The Port-Gibson correspondent., 1845-08-06
Territorial Occupation of Ore
gon.

RPOur right TO Oregonia admitted without
distinction of party. All admit our proprietary
right TO it-all say i, is ours. Why not then
extend the authority Of our government over i? !?
| II il be ours, why not allow the protecting
wing Of government 10 shield our people who
are now residents of Oregon, and those who
are prepared TO emigrate from the States TO
make Oregon their home! What is the argu-
| ment Of those who admi, that Oregon is ours, ,
yet op pose all action with view 10 its imme-
date occupation by the United States! Why,
it's simply this-"Wait few yssrs say they.
''and the enterprise Of our people will fill Ore
con with American citizens, and then our
rights there will be secured without any gov
1 ernmenfal Interference" Oregon is TO fall il TO
our lap without any effort o. our government, #
we but wait few years. How generous are
these men! four people wish 70 go 70 Ore
gon they may go, and settle there and improve
our territory, but they must do SO at their own
risk, and at their own cost! And when they
shall, by their own unpaid efforts, have exiin-
guished British power and influence in our ter
rltory, when after years Of toll, suffering, and
priv alton, our enierprising emgrants shall have
Ohtai ned foothold in Oregon, then we will
protect them! when they are able 10 protect
themselves, governmental aid will be extended
to them Such is the policy Of few states
men, who emphaticalIy assert that Oregon IS
ours. Oregon will get into our possession by
and-by, like ripe fruit will fall in boys hat or
girls apron when the tree il slightly agita,ed.
But suppose that after our people have settled
Oregon, without any governmental protection,
and that they should annhilate British power,
and should then recoIlect the neglect Of the pa
rent country, and should feel disposed to as
sume the attitude Of an Independent nationali.
ty-what right then should we have TO extend
our government and laws over the territory
The people Of Oregon would be nder no obli-
cations Of gratitude for aid during their terrific
rial weakness. They might apply to us the
language fsome Of the distinguished friends OF
american independence, 70 the mother coun-
try-they might say to US that We grew, not BY
your neglect, but in spite oft.
We DO not perceive that there can be the
least objection to the passage Of the bill intro
duced to the last Congress, for the extension Of
our government authority and protection over
Oregon. Oregon is ours, and the passage Of
| the bill would not, in our opinion, interfere in
the slightest manner with any governmental
negotiations now in progress, nor until the terms
Of any Joint occupancy with the British gov
ernment. Its false to suppose that we Cannot
protect our own citizens in our own territory
within the acknowledged limits OF our national
jurisdiction, lest England should take offence
It is the duty of the government Of the United
i States, great commercial nation, TO secure the
Pacific coast Of this continent. It is our duty
as citizens Of this most free and liberal govern
ment in the world, not to allow less liberal gov
, ernments TO extend their possessions and laws
+ upon the continent Of North America. We
; owe it TO the patriots who fought and bed that
] we might be free, we owe il to ourselves, we
owe it to our children, to do all in our power
not to allow any entertainments upon the limits
Of free american territory; and TO embrace
every equitable and humane opportunity to en-
large the bounds Of freedom. Il is strange tha t
. there was single Senator or Representative
in Congress who could justify our cuIp able me-
glect, and oppose every effort to afford protec-
tive action on the part Of our government; thus
playing intentionally, or under the bind i'm.
pulse Of party prejudice into the hands Of the
British government.
The whole territory is at this moment in the
possession of the British. The distribution Of
sOldiery, arms, and munitions is surprising;
ard the extent Of this military defence in the
disputed territory, is constantly increasing. We
ask the Congress, ensuing, to pass the bill,
or some other bill that will have an effect to
settle the controversy. The people demand
forthwith territorial government for Oregon,
and thus save that valuable region to it's right
full owner.