Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-11-22

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TaE WHOLE OF Osreos, OR NON r--thsa
Is he only. alternative q m issue Of tsrri-
tovial gil. We wholly deny the bssek in
the American tile at latitude 10 deg. We
hold that our title from AZ deg. to "a deg.
20 min. is one tale, and, as we believe, q
perfect title against al the world. As the
question has been discussed for quarter
OF century between US and England, we
are not aware Of one argument-scarcely
Of one phrase purporting 10 be an .argu-
men' (which carries our title up to 40
deg. and there stops. We claim as matter
Of right the territory drained by the CO.
iumbia river. In the view of the law of
nations, this territory being unoccupied,
has its distinctive character and unity as one
region, in the fact that il is 50 drained
And rs one region, we either own it, Or
we do not own it.
Away, then, once for all, with such NOM
sense as '.'lhe claim Of England north o. 40
deg. is better than our claim!" Let us al
least know clearly, and state accurately,
what we do in this matter. Ii it have
ever been deemed erped;snf Gas matter Of
compromise, and to hush up dispute) TO
gire atcny TO England certain portion Of
that land, all OF which we consider ours;
OF il, from any other mott, es Of high naiion-
al concernment, il may have been deemed
wise to compromise the question OF pos
session, let us say SO, and PIT our past ac-
ton on that ground. But let us make no
attempt to cloak our policy under pre-
tended inferiority Of our title to the land
50 sacrificed. No such pretencc can save
US.
Again, we must speak TO the democratic
party of the United States. But we dare
to hope that many liberal wing feel the
force Of the appeal which the interests Of
his country will make to his patriotism on
this important question. We especially
address ourselves, however, at this time,
to the democratic party, because Of the pc
culiar circumstances which have connectea
them in past times with the question Of
Oregon. They became peculiarly con-
nec,ed will, il by their public avowals near
eighteen months ago. The Baltimore con-
vel,ion expressed the deepest interest in
the Territory Of Oregon. In the canvass
Of the presidential election, the same de-
cided sentiments were manifested. The
Presidents first prompt, strong, manly
! word, in full response 10 that convention,
was, "to the Oregon our right is clear and
unquesionable."
Let that word be spoken again by the
mam whom millions OF treemen have called
TO occupy the "great central post of the
civilization Of popular power . and who
doubts but that the democracy Of the whole
Union will repeat it-with fun deter.
mination 10 stand by the rights Of the coun-
try? When that word goes forth from the
constituted authorities Of the nation, .sOu,
right to Oregon is clear and unqnestion.
able" who doubts that it will 60 ,hrousI
the length and breadth of the land. anc
that It will be hailed, as il goes, BY III.
democratic party with one unanimou,
onen! And What then? We answer tn.
then-the democracy Of this country viii
stand TO its word. twill not finch. No,
will the honest, patriotic, and determined
wing finch either.
We observe that several journals arr
greatly occupied with rumors Of a propo
sition submitted, or about 10 be submitted
BY the English government, that OreGas
shall remain for some twenty years longer
under the stipulation Of 1918, in the Join
occupation of the two nations, with the un.
detstanding that, at the close Of the stipu
lsted period, the Oregon colonists may de.
ci,le for themselves whether they vii
belong 10 the United States or to England
A few days ago we took occasion to show
how this theory Of joint occupation works
in psacfice. We then showed that it re.
suited through the snrreptitious agency o.
the Hudson Bay Company, in the exten.
sion Of English law over the whole unoc-
cupied territory; while every measure re-
cognizing the American citi4 ems there as
our citizens, and as entitled TO the protec.
ton Of our laws, had been regarded il
England, at least, as violating the treaty
stipulation. In our judgment, Il is full
time thai this state Of things shonld cease
We believe that Congress will SO decree,
On the subject Of the rumored PROPOSE.
tion, to which We have alluded, we quote
with pleasure the following Just sentiments
from the French journal il New York
the 'Courricr des Flats UniS." They are
entitled 10 the more consideration, as The
sentiments Of comparatively disintcrestec
third party.
lie, not the Americans, T" says the Cour.
rier, 'sbe deceived. All that England
wishes, all that she aims at in presenting
this proposition, is to gain time. Or whal
interest to her Is sojoarn Of feD year.
in Oregon? What she desires is pern,a.
nest position on the Pacific shore Of III.
American continent. We may rest as
sured that she will not risk the chances 0
this hazardous proposition, unless .h,
counts on the new elements which IN,
: lapse Of twenty years cannot fail to bring
into the question, and, If need be, on III
tceieM Of her gold scutterel BY hands I'LL !,
Oregon, to incline III her favor the doubt u
balance Of decision, when the hour Of de
c!sion shall sound"
How much these considerations are EN-
phacised by the presence and the agenc,
in that region ofthe great corporate organ
ization to which we have alluded, is bu
too manifest. We held with the Courier
that such proposition from England ca,
be no more than proposition 70 gain time