a copy of all the correspondence which has taken place between this government and that of Great Britain relative to the Oregon treaty, together with the despatches and instructions forwarded to our minister, Mr. McLane: and a full and complete copy of his despatches and communications to this government on the same subject.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1846.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. Hannegan on the 16th instant; which was modified, and agreed to as follows: Resolved, That the President be requested to communicate to the Senate a copy of all the correspondence which has taken place between this government and that of Great Britain relative to the Oregon treaty, together with the despatches and instructions forwarded to our minister, Mr. McLane: and a full and complete copy of his despatches and communications to this government on the same subject, not heretofore communicated to the Senate.

Mr. Atchison submitted the following resolution for consideration:

Resolved, That the President be requested to furnish the Senate with all the information in his possession in relation to the kind and extent of claims to farms and lands of the Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, in the Territory of Oregon.

On motion by Mr. Allen,

The Senate proceeded to consider the motion of the 16th instant, to print the convention with Great Britain, and the messages and documents relating thereto: and,

On motion by Mr. Haywood,

Ordered, That it lie on the table.

On motion by Mr. Benton, that the convention with Great Britain be referred to a select committee of five members, to consider and report thereon:

On motion by Mr. Allen,

Ordered, That said motion lie on the table.

On motion by Mr. Allen,

The Senate proceeded to consider the motion of the 16th instant, to print the convention with Great Britain, and the messages and documents relating thereto: and,

On the question to agree to the amendment proposed to the motion by Mr. McDuffie:

It was determined in the negative,

S Yeas,
Nays,.

On motion by Mr. Allen, The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are,

Messrs. Archer, Benton, Berrien, Calhoun, Chalmers, Colquitt, Corwin, Davis, Dayton, Haywood, Houston, Johnson, of Louisiana, Lewis, McDuffie, Miller, Morehead, Pearce, Pennybacker, Rusk, Speight, Yulee. Those who voted in the negative are,

Messrs. Allen, Ashley, Atchison, Atherton, Bagby, Barrow, Breese, Bright, Cameron, Cass, Thomas Clayton, Crittenden, Dickinson, Dix, Evans, Fairfield, Greene, Hannegan, Jarnagin, Jenness, Johnson, of Ma

ryland, Mangum, Niles, Semple, Sevier, Simmons, Sturgeon, Turney, Upham, Webster, Westcott.

So the proposed amendment was rejected.

On the question to agree to the motion to print,

It was determined in the affirmative.

So it was

Ordered, That the convention and the message communicating the convention, together with the message of the 10th instant communicating a proposal for the adjustment of the Oregon question, and the documents accompanying the same, be printed in confidence for the use of the Senate.

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1846.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. Atchison the 17th instant; which was modified by adding thereto the following words:

And that he be requested to communicate to the Senate a copy of the act incorporating the "Puget's Sound Agricultural Company," or of the original instrument constituting that company.

On motion by Mr. Allen, to amend the said resolution, so modified, by adding thereto the following:

And that the President be requested to lay before the Senate any informa tion in his possession relative to the kind, character, number, and extent of the possessory rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, and of all British subjects who may be already in the occupation of lund or other property in the Oregon Territory south of the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude; also, the number of such British subjects, including the members, agents, and servants of said company; also, the location, number, and extent of the forts, stations, and settlements of said company south of said parallel; also, the means of attack and defence in the possession of said company, within said limits:

After debate,

It was determined in the affirmative, Yeas,

Nays,

On motion by Mr. Allen, The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are,

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Messrs. Allen, Ashley, Atchison, Atherton, Breese, Bright, Calhoun, Cameron, Cass, Chalmers, Colquitt, Corwin, Crittenden, Davis, Dayton, Dickinson, Dix, Fairfield, Hannegan, Houston, Jarnagin, Jenness, Johnson, of Maryland, Johnson, of Louisiana, McDuffie, Mangum, Miller, Niles, Pennybacker, Semple, Sevier, Simmons, Sturgeon, Westcott, Woodbridge, Yulee.

Those who voted in the negative are,

Messrs. Archer, Bagby, Berrien, Thomas Clayton, John M. Clayton, Evans, Greene, Haywood, Lewis, Morehead, Phelps, Rusk, Speight, Turney, Webster.

So the amendment was agreed to.

The resolution, as amended, was then agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That the President be requested to furnish the Senate with all the information in his possession in relation to the kind and extent of claims to farms and lands of the Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, in

the Territory of Oregon; and that he be requested to communicate to the Senate a copy of the act incorporating the Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, or of the original instrument constituting that company; and that the President be requested to lay before the Senate any information in his possession relative to the kind, character, number, and extent of the possessory rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, and of all British subjects who may be already in the occupation of land or other property in the Oregon Territory south of the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude; also, the number of such British subjects, including the members, agents, and servants of said company; also, the location, number, and extent of the forts, stations, and settlements of said company south of said parallel; also, the means of attack and defence in the possession of said company within said limits.

Ordered, That the Secretary lay the said resolution before the President of the United States.

The Senate proceeded, as in Committee of the Whole, to consider the treaty between the United States of America and her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, concluded at Washington the 15th day of June, 1846: and no amendment being made thereto, it was reported to the Senate.

Mr. McDuffie submitted the following resolution for consideration:

Resolved, (two-thirds of the Senators present concurring,) That the Senate advise and consent to the ratification of the treaty between the United States of America and her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, concluded at Washington the 15th day of June,

1846.

The Senate, by unanimous consent, proceeded to consider the said resolution.

