Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-01-10
OREGON MEMORIAL,


To the honorable the Senate and House Of
Representatives Of the United States Of
America in Congress assembled:
Your memorialists and petitioners, the
representatives of the people Of Oregon,
for themselves and in behalf of the citi-
zens Of the United States residing in this
Territory, would respectfully submit to the
consideration of your honorable body some
of the grievances under which we labor,
and pray your favorable consideration Of
our petition for their remedies.
Without dilating upon the great import.
ance Of this Territory as an appendage to
the Federal Union, or consuming your val
liable time in repeating to you the oft-re-
peated account of our agricultural and
commercial advantages, we would, with
due Difference, submit to your serious con.
sideration our peculiar difficulties as occu.
pants of this Territory. As, by treaty
stipulations between the Government Of
the United States and Great Britain, this
Territory has become a kind of neutral
ground, in the occupancy of which the cit.
liens of the United States and the subjects
of Great Britain have equal rights, and, as
your memorialists humbly conceive, ought
to have equal protection: such being the
fact, the population of the Territory,
though promiscuously interspersed, is com.
posed of the subjects of crown and the
citizens of republic, between whom no
common bond of union exists.
1t may naturally be supposed, in the abb
sence of any provision having been made
by the two Governments to prevent or
settle any such occurrence, that conflicting
interest, aided by ancient prejudices, would
speedily lead to results the most disastrous,
particularly when it is considered that this
mixed population exists in the midst Of
numerous and warlike tribes of Indians,
to whom the smallest dissensions among the
white inhabitants would be the signal to let
loose upon their defenceless families all the
horrors of savage warfare.
To prevent a calamity so much to be
dreaded, the well.disposed inhabitants of
this Territory have found it absolutely ne
cessary to establish provisional and tenn
porary government, embracing all free
male citizens; and whose executive, legisla-
tive, and judicial powers, should be equal TO
all the exigencies that may arise among
themselves, not provided for by the Gov
eminent to which they owe allegiance.
And we are most happy to inform your
honorable body, that, with but few individ-
ual exceptions, the utmost harmony and
good will has been the result of this, as we
conceive, wise and judicious measure; and
the British subjects and American citizens
vie with each other in their obedience and
respect to the laws, and in promoting the
common good and general welfare of Ore.
gon.
Although such has been the result, THUS
far, of our temporary union of interests
though we, the citizens of the United
States, have had no cause to complain, either
Of exactions or oppression at the hands OF
the subjects of Great Britain, but. on the
contrary, it is but Just to say that their con.
duct towards us has been most friendly
liberal, and philanthropic; yet we fear 6
long continuance of the present state Of
things is not to be expected--our temporary
government being limited in its efficiency
and crippled in its powers by the paramount,
duty we owe to our respective Govern
ments--our revenue being inadequate to III
support-and the almost total absence, apar
from the Hudson Bay Company, of the
means of defence against the Indians
which recent occurrences lead US to feaI
entertain hostile feelings towards the PEG
Die of the United States.
Your memorialists would further inform
your honorable body, that while the sub
iects of Great Britain. through the agency
of the Hudson Bay Company, are amply
provided with all the munitions of war. AM
can afford, by means of their numerou
Notifications, ample protection for them
selves and their property, the citizens o
the United States are scattered over
wide extent of territory. without singh
place of refuge; and, within themselves
are almost entirely destitute of the mean
of defence.
Your mcmorialists would further cray,