Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-11-19
OREGON.

We have noticed report going the
rounds of the Wing press that the Brit
ish Government had proposed to refer
the Oregon question to the arbitration
OF some third power, proposition
which it was stated Mr.. Buchanan was
willing TO accept, while Mr.. Polk re-
jected 1t on the fground that it would
not meet the approval of the citizens OF
the West. We presume this is the
sheer fabrication of some letter writer
from the federal city, who running
short of interesting facts, has taxed his
inventive powers for the material of
which this tale is composed. But wheth-
er true or false, we are confident it
does the President no more than JUS
tice, in attributing to him an unwilling
ness to refer the matter to arbitration
on the ground that such measure
would be unsatisfactory to the people
west Of the Alleghanies. The people
of the West believe that Oregon ard
the whole of Oregon is ours by every
title which can give nation right to
territory and they will never consent
that any portion off shall be surren'
dered to the grasping cupidity of Great
Britain. She may extend her terrific
nv in the East Indies to her hearts
content; may rob and plunder the Chi
nese, and extend her sovereignty over
The defenceless islanders Of the Pacific,
till her unscrupulous ambition shall
have excited the anathemas of the civ.
ilized world, but when she attempts to
Law her ruthless hand upon portion
ofthis territory to which she has not the
shadow of valid title, she will find re.
newed evidence of the fact that the
people of this country have neither for.
gotten their rights or the manner in
which they are 10 be maintained.
A reference of the matter to a third
power, mutually chosen by the two
parties would not only be virtual ad.
mission that Great Britain had some
shadow Of rightful claim to the terrific
nv in dispute, but would be equivalent
to a voluntary surrender Of large
portion of the territory, as the history
of past references OF similar subjects
very clearly proves. The power Sc
lected, in all probability, would be some
European potentate, whose interests
sympathies, and antipathies to our free
institutions are identified with those Of
Great Britain, and whose verdict would
be in accordance with these prejudices.
Federal diplomacy in ls4l gave up to
the British portion Of our territory on
our northeast, and we have no doubt
that the Vaccinations of Federalism,
and the intrigues ofthe British, will be
combined during the coming session Of
Congress as they were at the last ses-
sion, to effect like objects on the west>
ern frontier. To prevent such an issue,
the peopIe have taken this matter into
their own hands. Throughout the West
they have with an unparalleled unanim-
ity expressed their conviction that the
whole of Oregon is ours, and avowed
their willingness to risk their lives in its
defence, sooner than permit Great Brit.
ain to establish permanent foot-hold
upon its soil. They are unwilling to
have her surround this country with a
corodon of military posts, thus cutting
off those avenues through which our
entire trade with China and the west
ern coast of this continent must event.
ually pass, and they are determined
that this whole country from the At
lan,ic to the Pacific shall form one glo-
rious coniederacy Of States, enjoying
the blessings Of liberty and independ.
ence, and reposing in safety beneath
the star.spangled banner. This de.
termination is not the result either Of
enmily towards Britain, or of a desire
for territorial aggrandizement, but Of a
deep seated and earnest conviction that
our title to the territory is clear and
unquestionable, and that every princi.
pie of political policy, and regard for
our own safety demands its bold asser-
ton and manly maintenance. Justice
to those of our citizens who have al
ready emigrated to that territory also
requires that the protection of our gov
ernment be extended over them. We
trust that one of the first acts Of the
next Congress will be the assertion Of
our right to that country, and that the
preparatory steps will be taken towards
extending our jurisdiction over it. Up
on this question it is to be hoped the
mighty and growing West will present
an undivided front, and that he who
dares to advocate the claim of Britain
will be branded as traitor. That the
present administration will make any
dishonorable concessions to British ra
pacity we do not believe. 1t will de-
inand ."nothing but what is clearly right
and submit to nothing that is wrong
,ChiHicothe Advertiser.
Cheese is now a staple article oftrad,
in this city; market for the Soutl
and West being opened here, in conse