Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-09-24
REMARKS OF MR.. LINN,


In Senate of the United States August 81,
IS42-Concerning the occupation Of the
Oregon Territory.
Mr.. LINN said that he was instructed by
the select committee on the Territory OF
Oregon to ask to be discharged from the
further consideration OF the memorials
which he held ia his hand; and before put
ling the question, he asked the attention of
the Senate TO few remarks, which he felt
was his imperative dutY to m axe upon this
interesting subject Of the Territy Of Ore
gon. Besides this bundle Of memorials
praying Congress to take steps TO assert our
title to the Territory, AMI to enact meas
ures to encourage emigration, he said the
Legislatures of two or three States had pas
sed resolutions asking Congress to assert
our rights to the country we claimed on the
Western ocean, and to take such other
shops as The urgency Of the case seemed to
demand.
He had also in his possession hundreds up.
on hundreds Of letters, from every quarter
Of the Union making inquiries as TO what
was doing, and what was likely to be done
by Congr ess, relative to this long agitated
and long deferred question. 1t was due +"
his correspondents, his constituents, and TO
the country generally, to let them know
the present POSTURE OF this business
here. You will recoIlect Mr.. President.
that at very early day in this session ]
asked leave OF the Senate to introduce bill
TO authorize the adoption OF measures iol
the occupation and seItleme Mt of the Ter
ritory of Oregon; for extending certain
portions Of the laws of the Unned States
over the same; and for other purposes.
The preamble Of The Till reads thus:
"Whereas the title Of the United States to
the Territory Of Oregon is certain and will
not be abandoned -
This declaration was important 10 the Cit
liens of the United States who reside in
the Territory-now amounting to fifteen
hundred or two thousand persons. To ma
ny on the road to the Territory, and thou.
sands who were preparing to move 10 thai
region, il was an assurance that, although
upon the verge. the EXTREMIST verge, of this
republic the Government of the United
States would not abandon them 10 any
foreign power.
The paragraph Of the bill authorized the
Presiden, of The United States ''to cause To-
be erected at suitable places md distances
line of military posts, from some point on
the Missouri river into The best pastor enter
ing the valley of the Oregon; and, also. at or
naer The mouth Of the Columbia river.
The establishment OF such line OF posts
had been thought of by myself for several
years past-had been recommended by Mr.
Poinselt; by the President OF the United
States in his message at the opening OF the
present session; and also by the secretary
Of War. The necessity OF the establish.
ment of military post at the mouth Of the
hao IF al
most casual observer. 1t was important
as a nucleus around which our infant col
enies could be firmly established; but.
above all. as a naval station, where our vast
cemmerce in the Pacific ocean could take
shelter ia time OF war, and refit in time OF
peace.
The m;tary line posts from the Missouri
river TO the Rocky Mountains would serve
a tri pie purpose, protection TO the frontiers OF
Missouri and Arkansas; protection 10 the
Mexican trade, and the fur-lrade; and afford
assistance to emigrants on their route to the
Territory Of Oregon.
For the purpose of ascertalnng the best
points for these posts, Lieutenant Fremont
had been despatched by the War Depart
menl early in ihe summer hose return isno,
expected before the month OF Novem Der
gentleman, we expect much valuable and
interesting information relating to the val
lev of the river Platte; which river
empties into the Missouri river, and
whose sources almost interlock with the
branches of the Columbia river. in the south
ern passes OF the Rocky Mountains.
The next paragraph Of this bill provides
",hat six hundred and forty acres of land
shall be granted TO every white male inhab-
liant of said Territory, of the age of eigh-
teen years and upwards, who shall cultivate
and use the same for five consecutive years.
or to his heir or heirs-at-law, If such there
be-"
This, Mr.. L. said, would be nothing more
than mere liberal donation to the early
pioneers of the desert. 1t was The princi
pIe upon which France and Span, and IN
deed every other European nation VIII"
had made settlements upon this continent.
had proceeded. 1t was upon this iounda'
lion the sold thirteen" had been built up.
md upon which policy they were enabled
to contend successfully with the mgh'iest
power in the world,