favor of
some other objects, which has escaped our recollection.
The CHAIR ruled the amendment out of order, as upon
subjects not pertinent to the bill.
Mr. TIBBATTS appealed.
Mr. SCIIENCK said he wished to call to the recollection
of the Committee that there was the very highest Democratic
authority for the fact that the lakes mentioned in the amend-
ment were “great inland seas.”
The question was put on Mr. Tibbatts’s appeal, and the
decision was sustained.
The amendment of the Senate which authorizes the appli-
cation of $28,200 to the improvement of Fort Severn, at An-
napolis, in Maryland, and of the buildings and other im-
provements at and about the fort, (in other words, an appro-
priation for the naval school lately established,) was agreed to.
The next amendment having been read—
Mr. ROCKWELL, of Connecticut, moved to add the fol-
lowing :
“That, in lieu of the allowance of distilled spirits in the
navy ration now provided by law, each person authorized to
receive the same may elect to receive in lieu thereof six cents
per day. ”
This was agreed to : Ayes 86, noes not counted.
Mr. HAMLIN proposed an amendment to prohibit corporeal
punishment in the navy. Negatived.
The residue of the Senate’s amendments were then con-
curred in.
And the Committee of the Whole rose and reported.
And the previous question was immediately moved and
sustained, and under its operation the amendments of the
Senate were agreed to, or disagreed to, as in Committee of
the Whole.
GOVERNMENT IN OREGON.
The House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union, (Mr. Henley, of Indiana, in the
chair,) and proceeded to the consideration of the bill to estab-
lish a territorial government in Oregon, reported this day by
Mr. Douglass, from the Committee on the Territories.
The bill was read through for information, and wras then
taken up section by section.
The 1st section provides “ that from and after the passage
of the act, all that part of the territory of the United States
which lies west of the summit of the Rocky Mountains shall
be organized into and constitute a temporary government by
the name of the Territory of Oregon.”
Mr. ADAMS inquired of the chairman of the Committee
on Territories whether this bill specified boundaries to the
Oregon territory.
Mr. DOUGLASS replied that the bill declared that all the
territory belonging to the United States west of the Rocky
Mountains should be considered as the territory of Oregon.
The southern boundary was fixed by a treaty with Mexico ;
the northern boundary was fixed by a treaty with Great Bri-
tain ; the eastern boundary was declared to be the Rocky
Mountains ; the western was the Pacific ocean.
Mr. ADAMS, who spoke in a voice so exceedingly low and
feeble that little of what he said reached even to the Reporters’
honorable chairman how much of the territory west of the
Rocky Mountains we might consider as our own. The chair-
man had said that the actual boundary was defined by treaty,
and that he should have been happy had that treaty allowed
him to insert the parallel of 54° 40' as our northern boundary.
From this it would seem that the honorable chairman assumed
that 54° 40' was not now our northern boundary line. In
this Mr. A. had little doubt that the gentleman might be cor-
rect, but the printed bill stated the northern boundary of Ore-
gon to be 54° 40'. Certainly it could not pass in that form.
Mr. DOUGLASS said that the honorable gentleman from
Massachusetts labored under some misapprehension. The
printed bill he had before him, and on which he seemed to
found his remarks, was not the bill now before the committee.
The bill now under consideration declared, as he had once al-
ready stated, that all the territory belonging to the United
States west of the Rocky Mountains should constitute the ter-
ritory of Oregon.
Mr. ADAMS insisted that the boundaries ought to be dis-
tinctly enumerated and described in the bill. The gentleman
referred to a treaty to determine how much of the territory
west of the Mountains did belong to the United States.
But that treaty was no rule for the territorial government. The
Governor and Legislature of Oregon would refer to the law
creating the territory. It was from this that they would learn
what they were entitled to claim, and what they were not ;
and this was the way in which collision between the two Go-
vernments would be avoided. He hoped that the first section
of the bill would be so amended as accurately to define and
lay down the boundary.
Mr. A. heard it said that our treaty with England in rela-
tion to the Oregon territory had been communicated by the
President to Congress this morning. It might be so, but
what that treaty contained was at present known only from
rumor. We had at first had it stated in the public prints
that the treaty provided for a joint navigation of the Columbia
river only during the continuance of the charter of the Hud-
son Bay Company, but in the British papers that statement was
deciared to be erroneous, and that the treaty guarantied a
joint navigation of the Columbia as a permanent arrangement.
Now, there was a very great difference indeed between these
two statements. The first of them had given Mr. A. much
consolation, in view of the present we were making to Great
Britain of so large an amount of territory. A temporary par-
ticipation by the Hudson Bay Company of the navigation of
the Columbia was one thing, and the permanent Use of it by
all British subjects forever was quite another. For one, Mr.
