New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-12-09
The Oregon Question.

Houso oF Representatives on w ednesday last by
Mr. c. 7. Ipgersoll 1t will be seen that these gen.
,emen en-, out pretty large job for our Government
alike in the way OF expense 10 be incurred, land TO
he Granted 10 themselves none OF your common
Aerarian driblets of loo acres each, but mile
square a; least. and the British to be driven ont of
the region altogether Considering tina, these sub
iects of q naughty foreign government have saved
many of our adventures from absolute starvation
treated them all with admitted and unwonted kind
ness and now their creditors 10 a large amount,
we think il would be as well for our fire eaters Just
to pay up their little bills before cutting the hroats
of the creditors The other however, seems often
the more convenient process. Such glorious coun.
/ try as the memorialisis represen, Oregon TO be
ought 10 support more than one family TO the square
mile to say nothing Of the wonderful trade and fish
cries OF the Pacific
Memorial OF Citizens nj The United Saes residing ia The
Territory Of Oregon praying 0r the establishment Of
distinct territorial government 10 embrace oregon and
b ats adjacent SedcOdsfS, nc.
To the Senate and House of OF toe United
State OF America in Congress assembled;
Your memorialists citizens OF the United States,
and residents of Oregon Territory, having assem-
bled in for the purpose oil celebrating on their
domestic affairs desire to lay before Your honorable
body statement Of their numbers, wants and condition.
together with description OF the country "hcn tacy
have come far 10 occupy. Tney desire also TO ask Of
Congress such legislative aid may supply their
md accord with the dignity Of the great nation OF
which they part.
We know that settlement ia present young ard
feeble position remote and secluded that some oil
our counymen high in the esteem OF the nation. have
described this territory as scanned with volcanic noun
tans separated by intervals Of arid deserts We have
heard too that naughty government on foreign con
tnent right to possess herself OF Oregon ana
that our own national government listens quietly her
agtl p
long waited hoping that the justice and wisdom o: the
national Congress would have extended to US, Tor our
government and protection, that political system which
has resulted in the creation OF many noble. indepenc
cp Sa,es-encourascd in this hope well by the lively
sympathy OF the people by the efforts al legislation for
benefit made in the Congress OF the United States
Disappointed in this hope agitated By the uncertainties
of national disputes assaiable from the ocean on one
side and surrounded elsewhere by warke Indians and
liable to be crushed from every quarter; moreover i'm
PEELED by the necessity Of domestic government and IN.
! erna polce-wc have according TO the lmmeinorlal
usage of Americans formed for ourselves government
and enacted laws information concerning whch has al
ready been transmitted to the seat OF government We
have present residing amongst us an indian agent.
commissioned by the War Department, in whom resides
the only trace of the national authority found within this
territory. Your memoralsts earnestly desire to impress
you with the dangers by which they encompasscd
and the difficulties which perpleX them in the absence
of all government adequate 10 their defence from foes
abroad ard the preservation of internal peace and order
We fully appreciate the blessings enjoyed by all who live
under the wise republican system OF tue United States
how necessary il is 10 rapid growth and pros
pcry and the future glory OF the whole nation, that
we should be embraced in the bonds of that happy
Union Yet confident in the Of the magnificent
country of which we have possessed ourselves, stnu-
lated by the prospect Of commercial splendor which
burst upon every OF the Pacific ocean, and
confirmed by the successful daring of orr foretahers
der favorable circumstances we prepare ourselves
create nation IN the wilderness we do this,
deemng il neither safe disnited 10 linger in doubt
and dependence while the maternal government receives
petitions with il!disecmbcd denial aud neglect; nor
there wanting whence we shall rapidly draw
both strength and population 10 sustain ourselves in in
dependence and With honor.
