The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-02-29

! sand aggrasations will come that war
which we vainly dream we can escape by
| temporzng.
When we do make move, let it be an
effectual one. 1t is in vain to cry peace
peace when there is no peace. 1t is worse
than idle to patch up hollow truce. That
which public opinion demands-that which
these United States must have sooner or
later-let us claim now, before blood has
flowed; now, before, in the excitment of an
actual rupture, both powers lose sight, as
there is TOO much reason TO fear they may,
of cool and rational judgement
We know that we must have the valley
ofthe Columbia, north as wellas south of the
rlver. No thinking man doubts that. We
know that, ere long we must not only ex-
tend Or jurisdiction over that valley, bat also
provide homes for its emigrants, by grants of
lands 10 actual settlers. A bill to that effect
passed the Senate at its last session, and
tailed in the House under an adverse report,
made by lhe gentleman from Massachusetts
Mr.. Adams, as chairman of the Committee
on Foreign Affairs. A bill of similar char
acter is now pending in this Householder
in the Senate. Such bill is not unlike 10
become a law this very session. 1t surely
willin the course of ayear or two.
Yet our right to pass such bill, with
land clause attached-a clause now necessa-
ry aad important in any Oregon bill-has
been questioned. Though il be not d.
ectinfaction of the treaty, which declares
Oregon Stree and openh to the subjects of
England equally with the citizens of the
United States il affords ground for an argu-
ment ofsome plausibiity that it is.
This should not be. Let US not ieopard1
a title clear and unquestionable in itself, by
proceeding 10 assert il after dubious or ques-
tionable manner Let every step we take
in such matter as this be not Unsuitable !
only, but above all suspicion. We must not
go to war with England with the right, ev-
Ell by imputation, on her side. With the
right clearly on ours, she dare not got war
with us.
Let US, then, begin atthe beginning. Let
us pass the resolution now. Before we
promise possession, even in the future, to
others, let us ourselves take measure fully to
obtain it, The treaty provides the mode
Let us strictly conform TO its provisions
That done, we have satisfied every require
ment. We have silenced every scruple-
And we may then proceed, untrammeled by
restricting conventions, to lay The founda-
1 sfafassq Paslas oflree and
to perpetuate those noble institutions that
have given us the peace and prosperity we
enjoy.
Thus regarded, the subject assumes
a breadth and importance that carries it far !
beyond any mere boundary dispute.
1t becomes a question of principles, rather
than ofterritory. 1t is not so much whether
Oregon shall be ours or Eng glands as wheth-
er the blessing of selegovernment shall or
shall not be granted to the infant county,
Oregon is not possession only; it is a trust
AS it is the duty of parent to neg .ect MOTH
ing that shall secure the welfare and happi-
ness of those to whom he has impaired be-
ing, so are we bound TO secure and maintain,
for this young territory, every advantage, So
cial and political, which tits within our pow
sr to secure for her. IF this land be truly
ours, we have no right TO expose it, by de-
sertion, to colonial servitude or revolutionary i
war Millions will hereafter inhabt the
yorlt--in afterages-we must render an ac-
count of our guardianship. Let US see TO
i, that we have good account 10 render
Now, while yet we may, let us assert, for
these future Pacific States, that station
among the powers of the earth to which the
laws ofnaturs and the progress of improve
ment enttle them. Let us watch over their
infancy. Ere long they will
oin their elder citizens of the confederacy;
and ,thoughjprairie and forest and mountain in
eryene, they will become one with US, not in
political bonds only, but in sentiment and
IN habit, in feeling and in creed.
These are, very briefly stated, the reasons
which induce me, notwithstanding the adj
verse report Of the committee, still TO maintain
that, as a measure both of policy and JUS I
ice, the joint resolution which terminates
Great Britain's occupancy of Oregon, ought
1ow to pass.
THE SoLILooUIsING MEMBER is another
from the good old State of Con- i.
lecticut. thus described by correspondent