Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-12-20

made for establishing anIndian agency
and sub-agencies, as may be deemed
necessary beyond the Rocky Noun
tains.
For the protection of emigrants on
their way to Oregon, against the at
tacks of the Indian tribes occupying
the country through which they pass, l
recommend that suitable number Of
stockades and blockhouse forts be
erected along the usual route between
our frontier settlements on the Mis-
souri, and the Rocky Mountains; and
that an adequate force OF mounted
rihemen be raised 10 guard and pro-
tect them on their journey. The i'm
mediate adoption of these recommen-
dations by Congress will not violate
the provisions Of the existing treaty.
1t will be doing nothing more for
American citizens than British laws
have long since done for British SUBJ
jects in the same territory.
1t requires several months to per-
form the voyage by sea, from the At
lantic States to Oregon; and although
we have large number Of whale ships
in the Pacific, but few Of them afford
an opportunity for interchanging in
telligence without great delay between
our settlement in that distant region
and the United States. An overland
mail is believed to be entirely practi-
cable and the importance Of establish
ing such mail, at least once month,
is submitted TO the favorable consider
alton of Congress.
1t is submitted to the wisdom of
Congress to determine whether, at
their present session, and until after
the expiration of the years notice, any
other measures may be adopted, con-
sistently with the convention Of 1927,
for the security of our rights and the
government and protection OF our citi-
zcns in Oregon. That it will ultimate
ly be wise and proper to make liberal
grants Of land to the patriotic pioneers,
who, amidst privations and dangers,
lead the way through savage tribes in
habiting the wild wilderness interven-
ing between our frontier settlements
and Oregon, and who cultivate and
are ever ready 10 defend the soil, am
fully satisfied. To doubt whether
they will obtain such grants as soon as
the convention between Great Britain
and the United States, shall have ceas-
ed to exist, would be to doubt the JUS
tice Of Congress; but, pending the
years notice, it is worthy Of consid-
Grafton whether stipulation to this ef-
feet may be made, consistently with
the spirit Of the convention.
The recommendation which / have
made as to the best manner Of securing
our right TO Oregon, are submitted to
Congress with great Difference. Should
they in their wisdom, devise any
other mode better calculated to ac-
complish the same object, it shall meet
with my hearty concurrence.
At the end Of tho years notice,
should Congress think it proper to
make provision for giving that notice,
we shall have reached period when
the national rights in Oregon must
either be abandoned or firmly main
tanned. That they cannot be abandon
ed without a sacrifice Of both national
honor and interest is too clear to admit
Of doubt.
Oregon is part of the North Amer
lean continent, to which it is confident
ly affirmed the title of the United
States is tho best now in existence
For the ground on which that title
rests, l refer you TO the correspondence
of the late and present Secretary Of
State with the British Plenipotentiary
during the negotiation. The British
proposition of compromise, which
would make the Columbia the line
south Of 40 degrees, with trifling ad-
dition of detached territory to the Uni
ted States, north Of that river, and
would leave on the British side two
thirds of the whole Oregon territory,
including the free navig ,tion of the
Columbia river, and all the valuable
harbors on the Pacific, can never for
a moment be entertained by the Uni
ted States, without an abandonment of
their Just and clear territorial rights.
their own self-respect, aud the national
honor. For the information of Con-
gress, l communicate herewith the cor
respondence which took place between
the two governments during the late
negotition.
i The rapid extension of our settle
ments over our territories heretofore