August 5 1846 Message Requesting Creation Oregon Territory

### About this speech James K. Polk August 05, 1846 Source (not specified) [Presidential Speeches](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches) | James K. Polk Presidency ## August 5, 1846: Message Requesting the Creation of an Oregon Territory ### Transcript To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: I communicate herewith a copy of a convention for the settlement and adjustment of the Oregon question, which was concluded in this city on the 15th day of June last between the United States and Her Britannic Majesty. This convention has since been duly ratified by the respective parties, and the ratifications were exchanged at London on the 17th day of July, 1846. It now becomes important that provision should be made by law at the earliest practicable period for the organization of a Territorial government in Oregon. It is also deemed proper that our laws regulating trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes east of the Rocky Mountains should be extended to such tribes within our territory as dwell beyond them, and that a suitable number of Indian agents should be appointed for the purpose of carrying these laws into execution. It is likewise important that mail facilities, so indispensable for the diffusion of information and for binding together the different portions of our extended Confederacy, should be afforded to our citizens west of the Rocky Mountains. There is another subject to which I desire to call your special attention. It is of great importan
ce to our country generally, and especially to our navigating and whaling interests, that the Pacific Coast, and, indeed, the whole of our territory west of the Rocky Mountains, should speedily be filled up by a hardy and patriotic population. Emigrants to that territory have many difficulties to encounter and privations to endure in their long and perilous journey, and by the time they reach their place of destination their pecuniary means are generally much reduced, if not altogether exhausted. Under these circumstances it is deemed but an act of justice that these emigrants, whilst most effectually advancing the interests and policy of the Government, should be aided by liberal grants of land. I would therefore recommend that such grants be made to actual settlers upon the terms and under the restrictions and limitations which Congress may think advisable. Previous [August 3, 1846: Veto Message Regarding Funding Internal Improvements](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/august-3-1846-veto-message-regarding-funding-internal) Next [August 7, 1846: Message Regarding Treaty with Cherokees](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/august-7-1846-message-regarding-treaty-cherokees) ### More James K. Polk speeches [View all James K. Polk speeches](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches?field_president_target_id\[11\]=11) [August 7, 1846: Message Regarding Treaty with Cherokees](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/august-7-1846-message-regarding-treaty-cherokees) transcript icon [A
ugust 8, 1846: Message Regarding Settlement with Mexico](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/august-8-1846-message-regarding-settlement-mexico) transcript icon [December 8, 1846: Second Annual Message to Congress](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/december-8-1846-second-annual-message-congress) transcript icon [December 29, 1846: Request to Increase the Size of the Army](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/december-29-1846-request-increase-size-army) transcript icon [February 13, 1847: Message Regarding the War with Mexico](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/february-13-1847-message-regarding-war-mexico) transcript icon [December 7, 1847: Third Annual Message](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/december-7-1847-third-annual-message) transcript icon [February 22, 1848: Message Regarding Treaty Of Guadelupe Hidalgo](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/february-22-1848-message-regarding-treaty-guadelupe-hidalgo) transcript icon [April 3, 1848: Message Regarding Establishment Of The French Republic](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/april-3-1848-message-regarding-establishment-french-republic) transcript icon [May 29, 1848: Message Regarding the Oregon Territory](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/may-29-1848-message-regarding-oregon-territory) transcript icon [July 4, 1848: Announcement of Peace Treaty with Mexico](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/july-4-1848-announcement-peace-treaty-mexico) transcript icon