The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-04-04
WHOLE NO. 215.
The OREGON Territory.

have briefly traced up the Spanish discove-
ries of the Pacific coast, and have shown
what the whole history of the matter shows
that is, if any nation Oh earth had high
er claim TO the whole line of the Pacific, to
the Russian dominions, than the Americans,
it was the Spaniards and we purchased all
the right, title, and interest, which Spain
and France possessed, from the AID degree
bf moth latitude as far north on the Pacific
as the Russian boundaries. These pur-
chases were called "Me Florida and tho
Loai lana purchuScS.'' The boundaries of
all the possessions of France and Spain in
North America were fixed and settled before
these purchases were made, by conventions
and treaties between Spain aud Great Bri-
tain, France and Great Britain, France and
Spain, Spain and the United States, and
France and the United States; in conformity
with those settlements, the purchases of
Louisiana and Florida were made, and the
boundaries fixed and secured to the United
States, and by which the United States ac-
quircs all title, repeat, 10 whatever Spain
or France or either of them, possessed. Ell
ther by purchase, exchange, Or discovery, TO
any and all the country embraced within the
Oregon Territory. Once for all, we own by
purchase whatever Spain owned of Oregon.
Span's right, by discovery, was superior 10
that Of Great Britain, and our title is superior
10 both, and indsputable.
Did we take possession Of and occupy
Oregon within the time prescribed by the
laws of nations? In May, 1889, Gray en-
tered the Columbia river. In 1902, Thomas
Jefferson called the attention of the Ameri-
can Congress TO the exploration of the Ore
gon Territory, and appropriations were made
for the purpose; and in 1903, an expedition
was ordered, under the direction of Lewis
and Clark. The plan was TO ascend the
Missouri river, from IFS mouth to its source
in the Rocky mountains; cross the noun
taips, and descend the Columbia river, from
rs main source 10 the Pacific ocean. All
this was accomplished with unexampled diff:
icuty and danger The expedition quarter.
ed near the mouth of the Columbia river
during the winter During their stay they
traded with the natives; and at their depart
ure they gave certificates of their visit and
of their exploration, stating that they were
sent out by their government, the government
10 which they belonged, and such other
statements as were necessary 10 convice all
others who might come after them of the OBJ
iect of the expedition. They also placed
paper OH the inner wall of their temporary
fort, with the following inscription, viz:
"The object of this last is, that through tho
medium of some civilized person, who may sec
the same, it may be made known to the world
that the party, consisting of the persons whose
horn, oJ l1x,l,o
thy the government of the United States to ex-
plore the interior of the continent of North Amer
ica, did penetrate the same by the way of the
Missouri and Columbia rivers, to the discharge
of the latter into the Pacific ocean, where they
arrived on the 18th day of November, 1895, and
departed on the 23l day of March, 1906 on their
return to the United States, on the same route by
which they had come out''
Then sir, we discovered Oregon in May,
1892; we explored and occupied it in 1905
20.
In 1903, there was an association formed
at ST. Louis, headed by man by the name
of Manuel Lisa, "a Spaniard,) called the
Missouri Fur Company. This company es-
ablished some trading posts on the Upper
Missouri, and one on the head waters of the
Columbia, one of the main branches of the
Columbia, called Lewis's river, and which
is also called the southern branch of The Co.
lumbia; but the hostility of the Indians, and
the great difficulty Of procuring provisions,
compelled the company TO abandon that
post.
In 1910, John Jacob Astor, distinguish
cd and wealthy citizen of New York, form
ed an association for the purposes of trade
and commerce within to, and from the Ter
ritory of Oregon. All the necessary prepa-
rations were made for an extensive and sue
cessful business. His company, officers and
agents were sent TO, and landed in, Oregon,
near the mouth Of the Columbia river. A
number of posts were established, and tenn.
porary fortticatons erected, and all in fair
way TO be successful. The principal post
WAS located near the mouth of the Columbia
liver, and was called Astoria. The associa-
ton continued its pursuits for two years and
a half-lhat is, from March, 1911, until Oc-
tober, 1873; at which time the association
was broken up, and all The materials and
stock of furs, &c, were sold to the North
west company, as was said, TO prevent them
from falling into the hands of the British
cruisers which were daily expected.
They were not disappointed in their ap-
prehension; for in December following, the
Raccoon, British sloop-ofwar, arrived at
Astoria and took possession: took down tho
American flag and hosted The English flag,
and changed the name to that of Fort
George. And that was the first possession
that the British had Of the Columbia river or
any part of Oregon which could conflict with
our discovery Or possession; and that posses
sion was but short lived, for, after the estab-
ishment of peace, the possession Of Asto-