The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-04-03

uation and the gradual progress OF their
enterprise was bringing them last 10 The
foot of the Rocky Mountains. The great
South Pass had been discovered, and saw
tina, the settlement OF Oregon by American
citizens was rapidly approaching.
If we should only adhere strictly to the
convention, tie progress OF things would
eventually decide who should have the pos.
session Of the territory. Our power TO
populate the region, and thus TO obtain It's
actual possession, was far greater than
that of Great Britain. Its distance from
us was far less the access 10 it was thro'
an open, grassy country, and, 10 men so
active aud hardy as our Western pioneers,
the Journey presented comparatively but
small difficulty whereas to reach Oregon
for Great Britain required circumnayl'
CATION OF twenty thousand mlles-a space
but litle short OF the circumference OF
the globe. OF all the spots on the face OF
the earth, presenting to her the possibility
Of colonization, Oregon was tie most re-
mote, There were hundreds OF colonies
that lay nearer, and presented better soil
and climate. Even New Zealand was near.
err to the shores Of England. All, there.
fore, that We had to do was to stick TO the
convention, 10 observe oil its provisions
with the most scrupulous fidelity, and then
let the question OF title be quietly md grud.
ually settled by the actual occupation and
possession Of the country. To tins course
,ho.o .r,a bnf ppa i,npadi,pant Grant
Britain might give the notice. But had
no such fear; for had read tho discus.
sions Of this question on her side, and |
thought | clearly saw that she placed no
great value upon Oregon, as permanent
possession Of The British crown, but rather
seemed 10 conclude that, from lis geogra.
phical position, the United States must ul.
limately get the whole Of 1t. Bu', even II
her calculation was otherwise, there were
great mpodments IN the way Of her CIV.
ing notice tolermlnate the convention. She
could do so if she pleased SO could We !:
this was an express provision OF the treaty,
and could not, IN itself, be considered as
hostile movement on either side. But there
was another convention which Great Bit.
ain contends to be still IN existence, but
which we insist has expired, and that is the
convention of Nootka. THIS treaty Of Moot.
ka is in strict analogy with our convention
Of ISIS; and it she should give US no 20
lice, il could not be set aside unless IT'S pro.
visions were violated. We had observed
the terms Of our convention, and this fore
closed her from the possibility Of such q
movement.
II seemed, then, 10 me clear as the light
Of heaven that il would not do for US TO
make movement Of any kind. We might,
indeed, give our people some facilities IN
reaching the country and when they got
there, we might extend our laws over them
personally, but not terrltorlally. doubt.
cd then, and still doubt, even the expedi.
! cncy Of going SO far as that; but, mos
clearly, we could not set up our laws there
terfitorlally; because the moment we
should do that, we must establish a custom
house, and levy and colec. duties /; and il
there is any thing that c. ALLEVIATE the At,
, fectlons OF those people from US, it will bt
the collection Of high duties. Our people
have gone there as their fathers came Il
New England al the beginning; aud one
important end they seek is the enjoyment
Of free trade. They will contend as ear
nestly for the free enjoyment Of the trade
Of the Pacific as their ancestors did for lha
Of the Atlantic before the Revolution. i
we levy high duties on their infant trade
they will soon find uelghboring Power
who will extccd to them greater adyanta
ges in this respect, and whose influence
might iend the territory from you,-
My disposition has been to let them 60
there and govern themselves. That ~ a
business for which they seem to have ma.
tive instinct, that marks their origin. Let
them 90 there and settle the country, aud
then gradually, md with grea; judgmen,
and caution, extend our laws over them, ms
II may become necessary; for here is tho
most delicate and critical point IN the whole
afillr.
/ The other course tlIat lay open to US wns
tina, pointed out IN the bill Of | SAB, which
provided for the practical assertion Of our
rights in the territory, and the exercise Of
our sovereignty there to q certain extent
by the passage Of certain genera laws.
thought this course not to be fit and pro.
per Que. | saw very plainly wha, would
be the consequence; and, indeed, il re,
qnlres but little reflection to perceive this.
To extend our settlements in Oregon, il
conformity with the provisions Of that bill
would be Inconsistent with the terms Of the
convention, and would speedily bring u,
either 10 negotiation or to war. | untlcl
pated that the result would be- negotiation.
And what thenl Negotiation must end
either in compromise or wnr. | never
could believe in any other result. also
saw that, if we compromised, it must be or
the parallel Of ~ degrees. The pas, his
tory Of The whole mailer decided that aud
besides, as 10 degrees was the boundary
on this side the mountains, most people
would think il reasonable and natural i,
should be the boundary on the other side
But | would 90 neither for notice moi
for compromise, so long as We could per.
severe IN what conceived to be the true
A 4 I L ii