Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-05-02
THE OREGON QUESTION.

THE OREGON QUESTION.
The Resolution from the Committee on Fcreie,
Affairs, requiring the President to notify Grea
Britain OF the intention OF the United States (.
terminate the JOINT occupancy of Oregon, ant
to aerogate the convention of 1927, being nnde
consideration in Committee Of the Whole
Mr.. DODGE addressed the House a.
follows:
Mr.. CHAfRMAs: I hope that the resolu
ton now under consideration will pass
Il is the first of series of measures look.
ing to the assertion and maintenance OF o,iI
rights to the northwest coast of this cont.
nent; all Of which will, trust, receive the
early, prompt, and favorable action Of the
present Congress-. The time has come
when the public voice demands action upon
this Oregon question-the greatest qnes-
ton, in my humble estimation of the day
II Is ore which, TO a greater or less extent
has agitated the mind OF the people Of this
nation for more than a quarter Of century,
and upon which, in the recent presidential
election, they have spoken in voice no,
to be misunderstood.
The people are, sir, upon this question,
as they have always been on all great ques-
lions, UNNECESSARILY in advance OF the pol
ilician and the legislator. The former de-
mand ac,ion, efficient and decided action;
the latter hesitate, and are afraid of conse-
quences. Ii, unfortunately, war should
grow out of the exercise Of our ssclear aud
unquestionable rights" the people, whose
blood and whose treasure will be expended
10 that war, say, "let it come" This sim
cesely believe to be the voice Of nine-ten,hs
Of the American people, and l know it 10
be the united voice OF those whom l rep
resent. They are frontier people, and
prefer peace; but they are brave and will
ever be found ready TO vindicate their
rights, and those Of the nation; nor will
they, when these are assailed, ever stop to
inquire whether it he by Great Britain or
weak and divided Mexico-whe,her the
loot ofthe hostile invader treads upon south
ern or northern soil. They will march as
readily and as cheerfully ia defence OF the
one as of the other.
Sir, If any apology were necessary why
have departed from the usual course Of
Delegates upon this floor which is, not 10
speak upon questions other than those re-
hting Immediately to the Territories from
which they come, it must be found in the
intense interest felt by the constituency
that | represent and by myself, in the pas
sage Of this resolution, and its other kin
drei measures-the bills to grant lands,
erect forts, &c.. all having Tor their object
the occupation and settlement, by Amer lean
citizens, OF the territory OF Oregon. Heel
Sir, that should but poorly reflect the
views and feelings Of those who have plac-
ed me upon this floor, and do injustice 10
my own, should | fail to raise my voice,
sseble though il may be, in support of these
measures; aud, as / estimate their inpor-
lance, it is TO me melancholy reflection
that l can do no more thaa spcak in favor
Of their passage.
Mr.. Chairman, trust that it may not be
regarded as inappropriate in me SO far to
digress from the subject Immediately un-
der consideration, as 10 advert 10 trans
astion which had its origin in this hall at
NE last session Of Congress, aud which
may have an important bearing upon the
Ultimate fate Of this great American ques-
bon. 1t will be remembered, sir, that at
that session of Congress the Territory from
which come, having then much more than
re requisite population, presented to this
House constitution pre-en,inently repub-
hcan. in all its features, and asked adnis-
non into the onion upon an equal footing
with the original States. In the first arti-
ce Of that constitution were defined the
chosen boundaries Of the people Of Iowa for
near future State. They were good, be-
cause they were natural boundaries. The
eat r'sers-Mississippi ON our east, the
Missouri on our West, and the Saint Pc
IT'S Ga The north, with short artificial,
wv direct line, connecting the two last
sa@ed rivers-were the everlasting State
us'slonal lines upon which we had fixed,
ana which are 50 plainly indicated BY the
nand q nature, that to adopt others is a
manifest interference with her desipns.-
atney embraced. As am aov officially in
.Mneo, 1e about tifty-ssyen thousand
?1ars mlles-sen thousand less than were
wen ~ common parent to our sister
as.eari and made onr, proposed State
- than Virginia, Georgia, Mi.,o,,r; and
81 %,eslg.n, and about the size Of ,llino;.
.h.t, under these circumstances. had W.
ngas to expect? Admission, with the
0e.r,ss Ct our selection, a. every Other
'aaH saafs shsa been thus iadmiited M