A. never would have consented to the latter arrangement,
and that such was his sentiment was not unknown while the
treaty was under negotiation. He hoped that the rumor was
not true ; he hoped the grant of the navigation of the Colum-
bia was temporary only. If he should ever live (of which
God knew there was no probability) when the time allotted for
the continuance of the charter of the Hudson’s Bay Company
should expire, and proposals should then be made to extend
the right of navigation so as to make it permanent, he for one
would never consent to it. He had, at a very early period of
this session, declared his conviction of the right of the United
States to the whole of Cfregon up to 54° 40'; nor was it then
a new thing to him. He had entertained that conviction for
years. He had had the honor of being chairman to more
than one committee which had in its report laid down that
position ; and it was now his firm persuasion that we had
given to Great Britain whatever she would receive south of
that line. It was an absolute present from us. If rumor
spoke true, we had not even adhered to what gentlemen here
had very loudly proclaimed to be our fighting line ; we had
given Great Britain not only all north of 49°, but territory on
Vancover’s Island south of that parallel. If, however, such
were the provisions of the treaty, he could not gainsay
them ; and he was aware that that subject was not entirely
within the bounds of the present discussion.
Mr. PETTIT here obtained the floor to say that he wished
to know what was the opinion of the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts as to the fact of a provision of the treaty in regard to
the, navigation of the Columbia. Did the gentleman believe
that the treaty ceded to Great Britain the permanent use of
that river or not ?
Mr. ADAMS replied that he had not seen the treaty, but
according to the representation made to him the navigation
was to continue by British subjects only during the charter of
the Hudson Bay Company. The English papers and our
own differed in their statements, and as neither of them were
to be reiied on, Mr. A. was unable to answer the inquiry of
the honorable gentleman from Indiana. Here Mr. A. related
an anecdote of a lawyer who, in drawing up an instrument,
said he wished to draw it in such a form as to leave room for
a chancery suit. Possibly the treaty might be drawn like the
lawyer’s deed, and there might still be room for a sort of chan-
cery suit between us and England as to its meaning.
[Here some conversation took place between Mr. ADAMS
and Mr. OWEN as to the question whether the ceding of the
navigation of the Columbia would or would not include as a
corollary the navigation of Admiralty Inlet and Pugett Sound.
Mr. A., as the Reporter believes, taking the ground that
would, and Mr. O. that it would not. ]
He still insisted that Great Britain had not a right to one
inch of the territory north of forty nine ; that all we had ceded
to Great Britain above that line was a free gift to the British
Government, and that when the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Douglass) was called upon to say why he had not defined as
our boundary the parallel of 54° 40', for which that gentle-
man had once so valorously contended, the gentleman seem-
ed to him to look a little ashamed.
Mr. DOUGLASS admitted that he had been ashamed of
the line of 49, which was said to be established by the treaty,
until he heard the venerable gentleman from Massachusetts
voting for a bill in which 49 was laid down as our northern
boundary. When he witnessed this, he thought he might
safely follow where that gentleman led the way.
Mr. ADAMS. I voted for such a bill?
Mr. DOUGLASS. Yes, sir; you voted for it.
Mr. ADAMS. A bill reported this session ?
Mr. DOUGLASS. A bill reported this session—an Ore-
gon bill. We both voted for it. It was a bill extending the
laws of the United States over all American citizens residing
west of the Rocky Mountains.
Mr. ADAMS. Oh! I remember now ; but that was not
a bill to establish regular territorial government. The ques-
tion was then still pending. Since that time the question has
been settled, and settled against us. Mr. A. said that, humi
bating as it might be to the honorable chairman of the Terri-
torial Committee to put down in his bill the parallel of 49° as
the northern boundary of Oregon, after having said so often
that 54° 40' was the true line, and that he was ready to fight
for that, still Mr. A. insisted that it ought to be done. None
of the Territories created by this Government had ever been
established without having their boundaries distinctly defined
by law.
Mr. DOUGLASS said that he had not insetted the northern
and southern boundary of the territory; because he considered
the words in the bill as sufficiently clear and specific. Another
reason was, that he did not like to act prematurely, and to
exclude the United States, by her own legislation, from any
such benefit as the treaty might contain, in the nature of the
gentleman’s lawyer’s project for a suit in chancery. He did
not wish to give any thing now that might be considered as
legislative exposition of the treaty. The gentleman well knew
that the treaty must at last prevail, and that, whatever act we
might pass, it would be controlled by it. If, however, the
gentleman was so desirous of having the boundaries introduc-
ed into this bill, let him prepare an amendment specifying
them.
Mr. SCHENCK here obtained the floor; and signified his
desire to offer an amendment to the bill. He yielded the floor,
however, temporarily, to—
Mr. ADAMS, who was understood to say that it belonged
to the chairman of the committee to insert the boundaries in
his own bill, as a fit and necessary part of it; but, if he de-
clined to do so, and no other gentleman would do it for him,
Mr. A. would himself prepare an amendment to that effect,
and have it ready by to-morrow.
The CHAIR reminded Mr. Adams that the first section of
the bill had been passed over, and was no longer open to
amendment.
Mr. DOUGLASS suggested that that difficulty might be
gotten over if the gentleman felt great solicitude about the
seats, far less to the extremities of the hall, was understood to
say that in the printed bill before him, which he understood to
have come from the Committee on Territories, the boundaries
of Oregon were expressly specified, and its northern boundary
was there declared to be the parallel of 54° 40'. Mr. A. add-
ed that he should be happy if the honorable chairman was au-
thorized to state to him that that was now the northern boun-
dary of our possessions west of the Rocky Mountains.
