Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-05-02


vet, with Ill on enterpsjse, 10 dare u.
venture beyond the Rocky mountains.-
This subject occupies a great share Of pub
lie attention; tits anxiously looked for; the
interest and enterprise Of the nation re.
qnires the adoption Of the proposed meas.
ures.
"Mr. M. said his feelings were not much
sxoiied BY ths subject. The passage cf
this measure would secure the possession
Of that portion Of our dominion to ourselves,
and prevent an encroachment upon It By
others"
/ especially commend the extract which
! have read from the admirable and states.
man-like speech Of Mr.. Mallary to the con-
sideration Of the present Representatives
from Vermont, and especially to the gen..
tleman Mr.. Foor] who discoursed 30 elo-1
quently last evening in opposition to the
"notice," and so wildly held up before US
the horrors Of war with which It would
seem he apprehends we are soon to be Wis
tied, unless we s:lay low and keep dark"
This discussion, mark you, Mr.. Chair
man was in 1923, but FIVE years after the
treaty Of joint occupancy had been entered
into, and to show that Great Britain had
no claim at that time to the coil or jurisdic-
tion Of Oregon; and that the convention Of
1878 was only designed to confer upon her
some commercial privileges, such a. the
navigation of the waters, trading with the
natives, SC. find that none Of those vho
then opposed the bill Of d.. Floyd, did 80 on
the grounds Of inter ference vith British rights
in any shape. Mr.. Tracy, Of New York,
made long and able speech in opposition
to it, from which I will read an extract to
prove what have said, and l ask the es-
pecial attention of gentlemen to it, that it
may be seen how the opponents Of Oregon
have shifted their ground:
"He believed that he should succeed in
satifying the House that there was con-
nected with this scheme no objects Of ma
tional advantage which would justify the
very considerable expense which expert
ments must occasion; and that the country
generally, but peculiarly the mouth Of the
Columbia, afforded none Of those attrac-
tons with which the fancy Of the gentle
man had decorated it. But, said Mr.. T.
if had not thought that this measure in
volved consequences Of more importance
than the useless waste Of few thousands
Of dollars, however Utopian the views Of
its advocates might have appeared to me,
should have rested my opposition on ST.
lent vote against it; but it does seem to me
that this bill involves a principle of great
national consequences principle which
he was sure this House was not prepared
to establish, without, at least. pausing to
reflect on Its nature and importance: al
lude, said Mr.. T., to the principles Of
colonization which is contained in the
bill . =
military posts should be placed for the
purpose Of protecting an existing frontier
population, but not for the purpose Of at
tracing our population to an exposed ait
uation. Its natural tendency is to dilfuse.
Its limits are slready sufficiently large; as
it becomes more dense it will extend them;
but it is not the true policy Of the Govern
ment TO invite its dispersion.
"Another important inducement which
is urged for the adoption Of this measure is
the influence which settlement on the
coast would have to quiet the preposter-
Gus claims, and prevent the dangerous en-
croachments Of the Russian Government.
The gentleman had dwelt much on the ex-
travagant and ridiculous pretensions which
had been advanced by the Russian Minis
ter; in his correspondence with our Gov
eminent on the subject Of this country
Mr.. +. said that he believed no gentleman
could entertain serious apprehension that
the Emperor Of Russia had ever thought
Of enforcing these pretensions. He be-
lieved they were the abstract speculations
Of q diplomatist who had no object in pre-
senting them but to amuse his master by his
ingenuity, and to show his own adreitness
in defending fanciful titles to wild and I'M
occupiedterritory. : : Any step which
he shall take to enforce this most absurd
and unjust pretension, can be regarded as
nothing less than an act Of direct hostility
against us; but it will be an act which =
pitiful garrison at the mouth Of the Co.
lumbia can neither avert nor avenge.
IS -
Mr.. 7. said he was ready to admit that
neither England, Spain, nor Russia, had
the right, or probably would have the dis
position. to complain Of the measure. But
he was sorry that his colleague had forgot
ten, that although neither Of these nations
had right to object, there was people
who had: he alluded to the present inhab.
itants and true proprietors Of the country.
The Indians Of that coast, he had heard.
were numerous and warlike, and he did
not believe they would regard with COM
placency military establishment among
them. He had no doubt but It would in
volve US in war with them"
Thus, sir, in 1928, redskins were held
up to Brighten us from the occupation d
Oregon now red jackets.
Sir, it has been said, in many portions Of
the country, and broadly intimated at the
commencement Of this debate, that gentle
men from the West were anxious for the
anxious for the adoption 81 this notice, be-
cause, If war should be ito resulting con-
sequence, they would be out Of ell danger,
and would have the opportunity Of growing
rich upon the misfortunes Of their country.
! repei the charge. Irepel it as being N.Y.
self q western man, and native Of the
State Of Missouri. When and where ha,
i happened in the history Of this country,
that her rights have ever been assailed, and