Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-02-20
REMARKS OF MIR. LINN,
OF MISSOURI.

In Senate, January 6, l641-On asking
leave, in pursuance to previous notice, to
introduce bill to authorize the adoption
Of measures for the occupation and set
Element of the Territory of Oregon, and
for extending certain portions OF the
laws of the United States over the same.
Mr.. LINN said, that when this bill was
before the Senate for discussion during the
last and preceding session of Congress, his
political friends, as we'll as opponents, ear
nestIy pressed him to iorbear urging the
subject to final vote, as it might prove
embarrassing at that time in the settlement
of the long pending and important question
not at the time satisfactory, nor was he con-
vnced of the necessity Of delay, but he had
reluctantly yielded to the advice and opin-
ions of gentlemen Of undoubted patriotism.
and of great experience in public affairs.
His own opinion then was, and is now,
that it is better for the people Of this coun-
try to have all the cause, of dispute be-
tween us and Great Britain brought into q
small compass, present them for settlement
at one and the same time, and have them
promptly decided, one way or the other.
Past experience, he thought, had most con-
clusively proved that the United States
could gain nothing by delay. Our oppo-
nents will strengthen their claims by indie
csion anG apathy on our part. But he new
er expected to see these boundary cues
tons amicabIy arranged. The past history
Of the English Government afforded to him
conclusive evidence on this subject. He
believed sincerely that every member OF
the Senate then present would be number
ed with the dead before Great Britain
would consent to let go her hold upon
portion of the State of Maine by an ami
cable arrangement, unless she finally decl-
ded upon surrendering her Canadian posses.
sions. If his memory served him correctly,
England, pending the negotiations at Client,
was willing and anxious to purchase the
country now in dispute. He did not mean
to say there had been formal offer made.
but finding that such an offer would have
been indignantly repealed, they had, step
by step, made territorial encroachmentS
until she now presented to the world a
claim of great Importance, much strength
ened by time, where at first she had moth
ing more than the mere shadow OF claim.
Yes, sir, less than a shadow. The history
Of the past in this matter will be the hsto.
re- of the future. Under cover of the in
corporated Hudson Bay Company, the
English had extended their possessions,
step by step, from the confines of their Ca
madam provinces, to the borders Of Upper
California. Under pretext of an early
discovery of the Northwest coast by Sir
Francis Drake in the years 1878 and 80,
and of the discovery of the extreme north.
ern branch of the Columbia river in 806,
and many other pretended discoveries, not
necessary now to mention, they laid claim
to the Territory of Oregon.
He said he recently received a letter from
that quarter, in which it was stated that
the Hudson Bay Company was introducing
emigrants from England, by the way o
Cape Horn, and establishing them on farms
that they had erected saw mills, and car
ried on a brisk trade in lumber with TIM
Sandwich and other islands; that they haC
erected seven forts under the name o
"trading posts,' and were rapidly exten
ding their trade and influence over the In
dams, almost to the exclusion of the Amer
lean citizens and traders on both sides o
he Rocky Mountains.
BY the treaties Of 1919 and 1927, the ii
tie to the Territory Of Oregon was to b'
considered in obeyancc, and joint occupa
tons agreed upon. This delay has beer
like the Maine boundary. They have prof
ted by our supneness, and they will con
tinue to do SO unless we arouse from the lie
thargy into which we have sunk. BY al
act of Parliament, passed in the year 1872
or '2l, a portion Of the criminal law c
England had been extended over the TER
tory of Oregon, and over the vast region
east of the Rocky Mountains, up to tn
very confines of the States of Missouri IN
! Arkansas. Now, MI President, FIVE hav