Mr. DOUGLASS said that he also should have been very
happy had our treaty with Great Britain authorized him to
make that statement.
Mr. ADAMS, resuming, went on to observe that in a bill
like this, creating a government for a territory, it was ob-
viously proper that the boundaries of the territory should be
distinctly defined.
He was not aware how the change had been made between
the language of the bill, as at first reported, and that which
it contained now. He should be happy to know from the
matter. When the different sections o! the bill had been
gone
through with, the gentleman from Massachusetts could offer a
substitute consisting of a transcript of the residue of the bill,
but with the boundaries inserted.
Mr. SCHENCK said that there had been much conversa-
tion as to the boundary of this territory, and he thought this
was not the proper time to enter haphazzard on this subject,
by hastily proposing a clause defining the limits of the terri-
tory. He believed, however, with the venerable gentleman
from Massachusetts, that this ought to conform to all other
Territorial bills in distinctly defining the boundaries of the
Territory. Perhaps the boundary proposed by the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Douglass) might be sufficiently explicit if
accompanied by another amendment such as he was about to
propose. He understood the chairman to say that the bill, as
it now stood, took in all the territory belonging to the United
States west of the summit of the Rocky Mountains ; and it
was plain that, as treaties were the supreme law of the land,
the act, if thus passed, would have to be construed by the
treaty, and thus the treaty and the law together would assign
to the Territory a boundary sufficiently defined. Mr. S. said
he would leave the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Douglass)
and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Adams) to fight
out their battle either on the line of 49° or of 54° 40'. It
would be very refreshing (nor less delightful and thrilling than
the gentleman from South Carolina, Mr. Holmes, considered
the language of the veto to be) if one of the old belligerent
speeches made by gentlemen for 54 40 or a fight could now
be read from the Clerk’s table.
The amendment which Mr. S. desired to see made to this
bill, was the insertion of the word “now” before the word
“ belonging,” so that it should declare that all territory now
belonging to the United States west of the summit of the
Rocky Mountains should constitute the territory of Oregon.
This would avoid all future difficulties on the subject of Cali-
fornia. As the territory was now described, it might be un-
derstood as possessing a capacity'of expansion or contraction,
according as the President should make further cessions of
territory, or should, by our conquering army, bring in a still
larger amount. He wanted this quality in the boundaries to
be avoided. He was for taking all this elasticity out of them
and making the territory a fixed quantity. He was content,
seeing that the treaty had been made, that we should so shape
our legislation as to confine the territory to whatever by that
treaty now belonged to the United States.
Mr. S. said he had another object also in proposing this
amendment, and he would inquire of the honorable chairman
of the Committee on Military Affairs (Mr. Hahalson) what
was the meaning of statements which w'ere publicly made in
the papers concerning the organization of a regiment now en-
camped on Governor’s Island, in New York harbor, and which
was said to be raised to lake possession of California under
terms of enlistment which looked very much like a purpose of
retaining that country when it should be conquered. It was
a notorious fact that a Colonel Stevenson was now engaged in
organizing a regiment of what he believed were called military
emigrants. The Government were giving to these emigrants
a captain, lieutenants and ensigns, standards, guns, cartouch-
boxes, tents; in short, all that belonged to a military compa-
ny, in order that they might emigrate to California. Hereto-
fore all emigration that we had seen, either coming in to the
United Stales or departing from them, had been altogether vo-
luntary ; but, if the march of these people was to be an emi-
gration, it was to be an emigration under the authority of the
President of the United States. Not only were military pro-
visions made for them by the Government, but the gentleman
f.om Illinois would not deny that a body of instructions had
been drawn up and issued to these men, which were not denied
to have p oceeded from the W ar Department; so that it seemed
the President of the United States, besides being w'hat the
Constitution made him, viz. commander-in-chief of the army
and navy of the United States, was also a commander of emi=
gration. What were these instructions ? The emigrants were
told that, being supplied with arms and munitions of War from
the arsenals of the United States, they were to go into any
country which might or might not now belong to the United
States ; and if, at the time of their discharge-, it was declared
to belong to the Union, they were to remain there, and would
in that case receive as a donation the arms and equipments
under which they marched.
Mr. S.’s object, therefore, had been twofold: First, to pro-
pose that some limit should be put to the expansibility and
contractibility of this territory of Oregon ; and, secondly; to
inquire of the chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs
under what authority the President of the United States fur-
nished arms and instructions to emigrants ahd made them pro-
mises that property belonging to the United States should be
made a present to them without any provision of law ? Mr.
