Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-12-31

which Continues IN Such anomalous con.
dition. In superficial extent, III is loI
nearly 400.0 600 square faiies, That IS
more than three times as large as the
aggregate of all the British Islands, land
about equal in extent to Maine, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode ISL
and, Connecticut, Vermont, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
I Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina
and Georgia-(3s3,OO0 squire miles, -
in other words, to the original thirteen
United States, and l shall presently
show that its value in commensurate
with its extent. This is Oregon.
To what Government. does this great
territory belong? Great Britain. says:
It belongs to nobody; that it is in the
same condition with Massachusetts be-
fore the discovery Of America; that it
is unappropriated savage lands, and that
as such, she has a right to come and
take it;-she, the general conquerer-
she, the universal usurper-she, the
exclusive appropriation Of all parts Of
the terraqueous globe which may seem
convenient to her commerce, or desir-
able 10 her ambition. She pretends
title to no part Of it; she claims the
right to invade and occupy any part ol
| it, at her discretion. The United
States say, on the other hand; we have
good and valid title to the whole of it,
as we think and believe; we are sure
we have perfectly indisputable title to
all that part ol it which adjoins the
United States--nameIy, from the 42d
to the 40th parallel of latitude: Great
Bri tain admits, we know, that she has
no title to any part of it; and if there
be the shadow ofany ground or claim
of right, under which she can justly in.
wade and possess any part oft, (Which
we consequently deny) still such claim
must apply only to so much of it, and
no more, as being porth of@the 4sth
parallel. adjoins her existing possessions
in America.
Such is a plain and unvarnished
statement of the general nature Of the
pretension to this territory put forth by
the British and American governments
respectively. No government, except
the United States, alleges or pretends
any title to the territory, and no gov
ernment, except Great Britain, sets it.
self up as the occupier and master by
right Of these (and Of all other) unap'
propiated parts of The earth.
Rejecting on this statement OF the
case. you may say the case is very
extraordinary one. How is it possible
that Great Britain should advance such
extravagant pretensions, and should
obstinately refuse, at the same time, all
fair tender of compromise from the
United States? l repeat, the state
ment of the case is nevertheless true
| assure you that, in making this state'
ment, do
"Nothing extenuate. nor aughs
Set down in MALICE
And this | proceed to show you by
briet analysis ofthe voluminous official
documents In the case, as they have
been published by our Congress-, though
suppressed by the British government.
When this continent first became
known TO Europeans, and in proportion
as the several powers Of Europe pro,
ceeded to make settlements here, il
was necessary to establish certain rules
by which their conflicting pretensions
10 territory should be adjusted. These
rules were not fixed all at once, but
in the course of colonization, Of discus
sion, and Of treaty, they came to be al
length fully and universally recognized
and admitted both in Europe and A
merica. These rules lie at the basis
of the Oregon question, and are as fol-
lows:
/. First, the European title is in nc
case considered as derived from the
savages of America, and is regulated
by considerations wholly irrespective
OF them. Our own government has in'
deed uniformly acted on the principle
Of paying to the Indians fair, nay. a
very large compensation, for their
hunting right, or temporary occupancy
of the lands; but neither the government
nor any citizen Of the United States
! does or can derive title from the In
dams. must not stop TO discuss the
grounds of this doctrine; suffice it to
say that such is the public law OF al
the christian nations OF Europe and A
, merica, and such is the municipal Iau
and the practice under it. as we'll Of oul
own colony, province, and State o.
| Massachusetts, as Of the federal gov
ernment. .. ,...s .....
:. 2. Secondly. one European govern
ment may acquire territory from an
> other by conquest, as England did the
: Canadas; or by the treaty, as the Uni
r ted States did Louisiana; and every
, American governmental the progres.