Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-06-21
THE OREGON QUESTION.

NO. v.
by looking al the map an idea NAV be form.
eo OF The extent of the territory, HAVING i,
view the following as It's boundaries az Given
by Lieut.. Wilkes, u s. Navy commando, If
The exploring expedition. He says; "On The
east II has the range Of the Rocky Mountains
along lis whole extent: on the south those Of
the klames range, running On the parallel of
AZ and dividing from California; on The ives,
! The Pacific ocean. and en- The north. diyidino
il from the British 'elfitory." He adds .,bss,
j. is remarkable that within these limits. ali
the rivers that flow through the territory lake
their RISE"
The valleys of The Columbia river and i,s
tributaries alone are estimated al $50 Oo0
square miles. The mouth Of the Columbia
presents one OF the best sites in The world 70,
great commercial city. By means of the
Columbia all the trade and produce of The val.
leys waered by that noble river. and lis nauv
tributaries would be gathered there. As has
been stated, its CITIZENS would reach the Sand.
wieh Islands in six days and the yoyaue 10
Canton could be made in less than ,bir,v
days. As to the general character of the conn.
Try, Lieut. Wilkes says. ''ihe few portions tf
the globe are TO be found so rich in soil-so di.
versiied in surface, or SO capable of being
rendered the happy abode of an industrious
and civilized community. For beauty Of
scenery and salubrl,y of climate it is no, sur.
passed. IL is peculiarly adapted for an au.
ircnl,ural and pastoral people, and no portion
| OF the world beyond the tropics can be found
that will yield so readily. with moderate labor
TO the wants of man." See Report Of Lieut..
Wilkes 10 Sec'y Navy of the examination. by
the Exploring Expedition Of The Oregon ter.
riIory.
| The passage Of The Rocky Mountains has
been regarded as an insurmoun,able obstacle
TO the settlement and political organization of
Oregon. But now this difficulty has faded a.
way. New routes through these mountains
have been discovered and explored, and the
trip is not now considered either laborious or
dangerous. A chain Of military posts from the
upper Missouri along the route could be es,ab
lished al liule expense, and afford 10 emigranis
food and protection in case Of need. Farm
ham in his Oregon travels says that one Of the
routes through The mountains is of such Sigh,
elevation ,ha, railroad could be constructed
! from the navigable waters Of the Missouri TO
Puge.'s sound on he Pacific. He says. tina,
this route is fanked with abundance of fuel
ard other necessary materials lis length
would be about GOO miles. Every one will
see what direct trade by means Of such
rail road we could carry on with China and
the Islands of the Pacific. Such consumma,
lion would not only rebound TO the glory Of
our own country, but would give new CON-
mercial and political aspect to the affairs Of the
Eastern hemisphere.
The population of Oregon is now computed
at twenty thousand persons. The American
portion ofthis numb are remarkable for their
daring enterprise, their sobneiy and good or
der. They have again and again pe.iioned
Congress to extend over them the protection OF
our laws, and the last petition was signed by
every inhabitant of The Willamette settlement
except the Catholic priest. Congress no,
having acted, these hearted Americans
have established for themselves guasi.gov-
ernment. and adopted code Of laws winch
would be credible TO any society. They have
ou,siripped US in the cause of practical pieiy
the mann faclure and sale of ardent spirits are
prohibited laws, enacted by these brave and
adventurous men. Along the banks Of The
/ Willamette the leviaihan power of steam is
waking the echoes Of their forests: Grisi aud
saw mills are busily grooming a, their work.
/ Those forerunners Of civil liberty. American
Christian Missionaries. are there, teaching the
agricultural pursuits and the heavenward des.
| ,iny of man. Temples dedicated 10 the ser.
vice OF AInilgniy zoo nave Deeh eieo'eo "
these good and valieni men, wherein His pras
es are bymned and His word explained. Nov
if the RICH, TO Oregon be with the United Sta.
les, shall it be arbiraled or given away, wheG
such men cry to usl II cannot be surrendered.
See the trains of emigranis as they wend their
way 10 the West-ask them If they throw oil
American citizenship as they settle in Oregon,
and they will tell You. "No-we came Amer
leans TO settle what is oars as Amercans-ihe
stars and the stripes shall foa, there. or every
spot beneath our feet shall be a sepulchre."
/ L. S. b.