S. recollected that when some of the Whigs proposed to re-
ward the services of volunteers by a donation of one hundred
and sixty acres of land, or by raising their pay three dollars a
month, they were voted down. Now, he wanted to see whe-
ther this House were determined to grant a land bounty and
increase of pay only in pursuance of express provision of law;
and yet would countenance and leave wholly without censure or
rebuke the giving away of United States guns, cai'touch-boxes,
standards, tents, and munitions of war, without a shadow of au-
thority of law. The language of the instructions given to these
military emigrants (if it was not an insult to the intelligence of
the House and the country to call men “military emigrants,”
who were, to all intents and purposes, United States soldiers)
showed that in drawing them up the Secretary of War had
acted under the authority of the President of the United
States. This might be all a very regular proceeding un-
der the law which placed ten millions of dollars at the dis-
posal of the President and authorised him to raise fifty thou-
sand volunteers for the Mexican war; but the volunteers rais
ed under that act were all apportioned among the States—a
portion of them were wanted at once, and others were kept as a
reserve ; but, after all this apportionment was complete, here
was found a new and anomalous force, consisting of armed
emigrants, under the command of an officer who had either
been appointed by the President or elected, as militia officers
were chosen, by those whom he was to command. Mr. S.
insisted ;hat a proceeding like this formed a proper subject of
inquiry ; and if the few words he should say would have no
other purpose, it would at least show the people that there
one Representative who dared to call the attention of
the country to what he deemed an unlawful assumption ©f
authority.
And here let him not be misunderstood—let him not have
quoted upon him the language of old Federal newspapers,
(familiar to none but to certain gentlemen on the other sideot
the House.) If it was necessary to enlist men lor this con-
quest of California, let them be enlisted ; and if it was desira-
ble to allow them more as a compensation than others receiv-
ed, let it be given, but let this all be done only according to
law. Certainly, if the President of the United States had a
right to say to these armed emigrants, “when you are dis-
banded you shall have your gUn and your cartoUch-box; and
your knapsack and your tents, and all other equipments with
which I have furnished you, as a ddnktion,” without shadow
of authority of law, Why might he not also say to our Western
volunteers, “ I Will give you three dollars a month more pay
and 1SU acres of land at the end of the war; for, as I under-
stand the law and the constitution, it is my priviledge to give
away the property of the United States at my discretion to
every man who will enlist in this war ?”
Mr. S. said he perceived that a colleague of his (Mr. Thur-
man) was quite ready to answer, and eager to get the floor.
When he should do so, Mr. S. would expect him to explain
the difference between these cases, and to show the authority
under Which the President had acted in this matter.
Mr. S. had nothing to say about the Mexican war. He
had voted for the supply bill, although he believed that the
President had usurped authority, and deserved impeachment
for bringing the country into a state of hostility or war, if he
pleased to call it so, with Mexico. But that Was not a question
for Mr. S. to discuss. When that bill came up, notwithstand-
ing the usurpation of the President, he found our army to be
in danger, and requiring immediate relief, and although he
meant to hold this Administration to its full responsibility for
all that it had done or should do beyond its constitutional^ au-
thority, still he held it incumbent on the representatives of the
people to do whatever was necessary to bring the existing con-
test to a just and honorable conclusion. He had, therefore,
voted to give the President ten millions of dollars, and an
army, and navy, and militia, and fifty thousand volunteers,
and an increase of pay to the troops. But while we had been
pushed into this war by a dominant political majority who had
passed a bill declaring war in about the time that it would take
a smart blacksmith in Mr. S.’s county to shoe a horse, he was
not willing to see the Executive, under color of that war,
perpetrate acts utterly unknown and unprovided for either by
law or constitution,
It was manifest dial, against the genius of the Republic,
against the legacy of wise advice bequeathed to us by iis po-
litical father, against the whole power and spirit of our repub-
lican system, this present war was to be a war of conquest;
and one mode in which that conquest was to be prosecuted
was to hold out to emigrants a promise that if they should
conquer, they might hold whhjt Was flow ah enemy’s country.
Such being thP cash, Was it not well for the people’s repre-
sentatives, assembled in that hall, to say whether they would
countenance a war of such a character, and whether they
would so construct a bill that whatever territory should be
conquered beyond the mountains, should be erected info a
territorial government, and included within the expansive
boundaries of Oregon;
Mh THURMAN, of Ohio, said that he had heard many
sarcasms cast upon the Democratic party for the manner in
which they had settled the Oregon question. None felt the
point of those sarcasms more than he did ; nor would he at-
tempt the slightest apology for any of those who had been
engaged in bringing about such a consummation, Whether
they belonged to his own party of not. But he could not but
think that ‘Sarcasms of this description came with a very poor
grace from the Whig party. What had they witnessed in
that hall ? How many Whigs, since the settlement of this
treaty, had risen in this hall and stood up manfully to the
line of 54° 40' ?
The gentleman from Massachusetts had done so, he admit-
ted. He had been consistent from the first to the last; but
what Whig had followed his lead ? Unless Mr. T.’s memory
very greatly deceived him, a certain colleague of his, (Mr.
Schenck,) or a gentleman looking exceedingly like him, had
offered an amendment to the bill for notice declaring that the
Oregon question ought to be settled on the principles of com-
promise ?
Mr. SChUNCK rose to explain. He stated that the
amendment he had offered did not contain the word compro-
mise, but simply referred to negotiation. His resolution was
in these words : “That the differences existing between the
Government of the United States and the Gdveriirnent of Great
Britain in relation to the Oregon territory are stili the subject of
honorable negotiation, and ought by that means to be adjust-
ed.” He had thought so then, and he continued to think so
now, and he introduced the resolution because he believed
our title up to the parallel of 54° 40' was better than that of
Great Britain.
