Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-05-22

aoUS.-Ini January, f5ASs the Hon. John g. Cal |
'oan made speech on the Oregon question in
no Seaafe, FROM which Va make the follo~;no
'xt~etsn Tho question: then before that Ledy
Fas shs passsgs Of = bill, in substance the same
y that which At the las. session Of Couarss, Sass
I'd tho Honss Of Representatives, bu, which viii
oaseiy failed in the Senate. Mr.. Calhoun had
ao< Damaged his We've up 70 the time Of his leay.
ng Che State nepartment.--Mo1is. 9dverti.er.
Dir. clhoun. after having recapi,ula,sd the
the Oregon negotiations, said:
With these preliminary remarks, 1 repeat the
q9ssssos, has the time arrived when it would be
vise aad prudent for US to attempt to assert and
maintain our exclusive right to the territory
against the adverse and conflicting claim OF G rent.
onsnln{ lanswer, no, it has not; and thai far
enc deeisiss reason, because the attempt, iE made.
must prove unsuccessful against the rcsstence nj
tsreas Britain, We could neither take nor hold
a2Mnss Rer; and for reason not less decisive
That she could IN mnch shorter time, and al
iar less expense, concentrate much greater force
than we could In the territory.
we seen 10 forget, in the discussion Of this
suo!ecs, tue, great events which have occurred in
inc eastern portion Of Asia, during the last year
" ~ ws,Sh nave 80 greatly extended the power of
urea. Srltain IN that quarter of the globe. She
~''~V ~ VIM Poitous terminated successfully
TWO wars by one of which she has given in.
creased quiet and stability to her possessions in
anosa ead ny tue other, has firmly planted her
power Pm tho eastern coast or China where she
Wa v~dsabtsdly keep up, atfcast Cor d ,iuss, q
sMosf sal.9y :pd naval force, for the fhrposs oil
@tspeAetioN end strengthening her newly acoair.
cd poesessidns. The point she occupies .hefs on
she western shore Of the Pacific, is almost direct,
~ opposite to the Oregon Territory, at the dis
lance OF about i've thousand five hundred miles
from the mouth OF Columbia river. with tranquil
ocean between. which may be passed over in six
"echs' IN mat short time, she might place, at a
iaooerate expense, strong naval and military
force al The mouth OF that river, where u formida-
Ole BODY oil men, as hardy and energetic DIS any on
this continent, In the service Of the Hudson Bay
company, and numerous tribes of Indians under
Its control, could be prepared TO sustain and CO.
operate win it.-Such is the facility with which
she could concentrate force there 10 maintain
her claim TO the territory against ours, should
they be brought into collision by this bill.
now turn TO examine our means of conccntra-
ing an opposing force by land and water. shouId
~ become necessary to maintain our claim We
nave no military or naval position on the Pacific
ocean. Our fleet would have TO sail from our
own shores, and would have 10 cross the line and
double Cape Horn in Sc degrees of S. latitude:
and turning north, recIoss the line and ascend 10
Latitude 46 north, in order 10 reach the mouth of
Coiumoia rivera distance from New York
Than $4,000 miles, and which would reuuire a
run OF more than $4,000 miles of actual SAILING
on Tie usual route. Instead Of six weeks The
voyage would require six months. / sneak ON
'he authority OF one of the mos: experienced off.
ce. .Sh attached he'd to the Navy Department.
ing by water. AS far as that element is concern.
go, we could not oppose to her gun or soldier
In the territory.
:, But as great as are the mpediments by water
ehey are at present, not less so by land. If we
assume some central point in the State of Nilsson.
IL u as inc place OF rendezvous from which our
in'iitdry force will commence it's march for tho
territory, the distance to the mouth of the Colum.
VIA iiver VIII be about two thousand miles. of
which more than thousand miles will be over
an unsettled country consisting of naked plains
OF mountainous regions, without provisions. ex-
oeps such game as the rifle might supply. On
greater portion Of his long march The force
would be liable to 90 attacked and barrassed hv
numerous and warlike tribes of Indians. whose
nostIilties might be readily turned against ms bv
me British traders. To march such a distance
~IhouI opposition would take upwards of 1870
usJs! assuming the march to be at the usual rate
OF military forces. Should it be impeded bv tho
hostilities of Indians, the time would be gJe.Ir
prolonged. 10 sieauy
now ask, how could any considerable force
sustain itself In SO long march. througb TO
gion so destitute of supplies7 A small detach-
,"eh' Hignt 1--we on game but that resource would
NV o''Jv.he1 inadequate to the support Of an ar
NY. oul admitting an army could find sufficient
supplies 10 sustain itself On its march TO the Ter
1tory' now could 1t sustain itself in an uncul,i
ta'eu .efIi'ory, too remote TO draw supplies from
4ur se'iemenis in lis rear, and with the ocean in
'front.', closed against it by hostile fleet1 And
nv" eouid supplies be found TO return, if a re-
view the subject may be regarded, hazard moth.
NY III asserting that such is the difficulty at pre-
SEM, on our part, of concentrating and maintain.
lhg force In the territory, that a few thousand
suiais' aavaniageousy fortified on the Coum-
a iFel, WIN a small naval force to support them
oou'u, WIN the aid OF the employees of the Hud-
son Bay Company, and the Indians nnder ;,s IN
huence' bic defiance to any effort we could make
10 disiodge them. If all other difficulties copId
oe suI'hounted, that OF transporting a sufficient
gathering train, with all lis appurtenances. TO so
great distance, and over SO many obstacles.
would be insuperable.
:, Having now made good my first position-,bat
lhe attempt, at present, TO assert and maintain
our exclusive claim to The territory, against the
ADVERSE claim OF Great Britain, must prove nm
successful, " she resisted-it now remains TO in
quire whether she would resist. And here let
me say Whatever might be the doubts of others.
surely they who have, in this discussion. insist
ed SO strongly on her power, her jealousy. and
ner determination TO hold the territory. cannot
doubt that she would resist. If, indeed, proyok
ing language can excite her to resistance or ;r
nall which has been said of her hostile dIsnosi.
ZION be true, she not only would resist, but
would gladly seize SO favorable an occasion to do
3d. while We are comparatively so weak and she
so strong in that quarter. However unfavorable
tne time might be for us, for her it would be TIE
most propitious. Her vas, resources and military
power In the East are liberated, and at her dispo.
sal, 10 DO directed TO assert and maintain her ex.
elusive claim to the territory against ours. if she
should determine TO follow our example. in GAGS
this bill should pass. Even wI,n halia.. - ~,