Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-08-27
The Oregon Territsry--The Bali Rel
Mmg.

The oregs~ Territsry--The Ban Rel
That we are and have long been great nation
cmphatically great nation lin every sense in which
those words can be used -has long been known to
the whole civilized globe. That we have been getting
greater and greater every years. also equally rue-that
we are doomed TO increase in size in power wealth
and prosperity, until the whole vast continent OF
North and South America shall be held under one
Gubcrnatorial Supremacy Despotic, or Presidential
seems also to be equally certain. We have fought
for and obtained territory from the Bntish-we have
procured immense prairies by cruelty and roguery
from the Indans-we have obtained all Texas from
Mexico by connivance with scoundrels-we have, by
treaty and slliance, laid hold of land once belonging
TO Ia belle France-we have bought superb Savan-
nahs from spain-we have tried, and will try again.
10 get Canada from Englsnd-we are determined to
obtain the Maine lands by legisladon-and now we
advance pretty well founded and well grounded
claim upon that paradise Of this country the Oregon
country.
Sans jesting however, let us call public attention
to the importance of well understanding the value Of
the Oregon lands and our title TO them and LEI that
public instruct their next session of Con-
gress, SO to legisac to get their own claim and IT,
tie speedily allowed by England, in order that we
may take possession of the spot without further
loss Of time and thus avoid the disgracefal delays
which have taken place upon the Northeast Boun-
dairy business
The Oregon territory as every one knows, is backed
by the Rocky Mountains having for its frontispiece
the Pacific Ocean, and its north and south boundary
lines the AID and 54,h desseesof north latitude. All
that part Of North America west of the Rocky Noun
tains, and as high as AZ degrees north latitude is
claimed by Spain; and in fact it belongs to her by
virtue Of treaty entered into between that govern
Snlcnt and ours at Washington, in l8Io So far SO
1Qod that points clear. On the ether hand all that
OF North America, lying west OF the Rocky
nalns. north OF "a degrees north latitude, belongs
- Russia by virtue Of ratified treaties between that
government and those of England and this country
This therefore, leaves space of IL degrees or 72O
geographical miles, unclaimed by any one except the
United States on the one part, and III United King
dom on the other. This brings the pith of the
NATTER who Is 10 have these 720 miles of land be-
tween the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean
England wants them of course! What place or |
spot is there beneath the broad canopy of Heaven |
that Great Britain does not want, She does want /
this and she may want IL and she will have to take
it out in wanting for in this case, we feel certain that
want will De her master, or else these United States
will, which will narrow the case down to about the
same degree OF latitude.
The United States wants them! Why? Because
we have at all times afoat upon the Pacific Ocean
property 10 the value of at least clio 600 900 or sl2
O00,009 connected with the whale fisheries alone, TO
say nothing of eur fleets Of merchantmen; and this
trade of itself supports nearly 10000 seamen. THIS
circumstance connected with the Importance
absolute necessity Of having port in the Pacific
for our whalers to rest after long and dangerous
voyage-s a sufficient answer TO the question WHY
do we want the Oregon Tenitory7" But besides this
important point, look at the ncalculable ADVANTAGES
which would result to us by having our settled pos.
ssssons at and along by the mouth of the Columbia
River Imagination fails TO carry out the vastness of
tho benefts which would accrue therefrom. A most
extensive trade could be easily carried on with The
Eastern Isles the Sandwich Isles the Friendly isles.
the Feiee Isles, the Spice Isands-in short an the
islands and territories washed by the Indian and
North and South Pacific Oceans, particularly Japan,
and China. In addition TO these immense adyanta.
ges we should by possessing exclusively the Oregon
Territory to ourselves the largest and most
valuable fur trade in the world In short il is idle 10
speculate upon these points, for they mus, be evident
to every thinking mind.
Now, then for the next point Seeing that we
want II, what good grounded claim have we TO it,
One in accordance with the well known British doe.
uinc-its discovery by special expedition in 1903,
followed up by possession. This expedition succeed
ed in traversng the Rocky Mountains to the head of
the Columbia River, thence following its course to
the Pacific. Bat before this, in 1892 Capt Gray, OF
the ship Columbia, Of Boston, discovered the mouth
Of this rver from the sea- which he named after his
ship; he ascertaned the bearings of headlands, la
tudes, &C., and returning bome made his discovery |
known TO he government Great Britain, therefore |
has no claim TO this Of country on the ground Of
discovery. And an established principle in treaties
between the civilized countries OF the globe, uniform
ly cedes all rivers and their trbuisres to those who
discovered the mouth Of the same. This doctrine
therefore, fairly acted upon, would make our lin.
west Of the Rocky Mountains, the l9th degree Of
north latitude, bringing il on level with our line an
the east Of the same,
And probably this would be the most amic.ble
mode Of setling the question, as well an the most
JpsL We should have an outlet TO the Pacific from |
AZ TO 40 ~ L. and Great Britain would have the ba. |
lance from ~ TO "a N. L. We should have seven de-
grees and England FIVE, quite sufficient, TO keep M
her coanexon upon her own territory, between the
Cabadss and the Pacific.
Although, certain negotiations have been COM
-. a