A majority of your menoriasts have reached their
present homes after raversing the continent from the
OF the Atlantic the shores of the Pacific ocean,
They have been much impressed with the grand features
of The country and orcbiy led 10 appreciate its import
position in the geographical OF the con
tiuen,. Our Northern continent is indeed formed with
advantages possessed by the others. and
aed for the perfect development of the humanrace
Three erea, valleys compose its vast interior These are
the valleys of the Mississippi the St Lawrence and the
Mackenzie Rivers. The irs sopng toward the Gut oi
Mexico the second the North Atlantic the third to
the hyperboreen These valleys divided from
another rather connected together. by verdant
prairie ridges. No mountains appear anywhere within
them and the whole may be considered as vast undu-
lating plane Two chains Of mountains, only, traverse
the contncntthe Rocky Mountains, parallel with and
contiguous the Pacific ocean, and the Aleghanes. SINH
larry situated the Atlantic On the maritime slope of
the Aeghapies the thirteen original States OF the
| Union; that of the Rocky Mountains, Oregon and
California; The surface OF the continent then consists
of this vast interior plain ranked towards either ocean
by belt of maritime territory. That on the Atlantic
about 100 miles in width that on the PACING
| about 700 miles.
OF these divisions tho valley of TIE Mississippi ia in.
cluded entirely within national domain, embracing
100000 square leagues is OF uniform calcareous tCrma
ton and upon the whole the magnificent dwelling
place marked ont by God for mans abode. Here is tue
natural home and seat OF empire OF the American race
whose great and infinite destined
TO develop and control the o. the great oceans
on either hand These energies are already spread lar
/ and wide upon the Atlantic. The time s fastened on
when they shall find larger field, more ample scope,
and far greater Development over the broader eXpanse
and more populous shores OF the Pacific.
Your rncmorialists would the people OF Amer
ca that the channel OF egress from the interior OF our
continent mast from the nature OF the country. pass
through the heart of this territory ascending the branch
the Missouri and descending by those oil the Cot
urnba Along the north Of the Columbia, Tor
GOO miles magnificent islands everywhere face the land
which is nderted with bays and harbors. riva!lnc in
size ard excellence those OF the Chesapeake OF New
York and New England The waters adjacent teen
with the fish whogc capture has enriched the peope OF
Northern America and the West OF Europe Whale,
Goldfish salmon and herrrgs abound IN all the penttude
which prevailed in the Atlantic hundred years ago
climate mild genial and free from cmpests invites
the mariner and fisherman to hasten and possess them
selves OF much undeveloped wealth MS erea mar
te region eventually control the commercial al
fairs OF the Pacific embrace the mars OF naval cons,ruc.
ton supply lie marine, and accessible TO arc found
inc XbRust!be supplies OF all necessary Materials Ihcse
countries lie within the parallels OF latitude winch
include The British isles; and voyage no longer than
that from New ork 10 f!HNrc across UhIlq'i oSt'i
places the navigator in the rich commercial empire Of
Japan.
we cannot enumerate in detail the myrads OF com
mercal articles with which the contpenis and Islands
of the Pacific swarm or which the commerce OF the
would has forty centuries fed and tostored ITSELF ana
for the exclusive possession of which the nations OF
Chrsenlom have for four centuries wagcd incossant
war on one another. Thus however we discover at
oucc-tnat Oregon Territory furnishes to the United
states the ready of securing TO herself the mark
cts of the Pacific and Indian oceans OF pcaceaoy avo!d,
inc the fiery jealouses which vex the Atlantic and
quietly gathering into her bosom that vast and golden
commerce TO possess share oi which the nations OF
Europe have Redeemed the ocean with each others
blood Nor do we consider the commercial grandeur
the Pacific yet escaped from the SHE'LL OF can a..
sign even in imagination limit 20 its expansion, when
the genius of the American people shall transport lis
shores and abroad TO the NATIONS the tempting
productions OF the Mississippi valley Vicinity OF emma,
and easy intercourse. placid ocean VII soon seaN
the excusiycncss which has characterized That nation
Your memorals;s regret that their fellow citizens are
much msinforIned the accessible nature OF tue
country between them and for symmetry is every
where common in The Creator mas graded t!c
intervening space as il anticipating the future recessi-