Mr. THURMAN said he was glad if he had mistaken his
colleague’s meaning. His colleague said that he had not of-
fered a proposition for compromise. He would ask him if he
had not voted for such a proposition 1
Mr. SCHENCK replied that he had not; but, believing
that two such nations as England and America ought not to
be plunged in mutual blood and slaughter, by the destruction
of all peaceful pursuits and of theii mutual prosperity, if it
could honorably be avoided, he had been willing to go for the
parallel of 49° ; but the proposition he had offered simply de-
clared that our difficulties might be settled by negotiation, and
ought, if possible, to be settled without war.
Mr. THURMAN said, now that his colleague had made
such a good speech in behalf of the treaty, he need not, he
presumed, wish for any better proof that it did not lie with the
Whigs to taunt the Democratic party for their settlement of
the Oregon question. The speech and the resolution of his
colleague showed plainly enough who had gone for negotia-
tion and compromise, and that they ought to be the last to
taunt their opponents on that subject.
As to what his colleague had said about the pay of the vo-
lunteers, Mr. T. had in Committee of the Whole voted to
raise their pay to $10 a month; but when the question came
into the House, being better informed, he had voted against
it, because he clearly saw that if we gave volunteers $10,
while regulars received only $7, not another regular would be
enlisted, and the two species of troops could not act together
in harmony. A gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Stew-
art) had again and again made efforts to raise the pay of vo-
lunteers alone, but never would include the regular troops ;
and when a colleague of his (Mr. Brinkerhoff) did after-
wards introduce a hill to increase the pay of both, what sort
of vote could lie get in its favor ? Not even enough to order
the yeas and nays. Not ten Whigs could he got in favor of
the bill ; and yet these gentlemen claimed to be exclusively
the friends of raising the soldier’s pay.
His colleague had said that the articles in the old Federal
papers were best recollected on the Democratic side of the
House. They were so, and good reason why gentlemen on
the other side made haste to forget them as soon as possible.
But how did this language agree with what had been said by
another of his colleagues, (Mr. Delano,) who told the House
that all those articles from the Federal papers were so thorough-
ly known and remembered in his part of the country that the
very boys could recite them.
And no w a word as to the instructions of the emigrants em-
bodied by Col. Stevenson. He presumed the gentleman
would admit that California wTas a part of Mexico ; and we
being at war with Mexico, why was it not just as proper to in-
vade California as any other part of the Mexican territory ?
Did his colleague mean to take the whole ground, and object
to the invasion of any portion of Mexico ? Did he hold inva-
sion to be unlawful in time of war ?
[Mr. Schenck signified his dissent.]
Very well; then what did he complain of > He said that
this was a War of conquest, and what was the proof ? Sim-
ply a commission to these armed emigrants, now enlisted and
taken into the pay of the United States, to be disbanded in
Mexico, should any part of that country be conquered, and to
receive their pay there instead of coming home to get it here.
Now, it might so happen that Mexico would not be able to
pay us in money the whole amount ofourdues, and we might
agree to take California, or a portion of it, in part payment.
Was his colleague opposed to an arrangement like that ? He
put it to him to say ?
[Mr. Schenck.. I will answer that when I get to he a
Senator. j
The gentleman said he would answer that question when
he got to be a Senator. No doubt his colleague richly de-
served a seat in the Senate, but he asked him whether, if Ca-
lifornia was offered, he would take it ?
[Mr. Schenck. Perhaps I might.]
The gentleman said perhaps he might, and in so saying he
surrendered the whole argument; for, if We were thus to be-
come possessed of a part of California, why might not the
President send a regiment there ?
Mr. SCHENCK said that he had addressed certain queries
to the chairman of the Military Committee, but that gentleman
not being present, his colleague had undertaken to answer for
him, but he had not yet replied to the queries put. What
Mr. S. wanted to know was, whether this regiment ot Col.
Stevenson’s did or did not constitute a part of the volunteers ?
and if not, what authority the President had to organize them >
and what law gave him authority to promise them as a uona-
tion their arms and accoutrements ?
Mr. THURMAN said he supposed they Were a part of the
fifty thousand volunteers, and, though a certain quota had
been furnished by each State, the President certainly might
take froiii one or other of the States more volunteers than had
at first been assigned to that State ; and as to the promise ol
guns and accoutrements, Mr. T. did not know what promises
had been made.
Several voices : “No such promise ever Was made.
Mr. SCHENCK said he had 3o seen it stated in the papers.
On motion of Mr. THOMPSON, of Pennsylvania, the
committee here rose for the purpose of affording him an op-
portunity to move a resolution to close the debate, as this was
the last day, he said, in which a bill originating in this House
could, by the joint rules, be sent to the Senate.
The resolution was moved limiting the further continuance
of debate to twenty minutes.
Mr. T. also moved the previous question ; and under its
Operation the resolution was adopted.
And the HoUse again resumed its session in Committee of
the Whole on the said bill to establish a territorial govern-
ment iri Oregon.