On motion by Mr. Hannegan, to amend the said resolution by striking out all after the word "Resolved," and inserting the following in lieu thereof:

That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, advised by the Senate to offer to the government of Great Britain as a just, fair, and equitable compromise of the conflicting claims of the two governments connected with the country lying along between the Rocky mountains and the Pacific ocean, extending from the parallel of forty-two degrees to fiftyfour degrees and forty minutes north latitude, and including the islands embraced within said parallels of latitude adjacent to the coast, the fol lowing, as the fundamental provisions for a treaty between the two govern

ments:

First. The government of Great Britain shall acknowledge the right of soil and the sovereignty to exist and be with the United States to the whole territory above described, and shall abandon to the United States all claim which shall in any manner conflict with the paramount jurisdiction of the United States therein.

Second. The United States shall guaranty to the Hudson's Bay Company for twenty years from the date of such treaty the most perfect security in all their possessions, and the right to pursue their business of hunting and trapping, with all the immunities which pertain thereto, and to trade during that period with the natives, and the use during that time of the ports, rivers, and harbors within said Territory, without charge or hin drance.

Third. Within twelve months from the date of said treaty, commissioners shall be selected, by and on behalf of the respective governments, whose duty it shall be to assess at just and liberal prices the value of the property of the Hudson's Bay Company within said Territory, which amount, when ascertained, shall be paid by the United States to said company, in such manner and at such time as shall be agreed upon between the United States and Great Britain:

It was determined in the negative,Nays,

On motion by Mr. Sevier,

The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present,
Those who voted in the affirmative are,

Messrs. Atchison, Cameron, Hannegan, Semple, Sturgeon.
Those who voted in the negative are,

.

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Messrs. Archer, Ashley, Atherton, Bagby, Barrow, Benton, Berrien, Calhoun, Chalmers, Thomas Clayton, John M. Clayton, Colquitt, Corwin, Crittenden, Davis, Dayton, Dix, Evans, Greene, Haywood, Houston, Huntington, Johnson, of Maryland, Johnson, of Louisiana, Lewis, McDuffie, Mangum, Miller, Morehead, Niles, Pearce, Pennybacker, Phelps, Rusk, Sevier, Simmons, Speight, Turney, Upham, Webster, Woodbridge, Yulee.

So the proposed amendment was rejected.
On the question to agree to the resolution,

Yeas,
Nays,

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It was determined in the affirmative, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Messrs. Archer, Ashley, Bagby, Barrow, Benton, Berrien, Calhoun, Chalmers, Thomas Clayton, John M. Clayton, Colquitt, Corwin, Crittenden, Davis, Dayton, Dix, Evans, Greene, Haywood, Houston, Huntington, Johnson, of Maryland, Johnson, of Louisiana, Lewis, McDuffie, Mangum, Miller, Morehead, Niles, Pearce, Pennybacker, Phelps, Rusk, Sevier, Simmons, Speight, Turney, Upham, Webster, Woodbridge, Yulee. Those who voted in the negative are,

Messrs. Allen, Atchison, Atherton, Breese, Bright, Cameron, Cass, Dickinson, Fairfield, Hannegan, Jenness, Semple, Sturgeon, Westcott. So it was

Resolved, (two-thirds of the Senators present concurring,) That the Senate advise and consent to the ratification of the treaty between the United States of America and her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, concluded at Washington the 15th day of June, 1846.

Ordered, That the Secretary lay the said resolution before the President of the United States.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1846.

Mr. Allen submitted the following resolution for consideration:

Resolved, That the injunction of secrecy be removed from the message of the President of the 10th instant, communicating a proposal for the adjustment of the Oregon question, and the documents accompanying the same; also, from the message of the 16th instant and the treaty communicated therewith, and from the proceedings of the Senate upon and relating to the subject.

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1846.

Mr. Hannegan submitted the following resolution for consideration: Resolved, That the injunction of secrecy be forthwith removed from the treaty with Great Britain relative to the Oregon Territory, and the correspondence which accompanied it, and all the proceedings thereon, including the speeches and remarks of Senators.

THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1846.

Mr. Hannegan submitted the following resolution for consideration: Resolved, 'That the President be requested to inform the Senate if it is his intention to comply with two resolutions of the Senate, passed on the 17th ultimo, in relation to the correspondence attending the Oregon treaty, and the origin of the "Puget's Sound Agricultural Company," with the nature and extent of the company's claims and possessions in Oregon.

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1846.

The following messages were received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Walker, his secretary:

To the Senate of the United States:

I herewith transmit, in compliance with the request of the Senate in their resolution of the 17th of June, 1846, a report of the Secretary of State, together with a copy of all "the despatches and instructions" "relative to the Oregon treaty,' "forwarded to our minister, Mr. McLane," "not heretofore communicated to the Senate," including a statement of the propositions for the adjustment of the Oregon question previously made and rejected by the respective governments. This statement was furnished to Mr. McLane before his departure from the country, and is dated on the 12th July, 1845, the day on which the note was addressed by the Secre tary of State to Mr. Pakenham, offering to settle the controversy by the 49th parallel of latitude, which was rejected by that minister on the 29th July following.

The Senate will perceive that extracts from but two of Mr. McLane's "despatches and communications to this government" are transmitted; and these only because they were necessary to explain the answers given to them by the Secretary of State.

These despatches are both numerous and voluminous; and, from their confidential character, their publication, it is believed, would be highly prejudicial to the public interests.

Public considerations alone have induced me to withhold the despatches of Mr. McLane addressed to the Secretary of State. I concur with the Secretary of State in the views presented in his report, herewith transmitted, against the publication of these despatches.

Mr. McLane has performed his whole duty to his country; and I am not only willing, but anxious, that every Senator who may desire it shall have an opportunity of perusing these despatches at the Department of State. The Secretary of State has been instructed to afford every facility for this purpose.

WASHINGTON, July 21, 1846.

JAMES K. POLK.