The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-06-15
COMMUNICATIONS
FOR THE COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT.
The Oregon Question,

| his territory, WHICH oelonSs W '"V C'
ted States, lies west of the Rocky Noun
tains. Ii is bounded on the north by the
Russian possessions and British Ame'ica;
on The east by the Rocky Mountains; onI
the south by Mexico; and on the west by
the Pacific. Its south latitude or limit is
the 12d degree of north latitude, and its
north limit is al the fifty fourth degree and
Ifnr,y nine minutes of north latitude, and il
contains an era of three hundred thousand
square miles: This territory belongs tol
the United States by treaty stipulaions, and
is an important part of our territory. And
Notwithstanding the undisputed claims OF
the United States, we hear men gravely as
serling that it would be unwse and danger
Gus for this government to attempt 10 esta
blish territorial government in Oregon
Why would such measure be unwise !!
Why would it be dangerous 7 What, ua
wise and dangerous for man to improve
Ibis farm What, UNIV ise for man 10 feed
cloth and educate his children! What, IN
wise for great and powerful nation to ex
tend the blessings of civilization and law TO
al! her citizens What, dangerous TO pro.
tee, her citizens by establishing govern
men, among the n Wherein would this
be unwise and dangerous! We are told
,ha, il would be unwse because il would vi
olae treaty with Great Britain. That il
would be dangerous because it would bring
on war with that nation. There is no
treaty tina, it would violate. The treaty OF
ISIS between us and Great Britain allows
them the privilege of hunting and trailing in
Oregon equally with US, so long as this
! ,1governmcnl shall choose TO let Them. Now
this point may be made very plain by sup
posing case. Suppose man has large
plantation, and has ii all enclosed in fence,
II and a grea, part Of il cleared and divided
loft into fields, and under cultivation, and the
= part which remains in woods is also divided
Into lots. Well this individual enters into
!. treaty with neighbor 10 let him have an
e equal privilege with himself, of all the de
" csying timber, and the range for cattle, 81
long as he shall not want i, for his own use
and this too without any charge. Accord
i,lingly they both cut wood and let their stocl
range, upon one of these lots for numbe
lol years. But after a while, the owner
!, Proposes settling one of his sons on the pro
u perIy thus jointly occupied. But anolhe
il son raises the objection that il would inter
It ere with The privileges granted to neighbo
Gripe, as by building thereon you wou
violate the treaty which gave him an equo
i Irigb, to the possession, consequently h
X would commence law suit What maj
IT for single moment would listen 10 sue
= oIfoolsbness Would that man let his farm
n lIay TO accommodate his neighbor and di'
We commode himself! No reasonable ma
10 would think Of such hing; nor would
n reasonable person ask such favor. An
~, vet this is precisely the situation of III
TO-. Government in the Oregon question. Or
hl egon is part of the United States, and n
~ one doubts our title. 1t was obtained b
- honorable treaty, and twas an act Of magni
ne nimily on The part of the United States
ch allowing Great Britain the privilege
ol hunting and trading with the Indians with
~ It's limits. But what has been the policy
40. England since this favor was conferred NJ
on on her. Has she kept the treaty No.
ler When our citizens have attempted to res
me any of the crops of Oregon, they have bee
10. either directly or indirectly nhuman
or oulchered by the subjects Of Great Butal
we and this course has been pursued until n
lr. less than four or fv We hundred of our bret
We rem have been sacrificed by the Teache
III, W and domineering spirit of John Bull. Al
nee we ale told, that if this government do
/ is any thing towards establishing teIrllor
ION government in Oregon, that England W
'On consider the very act a sufficient cause |
20, a declaration Of war against The Unit
dis States, and therefore il is better TO give
mas 10 England quietly and let her have Oreg'
nm Away with such pollroonery. We ha
"", w TOO long already borne with the lnsoler
Of Great Britain, and in some lnslan
ion have submitted 10 her supcTcilious deman