The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-11-05


point of wealth and population A track
less wilderness its only inhabitants sa
wage men, and savage beasts. No tower
ing spires Of beautiful cities and villages,
or other trace of civilization, then relieved
the eye Of the lone wanderer. Then the
red man roamed forth, in all the pride o.
nature, sole lord of the forest. The sill.
very bosom Of its beautiful rivers, wa.
then unratiied, except by the occasional
paddle Of the rude canoe, or the gentle
breath of 4 transient breeze. Now, how
changed The rays of the star Of empire
have ilumjned her borders, and worked
the work Of magic The result | need
not portray--it is well known. As with
Ohio, 50 with Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Fifty
years has done the seeming work OF
ages.
But my design, at the commencement
OF this article, was to present to the pub
lie some facts in relation to that vast aud
important extent Of country, belonging 10
the United States, bordering on the Paci-
iic Ocean, and known rs the Oregon Ter
rtory. Under this appellation is includ-
ed all that portion of the country west OF
the Rocky Mountains, between parallels
OF ~ and 19-or, more properly, 81
north latitude.
Our CLAIMS TO THE VERRiToRV.-Thc
superiority Of our claims to this territory,
over those Of great Britain, is, in fact, in
controyerlibIe. 1t is based upon four
plain and distinct premises, viz;
/. Disc0ucyY.-Vhis teritory was dis
covered by an American navigator, in the
year 1902, who sailed several miles up
the mouth Of the principal river, and nam
ed it the "C0lumbia," after the name of
his ship. 1t was also discovered by a
party of American citizens, who proceed
ed over land to the coast Of the Pacific
Ocean, about the year 1901. These dis
covcrles were made prior to any claimed
to have been made by the British govern
ment. Taking the foregoing into cous-
deratlon, with the discoveries made by the
Spanish in the 10th century, it plainly
prccIudes all prctensions of the latter up
on this head.
.. Cc5Si0R.-Thc claims Of Spain TO
this territory, On the ground of discovery,
were transferred to France, and by the
latter to the United States government, in
the cession Of Louisiana, with which all
territories belonging to France, north of
latitude ~, were included.
3. Rciiaquishmem by Treay,--In the
treaty concluded between the L. States
and Great Britain, at London, in 1918,
it was agreed, by the two governments,
that all territories, south ola line running
due west from the northermost extremity
of the Lake of the Woods, to the Pacific
Ocean, which marks the 49th degree of
north latitude, should remain ain ;iaiu
qlto n3fe Jeltta'," by which Great Britain
virtually relinquishcd all her assumed
right and title to the same.
4. Possession aai SeNicmcHa.-It is a
well attes:ed fact, that this territory was
not only coded TO our government as above
stated, but was actually settled by citizens
of the United States as early as 1910,
which was the first white settlement made
within lis confines.
CLImArE.-The climate of this terrific
~ is remarkable for its healihincss, and is
much more temperate than that of states
Of the same latitude, bordering on the At
lantic. The winters are so mild that cat
tie and horses can subsist in the sevcrest
weather, and even thrive, without being
housed or stabilized.
FACE OF THE CoUNTRY.--The face of
the country, though somewhat mountain
Gus, is amply diversified with plains and
uplands. The vallies Of the Willamette,
Umqua, and Columbia rivers are beauli-
fully arrayed with fertile prairies and
woodlands, and intersected by abundant
lateral streams, presenting most inviting
facilities for manufacturers. The whole
territory is remarkably well watcrcd from
the almost nnumerabIe rivers which, ris-
ing in the Rocky Mountains, force their
way into the Pacific.
SOIL AND PRODucTIoNs.-Vhc soil is
generally productive, and, in parts, ex-
trcmely fertile: being favorable TO the
production Of all the varieties of temper
ate, and even some of the fruits of the tor
rid zone. A late writer in llovcy's Ma
gazine Of Horticulture, has furnished :
list of some Of the fruits spontaneously
produced in the vaIies Of this tcartory,
to whom am indebted for the following
among the various fruits, found ii
this region, existing in a native are,
"SolH beTy.-A sweet and pIeasan
fruit, of dark purple color, and abou
the size Of grape.
"Sergice jerry,-Tho fruit is Of thu
size Of the thorn apple; IS black whel
fully ripe, and pleasantly sweet, ike thu
whortleberry
.sD1,nLtn0 a snprips of bush Gran