The Yazoo Democrat., 1845-11-26
return from the Convention. Ticksburg
Sentinel Of the 18th inst
From the Washington Un'oH'
OREGON.

IHE WHOLE OF OREGVN' ON
this is the only alternative as an issue OF
territorial right. We wholly deny the breaF
in the American title at latitude 49 deg
We hold that our title from AZ deg. to o4
deg. 40 min. is one title, and as we believe,
perfect title against all the world. As the
question has been discussed for quarter
of a century between US and England, we
are not aware Of one argument-scarcely
one phrase PurPorting to be an argument
which carries our title up to 49 deg. and
there stops. We claim as matter of right
the territory drained by the Columbia riv-
er. In the view of the law of nations, this
territory being unoccupied, has its distlnc-
tive character and unity as one region, in
the fact that il is so drained. And as one
region, we either own it, or we do not own
it.
Away, then, once for all, with such nom
sense as the claim of England north Of
40 deg. is better than our claim" Let us
at least know clearly, and state accurately,
what we do in this matter, If it have ev-
er been deemed erpedient as matter OF
compromise, and to hush up dispute } to
giue array to England a certain portion OF
that land, all of which we consider ours !;
or if from any other motives of high ma
tional concernment, it may have been
deemed wise to compromise to question OF
possession, let US say SO, and put our past
action on that ground. But let us make no
attempt to cloak our policy under Preten-
ded inferiority of our title to the land so sac
rifced. No such pretence can save us.
Again, we must speak to the democratic
party OF the United States. But we dare
to hope that many liberal whig will feel
the force of the appeal which the interests
Of his country will make TO his patriotism
on this important question. We especial
" address ourselves however, at this time,
to the democratic party, because of the pc
culiar circumstances which have connected
them in past times with the question o
Oregon. They became peculiarly connec
ted with it by their public avowals neal
eighteen months ago. The Baltimore con
vention expressed the deepest interest ii
the territory of Oregon. In the canvass
the presidential election, the same decided
sentiments were manifested. The Presi
dents first prompt, strong, manly word, ii
full response to that convention, was, "tC
the Oregon our right is clear and unques
tOnable."
Lettha word be spoken again by the
man whom millions of freemen have calleC
to occupy the "great central post of the
civilization of popular power" and wh'
doubts but that the democracy of the whole
Union will repeat it-with full determi
nation to stand by the rights of the coun
ry? When that word goes forth from th'
constituted authorities of the nation, "Ou
right to Oregon is clear and unquestiOna
bic. ",who doubts that it will 60 through tht
length and breadth of the land, and that i
will be hailed, as it goes, by the democrat
ic party with one unanimous amen? Ant
what thenl We answer this then-tht
democracy of this country will stand to it
word. 1t will not finch. Nor will th'
honest, patriotic, and undetermined whig flincl
either.
We observe that several journals arr
greatly occupied with rumOrs of PROPOSE
7 ton submitted, or about to be submitted
r by the English government, that Oregon
: shall reman for some twenty years lOngel
under the stipulation of 1918, in the join
) occupation of the two nations, with the un
derstanding that, at the close of the stipula
} ted period, the Oregon cOlonists may de-
) eide for themselves whether they will ther
, exist as an independent nation, or whether
! they will belong to the United States or tc
England. A few days ago we took Occa.
sion to show how this theory of joint Occu
patton works in practice. We then show,
ed that it resulted through the surreptitiou,
agency of the Hudson Bay Company, ia
the iextension Of English law over the
whole unoccupied territory :. while ever,