Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-03-17

Iciety: and whether they continue to be
mechanics or farmers or not, they will
adorn their station, and add an meal
culable amount to their personal COM
fort and happiness by possessing sources
Eof employment within themselves.
weekly Reformer.
OREGON TERRITORY.
The bill that provides for the occu-
patton of the Oregon Territory, which
will be found in another column Of
this paper, we sincerely hope may pass.
This subject has been too long neglect
led. The national honor and interests
require some public act, by which the
right of sovereignty shall be asserted
and exercised over our vast extent Of
country beyond the Rocky Mountains.
For Vancouver, the trading estab-
lishment Of British subjects, on the
banks Of the Oregon, had long ago as
sumed colonial aspect. The sejourn-
ers at this trading post have, for sever
al years, devoted their attention to the
cultivation of the soil, which they find
productive. In this age Of experiment
and new inventions, not only in me-
chanics, but in governments, and in
young republics, il Great Britain should
not set up claims to Oregon, by virtue
of possession, perhaps an association of
gentlemen of leisure, with some SAM
cho Panza for governor, may erect
juvenile nation towards the Pacific
Ocean, and insist that the highest peak
Of the Rocky Mountains shall be the
national boundary between them and
the United States.
The British subjects were secured
in the trade within the acknowledged
boundaries of the U. States Territory,
by treaty stipulations after the close of
the late war; but the period to which
this privilege extended has long ago
passed, and the traders at their post on
the Oregon, as well as their trappers
in the Rock Mountains, are now tres
passers in the strictest sense of the
word.
There are various considerations
which should make the measure pro-
posed in senator Inns Oregon bill,
matter of national importance. We
have reason to believe that the country
is desirable in an agricultural point Of
view; at present, its greatestimportance
is perceived in reference to the Fur
trade. The period is not distant, and
probably the next generation that is
lnatured, will see brisk interior trade
carried on by the way Of Oregon to
China. Although it is unwise to ava
ken the cupidity Of men, and incite
them to the search ofgold at distance,
when industry will secure it at home,
there cannot exist doubt that the pre-
cious metals abound to an exhaustless
extent in the Rocky Mountains, within
our boundaries. This suggestion is
derived from persoal observations
which we have made in the country
to which we refer. 1t is scarcely ne
cessary to mention the vast variety
and amount Of minerals contained
amidst the primitive rocks ofthe noun
tains, besides the precious metals, SO
remote from settlements, and at con-
siderable distance from navigable wa
ter.
Sufficient inducements exist to urge
the immediate adoption Of the mea-
sures proposed by our Senator; and we
trust Congress will not reject the bill,
unless party conflict should be so shap-
ed as to fix its blighting and spectral
influence on this, as it does on many
other wise and just propositions.
TMo. Sat. News.