Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-05-15

MEsSRs. EDITORS You viii excuse the liberty a
friend may take in presenting few remarks for the
consideration Of your readers IN regard to
the claims put forth 10 the Oregon Territory. Much
controversy has existed between England and TIE
United States, in endeavoTing substantiate their
respective legitimate claims, las England terms hef)
to this new country west Of the Rocky Mountains.
Now sir, 1t Is to be supposed that If claims
prove to be more valid than her own, that be
frightened like timid deers to forsake, or abandon,
that which righteousy believe to be our soil
no sir. On the contrary, we Will see 1t deluged
with human blood, ere we viii yield to her that
territory, wherein she may erect workshop to forge
the chains of oppression to bind millions OF souls in
humble submission. Now sir, let US examine the
claims TIE United States have to this territory,
ding to the Law Of Nations. ANY country that first
discovers an unknown river, can claim by right OF
prior discovery all the land that is watered by the
river. What would attempt to elucidate by this
mark, Is that it can be proved by documents, In
the possession of England Of she has not destroyed
them that this country did first discover the stream
now known as the Columbia River. In the year 1892
a vessel named the Columbia Redisina, commanded
by an American Captain, put forth from the port Of
Boston, for the express purpose of trading with the
Indians, the Northwest Coast of North America
During the time this vessel pursuing her traffic
with the Natives, England had exploring
expedition, this Coast, under the command OF
Captain Vancouver, who at that time mad discovered,
and was exploring the Island to which he gave his
own name. The Captain of the Columbia Redivina,
In the meanwhile pursuing his course along the Coast,
to the mouth of strange river and entered IT, and
knowing that Vancouver the newly discovered
Island, sent him integt of the fact, upon the
ceipt of which Captain Vancouver Immediately sent
one of his Lieutenants In command of small vessel
to examine into the truth of the natter after ascer-
tanning the fact Captain Vancouver freely acknowl-
edged his total ignorance of the existence of this
ver both to his country, (Engand and to the Ameri-
can Captain, who hereupon by right Of prior discov
cry named it after his vessel calling it the CO.
lumbia river, by which it has ever been known
since; and the honor Of discovery belongs TO Captain
Blake, native of Massachusetts. This, sir, think
proves concusvely, that by right of discovery it be-
longs to If further proof necessary, would
refer them to Lewis g. Clark's Travels among the In
dians who the first civilized persons who ever
traversed the river to its heads and by right of set
Element, can prove that John Jacob Astor of New
York, with over 300 men, made the first actual set
Element that ever was made by white men, in the Ore
gon Territory, which was IN the year 1910. And il
the United States Government had then taken the ad
vice of Mr. Astor which was to lay direct claim to
the territory, the difficulty existing, would have
been avoided. think sir, have said quite sufficient
to prove that the territory belongs to us, but will
further state, that England is determined to endeav
or wrest this land from US, she must indeed sepa-
rate male and female in the United States and ex-
terminate race for long there is i ndful
of Americans in the country, England cannot hold
Oregon British Province; not that we desire a
with England, but that we prefer death to dshon-
or. This is the language of an American heart, this
is the response of millions of Free men.
Yours respectfully, ]. c. D.
Indianapolis, Nay Sth, 1915.