The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-12-16

Wu6Te tne cause OI dCllOu Sndll hot " eXCeeL
in value the amount or sum Of two hundred
pounds"
Subsequent to the date of this act of Par
lament, grant veg made from the British
crown" TO the Hudsan's Bay Company, of
the exclusive trade with the Indian tribes in
the oregon territory. subject to reservation
lhat Il shall not operate to the exclusion " of
the subjects of any foreign States who, under
or ~ force of any convention for the time
Icing, between us and such foreign States
respectively, may be entitled TO, and shall be
engaged in, the said trade"
1t is much to be regretted, that while
under this act, British subjects have enjoyed
the protection Of British laws judicial tribunals
throughout the whole of Oregon, American
citizens, in the same territory, have enjoyed
no such protection from their government.
AT the same time, the result illustrates the
character of our people and their institutions.
In spite OF this neglect, they have multiplied,
and their number is rapidly increasing in
that territory. They have made no appeal
10 arms, but have peacefully fortified them
selves in their new homes, by the adoption
of republican institutions for themselves; /;
furnishing another example of the truth that
selfgovenment is inherent in the American
breast, and must prevail. II is due to them
that they should be embraced and protected
by our laws.
II is deemed important that our laws, regu-
latng trade and intercourse with the Indian
tribes east Of the Rocky mountains should be
extended to such tribes as dwell beyond
them.
The increasing emigration to Oregon, and
the care and protection which is due from the
government to its citizens in that distant
region, make it our duty, as it is our interest,
to cultivate amicable relations with the Indian
tribes of that territory. For this purpose, |
recommend that provision be made for estab-
fishing an Indian agency, and such sub-agen-
cies as may be deemed necessary, beyond
the Rocky mountains.
For the protection of emigrants whilst on
their way to Oregon, against the attacks of
the Indian tribes occupying the country
through which they pass, | recommend that
a suitable number of stockades and block
house forts be erected along the usual route
between our frontier settlements on the Mis-
souri, and the Rocky mountains; and that an
adequate force of mounted rihemen be raised
to guard and protect them on their Journey.
The immediate adoption of these recommen-
dations by Congress will not violate the pro-
visions of the existing treaty. 1t will be
doing nothing more for American citizens
than British laws have long since done for
British subjects in the same territory.
1t requires several months TO perform the
voyage by sea from the Atlantic States to
Oregon; and although we have a large num-
ber of whale ships in the Pacific, but few of
them afford an opportunity of interchanging
intelligence, without great delay, between
our settlements in that distant region and
the United States. An overland mail is be-
lieved to be entirely practicable, and the i'm
portance of establishing such mail, at least
once month, is submitted 10 the favorable
consideration of Congress.
1t is submitted to the wisdom of Congress
to determine whether, at their present session,
and until after the expiration of the years
notice, any other measures may be adopted
consistently with the convention of 1927, for
the security of our rights and the government
and protection of our citizens in Oregon.
That it will ultimately be wise and proper to
make liberal grants of land to the patriotic
pioneers, who, amidst privations and dangers,
lead the way through savage tribes inhabiling
the vast wilderness intervening between our
frontier settlements and Oregon, and who
cultivate and are ever ready to defend the
soil, 1 am fully satisfied. TO doubt whether
they will obtain such grants as soon as the
convention between the United States and
Great Britain shall have ceased to exist,
would be to doubt the justice of Congress;
but, pending the years notice, it is worthy of
consideration whether stipulation to this
effect may be made, consistently with the
spirit of that convention.
The recommendations which have made,
as to the best manner of securing our rights
in Oregon, are submitted to Congress with
great Difference. Should they in their wis
dom, devise any other mode better calculated
to accomplish the same object, it shall meet
with my hearty concurrence.
AT the end of the years notice, should
Congress think it proper 70 make provision
for giving that notice, we snail have reached
a period when the national rights in Oregon
must either be abandoned or firmly maintain
ed. That they cannot be abandoned without
a sacrifice of both national honor and interest,
is too clear to admit Of doubt
Oregon is part of the North American
continent, 10 which, it is confidently affirmed,
the title of the United States is the best now
in existence. For the grounds on which
that title rests, refer you to the correspond
ence of the late and present Secretary of
State with the British plenipotentiary during
the negotiation. The British proposition of
compromise, which would make the Colum-