Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-05-17


OREGON.-MR. CALHOUN.-Wc re-
publish below an extract from the speech of
MIR. Calhoun in the Senate of the United
States. in January lSl3, on the question of
the passage of the bill for establishing terri
toriat government over Oregon. We do not
fullyaccord with all the views expressed there
in; but as the opinions expressed by Mr.. CAL
houn are often referred to, we wish to put them
on record for our readers. Many Of our read
ers may think we devote too much space to
this subject. Not so. In it arc involved not
alone peace or war, not alone the occupancy
and possession of territory, known to be ours I;
om the honor Of our Country, our standing
among Nations, our future peace, and Nation
al prosperity. Our rulers have proclaimed to
the world in the most positive language, our
right to the territory, and our determination to
take possession of it. Now, il is incumbent
upon every good citizen, whatever may be his
opinion of the propriety of that language, to
look with an anxious eye to see whether the
government sustains honorably, independent
ly, and fully. its position, without favor, with
out compromise, and without fear. Bat let
us see what MIR. Calhoun's opinions were:
MIR. Calhoun. after having recapitulated the
history OF the Oregon negotiations, said,
=, WIN these preliminary remarks. | repeat
the question: has the time arrived when !,
would be wise and prudent for us to assert
and maintain our exclusive right to the terri
tory against the adverse and conflicting claim
OF Great Bhtain? answer, no, it has not !:
and that Tor the decisive reason, because the
attempt, II made, must prove unsuccessful
against the resistance of Great Britain. We
could neither take nor hold it against her !:
and that for reason not less decisive-,hat
she could IN much shorter time, and at f.f
less expense, concentrate much greater force
than we could in the territory.
we seem 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 so greatly extended the
power OF Great Britain in that quarter of the
Siooe. she has there, in that period termina-
tea successfully two wars; by one of which
she has given increased quiet and stability to
hr possessions in India; and by the other.
has firmly planted her power on the eastern
coast OF China, where she will undoubtedly
Keep up, at least far time, strong military
and naval force, for the purpose of intimida
uon and strengthening her newly acquired
possession. The point she occupies there on
the western shores OF the Pacific, is almost di-
rectly opposite to the Oregon Territory. at the
distance OF about five thousand five hundred
miles from the mouth of Columbia river, with
a tranquil ocean between, which may be pass
eli over in six weeks. In that short time. she
might place, at moderate expense. a strong
naval and military force at the mouth of thai
nver, where formidable body fmcn, as har-
dy and energetic as any on this continent. in
the service oil the Hudson Bay Company, and
tribes OF Indians under its control.
could DC prepared to sustain and cooperate
with 1t. Such is the facility with which she
could concentrate force there TO maintain
her claim to the territory against ours. should
they be brought into collision by this bill.
now turn to examine our means of con-
centratlng an opposite force by land and wa
lcr' should IT become necessary to maintain
on! claim. We have no military or naval no.
s sa. on the Pacific ocean. Our feet would
have to cross I The line and double Tad eY9y8
IN Do degrees OFFS. htitu lie and turning north.
re-cross the line, and ascend to latitude 46
north, IN order 10 reach the mouth of the Co
lumbia nver--a distance from New York lover
the shortest and straightest line) of more than
$4,000 miles and which would require a run
of more than 5000 miles of actual sailing on
the usual route. Instead of six weeks, the
voyage would require six months. | speak on
the authority OF one of the most experienced
officers attached to the Navy Department
The facts are decisive. We could do moth
ing by water. As far as that element is con-
cefned, we could not oppose to her gun or a
soldier in the territory.
But, as great as are the impediments by wa
ter, they are at present not less so by land
ii we assume some central point in the State
oil Missouri as the place of rendezvous from
winch our military force would commence it's
march for the territory, the distance to the
mouth OF the Columbia river will be about two
thousand miles; of which more than thou
sand miles will be over an unsettled country
consisting OF naked plains or mountainous re-
Sons, without provisione, except such game
as the rifle might supply. On a greater por-
ton OF this long march, the force would be Ii
able to be attacked and harrassed by numerous
and warlike tribes of Indians, whose hostilities
might be readily turned against us by the Brit
isl traders. To march such a distance with
out opposition would take upward of 10
days, assuming the march to be at the usual
rate OF military forces Should il be impeded
by the hostilities of Indians, the time would
be greatly prolonged.
now ask, how could any considerable force
sustain itself in so long march, through a
region so destitute of supplies? A small de-
tachrnant might live on game but that re-
source would BE- altogether inadequate to the
support of an army. BIT admitting AN army
could find sufficient supplies to sustain itself
onlts march to the territory, how could it sus-
tain itself in an uncIltivated territory. too re-
mote to draw supplies from our settlements
III It's rear, and with the OCEAN in front, closed
against 1t by hostile fleet? And how could
supplies be found to return, if a retreat should
become necessary In whatever view the sub
Ject may be regarded; hazard nothing in as
sertlng that such is the difficulty at present,
on our part, of concentrating and maintaining
force III thu territory, that few THOUSAND
regulars, advantageously fortified on the Co.
lumbia river, with small naval force TO sup.
port them, could with the ail of the employees
Of the Hudson Bay Company, and the Indian.
under It's influence, bid defiance to any effort
we could make To dislodge them. II all Other
difficulties could be siirmountod that nj trans