Arkansas intelligencer., 1843-03-11
FROM our correspondent at Wslngton.

Messrs. Editors:-ln my lay1 gave you some
hasty remarks concerning yatters and things
here, and promised some furter views in connec-
lion with Indian affairs. W did not say, cer-
tainly intended to say thai the present arrange
ment of the Indian department is the very worst
that could be, both for fe United States and the
Indians themselves; sd ! hnted that the proposed
settlement of the Oreon Territory offered most
favourable opportusty for placing our Indian ,e-
latons on an entity new basis. feel therefore
called upon to dscuss, somewhat, the subject of
the settlement Oregon. have been at good
deal of painsJo find out the locality and history
of that county, as well as the right of the United
States tc tase possession Of it.
The Oegon Territory, as claimed by the Uni.
ted Slats, extends from the Rocky Mountains,
west >, the Pacific Ocean, and from the .42nd
degree of north latitude, to the parallel Of 81 de-
grees and 40 minutes. 1t contains within these
limits some six hundred thousand square miles
al extent of territory greater than one fourth of
the whole area of the U. States. Togive some idea
OF the immense country thus embraced, it is only
necessary to state, that it exceeds, in size, the uni
ted territory of the nineteen States of Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Is-
land, Connecticut, New York. New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Ala.
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana. and Tennessee
II possesses rich and fertile soil, and an acreea-
bic climate; is well wugered by noble streams,
and has coast on the Pacific Ocean of near
ly one thousand miles in length--aboul equal to
the Atlantis: coast from Boston to Savannah
From the 42nd to the 49th parallel Of latitude,
tho claim of the United States does not admit of
question and by treaty with Russia, the
northern line is fixed at 81 degrees and 40 min.
utes. so far as that power is concerned.
Several of the Senators who have opposed the
settlement of Oregon, have nevertheless contend
ed that we have an undoubted right TO the last
mentioned boundary line. But they have oppos-
ed it as being, in their opinions impoIitc to offer
our citizens Inducements to 90 so far from home.
Some of these getlemen, Mr.. McDuffie among tho
rest, seem to think that the country is either alto
gclher mountainous or altogether barren, so that
no one could live on it. Those gentlemen ought
to recollect that ignorance once made the very
same objections TO the whole Louisiana Territory,
including the States of Arkansas, and Missouri /;
and when the proposition was made to remove the
indians from the interior of the States. to their
present belt of country west Of these States. the
stay at homo part of the country were shocked at
the inhumanity of such a proposition.
1t is easy for those living on old broom sedge
fields, like MIR. McDsffis, to imagine that be-
cause country has in some parts of it, no timber
it is therefore worthless. Such gentlemen ought
to visit those States which were twenty years ago
as great a wilderness as Oregon; nor indeed would
visit to the salt plains do much harm to their
book leaning. The best informed are Of the
opinion, that the Territory of Oregon would sup
port quite as heavy population as all the New
England. Middle, and Southern States. And he
reasons badly from cause to effect, who cannot
anticipate the DAY, when quite as prosperous cities
shall spring up along the Pacific as Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, and
Savannah.
At the ame time, in the present embarrassed
state OF our Treasury, there difficulties in the
way of al once settling the immense Territory
OF Oregon. Among the greatest inconvenences
may be reckoned that of extending our settle.
ments 10 point where they would have but hi,
tie feeling in common with other portions of the
Union. The arguments for and against may gen
orally be found in the speeches Of the Senators
(many of whom by the way understand very lit
tie about ~ during the present session of Con
gress.
come now to presen, view of the subec
which have not seen publicly assumed although
ii has been good deal talked of in private cir
cles here.
It's to propose to relieve our Government, Of al
their embarrassing relations with the Indian tribes
on our western borders, by exchanging the Ore
gon n'Territory for the immense tract of countr,
at present occupied by them, extending the Who'll,
length of Arkansas and Missouri, and west as fa
as the Zee simple claim of the United States Go
vernment extends. This may seem like start
ling proposition ut first; but there may be founc
many arguments in its favor. Among the frs
advantages to the United States may be reckonet
those of having her Gordon of territorial settle