Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-03-21

probability Of war;" and the s.possibility
Of avoiding an open rupture with Eng
land, and kindred expressions; they en-
mate only from those who wickedly shrink
IRON maintaining the honor of our country,
or Others who are weak enough to sup.
pose that VIC. cannot hold our rights III the
presence Of the mighty lion Of the British
Isle. The greatest trouble created by
such ,minds., is the preventioh Of active
measures Of defence and protection
Whilst England. at peace with all the
world, is making her military appointments
with care and precision which can leave
to doubt Of her object, we are waiting the
events of years. 49,
The war between Ergland and China
was encouraged by the Bishops, who loud
" proclaimed that the "Sword OF St.
George was to carry the gospel Of Jesus
Christ into benighted China!" Yet be who
will calmly examine all The circumstances
of that war, will find our Holy Redeemer
the last thought Of in the unrighteous strug-
gle. 1t was certainly no part Of the doc
trine of the Saviour to raise hecato,nbs Of
murdered heather, because their govern
inent refused 10 allow foreign Prin-
cess to interfere with the established laws
Of the empire. The war with China had
neither the gospel nor opium for its foun-
dation, but rather the possession Of Chi
nese ports to and from which vessels could
trade with Oregon.
For series Of years England has been
improving Canada and forming progressive
works, calculated ilcase an old project fail
ed, to secure raM transportation from
Oregon, across this continent, to some
prominent ptin. on The Atlantic.
It was in contemplation Of this line Of
communication that England insisted in a
late treaty upon an article which excludes
armed vessels Of either government from
the lakes-a stipulation calculated to ope-
rate entirely against us, because our poll
cy and the genius Of our institutions for
bid heavy peace establishment. A
stipulation weakly and ignobly consented
to By our government, who either would
not or could not devise the drift Of British
power in Stacking our hands while her
own were open to fortify and garrison eve
ny commanding position on the northern
frontier.
l have alluded to an sold project" and
i is but right to State that that scheme is
the opening Of our great internal highway,
the Mississippi river. This has been here
toiore contemplated, and there are those
who know that Britain still bankers for it,
though its advantages 10 her now, are not,
by ninety per cent, as valuable as they
would have been if secured when she first
intimated her desire, thirty years ago.
Her present wish is for some kind of priv
ilege TO secure on American waters and
over American territory, the -transpotta-
ton Of merchandise between England and
China. Give her this, and harbor on the
Pacific, at the terminus ofthe grand route,
and we can have all Of Oregon, beside
making what notifications we choose in
her tariff. There are those who know
more on this subject than do, and who
will undoubtedly divulge all that is prop
er and necessary when circumstances re-
quire such disclosure. Ihave now said as
much upon it, as / feel at liberty to COM
municate.
A, present no such statement is required,
and more than this, England will not fight
he United States for twenty Oregons, nn-
less popular opinion at home drives her
into war, which the present condition Of
her manufactures forbids; and I she fight
at all, it will not be so much for Oregon. as
t will be for the right Of way.
Let me now return to your plan and
trust the foregoing DEPRESSION will be ex-
cused, as could not well state all the ad-
Of your scheme without entering
upon the main question now occupying The
attention Of our people.
The companies 81 hundreds ere this time,
encouraged as laid down in your
project, would have had rail road well
under way; and we should now have been
ready TO act, instead OF waiting tile action
Of England. The trade Of Asia is the main
point after all, for taken merely as a coun-
try, outstanding all that has been said
to the contrary, Oregon is not the garden
Of Eden; and as TO harbors, the mouth
Of the Columbia is dangerous one, and
SO are nearly all western empty Ing rivers.
The laws Of cosmosraphy forbid that they
should be otherwise. The harbor Of ST.
Juan de Fuca is safe and commodious;
and / believe it is few miles below he
49th parallel. II emplies north or north-
west. That harbor must eventually be the
point of debarcalion on the Pacific Tor YES
sells, and the terminus Of any improvement
from the States.
regret to say that al the time you gave
me your plan, il was looked upon by thou
sands as visionary scheme, and though
urged in different quarters BY all the pow
ers possessed, eapd with the same areu.
lnents now, l may say, merely copied in
brief Into this letter, was almost invaria-
bly, repulsed. The TIME has however at
rived when some Of the very men VIII.
then objected, have been candid enough to
their error; and rejoice 10
perceive that the question is now taking
turn likely to produce its entire success 10
q very brief period g I'D ASA
The undivided possession Of Oregon
should not be sought merely for the pur-
pose Of extending the boundaries Of the
United States, but that institutions similar
TO out own may be thrown over the whole
surface Of the land from ocean TO ocean.
We owe this not only to ourselves, hit to
the whole human family. as further check
to THE advance OF the doctrine OF balance II