Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-07-29
DECLARATION OF THE OREGON
CONVENTION, ASSEMBLED AT
CINCINNATI.
ADOPTED JULY ), lS43.


A declaration Of citizens Of tie Mississippi
Valley, assembled in Convention at Gin
cinnati, July 5th, 1S43. for the purpose of
adopting such measures as mag iuduce the
immediate occupation Of the Oregon Ter
ritory. By the army and lars of the United
States Of North America.
We, the undersigned, citizens of the
Mississippi valley, do hereby declare TO our
fellow citizens Of the whole Republic, that
in urging forward measures for the imme-
diate occupation of the Oregon Territory
and the North east coast of the Pacific O.
cean, from 42dg to 54dg 4Om north lati-
tude--we are but performing duty we
owe to ourselves, to the Republic-to the
commercial nations of the world--to pos
terity and to the people of Great Britain
and Ireland, not as we believe to be bene-
fitted by the further extension of her en-
pire.
Duty 10 ourselves requires that we
should urge immediate occupation of the
Oregon, not only for the increase and ex-
tension of the west, but for the security
of our peace and safety, perpetually threat
ened by the savage tribes of the northwest.
That this duty is required of US as due TO
the whole republican, parts Of which may
not appreciate, as they seem not to have ap-
preciated the value of the territory in ques-
ton and its political importance to the hon
or, prosperity and power of the Union, to
say nothing Of our commercial interests
and naval predomnanCe. threatened as they
are with injury and diminution, should the
north east coasts of the Pacific ocean pass
int Of
That, as an independent member Of the
great family of nations. it is due from us
10 the whole commercial world, that the
ports on both coasts of this continent
should be held by liberal government. a.
BILE and willing to extend and facilitate that
social and commercial intercourse which an
all-wise Providence has made necessary for
the intellectual improvement, the social
happiness and moral culture of the human
race.
That we owe the entire and absolute oc-
cupation of the Oregon to that posterity
which without such occupation by the citi-
zenS, laws and free institutions of our great
Republic, could not profit or make availa-
bic to themselves or to the world the i'm
portant considerations above set forth.
That, however indignant at the avarice,
pride and ambition of Great Britain so fire.
quently. lawlessly and so lately evinced, we
yet believe that it is for the benefit of all
civilized nations that she should fulfil a le-
climate destiny; but. that she should be
checked in her career of aggression with
IMMUNITY and dominion without right.
That for the independence and neutrality
Of the Western coasts of the American
Continents. and the Islands of the Pacific
ocean, it is important that she should be re-
strained in the further extension of her
power on these coasts; and in the middle
and eastern portion Of that ocean.
That so far as regards our right to the
territory in question, we are assured of
their perfect integrity-based as they are
on discovery and ex ploration by our own
citizens and Government, and on purchase
and cession from those powers having the
pretence or the reality of any right to the
same.
That beyond these rights go perfectly cS-
tabIished, we would fee compelled to retain
the whole territory in accordance with
Mr.. Monroe's universally approved decla-
ration of lS23-THAT THE AMERI-
CAN CONTINENTS WERE NOT
THENCEFORTH TO BE CONSlD-
Erred SUBJECTS FOR FUTURE
COLONIZATION BY ANY FOREIGN
POWER.
Influenced by these reasons and consid-
erations so important to the West and the
whole Repubic--to liberty-to justice and
free Government we do subscribe our
names to this declaration with the firm, Just
and matured determination never to cease
our exertions till its intentions and princi,
pies are perfected and the North American