The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-10-12

population Of one million.
In Africa, 250,00 square miles, with popua-
lion Of $50 900.
In Austral Assn, 500,0 900 square miles with pop
ulation Of 100 900
In Ceylon, "a ,G44 square miles, with a popula.
ton Of one million
In Gibraltar, and the islands of the Mederra
mean, 5000 square miles, with a population oil
400, 600.
In and beyond Hindooson, ,096,2l0 square
miles with population Of l45,6l2 sly.
Here, then, are colonial possessions enough TO
satisfy averice and ambition itself. But no-tha.
nation still inierposes claim TO the Oregon Terri
tory, and would willingly shut out the United
States from the Pacific Ocean.
This unjust and mpudent claim will never be
countenanced for moment by the American peo
pie. The Oregon Territory is ours by right OF dis
! covery, by occupancy, and by treaty; and not
foot oft will be surrendered oG Btain so long as
we possess strong arms, firm and patriotic hearts,
and tho necessary means to defend it.
Its possession is essential to the United States
for the control of the Indian population, in the
rear of our Western States; and its value 10 us in
a commercial point of view this early day, can
hardly be imagined, and longer delay to occupy
1t, and will be productive of lasting injury 10
the nation.
I On this Interesting and important subject, them
our negotiations with Great Britain should be i'm.
mediately renewed, and their pretended claim
should be formally relinquished.
BY the Convention with Great Britain of 1918,
il stipulated, il regards the territory of
the Stony Mountains, and on The northwest coast,
"that any other country which may be claimed by
either party SHALL with its harbors, bays,rivers, &c.
be free and open for The term Of years, to the
vessels, citizens, &c. of both powers" And by
the convention of 1877, with the same power, that
Of 1918 was infinitely extended, with permission of
either party to abrogate 1t, upon twelve months
tice
| The whole of that territory, then, is free and
open" TO the citizens of the United States
courage such settlement speedily, by numerous
and hardy population, too evident 10 require
gumen,s prove 1t. And with soil and climate
and the ultimate advantages it would secure, wi III
proper encouragement from the government, i can
moi be doubted, that such pc pulation would spec
Oily be obtained.
To that end, conditional grants might be made TO
settlers the south side Of the Columbia river, at
its mouth and near the falls; TO which the indian
title should be speedily extingu isbed; and the set
tiers nigh; be carried free of expense by the Uni
led States ard other suitable inducements held ou
to them.
The value of such population in the Oregon
Territory, in military aud commercial point o f
view; and the influence they would soon obtain o.
the Indian population if composed OF moral ~
intelligent citizens, can easily be conceived; and
such population conld not fail be secured, nj
the government should hold sufl cient induce
ments for limited period
or such procedure the part of the United
States, Great Britain would have no right to com
plain; for she has virtually acknow lodged title
to all the territory south Of the Columbia river; and
if she did complain, her complaints would be
groundless for right TO the whole territory is
undoubted.
Self defence is the first law of nature; and our
western and terri ories cannot be etfec,ually
de ended against the Indian population, without oc
| cupying that territory; and the day is not far dis
! tant, when small portion of our national troops
will be necessary in that region. f4
To doubt this, is to doubt that spirit Of rivalry
will exist between the Hudson Bay Company and
our citizens IN the fur trade or that the time will
come when that company will excite feelings of
hostility among the Indians under their control
against
We have the operation Of the English East
India Company; we have the acts of hostlli
Ties between the rival British fur companies on our
own continent. We must therefore, be as suie, as
we can be of any event which is yet TO happen,
that day is not far distant when the Hudson Bay
Company will induce their Indians to make war
Yes to exterminatc faeble population, and soil
tary traders in the Oregon Territory, unless pop
ulaon sufficiently numerous, shall he speedily
thrown into that country, backed by military
force within striking distance, to defer making the
| attempt
The great fault Of democracies is that they move
too slow
Important measures, which, if adopted in season
would prove highly beneficial; and prevent Gallant
tics and serious losses, often
and postponed until il become too late to resort to
them
A chain Of military posts from the mouth Of the
Missouri to the Rocky Mountains, is at thus mo-
ment necessary for the protection of our Western
States; and that chain should be extended without |
DELAY to the mouth of Columbia River.
An ;pcreaSe M he army will nj IN becoma nene