The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1845-12-09
Are we 10 have War about
Oregon!

The givings out from Washington Of
the course which those who hold the
reins of government for the time being
intended to pursue in regard TO the Ore
gon question, have excited considerable
apprehension in the public mind, of dis
turbance of the present peaceful relations
existing between the United States and
Great Britain; and the question is often
asked, 'are we to have war with Eng
land!'
For ourselves. we cannot believe that
any two nations whose interests are so
closely blended as those. of the United
States and Great Britain, whose interests
must be so deeply and seriously affected
by such calamity,-whOse people pos
sess so much good sense and sound dis
cretion as do those of both these nations
and whose public opinion has such a
controlling influence upon their respect
I'VE rulers, will suffer them to commit
snch an act of folly.
We are not going TO advocate the Brit
ish claim 10 any part of Oregon, nor de-
ny our own to the whole oft; but admit
ing il to be a perfect title, what are we
TO gain as a nation by war with Eng
land at this time! Shall we establish our
title to the country in disputed Shall we
secure exclusive possession of ii! In our
humble judgement, we shall do neither
by declatraion of war. 1t is well known
that both countries have claimed this
territory ever since the last war; and that
negotiation, upon negotiation has been
enterend into for the purpose of settling
the respective claims of the two countries
but with no lavoroble result; and further
that a compromise, joint occupancy
of the country, for the last twenty seven
years, has existed by agreement
Under this arrangement, for many
wears the British settlers were more nu-
merous than ours but for four or five
years past, the tide of emigration from
the United States has set across the
Rocky Mountains with constantly in
creasing strength until it is probable that
full one half OF the inhabitants are Ameri-
crns or emigrants from the States. We
know that in lS4l, the Secretary of the
Navy took measures to encourage emf
grafton to Oregon in order TO counteract
the influence and the power of the Brit
ish population there, and had the policy
adopted been quietly pursued, as it was
intended it should be, by the government
the Americans would, even by this time
have considerably out numbered, the
British settlers; and in ten years more
the country would have been ours by
possession without shadow of quar-
rel with England in regard to it. Ameri-
cans going there would have carried
with ihem their love of liberty and at
tachment to q republican government, and
whether they might have chosen to attach
themselves to the United States or to
have formed an independent government
for themselves; it is certain they would
never have consented to come under
British rule.
Why was not this wise policy contin-
ued.
Why when we were silently, but rapid
ly getting possession of the territoty, need
we make a rumpus about 1t, and talk of
using force. Did we suppose that it was
easier, or more manly or more wise to
seize upon it, than to wait the operation
of those silent causes which were sure TO
place ii in our hands, in short time,
without word Of disturbance! Not so,
no such reason operated upon those who
have stirred up this pool of bitter waters.
Their object was to make little polit-
cal capital out of the cry. They knew
that the masses love the idea ofgetting te =
ritOry OF aggrandizing the nation by ex-
tending its boundaries, and whether the
cry which thus won their favor, should
lead TO war and the loss of the whole
territory or not,they cared not so it served
the purpose Of putting the m into power.
s'Oregon and Texas" whether cabalistic
words TO lead the masses in 1914. The
great object 10 be gained by those who
used them was,not these territories, but the
President and the possession Of the spoils
Of offices. The cry is kept up in order
TO strengthen the powers that be.-U S
GGzefee.