Mr. OWEN, refeiring to what had been said by Mr. Adams
as to the navigation ofthe waters of Admiralty Inlet and Pugett s
sound, stated that it was important that the nation should under-
stand that the treaty contained no such stipulation as the free
navigation of Pugett’s Sound and Admiralty Inlet by the subjects
and citizens of both nations. The treaty granted the free na-
vigation of the Columbia, ahd of that alone, and this only to
the servants Of the Hudson Bay Company. No harbor, either
in Pugett’s Sound or in Admiralty Inlet, had been ceded by the
United States. On the contrary, a free port had been ceded
to us on the south end of Vancouver’s Island. The gentle-
man from Massachusetts had asked him whether he approved
of the treaty. In reply, he should say that he should not be
ashamed to see inserted in the first section of this bill the pre-
cise boundary which the treaty prescribed. After President
Monroe had offered the latitude of 49°, find the free naviga-
tion of the Columbia, hot to the servants of the Hudson Bay
Cohlpahy alone, but to all British subjects, and, after these
same offers had been five times repeated by different Admin-
istrations, no man could doubt that, if a treaty were formed
in conformity with them, the public opinion of the world
would justify it.
Mr. CHIPMAN inquired whether the navigation of the
Columbia was by this treaty ceded in perpetuity ? Ahd if it
Was, Whether Mr. O. approved it ?
Mr. OWEN said he was not a lawyer, and therefore per-
haps might not be competent to judge of the legal construc-
tion of the treaty ; but it was his opinion that the navigation
was ceded only for a time. *
Mr. DOUGLASS said that ft was not his purpose to go into
the discussion of the Oregon question, nor as to the authority
of raising the new regiment which had been spoken of. He
would simply state that he understood ho promise had been
made to these men above or beyond what had been made to the
other volunteers.
Mr. SCHENCK said that he did not undertake to say that
these offers had been made by the official authority ol the Sec-
retary of War, but he understood that the same offers had
been made to a body of Mormons.
Mr. DOUGLASS said he had no knowledge of any such
transaction. He did not believe that any Sltch promise had
been made, and hd was authorized to state that the Committee
on Military Affairs knew nothing of it. This bill contained a
simple proposition to establish a Government west of the Rocky
Mountains. In framing it Mr. D. had had reference to the
various charters heretofore given to territorial Governments,
from that of the northwestern territory down to the recent
charter of Iowa. He found them all based on the same gene-
ral principle and all effiffdining the lame general provisions,
thoiigh with slight modifications to suit particular circumstances.
Of all these charters, the latest, that given to Iowa, was the most
perfect.
Hence Mr. D. had followed it as ft model in framing the
present bill, having made but few changes in its provisions,
and there was the greater propriety irvthis, because the peo-
ple of Orbgon Had, already formed for theriiielyes a provision-
al gokeriiriistil. Finding themselves in that distant territory
without law and without a government, and being good citi-
zens, moral and religious, and attached to our free institutions,
they had established a temporary government for themselves
until one should be prepared for them by Congress. In do-
ing this they had adopted the statutes of Iowa, with but very
slight alterations arid modijjcdttonS}. and thfejfe laws flow con-
stituted the Code practically in force beyond the mountains.
In the present bill it was provided that those laws of Oregon
should still continue till they should be altered or repealed by
the territorial government. The committee had thought that
this could be better done by their own Legislature than by
Congress: .
The justices! of peSbe anil other SubiMinate officers nofv
there were to continue in office till displaced by the appoint-
ment of successors. Thus it would be seen that the passage
of this bill would effect no sudden pr violent change in the con-
dition of the peeplb there, but woiild gradually transform the ex-
isting temporary code into a regular territorial government.
Mr. VINTON inquired whether Congress had power to re-
peal their laws ? .
Mb. DOUGLASS replied that the iisual porter whs retain-
ed in regard to Oregon as in respect to other Territories. Their
laws, provisionally passed, were to be reported to Congress,
and if not disapproved, were confirmed, and possessed full
Validity. ,
And now a single word on the subject of boundaries. Mr.
D. was sorry that the venerable gentleman from Massachu-
setts should have taken exception to the mode in which the
boundaries of the terriiory were defined by the bill. There
were palpable reasons why the bill was reported iii its present
form. At the time it was prepared the terms of the treaty
were not known ; and therefore the committee were obliged
to frame their bill in shell a manner as to conform to what
they supposed the terms of the treaty would be.
They found, too, that the House had given its sanction to
this very mode of defining the boundaries. The bill estab-
lishing a quasi Government in Oregon had, as at first report-
ed, the boundaries of the territory specifically defined, but the
bill had been recommitted, and in committee these boundaries
had been stricken out and a clause inserted such as was now
found in the bill.
• Mr. D., for his own part, would have preferred specific
bouudaries, and, being himself very desirous for the establish-
ment of the line of 54° 40', he believed that, if that line could
have been inserted in the bill, the House would have been
committed, and the Senate too ; and in that case he did not
believe that this Government would have yielded an inch.
He did accordingly struggle hard to get this clause stricken
out, and fifty-four-forty inserted, but the House were not will-
ing to do it.
