New-York daily tribune., 1845-02-25
OREGON AND THE u. STATES.

ever relipsuish all ,ncir territorial rights IN what IS
called OREGON in favor OF those who now lnhaot
or NAV hereafter emigrate 10 that Country, we DID
90 from naked conviction oi the intrinsic Illness
and good policy of such an adjustment OF our con-
ac,,nz claims In that quarter. England Goes
mo, need Oregon, neither do we need II; nor
can we ever find another Western boundary
so well defined and SO impregnable to hostile
incursion as the crests OF The Rocky Noun
talns Leave the Oregon Territory to itself, TO be
filled up is due time By hardy thvitty, indepe,'d-
ent people, and we shall dry up one souIce OF end
less expenditure, contention and trouble. Great
Britain could not. would not refuse 10 unite with |
Us in an adjustment which would stEiElngiy eVince
our own moderation and good sense The trade
of OREGON would thus be opened forever to her
commerce and ours, and a grateful nation woald
grow up under the aegls OF our JOINT protection
Why should il not be so'
We frankly plead guilty to a dread OF the conse-
quences OF extending too FAR the boundaries OF our
Union. Unless History has grossly deceived Us,
territorial expansion has in all ages been the grave
OF Republican Freedom The Greek conquest OF
Asia and Egypt did not extend Greek ideas aud IN
stitutIons but speedily buried Greece IN Oriental
Slavery The Roman conquest OF the known
world rendered Roman liberty no longer possible
A worldwide empire, though 1t may retain the
forms OF Republic, never retain the spirit II
mus, look to some common aroter Tor guidance,
and will find it, whether IN dictator, directory
or metropolitan Jacobin Club. Extending the
boundaries OF Freedom has in all ages paved the
way for the establishment of DespotIsm
We ask the attention OF those who put any faith
either in names or in reasons TO the opinions ex-
pressed many years ago by THOMAS JEFFERSON and
THOMAS II. BENTON on this very question Of inde-
peodence for Oregon We ask the Albany Argus,
Atlas, and other prints which have seen fit 10 sneer
a, our ideas on this subject Federal to tell us
wha! they think OF Msssrs Jefferson and Benton's,
and wherein the Democracy OF those eminent men
differed on this subject from our Federalism We
find them quoted in Hon r. c. WINTHRors Speech
on Oregon, on the LIST inst. as reported IN the Ma
tional InteIhgencer Of Saturday. From that Speech
we make the following extract:
"The Honorable member from Illinois (Nlr
Dougass) seemed greatly excited yesterday al re-
mark which tell rom my inend from Pennsylvania
(MI. e J. Morrs) IN reference TO the ultimate des-
tiny OF the Oregon Territory and TO The Likelihood
OF It's becoming the site OF an independent nation,
instead Of remaining as permanent member oi
our own Conederscy. The honorable member
chafed himself into state oil most towering lndlg
nation al the bare suggestion of such an idea, and
denounced II in the most unsparlns terms as an al
most treasonable proposition Tor dlssolvns the In
ion. He invoked the attention OF the whole coun-
try TO this first ntlmatlon OF design 10 dsmenber
our Republic, and demanded prompt expression
Of rebuke and condemnation upon all who were
privy to so monstrous and revolving proposition.
Pray, sir, does the honorable member know with
whom this idea originated, or by whom, certainly,
IL most deliberately and emphatlcally uttered
in this Capitol Let me beg his attention 10 pas
sage from the speech oi an honorable Senator from
Missouri, who hope, has lost nothing OF the con-
hdence of his own party by a course OF proceeding
In regard TO the Annexation OF Texas by which he
has gained the respect OF not a lew OF his political
opponents, and has literally overcome more than
his enemies.
Mr. Benton projected TO the next nquiry-he effect
which tho occupation OF the Columbia would have upon
this Union. On this point he could speak for himself only
but he would speak without reserve lie believed that the
Union oc these States would be jooparded by the
patton OF that river but taa 1t would be the mca"s OF
planting the germ OF new aud Independent Power be-
ycnd the Rocky Mountains There was beginning and Il
natural progress in the order all things. The military
post the Columbia would be the nucleus of settlement
Farmers, traders aud artisans weuid collect about it.
When arrived degree of strength and population,
the young society would cAeu military Government.
aud sigh for the establishment of civil authority. ter
riioral Government obtained the full cnoymen; OF state
rights would next demanded; and the acquired loud
caJnors would be heard against the hardship OF
Ing the seat OF Government All this would be IN
the regular Of and the consequence should be
fnresccn and provided Tor. This Republic should have
limits The present occasion does not require 70 say
where these limits should be found on the North and
south but they are fixed ny the hand Of Nature, and
postery will neither lack resolution
step up them. Westward, SPEAK without E.
serve; and the ridge Of the Rocky Mountains may
named without offence presenting convenient, natural
and everlasting boundary. Along the back of this ridge,
the Western limit Of this Republic should be drawn and
the statue of the tabled scl Terminus, should he raised
upon its highest peak. never 10 be thrown down. Ipan
ing the seed OF Power the tho Pacific
ocean. should be well understood that, when strong
enough 10 take OF itrt the Government should
separate nom the mother empire, the child Sepa-
rates from the parent at the age OF manhood. The
hshs OF the Rocky shoud divide their possess
slons, and the mother Republic would Had herself udem
naed for her and expense about the infant Power
the OF post in the Pacific ocean tho protection her
Interests in that the enjoyment OF the fur trades the
control OF the Indians The exclusion Of monarchy from
border the Illustration Of he hostile schemes Great
Britain and, above ALL in The erection OF Republic,
composed Of her en-, drcn speaking her language uerii
ns her principles devoted 10 liberty and equality and
ready to stand by her aide against The combined Powers OF
the Old World.
"Such, Mr. Chairman, were the views OF Mr. !
Benton IN 1925. Here is the earliest public EXPIRES
sion OF The idea which has so electrified with hor-
ror the honorable member from illinois, and has |
drawn forth The heaviest bolts OF his Indignation |
Truly, sir,
Full many Shan at random sent,
Hts mark The archer litile meant"
Z" His fulmnatioas, 1t is plain, have passed quite
over the heads OF his opponents, and have fallen
upon one whom he would gladly have spared.
e Nor is Mr.. Benton the only of the honora-
ble members Democratic exemp,ars whom he has
unconsciously sca,hed. A most respectable and
Intelligent friend OF mine (NIr, T G., Cary of Bos-
toni visited Monticello in ISIS. Mr. jefferson was
then greatly interested in the subject of Western
emigration, anu IN the reports of Lewis and Clarke
In the course OF conversation, he inquired whether
when MIR As,or sold Astoria TO The British Fur
Company, he retained right 10 property Of any KIND
there; because, said he, am anxious 10 ascer-
rain that there was some reservation on which
territorial claim may be made. am dssirouS of
seeing new confederation growing up there
You say nerc confederation, (geplied my friendly
you mean distiact one, then.' Certainly said
MIR Jefferson, the extent would be altogether too
great for ons Government.
.sTbe same view was expressed by MIR. Jefferson
in letter 10 MIR. Astor, which has been referred
to by another highly intelligent and Distinguished
Boston merchant. (hIon. William S'ursis) IN
very Snie ieetule H'oa r.. fSrr,, $50;