The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-12-13

government aud protection of our citizens
in Oregon, That If viii ultimately he wise
and proper to make liberal grants of land to
the patriotic pioneers, who, amidst privations
and dangers. lead the way through savage
tribes inhabiting the vast wilderness inter-
vening between our frontier settlements and
Oregon; and who cultivate and are ever
ready to defend the soil. am fully satisfied
To doubt whether they will obtain such
grants as soon as the convention between
the United States and Great Britain shall
have ceased to exist, would be TO doubt the
justice of Congress; bat pending the years
notice, it is worthy of consideration wheth-
or stipulation TO this effect may be made
consistently with the spirit of that conven-
tion.
3 The recommendations which have made
as to the Lest manner of securing our rights
: in Oregon, are submitted to Congress with
great Difference. Should they, in their wis
dom, devise any other mode better calcula-
tee to accomplish the same object, it shall
meet with my hearty concurrence.
At the end of the years notice, should
Congress think it proper to make provision
for giving that notice, we shall have reached
period when the National rights in Ore
gon must either be abandoned or firmly
maintained. That they cannot be abandon
ed without a sacrifice of both National hon.
or and interest, is too clear to admit of
doubt.
Oregon is part of tho North American
continent, TO which, it is confidently affirm
ed, the title of the United States is the best
now in existence. For the grounds on
which that title re SITS, refer you TO the cor
respondence ofthe late and present Secre-
tary Of State with the British plenipotentiary
during the negotiation. The British prop
osition to compromise, which would make
the Columbia the line south of forty-nine
degrees with a trihing addition Of detached
territory to the United Strtes north OF that
river, and would lsaye on the British side
two-thirds of the whole Oregon territory, in
GLIDING the free navigation of the Columbia
and all the valuable harbors on the Pacific,
can never, for moment, be entertained by
the United States. without an abandonment
of their just and clear territorial rights,
their own self-respect, and the National hon.
or. For the information of Congress,
communicate herewith the correspondence
which took place between the two Govern
ments during the late negotiation.
The rapid extension of our settlements
over our Territories heretofore unoccupied,
the addition of new States to our Confedera-
cy, the expansion of free principles, and our
rising greatness as a nation, are attracting
the attention of the Powers of Europe, and
lately the doctrine has been preached in
some of them ETA "balance of power'' on
this continent, to check our advancement
the United States, sincerely DESTROYS of
preserving relations of good understanding
with all nations, cannot in silence permit any
European interference on the North Ameri-
can continent; and, should any such inter-
ference be attempted, will be ready to resist
AZ at any TTuzErIuS.
1t is well known to the American people,
and to all nations, that this Government has
never interfered with the felations subsisting
between other Governments We have new
or made ourselves parties to their wars or
their alliances; we have not sought their
territories by conquest: we have not mingled
with parties in their domestic struggles; aud
believing our own form of Government to be
Vha best, we have never attempted to prop
agatei by intrigues, by diplomacy, or by
force. We may claim on this continent a
like exemption from Europe interference.
The nations of America are equally sovef-
eign and independent with those of Europe;
they profess the same rights, independent of
all foreign interDosition, to make war, to
conclude peace, and to regulate their inter-
nal affairs. The people of the United
States cannot, therefore, view with indiffer-
ence attempts of European Powers TO inter-
fere with the independent action of the ma
tons of this continent.
The American system of Government is
entirely different from that of Europe
jealousy among the different sovereigns
OF Europe, lest any one of them might be.
come too powerful for the rest, has caused
them anxiously to desire the establishment
ef what they term the 'sbalance of powers ,:
1t cannot be permitted to have any applica-
ton on the N. American continent, aud es-
pecially to the United States. We must ev-
er maintain the principle. that the peep.e of
this continent alone have the right to de-
eide their own destiny. Should any por-
ton OF them, constituting an independent
State, propose TO unto themselves with our
contederacy, this will be question for them
and US 10 determine, without any foreign
Interposation. We can never consent that
European Powers shall Interfere to pre-
Mt such union because it might distutb
the "balance of power" which they may de-
sire TO maintain upon this continent. Near
quarter ola century ago, the principle was
distinctly announced to the world, in the
annual message OF ono of my predecessors,
that 'the American continents, by the free
and independent condition which they have
assumed, and maintained, are henceforih
not be conslnered as subjects for further
Colonization by any European power.n