Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/217

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Washington correspondence, dated March 11, 1844:

In the house, Mr. A. V. Brown, chairman for the Committee on Territories, reported a bill extending the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the courts of the Territory of Iowa south and west of said territory to the Pacific, which was referred to the committee of the whole on the state of the Union, and, together with the report, ordered to be printed. This bill extends said jurisdiction west of the Rocky Mountains, from latitude 42 S. to 54 4(X N. latitude. It gives liberal largesses in the shape of land to all citizens who may emigrate to that country. The sum of $100,000 is appropriated to build forts on the main pass to Oregon and within it, and to carry into effect the other provisions of the bill.

Washington correspondence, March 18, 1844:

Both houses of congress were employed the whole of this day's session in discussing the Oregon question. The senate, on Mr. Semple's resolution, to give notice of terminating the existing convention of joint occupation in opposition to which Messrs. Archer and Rives of Virginia spoke with much eloquence and effect; and in the house on a similar resolution, discussed at great length in committee of the whole on the state of the Union. The question in both houses remains in statu quo.

, March 19.

The orders of the day brought up the Oregon subject in the senate. Mr. Choate of Massachusetts made a brilliant speech in opposition to the resolution for giving notice to Great Britain of discontinuing the joint occupation convention. Mr. Buchanan obtained the floor in reply, but the hour being late, the senate adjourned.

Her Majesty's Government has issued orders for the immediate employment of an additional force of noncommissioned officers and men belonging to the Royal Sappers and Miners, under the Boundary Commissioner, Colonel Estercourt. This detachment, which has been selected from the companies of that corps employed on similar service in England, on account of their experience and knowledge of the peculiar duties required of them, arrived at Woolwich from different places in England, on the first instant, and are now in hourly expectation of proceeding to Liverpool, where they are to embark for America, and on landing there will be sent to the Oregon territory to join those already employed in that service. This looks warlike.

In the House of Representatives, Mr. Hughes' resolution to take