[At this point the Chairman’s hammer fell, the hour for the
debate having expired. Mr. D- expressed his reluctance at
being cut offjust when he came to the most important point
of his explanation, but acquiesced in the order of the House,
and resumed his seat. ]
Mr. JACOB THOMPSON moved to add two sections td
the bill—one extending our Indian laws over the territory ;
and the other creating an additional Indian agency for that
country. Agreed to.
Upon the reading of the provision which directs “that no
one session of the Legislative Council of the Territory shall
exceed the term of sixty days, it was, on motion of Mr. W.
W. CAMPBELL, amended by adding, “and one session
only shall be held in any one year.”
Mr. Campbell also proposed an amendment restricting the
right of suffrage in the territory to citizens of the United States
only, and excluding those who shall have only declared their
intention to become citizens. Carried : Ayes 75, noes 48.
On motion of Mr. FARAN, the word “free” before the
word “white” was stricken-out, so that eveiy white male
above the age of twenty-one years may vote in the first elec-
tion, and shall be eligible to any office within said territory.
Mr. PE TTIT moved to amend so as to give the chief jus-
tice and the associate justices of the Supreme Court of the
Territory an annual salary of $2,000 each, instead of $1,500.
Negatived.
Mr. JAS. THOMPSON moved to insert the following :
“ And neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever
exist in said territory, except in the punishment of crimes.”
Agreed to : Ayes 100, noes not counted.
Mr. CUMMINS moved an amendment restricting the al-
lowance of mileage to the delegate that may be sent to Con-
gress to $2,000 a year.
The $2,000 proposition was then adopted : Ayes 80, noes
not counted.
Mr. SCHENCK moved the following proviso t
Provided, That nothing contained in this act shall be con-
strued to apply to any country or territory not now belonging
to and lying within the limits of the United States.
Negatived.
Mr. McCONNELL moved an amendment granting 160
acres of land to settlers in the territory.
Mr. McIIENRY moved an amendment granting 320 acres
of land. Negatived.
Mr. McConneli/s proposition was then rejected.
Mr. WINTHROP proposed an amendment granting to
Mrs. Martha Gray, the widow of Capt. Robert Gray, the dis-
coverer of the Columbia river, a township of land, to be lo-
cated in the Oregon Territory. Carried : ayes 83, noes 46.
The committee then rose and reported the bill with the
amendments agreed to.
The previous question was moved and ordered.
The amendments were read, and generally concurred in.
On the amendment introduced by Mr. Thompson, of Penn-
sylvania, providing that neither slavery nor involuntary servi-
tude shall evef exist hi said territory, except in the prinish-
mfent of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly con-
victed, the yeas and nays were taken and it was adopted :
Yeas 108, nays 43.
The question on Mr. Winthrop’s amendment, to grant a
township of land to Mrs. Martha Gray, was next put by yeas
and nays, and it was lost: Yeas 73, nays 77.
The amendments having been gone through with—
The bill was read the third time and passed, and sent to the
Senate for concurrence.
PERUVIAN INDEMNITY:
The House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union, (Mr. Tibbatts in the chair,) and
proceeded to the consideration of the bill to carry into effect a
convention between the United States and Peru. 1 he bill di-
rects the Attorney General to adjudicate upon claims ot citi-
zens of the United States against Peru, the liquidation and
payment of which is provided for by the cbnventioii.
Mr. MILLER proposed an amendment, so as to direct that
the expense of carrying the convention into effect shall be
paid out of the indemnity fund, instead of the Treasury of
the United States, saying he had the authority of the claim-
ants for proposing the amendment.
After a good deal of difficulty^ and confusion the amendment
was adopted.
The committee having gone through the bill—
Mr. SAWYER rose and said there was more behind this
bill than met the eye, and he went on to give a history of
the subject; He said the money had not been received froiii
the Government of Peru, nor \Vas it expected to be for ten
years to come—get the money first and provide for its distri-
bution afterwards. If this bill pass, you will be called upon
at the next session to make appropriations to pay the awards
of the Attorney General.
Mr. GARRETT DAVIS explained, and said it was
intended, if the bill passed, only to distribute the indemnity as
it might be received into the Treasury of the United States,
and in no case to pay awards from the money of the United
States. %
Mr. MILLER gave a full statement of the matter. The
instalments were to he paid within ten years, in instalments
of $30,000 a year ; three instalments were now due;
.and the Secretary of State stated to the principal claimant a
few days ago that he expected these three instalments would
bo received in the course of three months or less.
Mr. PRESTON KING, for the purpose of defeating the
hill, moved to strike out the last section.
On this motion only a very few voted in the affirmative ; a
large number in the negative ; but a quorum did not vote. (
Mr. VINTON moved that the Committee rise, with a vieifr
to discharge the Committee of the Whole from thelurther con-
sideration of the bill,and bring it into the House, where, by the
yeas and nays, members could be compelled to vote. Agreed to.
And the committee rose.
Mr. VINTON then made his motion to discharge the Com-
mittee of the Whole, which was agreed to.
And the bill was taken up in the House ahu passed;
And the House adjourned.
