386 DEBATES IN THE SENATE OF THE U. S. ON OREGON. [1843. 



by interfering with the treaty-making power of the executive. 

 The adjustment of the matter by negotiation with Great Britain 

 is only postponed, in order that it may be soon resumed, with a 

 prospect of accommodation ; and it is most inexpedient, at such 

 a moment, to interfere with the legitimate organ of the govern- 

 ment for such functions. Should the bill pass, it would warrant, 

 in his opinion, the exercise, by the president, of the qualified veto, 

 given to him by the constitution, for the protection of the peculiar 

 prerogative of his office. 



Mr. Archer directed his attention chiefly to what he considered 

 as the two great points presented for consideration by this bill ; 

 namely, the consistency of the provision for granting allodial 

 titles to lands in Oregon, with the stipulations of the convention 

 of 1827 ; and the general policy of accelerating the settlement 

 of that territory by the people of the United States. Upon the 

 first point he showed, by reference to the proceedings and results 

 of the several negotiations between the United States and Great 

 Britain on the subject, that the title to the territory had been the 

 only question discussed ; that no agreement on that question had 

 ever been attained ; and that the two governments, finding it im- 

 possible to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion, had, by the con- 

 vention, dissoluble at the pleasure of either, left the country 

 equally free to the people of both. The title was thus in suspense, 

 and with it were suspended all the privileges flowing therefrom, 

 except those of temporary use ; most especially was suspended 

 the right to grant a property in the soil ; and if this were not the 

 true meaning and intention of the agreement, it was vain and 

 useless. No breach of the contract on the part of Great Britain 

 had been proved ; the people of that nation had indeed gained 

 advantages in trade over the citizens of the United States : yet it 

 was not by constraint or intimidation, but by greater dexterity in 

 business, which involved no contravention of stipulations, and 

 could authorize no contravention on the other side. If the present 

 bill should become a law, the United States must be prepared to 

 maintain and execute all its provisions ; and Great Britain, though, 

 like the United States, directly interested in the continuance of 

 peace, would, if she viewed the measures in question as an in- 

 fringement of the convention, stand upon that point, when she 

 might not stand upon the value of the territory. War might be 

 the consequence ; and it was proper to consider on which side 

 the advantages would be in the contest, and what would be its 



