The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-28

train, with all Of liz sppurtsnADcss " 90 great ds
lance, and over 50 many OBSTACLES would be insupe
rsblo.
Having now made good my first positioa---thst In.
attempt at present, 70 assert aud msinlsin our cx
elusive claim II the terroty, against The adverse
claim Of Great Britain, must prove uIsucce ssul il
she resisted, il now remains u inquire whether she
/, would resist. Aud here lot me say, whatever might
be the doubts Of others, surely they who have, il
this discussion insisted strongly her power he,
jealousy, and her determination " hold the territory
cannot doubt that she would resist. It. indeed pro
vok,ng language excite her to resistance or II
half hch has been said Of her hostile disposition be
true, SIC not only would resist, but would gladl,
seize favorable occasion 10 do SO, while we are
comparatively weak, and she strong in that
quarter However unfavoIabIe the time might be
for US for her It would be the most propitious Her
vast resources and military power IN the East are
liberated, and at her disposal, to be directed 10 as
sert and maintain her exclusive claim TO the terrific.
~ against ours she should determine TO follow our
example, in this bill should pass. Even |, who
believe that the present ministry disposed to peace;
that the recent mission to this country originated in
tho spirit oil peace and thai Sir Robert Peel has
exhibited great wisdom and Observation-Disclosures
in tho midst Of splendid success and therefore to be
tr,Steddo not doubt she would resist il we should
adopt this measure. We must not forget, as clear
as believe our title to be- that the right TO the
| territory in dispute between the two countries
and that, as certain as We regard right to be- she
| regards hers as not less so. II is a ease of adj.
verse conflicting claims, and we may be assured, If
we undertake to assert our exclusive right she will
oppose US BY asserting hers and if the appeal should
be 10 force, to decide between US at present the re
suit would be inevitable territory would be lost
to Indeed, this is incontestabe, that no one
venturcd to deny it and there is no hazard in as
serting that no one will who understands the sub
ject and does not choose to have the soundness of
his judgment questioned.
But il may DO asked, What them shall we aban.
don our claim to the territory | answer, No.
an utterly opposed TO that but, bad as that would
be, it would not be much to adopt rash and
precpitate measure, which after great sacrifices,
would finally end in its loss. But am opposed to
both My object is to preserve, and not to lose, the
territory l do not agree with my eloquent and
able colleague that ii rs worthless. He has under
rated it, both as to soil and climate. 1t contains a
vast deal Of land is true that is barren and worth
les but not little that is highly productive To
that may be added its commercial advantages, which
will, in time, prove to be great. We must not over
look the important events to which have alluded as
having recently occurred in the eastern portion
Asia As great as they are, they but the begin
ming Of series of similar character, which must
follow at no distant day. What has taken place in
China, will, in few years, be followed in Japan,
and all the eastern portions of that continent. Their
ports, like the Chinese, will be opened and the
whole Of that large portion OF Asia, containing
ly half of the population and wealth of the globe,
will be thrown open to the commerce OF .he word,
and be placed within the pales Of European and Ame-
rican intercourse and civilization. A vast market
will be created, and mighty impulse will be given
10 commerce. No small portion Of the share that
would fall to us with this populous and industrious
portion of the globe, is destined to pass through the
ports Of the Oregon Territory to the valley of the
Mississippi instead of taking the circuitous and long
voyage round Cape Horn the still longer, round
the Cape Of Good Hope. 1t is mainly because
place this high estimate on It's prospective vaIue that
am solicitous to preserve it; and so adverse to
this bill, or any other precpitate measure which
might terminate its loss. Ii thought less of its
value if regarded title less clear my opposi
ton would be less decided.
Having now, trust, satisfactorily shown that, il
we should now attempt to assert and maintain our
exclusive right 10 the territory against the adverse
claim OF Great Britain, she would resist and that #
she resisted attempt would be unsuccessful, and
the terrilery be los,-the question presents itself
How shall we preserve it,
There is only one means by which it can be but
that, fortunately is the most powerful of ail--ims
Time is acting for us; and, If we shall have the wis
dom TO trust its operation, it will assert and main
tain right with resstless force without costing
cent Of money, drop Of blood There is often in
the affairs OF government efficiency and wisdom
IN non-acton, than In action. All want to effect
our object IN this case, "a wise and mastery ina
tivty" Our population is rolling towards the shores
OF the Pacific with an impetus greater than what we
III Is one Oh uose forward movements which
leaves anticipation behind. In the period of thirty
two years which have elapsed since took nv seat In
the other House, the Indian frontier has recedcd
thousand miles TO the West At that time our popu.
la,ion was much less than half what ii is now. II
was then increasing at the rate Of about quarter Of
million annually II Is now not less than six hun
dred thousand and still increasing at the rate OF
something more than three per cent compound an
nualy. At that rate, II will reach the ,earl,
increase of million II to this be added, that the
region west Of Arkansas and The State of Missouri
and south OF the Missouri river is occupied by half
civilized tribes, who have their lands secured 10 them
by treaty, (and which will prevent the spread Of pop
ulation IN that direction and that this great and IN
creasing tide will be forced 10 take the comparatyel,
narrow channel 10 the north OF that river aud south OF
our northern boundary some conception may be form
ed of the strength with which IA, current will run
In that direction, and how IL will reach the EAST
ern gorges Of the Rocky Mountains / say some
conception for feel assured that the reality viii
outrun the anticipation. In illustration 1 will re.
peat what stated when first add essed the Senate
on this subject. As wise and experienced ~ wa.
President Monroe-as much he had witnessed OF
the growth Of our country in hi. time 30 inadequate
his conception Of its rapidly that near the close
OF his Administration, in the year 1924 he proposed
TO colonze the Indians Of New York. aud those NORTH
Of the Ohio river and east Of the Mississippi in what
Is now called the Wisconsin Territory under the
impression that twas a portion Of our territory So
remote, that they would disturbed by our incress-
ing population fora long time come. II now but Il
years since and already, in that short period il is
great and hourishing Territory, ready 10 knock al
our door for admission one Of the sovereign mem
ber OF The Union. But what is still more striking
what Is really wonderful and almost miraculous, is
tina, another territory (owa) still further west DE
yoDd the Mississippi, has sprung up, as Il by magic
and has already outstripped Wisconsin, and ma,
knock for entrance before she IS prepared to do so
Such Is the wonderful growth Of population, which
has attained the number ours has and is stl yearl,
increasing at the compound rate 1t and such the
impetus with which II IS forcing IFS way, resstlessly
westward. II will soonfar than anticips ted
reach the Rocky Mountains, and be ready TO pour
into the Oregon Territory, when II will come into
possession without resistance struggle or II there
should be resistance, 1t would be feeble and inefec.
tual W. uouid Gsn be as much stronger there, com