The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-11-15
From the OHIO Statesman.
OREGON AND ENGLAND

From the OHIO Statesman.
OREGON AND ENGLAND
The greatest gu estion of the age is undoubted-
ly that of the settlement of the Oregon dispute
View 1t in whatever aspect we may, the future
existence Of the United States government must
depend in very grea! degree upon the character
of the people and government of Oregon. We
live in an age of progression. The march otmind
aud the advance of commerce, have now almost
reached their height, but will continue 10 be dus-
ry cline. The trade to China and the East Indies
is of the utmost importance to the United States,
as for long time it has been to England. The
great "monopozer of NATIONS" would deny to US
and every other government, all privileges and
powers not guarn,hedb by Themselves. for thou
sand years, the history of England has been re-
peated series of national crimes, imposed upon the
weaker dominions of the earth The very nature
Of their government renders it impossible that they
should be otherwise; and the character Of their
rulers is such, that the insatae love OF power and
conquest is the foundation OF all their schemes of
government policy. As people whose character
is SO well known, should always be watched with
an 'unslumberng eye" Ever ready, like some
great beast of prey, to devour the innocent and
uDsuspecting, no nation on earth can rest secure
in the arms of such monster.
That the design OF the English government is
to usmp dominion upon this continent, is now no
longer question of doubt They are directing
all the energies OF their nature towards the con-
summation OF that object, Looking forward to
the day when he proud, growing hon of England
shall be seen resting in triumph where before the
honored flag offreedom waved, thew feel as though
they lad but to wish, and the deed at once is ac-
conplshed Give them a single foothold in Ore
gou. and the fate of free America is sealed. Sur
render inch of th It "bouudess wild, )" and gen
erations TO come viii be stained in human blood
.Acquiesce nOp, to their unnatural looe of po,c,r,
and no man can tell what portion OF the domain
will next be demanded to satisfy their pndying
thirst for supremacy. II is thousand times worse
than useless, TO talk about negotiation. The peo-
Pile, RIGHT or WRONG, believe that no nation
Oh earth, save and except our own, has any parti-
Gle of claim to Oregon; and so believing, they will,
at all and every hazard, maintain that right forev-
er. England never had any legal claim to the
possession Of that territory; and even if she had,
we find in her own history thousand precedents
of justification, which would authorize us to take
posses ion. If no other. eve have f,co, which
will overrule all others. The first is, hat e tUant
IL; and the second, THAT WE WILL HAVE IT."
The United States own and hold the ,choie of Or.
egon by purchase, by discovery and by right, by
nato nal right, an element OF national law which,
perhaps, the followers of John Bull NAV not un.
derstand The incontrslihle right of our govern
ment may rest upon the following grounds:
The treaty ofPmis, in 1888. gave to the United
States all the territorial right Of Great Britain to
the country bounded BY her treaty with France,
in 1913 and 1868.
In 1888, Captain Gray, of Boston, In the sloop
Washington, and Capt. Kendrick in the ship Co.
lumba, entered the port of Nootka Sound.
In 1892, Capt. Gray, in the ship Columbia, dis
covered the mouth of the river Columbia, and sail
ed up that stream fourteen miles, May IL.
In 1903, the United States purchased the right
of France to the territory west of the Mississippi
In lSiO, Lewis and Clark, authorized by Con-
gress, explored the Columbia from its source to
its mouth
In 1911, Astor erected fort at the mouth of the
Columbia, called Astoria
In.lSl2, this fort was taken by the English, and
by the treaty of Client, restored in 1878.
In 1919, the right of Spain to territory on the
Pacific, north Of AZ degrees, is ceeded to the Uni
ted States. And,
In 1924, the treaty between Russia and the Uni
ted States, fixes the northern boundary of Oregon
1t "a deg 40 minutes north latitude.
The primitive right to Oregon. belonged to
Spain, and that we have purchased. All the claim
md title of France, we also purchased. And
whatever shadow Of right the "mother OF nations,
,ver acquired, was surrendered by the treaty of
7S3
And yet, in the face of all these FACTS, we are
bstinately told, by some even of our own country
nen, that England has claim! And that war is
orrIble! So is the gi66et, and yet it should not,
pom that account, be abolished. War, with all
IS horrors, real or imagined, is as nothing, com-
ared with the unsuIIied honor and glory ofa free
epublican government. Let but the coming ses-
on of Congress adopt the necessary measures,
nd the "boDe and sinew" of the land will be con.
mt. Let the American government take pos .
'ssou Of Oregon. and the people will maintain it.
tout hearts and ready arms will hush the mur- /.
urings Of every fear, and plant in triumph, the
'angled stars and stripes sgl E,Hsasql assssl, /;
"o'er far off PLAINS of oregonl" sqxs asa :
ga epols s3oN n,4ae9 81 VoX PoPULLs
Columbus, Oct 81, ls45aeM la 1sl ,4s8iasl !,