Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-11-26
From the Washington Un,on.
Oregon.

ltuuC 40 uCS' W y hOiO N1os O0A uuS
from 42 deg, 40 min. is one title, and,
as we believe, perfect title against all
the world. As the question has been
discussed for quarter Of a century be-
tween us and England, we are not a..
ware of one argument--scarcely OF one
phrase purporting TO be an argument
which carries our title up to 40 deg.
and there stops. We claim as matter
of right the territory drained by the
Columbia river. In the view of the
law Of nations, this territory being un-
occupied, has its distinctive character
and unity as one region, in the fact that
it is so drained. And as one region,we
either own it, or we do not own it.
e Away, then once for all, with such
nonsense as the claim Of England north
of 40 deg. is better than our claimv-
Let US al least know clearly, and state
accurately, what we do in this matter.
If it have ever been deemed expedi.
ent (as matter Of compromise, and TO
hush up a dispute) to give away to
England a certain portion Of that land,
all Of which we considered ours; or if,
from any other motive of high nation
al concernment, it may have been deem.
ed wise to compromise the question Of
possession, let us say so, and put our
past action on that ground. But lei US
make no attempt to CLOAK our policy
under a pretended inferiority of our ti>
lie to land so sacrificed. No such pre-
tcnce can save US.
Again, we must speak TO the demo
cratic party of the United States. But
we dare TO hope that many liberal
whig will feel the force of the appeal
which the interests Of this eoontry will
make TO his patriotism upon this i'm
portant question. We especially ad.
dress ourselves, however, at this time,
TO the democratic party, because Of the
peculiar arcircumstances which have con-
nected them in past times with the
question of Oregon. They became
peculiarly connected with it by their
public ayowals nearly eighteen months
ago.
The Baltimore convention express
ed the deepest interest in the territory
OF Oregon. In the canvass Of the presi-
dental election, the same decided SEN
timents were manifested. The Presi-
dents first prompt, strong manly word,
in full response to that convention, was
'to the Oregon our right is clear and
unquestionable.'
Let that word be spoken again by
the man whom millions of freemen
have called to occupy the "great Gems
trail post Of the civilization Of popular
power" and who doubts that the de-
mocracy of the whole Union will re.
peat it, with full determination to
stand by the rights Of their country?
When that word goes forth from the
constituted authorities OF the nation,
Our right to Oregon is clear and un.
questionable who doubts that it will
20 through the length and breadth Of
the land, and that it will be hailed as il
goes, by the democratic party with one
unanimous amen? And what then?-
We answer this then-the democracy
of this country will stand to its word.
/, will not finch. Nor will the honest,
patriotic, determined whig finch either.
We observe that several journals are
greatly occupied with rumors ofa prop.
osition submitted, or about to be sub
miited, by the English government,
that Oregon shall remain for some
twenty years longer under the stipula.
tion Of 1918, in the joint occupation ol
the two nations, with the understand.
ing that at the close Of the stipulated Pc
riod, the Oregon colonists may decide
for themselves whether they will then
exist az an independent nation, or
whether they will belong TO the United
States or to England. A few days ago
we took occasion 10 show how this the.
ory Of joint occupation works in prac>
tice. We then showed that it resulted
through the surreptitious agency Of the
Hudson Bay Company, in the exten
sien Of English law over the whole un
occupied territory; while every meas
ure recognizing the American citizen'
there as our citizens, and as entitled Il
the protection Of our laws, had been re
garded in England, at least, as violat.
ing the treaty stipulation. In our iudg-
ment, il is full time that this state Q
things should cease. We believe tina
Congress will so decree. On the sub
ject Of the iumored proposition, to whic
we have alluded, we quote with pleas
nre the following just sentiments iron
the French journal in New York, tn
Courier des Etais Unis.' They are en-
titled TO The more consideration, as tn
sentiment Of comparatively disinter
ested third party. .,-.,' .91.,
n .Lct moi The Americans says th'
Courier, be deceived. All that Eng