Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-02-20
From the National In,elligoneer.
THE OREGON QUESTIONING. III.
Nsw Yonx. January 10, 1916.

the shape Of argument has been adduced,
and 70 mueh warmth has been exhibited
in the discussion Of the subject. that II can
not be doubted that the question has now
become, on both sides, one Of feeling rath.
er than Of right. This. in America, grows
out Of the fact that, in this contest with a
European nation, the contested territory is
In America and not in Europe. II is iden.
tie with the premature official snnaneia-
ton that the United States could no, ac.
eu,esee IN Ahe establishment of any new
colony in North America ~ any European
nation. This sentiment was already gem
eral At the time when il was fret publicly
declared; and now that il has been almost
universally avowed, there can be no inn
propriety in any private citizen to say. az I
now do, that | share in that feeling 10 its
iullextent. For the Americans, Oregon is
or will be home: for England, it is hut an
outpost, which may afford means Of an.
nOyance, rather than source Of real pow.
er In America all have the same ultimate
object in yiew; We differ only with res
pect to the means by which il may Le at
tanned.
Two circumstances have had a tendency
~ nourish and excite these feelings. The
British far Companies, from their position,
from their monopolizing character, from
their natural influences upon the Indians.
and from that, much greater than might
have reea expected, which they have con-
stantly had upon the British Government
in its negotiations with the United States,
have for sixty yeais been perpetual source
OF annoyance aud collisions. The vested
Interests of the Hudson Bay Company are
at this moment the greatest obstacle 10 an
0mieahle arrangement. 1t is at the same
time due TO justice TO say that, as Ear as is
known, that company has acted in Oregon
IN conformity with the terms of the con-
VenIion, and that its officers have unilorn-
ly treated the Americans, whether visitrrs
or emigrants, not only cOurieously, but with
great kindness.
If The British colonies on the continent
Of America were an independent country,
or were they placed in their commercial re-
lations, at least with the United States, on
the same footing as The British possessions
in Europe, these relations would he regula-
ted by the reciprocal interests and wants
OF the parties Immediately concerned
Great Britain has an undoubled right to
persist in her colonial policy; but the result
has been extremely vexaIious, and to the
United Stutes injurious. All this is rrue,
But feelings do not confer right, and the
indulgence of excited feelings is neither
virtue nor wisdom.
The Western States have no greater ap-
paIent immediate intereat in the acquisition
OF Oregon than the States bordering OF the
Atlantic. These stand in greater need Of
an outlet for their surplus emlgrating poPu-
bnttp'lt 0tih W NANluolN'lJ WV 'Ot Ni'
present The benefit accrue of ports on the
Pacific for the protection OF the numerous
American ship employed in the fisheries
and commerce of that ocean. 1t is true
that in case OF war the inhabitants of the
Western States will not, il a naval superb
ority shall he obtained on the Upper Lakes,
feel those immediate calamities OF war to
which the country along the sea shore is
necessarily exposed; but no section OF The
United States will be more deeply affected
by the impossibiity OF finding during the
war market for the immense surplus OF
its agricultural products. II must also he
remembered that a direct tax has hereto.
fore been found more productive than the
aggregate OF all the other internal taxes
levied by the General Government; that,
in case oil war, it must necessarily he inn
posed; and that, as it must, in conformity
with the Constitution, be levied in proper
ton TO the respective population OF the
several States, il will be much more oppres-
Sive on those which have not yet accumu-
lated a large amount OF circulating or per-
sonal capital. The greater degree Of ex-
element which prevails in the West is due
TO other and more powerful causes thon
regard Tor selt-interest.
Bordering through the whole Of their
northern IL frontier on the British possessions,
the Western people have alw ays been per-
sonaIly exposed to those annoyances and
collisions already alluded to; and it may be
that the hope OF getting rid Of these by the
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