Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-03-20


tween American parties induces u to be-
lieye gh4t tie lHoh sed war party are ar
more deslfous OF hamprrng their Wing
opp0nrnts al hnnr than Ol iolcins 80, E
country inlo a rupture with Great Bulain.
penisai Of American papers leads 10
I TO the conviction thA, the common selse
q OF The American people is favorable TO a
policy which obviously suggests issrit 10
every thinking mind throughout ,hs VOL.
ll IS impossible 10 settle Tie Oregon contr,..
versy on grounds OF abstract right to the
satisfaction OF either porly. We think
that We are entitled TO prior and more
ancient interest ca the score OF frsl oceu.
pancy. They think the same. The
whole Of Oregon or none" bias alrpady be-.
come the cry on the other side OF the Al.
laulic. Ii might be too easy to excite tho
same arder in the same cause on this side.
But what statesman OF either country, who
knew the magnitude of the trust repOsed
in him, would urge two nallOas OF one
common origin into a suicidal struggle for
vast extent Of sterile domain! No man
in England-no releeting man in the Re
putlic-would for a moment encourage the
insane spirit OF ambition which seeks to
terminate joint possession Of more than
fifty Yeas by sudden and aggressive as
serlion Of a single and undivided right,
Humanity revolis at the idea. But pride
the pride Of naIionalty-is equally Offend
ed at The notion OF suffering dishonurable
eiectmpnt. How then to reconcile the two
conflicting sentiments! How can this be
done but in the manner we have already
suggested! great Republic will not bear
to he afIronted. An ancient Monarchy
will not submit to humiliation. The iden-
tity and power Of 10th are essentially in
volved in extending protection to their
subjects in the most distant settlements.
America will not desert her citizens. Eng
land will not abandon her colonisls, who
have gone forth to brave the solitude of the
forest and the Luke, hardy pioneers of
commerce, relying on her power and Sc
cure of her protection.
Ii this Joint occupation is TO be cancel-
ed; if they who have hitherto lived togpth-
er as members Of one State are henceiorth
to be as strangers and aliens to each other,
on what terms, on what terms alone, ought
this separation to he effected! On what
terms but those which provide an equality
Of advantages; local or commercial, 10 the
TWO parties! 1t is absurd to talk OF num-
bers OF degrees, square miles, superficial
area, and all those things which are haul
ed into This discussion, rather, we suppose,
for the purpose OF cOmpDeXity than any
hing else. These are not the things Of inn
portance. No man in England cares about
them; and the Americans know H. Eut
there is not an Englislm3n OF common
head or right feeling who does not know
that any partition OF the territory which
gives to the Americans The prriusirP use of
the Columbia and its haTl Ors wOnld be dis
honorable in this couatry, and degrading to
her colonists. No. Give up twice the ex-
tent Of lanen or frigid soil to your rivals.
Abdicate the improbable ostentation OF
vast western empire. Absove Yourselves,
if you will, from the cost of great and
showey responsibility. Do not haggle a.
bout Irihcs. But take care OF this, that no
treaty which you propose, no condition
which you ratliy, transfer your own trade
with your own dependencies into foreign
hands, to myk" the Hudson Bay Compa.
ny tenOnts-at.wil in their principal settle.
ment to the new sovercigns ofthe Oregon.
Abide a just and legitimate claim. Allow
the 49th parallel, which is or so many
hundred miles the boundary OF the United
States, to be extended as their boundary a.
cross the Rocky Mountains, ard make it
the landmarks Of your territories until it
| first reaches The sea, so as to leave you in
possession of harbor for your shipping
and an access TO the Columbia. 1t is a
clear, distinct, geographical mark. 1t is
more decisive than blue or red line in a
map. 1t admits of no controversies. 1t
will confirm your amity, by presenting to
both claimants equal and reciprocal means
for the furtherance of those noble projects
and the diffusion Of those pure blessings
which it mad been the choicest privilege Of
our common race 10 spread among the ma