The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-04-14

they should be mutual; otherwise, strict
Justice should be unvleldingly insisted on.
The claim of the United States to the
lands north of latitude 490, and south of
40>, is, except in SO far as that claim rests
upon the purchase of Louisiana of the
French. Just rs good as that south Of the
Columbia river, and depends upon pre-
cisely the same proofs for its establish
ment. lf England can Justly assert her
right to control one portion, she may on
the same ground claim all the rest, for
nothing was ever said or done about a di-
vision line except as a matter of compro-
mise. Our right, founded on priority Of
discovery, occupation, cession, and extern
sion by contiguily, is as good to one part
as the other, rs shall be shown when we
come to consult the authorities on which
our claim rests.
Before entering into an examination of
the Justice of our claims, brief descrip-
ton of the country will not be misplaced,
that we may ascertain whether it is worth
the trouble Of the investigation; or
whether it would not be wiser to let it re-
main as it is, beautiful wilderness, ravag-
ed of its treasures daily by the emissares
of an ovcrbearing aud avaricious foreign
monopoly, and its inhabitants cheated and
ensaved by the subjects of a government
which boasts so ostentatiousl y OF It's friend
ship for poor Africans, while it persists,
in every quarter Of its widespread em-
pire, in deeds of the darkest oppression
and actually permits, in many of its colo
MES, the slavery of lhe natives whom it
has first robbed of their lands, and made
dependent upon the cruelty of its tender
merces, not only for protection but for
existence.
Our means for preparing brief de-
scripton of Oregon, though rather limited,
are sufficiently authentic and uniform tc
insure a correct outline of its general iea-
lures and advantages, resting in every in
stance upon the testimony of personal oh
seryation. They will be found ample
enough for our present purpose.
The s,trface of Oregon is broken and
mountainous. ltpresents, however, many
extensive valleys of the finest soil in the
world, and some wlde-spreading plains
capable of being made exceedingly pro-
ductive. 1t is not much more billy than
some parts of New England, though its
mountains are on much more magnii-
cent scale. The diversified surface affords
almost every variety Of climate, from the
mild and frostless Italian winters, where
flowers bloom perennial, to the everlas
ting glaciers of It's Alpine heights and,
hence, it is suited to nearly every kind of
agricultural productions. It's streams are
innumerabe, and so rapid as to afford the
finest water power, unlimited in extent,
and never failing, being supplied by the
melting SHOWS which hang upon the
mountain tops. An abundance of the
most excellent timber grows upon the
borders of the pralrles, along the margins
of rivers, and upon the sides of the hills.
Marble, granite, clay, and coal have been
found, and some of the common minerals.
Little is known, however, except of some
parts of its surface. Future explorations
viii develope lis hidden treasures, and
active industry will fit them for the use of
that enterprislng people who will, at no.
distant day, rejoice in the occupation of
its fair and fertile eXpansc.
RiGerS.--It is along the banks Of boa
table rivers that the trapper and traflcker,
as well as the explorer in new countries,
most generally direct their course, because
there communication is less difficult.
Hitherto our knowledge Of Oregon has
been chiefly restricted to the rivers, and
the valleys and mountains contiguous.
Very little is known Of the regions more
interior. This wi MART, account for
the uniav0rabe re, suW. lyeIlers,
who have visited .e,ar Pectlng
certain portions o5 and BAL
rem as to be unnh opinion
would trayelf . .. ,rllIity Of
New York by s,r.r u. Hudson
River and then Ui a.a 81. apIain; or
Of New Engla a.Iou Z the usual
routes OF trave
The CoIun'bu . 1rr river Of the
west the lar rE. f into the Pa