Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-12-11

tribes occupying the country through which they
pass, recommend that suitable number of stock
AIDES and block-house forts be erected along the
usual route between our frontier settlements Oh the
Missouri and the Rocky mountains and that an
adequate force of mounted Themen be raised to
guard and protect them on their Journey. The i'm
mediate adoption of these recommendations by
Congress will violate the provisions of the
isting treaty. 1t will be doing nothing more for
Amercan.czens than British laws have long since
done for British subjects in the same territory
It requires several months to perform the voyage
by sea from the Atlantic States to Oregon, and al
though we have large number of whale ships in
the Pacific but few of them afford an opportunity
OF lnerchangng Intelligence, without great deay,
between our settlements in that distant region and
the United States An overland mail is believed
to be entirely practicable and the importance of
establishing such mail, at least once a month is
submitted to the favorable consideration of Con-
gross.
1t is submitted to the wisdom Of Congress to de-
termine whether at their present session, and until
after the expiration of the years notice. any other
measures may be adopted, consistently with the
convention Of 1927, for the security Of our rights,
and the government and protection of our citizens
Oregon. That it will ultimately be wise and prop
er TO make liberal grants of land to The patriotic
pioneers who, amidst prvations and dangers lead
the way through savage tribes nhabling the vast
wilderness intervening between our frontier settle
ments and Oregon, and who cultivate, and are ev-
er ready to defend the soil, am fully satisfied To
doubt whether they will obtain such grants
as the convention between the United States and
Great Britain shall have ceased to exist, would be
TO doubt the Justice of Congress ; but, pending the
years notice, it is worthy of consideration whether
stipulation to this effect may be made, consistently
with the spirit of that convention.
The recommendations which have made as 10
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 OBJ
Iect, it shall meet with my hearty concurrence.
AT the end Of the years notice, should Congress
think proper to make the provision for giving that
notice, we shall have reached period when the
national rights of Oregon must either be abandoned
or hrmly maintained. That they cannot be abHn-
doned without sacrifice of both national honor
and interest, is too clear to admit of doubt.
Oregon is a part of the North American continent
TO which 1t is confidently affirmed, the title of the
United States is tho best now in existence, For
the grounds on which that title rests, refer YOU TO
the correspondence of the late and present Secre-
tarY of State with tho p-:-I iUnpUleHtlHTy uuTlng
the negotiation. The British proposition of COM
promise, which would make the Columbia the line
south of forty-nine degrees, with triAng addition
OF detached territory 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 Columbia and all the vaua-
BILE harbors on the Pacific, never, for mo-
mcnt, be entertained by the United States, without
an abandonment of their just and clear territorial
rights, their own selfrespect, and the national hon
or. For the information Of Congress- commune
cate herewith the correspondence which took place
between the two governments during the late
gotaton.
The rapid extension of our settlements over
territories heretofore unoocupied the addition of
new States TO our confederacy the expansion of
free principles and our rising greatness as a nationg
are attracting the attention Of the Powers of Eu,
rope and lately the doctrine has been preached
in some of them, of 1" balance of power" on this
continent, TO check our Advancement. The United
States sincerely desil Of preserving relations of
good understanding with all nations, cannot in ST.
lence permit any European interference on the
North American continent and should any such
interference be attempted, will be ready to resist
it at any and all hazards
1t is we'll known TO the American people and to
all nations, that this government has never inter-
fered with the relations subsisng between other
governments. We have never made ourselves par
ties to their wars their alliances VIC have not
sought their territories by conquest we have not
mingled with parties in their domestic struggles
and believing our own form Of government 10 be
the best, we have never attempted TO propagate it
by diplomacy, or by force. We may claim on this
continent like exemption from European interfe-
renee. The nations of America are equally sove-
reign and Independent with those of Europe, They
possess the rights, independent of all foreign
interpostion, to make war, to conclude peace, and
TO regulate their internal affairs The people Of
the United States cannot, therefore, view with in
difference attempts Of European pow ers 10 interfere
with the Independent action Of the nations on this
continent. The American system Of government
is entirely different from that of Europe. Jealousy
he fip Mt IF
one of them might become too powerful for the
rest, has caused them anxiouslY to desire the es-
adjustment OF what they term the " balance Of
power" 1t cannot be permitted to have any appli-
cation on the North American continent, and es-
pecally to the United States. We must ever main
tain the principle, that the people of this continent
alone have the right to decide their own destiny, -
Should any portion Of them, constituting an indie
pendent state propose to unite themselves with
our confederacy, this will be a question for them
and us 10 determine, without any foreign interposi-
ton. We can never consent that European Pow
ers shall interfere TO prevent such union because
it might disturb the balance Of power" which
they may desire to maintain upon this continent -
Nodr quarter of century ago the principle was
distinctly announced to the world in the annual
message ofone Of my predecessors, that " the A
merican continents, by the free and independent
condition which they have assumed and maintain,
are henceforth not to be considered subjects for
future colonization by any European Power. -
This principle will apply with greatly increased
force, should any European Power attempt to es-
tablish any new colony in North America In the
existing circumstances Of the world, the present is
deemed proper occasion TO reiterate and reafIirm
the principle avowed by Mr. Monroe. and TO state
my cordial concurrence in its wisdom and sound pol
ICY The roassertion of this principle, especially
in reference to North America, is at this dav but
the promulgation of policy which no European
Power should cherish the disposition to resist
Existing rights of every European Nation should
be respected ; but it is due alike to our safety and
our interests, that the efficient protection Of our
laws should be extended over our whole territorial
limits, and that it should be distinctly announced to
the world as settled policy, that no future Eu-
ropean colony dominion SHALL with our consent,
DO planted or established on any part ofthe North
American continent.
h A question has recently arisen under the tenth
article of the subsisng treaty between the United
States and Prussia. By this article, the consuls of
the two countries have the right TO sit as Judges
and arbrators in such differences as NAV arise
between the captains and crews Of the vessels be-
longing to the nation whose interests are commit
ted 10 their charge, without the interference ofthe
local authorities, unless the conduct rhe crews
or of the captain should disturb the order or tran
o,,;Iity tho countrv or tho said consnls sbould