Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-02-14

| iheiiCanS uiu, ana lniS was violation OF
the convention. Why sir, this harmonizes
very badly with the remark of the worthy
Senator from New Hampshire, Mr.. w ood-
bury who indicated, as one i'm portant OBJ
Ject to be gained by the passage Of the bill
the civilization Of the Indians. But if we
cannot afford to sell them goods at a cheap
! rate, II surely does not show a very Chris
tain spirit. But allthis is mere words.
put 1t to the Senate whether any one in the
course of this discussion, has pu, his finger
on solitary act which indicted an inten-
ton, on the part Of Great Britain, to esta-
bl!sh for herself an exclusive occupation.
assert that, as far as have examined,
have discovered no evidence Of any such
intention.
| But there are some domestic views Of
the subject which gentlemen have overlook
ed. What do we want with this te rritorv?
What are we 10 do with il? What is to be
the consequence of our taking possession
OF 1t! What is the act we are called on
now to dog Why, it is neither more nor
less than an act of colonization, for the
first time proposed since the foundation Of
this government. If this were question
of gradual, and continuous, and progress
slve seitlement-if the territory, TO which
our citizens are invited, were really to be-
come part of this Union, it would present
very different question. But, sir, does
any man seriously suppose that any State
which can be formed at the mouth of the
Columbia river, or any Of the inhabable
parts of that territory, would ever become
one of the states Of this Union! | have
great faith-no one had much greater-in
the power of the representative principle
| to extend the sphere Of government; but
confess that, even in the most sanguine
days OF my youth, never conceived the
possibility OF embracing within the same
government, people living five thousand
miles apart. But sir, the worthy Senator
from New Hampshire Mr.. Woodbury.
seems to have discovered principle much
more potent than the representative prin-
ciple. He refers you 10 steam, as far more
potent. | should doubt very much whether
the elements or powers, or organization Of
the principles of government, will ever be
changed by steam. Steam! How ire we
to apply steam in this case Has the sem
alto: examined che character Of the coun-
try! What is the character of the coun-
try? Why, as understand it, that about
seven hundred miles this side OF the Rocky
mountains is uninhabitabIe, where rain
scarcely ever falls-a barren sandy soil.
On the other side, we have it from very
intelligent gentleman. sent to explore that
country by the State Department. that there
are three successive ridges Of mountains
extending towards the Pacific, and running
nearly parallel; which mountains are to-
tally impossible, except in certain parts,
where there were gaps or depresssions, to
be reached only by going some hundreds
Of miles out Of the direct course. Well
now, what are we to do in such a case as
this! How are you going 10 apply steam?
Have you mace any thing like an estimate
OF the cost OF u railroad running from here
to the mouth Of the Columbia? Why, the
wealth OF the Indies would be insufficient
You would have TO tunnel through noun
taIns five or six hundred miles in extent.
1t is true they have constructed a tunnel
beneath the Thames; but at a vast expen-
diture Of capital. With a bankrupt treas
ury, and depressed and suffering people,
to talk about constructnga rail road to the
western shore of this continent, manifests
a wild spirit Of adventure which never ex-
pected to hear preached in the Senate Of
the United States And is the Senate fthe
United States to be the last entrenchment
where we are to find this wild spirit Of ad-
venture which has involved this country
IN ruin! believe that the farmer, the hon.
est cultlvators of the soil, look now only to
God In his mercy, and their own labor, TO
relieve them from the wretchedness in
which the wild and visionary schemes Of
adventure have involved them.
Now it is one Of the most uncalculating
measures which was ever brought before
the Senate. For whose benefit are we
bound to pass it? Who are to go there,
along the line Of military posts, and take
possession of the only part Of the territory
fit to occuPy--that part lying upon the
seacoast, strip less than ono hundred
miles in width; for, as have already sta
ted. the rest Of the territory consists Of
mountains almost inaccessible, and low
lands which are covered with stone and
volcanic remains, where rain never falls,
except during the spring; and even on the
coast no rain falls from April to October,
and tor the remainder Of the year there is
nothing but rain. Why sir, of what use
will this be for agricultural purposes! |
would not for that purpose give pinch Of
snuff for the whole territory. wish TO God
we did not own it. | wish it was an inn
passable barrier to secure US against the
intrusion of others. This is the character
Of the country. Who are we to send therel
Do you think your honest farmers in Penn
syvania, New-York. or even Ohio or Mis-
souri,, will abandon their farms to 90 upon
any such enterprise as this2 God forbid
II any man who is to go to that country.un-
der the temptations of this bill. was nv
chlld--If he was an honest and Industrious