The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1845-12-09

tant region diu tifS OlItSu CtotCS' AL
overland mail is believed to be entirely
practicable; and the importance of such a
mail, al least once a month, is submitted
TO the favorable consideration of Con-
grcss.
1t is submitted to the wisdom OF Con-
gress to determine whether, at the present
session, and until the expiration of the
years notice, any other mearures may be
adopted, consistently with the convention
of 1927, for the security of our rights,
and the government and protection of our
citizens in Oregon. That it will ultimate
ly be wise and proper to make liberal
grants of land to the patriotic pioneers,
who, amidst privations and dangers, lead
the way through savage tribes inhabiting
the vast wilderness intervening between
our frontier settlements and Oregon, and
who cultivate, and are ever ready to de-
fend the soil, am fully satisfied. To
doubt whether they will obtain such
grants as soon as the convention between
the United States and Breat Britain shall
have ceased to exist, would be to doubt
the Justice Of Congress; but, pending
the years notice, it is worthy of conside-
ration whether a stipulation to this effect
may be made, consistently with the spirit
of that convention.
The recommendations which / have
made, as to the best manner of securing
our rights in Oregon, are submitted to
Congress with great Difference. Should
they, in their wisdom, devise any other
mode better calculated to accomplish the
same object, it shall meet with my hear
ty concurrence.
At the end Of the years notice, we
shall have reached period when the ma
tional rights in Oregon must either be a.
bandoned or firmly maintained. That
they cannot be abandoned without sacri-
flee of both national honor and interest,
is too clear to admit Of doubt.
Oregon is part of the North Ameri-
can continent, to which it is confidently
affirmed, the title of the United States is
the best now in existence. For the
grounds on which that title rests, | refer
you to the correspondence of the late and
present Secretary of State with the Bri-
fish plenipotentiary during the negotia-
ton. The British proposition of COM
promise, which would make the Colum-
bia the line south of forty-nine degrees,
with trifing addition of detached terri
tory to the United States, north of that
river. and would leave on the British side
two-thirds of the whole Oregon territory,
including the free navigation Of the Co
lumbia and all the valuable harbors on the
Pacific, can never, for a moment, be en-
tertained by the United States, without an
of their Just an clear terrific
rial rights, their own self-respect, and the
national honor. For the information of
Congress, | communicate herewith the
which took place between
the two governments during the late ne
gotiation.
The rapid extension of our settlements
over our territories heretofore unoccupied;
the addition of new States to our confede-
racy; the expansion Of free principles,
and our rising greatness as a nation, are
attracting the attention Of the Powers Of
Europe; and lately the doctrine has been
broached in some Of them, Of ''balance
of power" on this continent, to check our
advancement. The United States, SIN
cercly desirous of persevering relations
Of good understanding with all nations,
cannot in silence permit any European in
reference on the North American CONT
nent; and should any such interference
be attempted, will be ready to resist it at
and all hazards.
1t is well known to the American peo-
pie and to all nations, that this govern
ment has never interfered with the rela-
tons of other governments. We have
never made ourselves parties to their wars
or their alliances; we have not sought
their territories by conquests; we have
not mingled with parties in their domes-
tic struggles; and believing our own form
of government to be the best, we have ne
yer attempted to propagate il by intrigues,
by diplomacy, or by force. We may
claim on this continent a like exemption
from European interference. The ma
tons of America are equally sovereign
and Independent with those Of Europe.
They possess the same rights, indepen-
dent Of all foreign interposition, to make
war, to conclude peace, and to regulate
their internal affairs. The people of the
United States cannot, therefore, view with
Indifference attempts of European pow
ers to interfere with the independent ac-
ton of the nations on this continent.-
The American system of government is
entirely different from that Europe, lest
any one of them might become too pow
erful for the rest, has caused them an
xiously to desire the establishment of
what they term the ''balance of power. :"
1t cannot be permitted to have any appli-
cation on the North American continent,
and especially TO the United States. We
must ever maintain the principle, that the