ALBERT TODD. C1IA8. H. HAVEN.
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW;
fob 26 St. Louis, Missouri.
TT ALU ABLE FARM FOR SALE.—Pursuant to a de-
\ eree, pronounced by the Circuit Superior Court ot Law
arid Chaneerv of Fairfax county, at the June term thereof,
1846, in the case of Albert Wren and others Us. Robert Barne
and wife and others, the undersigned commissioners will, oil
Monday, the 17th day of August next, the same being court
day, at Fairfax Court-house, offer for sale, at public auction,
to the highest bidder, that valuable farm lying near to Falls
Church, in the said county, known as “ Winter Hill.” This
farm was formerly owned by John Wren, deceased, and is now
in the possession of Mr. Walter Sewall. It contains, by a re-
cent survey, 150 acres of land, of excellent quality. A suffi-
cient portion ot it is covered with valiiitble.tiitlbeh, nnd the
balauee is arable and ready for cultivation. The middle tiffin-
pike passes through it. The buildings are comfortable and in
pretty good repair, and the location entirely healthy. Its dis-
tance from the District towns is about seven miles. _ .
Terms : Ten per cent, ofthe purchase money to be paid in
cash ; the balance in equal instalments, at six, twelve, and
eighteen months, with interest from the day of sale to be se-
ciired by bonds with good personal security: The title will be
withheld until the deterred payments are made, and the land
will be resold at the risk of the purchaser, and the cash pay-
ment,forfeited on the purchaser failing to complete hispurchase
on the sale being confirmed by the court.
Persons wishing to purchase land in this county are request-
ed to view the 'above farm, as the undersigned believe
it to be one of the most desirable places in that part ot the
fcoiinty:
Fairfax Co. Va., July 7-
e pi:
H. W. THOMAS,
W. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioners.
-TuThSTu.ts
TTALUABLE IMPROVED LAND FOR SALE.—
V Being disabled by advanced years and ill health from
ffivins* the requisite personal attention to my valuable and
highly-improved farm, lying about lour miles above Geoige-
tuwn, on the turnpike leading to Rockville, I have concluded
to offer It at jMvilffi Sale oil advantageous terms, either the
whole together, or in parcels, as ffi’af be preferred, ami the at-
tention of purchasers is accordingly invited to it. •
The farm includes upwards of 400 acres of land, with an
abundance of wood and timber on it. _ It is well watered, with
several fine springs heading on it. It is well adapted toi grass
and enough is now set to secure a yearly yield ot one hunt.re
tons, and tlie efoantsty may readily be doubled at an inconsider-
able expense. It is also well suited fof the production of grain,
or would answer admirably for garden larmS, frtim its eoMu
guity td the Georgetown and Washington markets, and theex->
cel lent road leading, to them. The soil is of a kindly quality,
and has been much improved by hie during several years past.
The buildings include an excellent family dwelling, overseer s
house, gardener’s house, barn, stabling, &c.
Terms of sale will be made liberal, with a credit exten mg
to tlifee Or foiir years; The title is perfectly good,
aug 7—\v2mif CHAS. KING, Georgetown.
ACTION__The underrig^rndThaving been Informed tiffi
i; Seth L. Cole has often d for sale, and is endeavoring W
sell, tne fractional southeast quarter of section No. J, in town-
ship 8, north of range S, east of the fourth principal meridian,
in Illinois, would inform the public that a bill m equity is now
pending, and an injunction against said Cole and others to the
Circuit Court within and for Peoria county, State ot Illinois, iff
relation to said land. •*
Since the eoramenceitiefit of the above named suit the fiu
preme Court for the State ot Illinois has decided that Jem
ir8 perf“t lit"to
Peoria, (Illinois,) March 27, 1846. ap 11—I2tcp
T) EPLY.—In answer to the above “Caution” ot Isaac
fY. Underhill, I have to state that I believe that my tit e o
the tract mentioned is good and valid, while that undei n j
Mr. U. pretends to claim was not suspected or set up until al-
ter the death of the alleged grantor, Mr. Bogardus; an ns
widow has testified that she never joined in any sue i c^nve}-
ance, and believes that no such deed was ever g1 ]en ; an uP®n
the trial ofthe case in the county it was refused by the court to
be allowed to b« rfead as evidence, as will appear by the records
of the court. 1 have no knowledge of any such decision as that
referred to in the caution. „ - .
When in Peoria, in October last, wheretall the facts, as well
as the characters of the parties concerned are well known, 1
sold an undivided halt of my right to sa.d quarter, which em-
braces a portion of that city, and I am now prepared to sell the
other halt, and exhibit my title to any desiring to purchase.
I would not have deemed it worth my while to notice any
thins coming from such a person as Mr. Underhill, had he not
thought proper to give publicity to his “ Caution” in such a
manner that it would be read by those who may not be acquaint-
ed with him or with „
ap 13—12tcp .SETH L. COLE.
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National Intelligencer. (Washington [D.C.]), Vol. 47, No. 6807, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 8, 1846, newspaper, August 8, 1846; Washington, District of Columbia. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1024683/m1/4/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .