Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-01-07
THE NEW TERRITORY OF NE 1,
es HRASKA. IL ~

BRASkA. 1T i
We arc glad to see by the COMPRESSION
al reports, that Mr.. Douglass of Illinois,
has given notice Of his intention 10 INTRO
ducc a bill for the establishment Of a nev
territorial government west Of the state
Missouri. This, we presume, is in accor
dence with the recommendation con,ainet
in the report oftho Secretary OF War. A.
the snbjec, is an interesting one, and like
ly to become still more SO by its connection
with that Of the Oregon, with which il Is
closely identified, we append that part q
Mr.. wilkins report which relates 10 it,
"ln consequence Of The conflicting
claims Of foreign nation to the territory
West of the Rocky Mountains, Congress
has exhibited reluctance to organize i
under territorial government. Entertain
ing myself no doubt Of the proprieiy anda
expediency OF the measure, jesti6able by
Legitimacy OF our claim, shall say nothing
further on tho subject, bu, will bring ,e
YOUR attention something nearer homo,
The Immediate valleys Of the head
streams Of tho Arkansas, the Platte and the q
Yellow Stone rivers, have much rich aho !
valuable land. The Platts or Nebraska.
being the central stream leading into OF
from the grea. South Pass, would very
properly furnish name TO the territory,
wmoh | propose suggesting 10 be e ec,se q
into territorial government, in connec-
iion with, and prelim nary TO the extension
in that direction, Of our military posts.
would confine the Nebraska Territory Is
our und,sputed possessions on this sideo
the Rocky Mountains. Its boundary lirs
would commence at tie mouth Of In
Kanzas, and run up the Missouri river
the mouth Of the Runing-water river, an
would pur 3ue that stream to the head of il,
northern branch, and thence dua west o
The Wind river chnia, From this point,
turning southwark, the line would continue
,long the Windrange, and the main chain
IF the Rocky Mountains. TO the head OF
| he Arkansas, and following that stream 10
he mouth OF the Pawnce Fork, would pass
~ the heads of tho Neosha and Usage nv
RS, again to the mouth Of the kanzas,
The eastern ssoiion Of lhe region en-
,raced by these boundaries, from the Mis-
souri, river westward for two hundred anG
fifty miles. is OF great agricultural beauty
and facilities, tn ckly timbered on TIE nu
nerous tributaries Of the Kanzas, Osag
md Neosha rivers, and in fertility equal 4
to the best land in Missouri. From the
INIT OF this fedile portion, westward, TO-
he space Of 400 niles the country is ell
rely covered with rioh grasses, which in.
.,rove in quantity and quality up to the
snow of the mountains. a& Vel
The limits Of this territory include the
extreme head Of navigation of,he Arkansas,
all the . c1 lines 81 co communication wiz
California, the road from our frontier 70
| the Mexican boundary and Santa Fe,
and also an excelen, and more direct pass,
to Oregon, discovered by recent explora7
ton, about one hundred and City miles
southwark Of the great South Pass.
| Although the number OF Inhabitants en-
gagged in agriculture and other pursuits
within those limits do not afford the amour :
of population at all adequate, a. present,
to the formation OF full and coEp!c!4
territorial government, yet such an ipcho
ate or preliminary organization might he
now adopted as would be necessary to ex-
tend the control and authority OF the gen
eral government, and to throw its prolec-
tion around our emigranis TO Oregon in
their passage through this country.
| A territorial organization Of the coun
try, and a military force placed on the very
summit whence flow all the great stream,
Of the North American Continent, either 1T
to the Gulf Of Mexico or the Pacific
Ocean, would no longer leave our claim t.
the Oregon Territory barren or uniena
BILE claim. Its possession and occupancy
would thenceforlh not depend upon the ma
val superiority on the Pacific Ocean,
Troops and supplies from the projec,ed
Nebraska Territory would be able to con
tend for its possession with any lo;ce com
ing from the sea. Natural obstructions
in the navigation Of the Columbia river
would enable settlements gradually 10 ap
proach the coast, in defiance (f i, should
come to thaD Of any havy in the world
The time, indeed, might not be distant,
when these very settlements would supply
all the elements which might be needed. oil
naval strength, to give US our na,ura. and
proper position an the Pacific Ocean. In
carrying out these views, would recon
mend an appropriation Of 100000 for
erecting the military posts from the Ms.
souri, river TO the Rocky Mountains"
The following is stated 10 be the Origin