The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-01-20

her eyes open, has insisted upon placing the de-
termination OF the controversy upon this issue in
which the advantages are all on one side. Ia il
not wiser well as a more moderate mode of
disposng OF the matter TO abide by these terms ?
Lei things remain, then. as they are, and let us
pass such measures as may encourage our settle
ments In the disputed territory withou. contra
venlng any treaty stipulatons Thousands. or
even hundreds Of thousands, expended in Judi
cious measures for colonization would do far more
Tor our ultimate possession of the territory, and
be far better appropriated than millions lavished
on The uncertainties OF an unnecessary war
put IL, SIT, 10 consIderaie western men--to those
who desire Oregon more than war-if such
course of policy be not the wisest which we can
pursue with reference even to the s!nrle end of
acquiring the territory which they so much de-
sire know that the gentleman from Indiana.
Mr.. OWEN, has said that the Hudson Bsy
Company would inerp0se obstacles to our settle
ment north Of the Columbia river. by buyinr out
those of our citizens who attempted to plant them
selves on that side. He has mentioned one case
IN which he has known that TO be done Posi-
bly, there may have been more; but is not that
distinguished gentleman too well aware OF the
great laws of trade to suppose that they would
long keep up that game2 Besides this is game,
at which more than one might play. Does he.
or any other man, believe that if our settlements
are once firmly planted south of the Columbia the
crack OF our American rifles, and the sound of the
axe of the western pioneer will not, in due time be
heard not only north Of that river, but north of
The 49Ih parallel?
But 1t Is said that England will not allow this,
and that it this course of policy be attempted she
VIII ere long give notice herself, and declare war
upon us Let her If she chooses; let her if she
daTes She then would become the aggres
S"r, aud IN such war we should De sustained
not only by our ewn conviction of right, but bv
the general sympathies of mankind 1t would
unite onr people INSTANTLY and effectually; and
WIN one heart and with one mind, they would
rally 10 the rescie OF national rights and national
honor with all the advantages of previous pre-
parA'on, and the spirit which has heretofore dis
Hn9u!,hed them. But it is probable that she
w"uId do this! Is she in position to do il with
hrr own expressed views of the grounds OF her
u'ie She claims right to Join, occu patton in
Oregon under the convention made in 1918, and |
indefinitely continued in 1927 Whilst this
convention continues, she enjoys the Jnint occu
pancy by title to which we assent Suppose
she were 20 put an end TO this convention, she
would but reverb to her title under that Of Noolha
sound, by which she herself claims only right
OF joint occupancy, and under which her own
commissioners have disclamed title 10 exclu-
sive sovereignty in any portion of The territory.
Ii she were Ia give the notice 10 terminate our
convention under these circumstances she woyld
stand IN The attitude of abandoning a rinht which
she held by title 10 which we assened 10
claim 1t again by another which we refused TO ac
knowledge. She would thus place herself before
The world as seeking war for wars sake, and as
sumo the position of an unprovoked and wanton
aggreSsor In this attitude Of affairs, how could
she hold up her head in the face of Chlslendom
or invoke the blessings OF the God of battles i'm |
(which eli Rod -, a..
Iy provoked But could she have any adequate
motive for wanton an outrage? She can
have no interest in the permanent possession of
tins northwest coast. She finds far more eligible |
sites OF colonization in New Holland, New Yea !
land, the Cape of Good Hope, and in the Cana
das. These colonies would contribute To the
consolidation and strength of her empire. They
lie. ioo IN the pathway of her commerce. She
has here territory enough TO absorb all her imme-
date and prospective means of colonization for a
centary, perhaps for centuries to come 1t NAV |
be important to her to hold there for time GER
tam su1ordinae rights of occupation short of the
sovereignty Of the country in Oregon. But of
what use can it be to her to settle her citizens on
the north Pacific coast? 1t is not in the path
way OF her commerce, although it is invaluable |
tn us Tor ours. She has no back country to sup |
Ply through tho little strip Of settlement which |
she might make pom the coast; but we have and it
products seek an outlet by our commerce on the
western ocean. Blu, grant that she desires it |
ever so much mus, she not know perfectly well
that the thing is hopeless? She may desire it as
the means OF keeping uyout, but with what prob
ability OF success The mighty wave of popn
Iatlon IS yearly advancing westward at The rate
OF half a degree Of longitude on line of more
than three hundred leagues. Could size expect
her feeble settlements on tie western coast to re-
s5t The vast, increasing, and resistess pressure,
when, with the mighty weight of our population
from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains this
wave shall pour down the Pacific slope? Her
statesmen are too wise to expect it and it is not
likely that, for the sake Of the little ADVANTAGE
which she might have in that quarter. she would
expose herself 10 the constant hazard of a war
with us. Ouf mutual means Of annoyance are
too great our mutual interests in a reciprocal
commerce are TOO vast for her TO be willing
to risk the consequences Of war for an object
so petty TO her, however important II might be
t. us.
But it has been said by some gentlemen that
Great Britain possesses as great facilities for col
ohzatlOn in Oregon as we do and IL has been p
pretended that she might give this new direction
TO The tide OF her emigration have no fears
upon 'thls subject reason from The past to che
future. ii she has not done it heretofore. is
not likely that she will DO It bereafter She can
have no stronger inducements to this policy for
H