Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-05-17
MR.. CALHOUN ON OREGON.

and passed the House bill which provided for the
immediate occupation OF the Oregon territory by our
Government Whatever may be the result Of the |
it is matter Of congratulaon that those
gentlemen had the wisdom and the foresight to de-
fer, for time at least, the necessity OF an actual
resort TO force Ii remains to be seen whether the
Southern wing of the Democracy viii regard their
wise counsels, or follow the Globe in its rabid and
reckless course
The speech of Mr.. CALHOUN in the Senate, mi
January, 1S43, on the subject of Oregon lately re-
published, merdng particular attention in the pre-
sent state of affairs between England and America,
we make several extracts from it.
Mr. CALHOUN said
" Has the time arrived when would be wise and prudent
for attempt and maintain exclusive right to
the territory against the adverse and conflicting claim of Great
Britain answer, No, it has and that for the decisive
reason because the attempt if made, prove unsuccessful
against the resistance of Great Britain We could neither
take nor hold against her and that for not less de-
csve that she could in much shorter time, and at far less
expense far greater force than could in the
territory.
"Wc to forget in the discussion Of this subject the
great events which have occurred in the eastern portion OF
Asia during the last year. and which have greatly extended
the power Of Great Britain in that quarter Of the globe She
has there in that PERIOD terminated successfully two wars
by Of which she has given increased quiet and stability to
her possessions in India, and by the other has firmly planted
her power the eastern of China, where she will
doubleday keep up, least for time, strong military and
naval force for the purpose Of intimidation and Strengthening
her newly acquired The point she occupies there
the shore of the Pacific almost directly opposite
the Oregon territory the distance of about thousand five
hundred miles from the mouth of Columbia river with tran
quill between which may be passed in six weeks
In THAI short time, she might place, moderate expense,
strong naval and military force at the mouth of that river
where formidable body Of men, hardy and energetic
any this contnen in the service of the Hudson Bay Com
pany and numerous tribes of Indians under its CONTROL could
be prepared TO sustain and cooperate with it. Such is the
facility with which she could concentrate force there to main
tain her claim to the territory against ours should they be
brought into collision by this bill
81 examine our means of concentrating OPP
posing force by land and water should become TO
maintain claim. We have military naval position
in the Pacific Our feet would have sail from
Shores and would have the line and double Cape
Horn, in Sc degrees Of south latitude and, turning NORTH
the ne and ascend to latitude as NORTH in order to
reach the mouth Of Columbia river distance from New York
Cover the aightes and shortest he Of than thUeen
thousand miles, and which would require OF more than
eighteen thousand of actual sailing, the usual In
stead of six weeks, the voyage would require months
speak the authority of one of the most experienced officers
attached TO the Navy Department
These facts decisive We could do nothing by water
As far the element concerned could not oppose to her
gun a soldier in the territory
But great the impediments by water they are
present, not much less by land If central
the State of Missouri the place of rendezvous
from which military force would its march for
the territory, the distance the mouth of the Columbia
will be about two thousand miles of which much than
thousand miles would be unsettled country, consist
ing of naked plains mountainous regions, without pov
the ri n
greater portion of this long march the force would be liable
be attacked and harassed by and warke tribes
Indians, whose hostes might be readily turned against
by the British traders To march such distance wthou
opposition would take upwards OF hundred and twenty
days assuming the march be at the usual for military
forces Should it be mpeded by the hostes Of Indians, tn
time would be greatly prolonged.
81 ask how could any considerable force itse
in SO long march, through region destitute of supplies
small detachment might live game but that resouc
would be altogether inadequate to the support Of army
But admitting army could find sufficient supplies to
tain itself its march to the territory how could sustain
itself In unculvaed territory remote to draw suppe
from our settlements in rear and with the from
closed against by hostile fleet And how could supplies
be found to return, retreat should become necessary In
whatever view the subject may be regarded hazard nothing
in asserting that such is the difficulty present part
of concentrating and maintaining force in the territory that
few thousand regulars advantageousy fortified the Co
umba river, with small naval force to support hem could
with the aid OF the employers the Hudson Bay Company and
the corporation Of the Indians under its influence bid defiance
to any effort could make dsodge them If all other
difficulties could be sumounted, that of Transporting suf-
cient batteng ain with all Of its appurtenance to great
distance and over many Obstacles would be nsupeabe
"Having made good my first position, that the at
tempt at present. to assert and exclusive claim
to the territory, against the adverse claim Of Great Britain
must prove unsuccessful she resisted, remains
inquire whether she would resist And here let say what
may be the doubts Of Others surely they who have in
this discussion insisted strongly her power her jealousy
and her determination to hold the territory cannot doubt that
she would resist IT, indeed provoking language excite
her resistance if half which has been said Of her hos
tile disposition be true she not only would resist, but would
gladly seize favorable occasion TO do 50, while
comparatively weak and she strong in that quarter How
unvorabe the time might be for for her would be
the most propitous
sHer vast resources and military power in the East are
liberated and at her disposal to be directed TO and
tain her exclusive claim to the territory against ours she
should determine TO follow example, this bill should
pass Even who believe that the present Ministry dis
posed TO peace and that Sir Robert Peel has exhibited great
wisdom aud NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in the midst Of splendid
success and therefore be trusteddo doubt she
would resist if should adopt this We
forget clear believe title to be- that the right to
the territory is in dispute between the countries and that
certain regard right to be, she regards hers
not less is of adverse conflicting claims and we
may be assured, if undertake to exclusive
right she will oppose by asserting hers and if the appeal
should be to force, decide between present. the result
would be inevtablehe territory would be lost us In
deed this that has venured deny
it and there no hazard in asserting that will who
understands the subject and does choose have the
soundncss Of his judgment questioned"
SUICIDE or MuRpEREss.--On Tuesday woman named
Pennoyer committed prison in New York the charge
Of having murdered her brother, Mr.. Scudde at Hoboken
by administering arsenic The circumstances which were de-
vpcd subsequent to his DEATH and the conduct Of the wretch