Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-02-20
tIitt,pb.N.


map 81 the whole cnmntry Vest of til
Rocky Molniaia :, bet cen the parable
u. 40 md 5S deg go IT nor.h la,itud
81 after tn" delivery Of this lecture
No copied an ND tract oi Ii t,on the Boz,
ton Cou'isr. Ne now c"py an exirdc
from the Lecture t.el,:
Il hayr endeavor,d { gvo you Tn,
material facts IN reaIIu, To- or claim I,
territory w"st "f he Rocky Mountains
aud to the present stint" Of the dispute
with Great Britain in relation TO i,
There is evidently u lamen,ablv ignor.
aocs upon the subj CT. both among those
who call loudly fm action aud thos.
whose position gives tnem the 20 wer H.
ACT and II seems 10 me thai many, both
II aud Out OF Congress, who are mos
ciamor9us for taking i.nmejiate possess
ION of the whole territory Of Greg IN >
kn'w little, if any thing, about the rso,
'nerIsoi ihs question:. There are, a,
tho present time. NUMEROUS es,ablish>
ments Of Brilish subjects. all in Tn.
service Of the Hudson Bay Com ,an,
scattered from the mouth OF the Umquo
river, IN latitude ~ 80. northward 10
IN" Russian BORDERS. Over these, by
sct oil Parl arnenf, in 1891. Grea, Britain
extended the laws OF Canada and the
jurisdiction OF hor courts, and author zed
the appointment OF necessary officers for
executing these laws and enforcing this
Jurisdi ton. But this was done with
express reservaiion Of all the right. a.
Cured TO the Uulted States by the CON
vention OF 1918 and no attempt has ey-
or been made by British authorities to
inter ere with American citizens in that
quarter. The Americans are settled i'm
mo immediate vicinity Of The British cs-
'aoi'shnen's; In iact. the people OF both
Nations are IN manner ming ed lore.
ther. The number Of American settlers
Is on the Increase, by continue. immicra
ton from the States. They hold the
i'nds upon which they settle only by IN.
lsn"re oi possession, and are governed
only oy such laws or regulations n, they
choose 10 adopt If the controversy a
oou' TINS territory is to remain in abey-
ance, It may DO necessary for Congress
pass laws Tor the governm mt of
American cilIzens residing within il;
out how such laws are to he executed
Cannot readily be perceived, and what i,
10 be The result Of such an anomalous
STATE Of things will not venture TO pre-
dict NO stronger proof need be adduced
VI 'he ignorance. or nothing worse.
that has prevailed upon TINS subject in
""' halohai councils. than the fact that
s'ocs ioI repeated attempts have been
n'aoe Ia Congress-bil!s reported and de
os'ed-ior establishing a tea rllorial gov
eminent, AMI extending the laws and
jurisdiction OF the ULited States over the
whole territory Of Oregon SUCH n
measure would have been a gross viola
10" OF existing treaty s,ipulations, and
,raught with all the consequences Of a
hostile act against friendly and powers
full nation.
"Ihe hrst day Of the present session
oil Congress. Dr.. Duncan, a member from
ohio, gave notice OF his intention TO bring
IN Dill Tor taking immediate poss ession
OF Inc whole TERRITORY of Oregon" He
subsequently introduced a bill for this Dur.
pose, which was referred to the Commit.
lee on the Territories, and bv them
mended and reported to the House. " her.
was ordered TO be printed. This bin
provides Ter taking possession of the
whole region west of the Rocky Noun
'aIns from lat. AZ deg to 81 Deg. 40 sec.
ana extending over II GU. laws and iur;,.
d'ctioa. Can any man in his sober sen.
ses believe that Great Britain will stand
tamc'y by and see such a meas re "a ,;ed
oul! She has repeatedly claimed and
maintained rights in this lcrrito-v \ fore
inc Whole civilized world she has eniov- !
Cd these rights and exercised undis,u1bsd
authority within the disputed limits for
nearly nal century Hundreds of her
SUD- CTS nave settled and are now living !
mere under her laws. Is it probable i |
w''h'n the scope Of possibilities, that
nation mat more than fifty years ago eY. |
pended millions of dollars in prenar;oo ~
redress an alleged wrong done 10 one ri
her subjects, under doubtful ci,crms,o
anu 10 regain single spot, said TO |
nave been taken from that sui ect a, Moo,
Ma within the territory in question--is i, |
possible mat, with her pride and her now, |
CT apparently undimInished, she will how |
permit the "hrts territory TO be- taken nos.
re sion oil, and her subjects compelIed to
submit 10 foreign authority, or be ferc,blv |
expelled from their homes, without even
struggle! There is not the shadow If = |
doubt in my mind tina, such an at,emot
m'de AMI persI ted in, would cause an i'm
mediate rupture, and bring on war be
'ween the Two countries. as surely az i'll
we were TO take possession Of the island
o, Jamaica, or the city Of Montreal
There are. doubt moi. in some paris Of
the Union, political aspironts and political
dema,g"gue'--men of desperate fortunes
who believe that any chdngo would, TO
nm, be for the better, and therefore de. !
SIRE 10 provoke a war with Great Britain. !
reckless OF consequences to the country.
so Iong as their individual interests are
promoted. But hope tina, the number OF
such Is small, and trust that their couusels
VIII not be listened to. This controversy
may sasIly be made the pretext for war
with Great BrilsiD. il war is desired bn,