Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-03-21
oREGoN.

While the best minds in Congress are discussing,
with all Learning and ability, the subject of title and
the high questions of expedency, connected with
the Oregon dispute, there frequently appear in the
public journals important facts or striking opinions,
presented in familiar guise, editorial or otherwise,
which throw some light on the obscure and difficult
path that those who direct the public affairs are
now exploring with SO much anxiety Such we
regard the matter contained in the annexed pas
sages, which we extract from letter from Wash
ington in the New York Evening Post, and which
we consider of the more weight from finding them
in that journal:
CA great deal is said about Oregon and sometimes by
people who, apparently, know little about it, For example,
the editor Of Ohio paper calls the whole country from the
AID degree Of north latitude $40 4 by the name Of Ore
gon and will have the sohole of or a war-nothng less
will satisfy him. an
"The editor says that American citizens are dis
persed through the hok territory Is the editor in
here have made inquiries respecting it, and
find that than Americans were in that country
north Of the 49h degree Of latitude One Of these was
who accompanied Lewis and Clarke in their expedition
and Is said TO have passed the ensuing winter hunter
the valley Of Fazes rivers the other Mr. Hiram Jewet
who wrecked good many years ago Nootks Sound
Queen Charotte's Island where up that way.
The description he gave Of the country any thing but
hattcrng
The editor Of the Ohio paper clearly wrong assert
ing that American citizens dispersed through the whole
Of that territory" from 42o $40 4O do not doubt that
American ships have visited all the harbors that coast and
traded with the natives all along shore But the chief
American settlements in the Willamette valley, and on
the Catrop plains both Of which south Of the Columbia
river
Some people say that the word Oregon is derived
from the Spanish, and that it signifies pennyroyal But
herein they only show their ignorance. The Spanish
for pennyroyal is poo The derivation Of Oregon is
from oregano wild ma1oam, very different plant from
pennyroysl.
would not be thought too bold in me, would repeat
suggestion before made through your paper namely,
shat you English and Americans before you about
the ,od naadm country, otherwise called Oregon, should
appoint joint committee Of inquiry terminate its exact
| value
my belief is that there is not in the whole Of that
region 800 miles long by 500 broad ss much good land
is to be found in the single State Of Indiana The point
hono' is know, cksh one, and the worthless the
territory, the stronger the point Of honor But already
stated do not NEEDLE with such high Governments
and war, and making and unmaking Presidents. confne
myself to matters Of fact SUCH for example, as the true der
walton Of the word Oregon, the general wohessness
territory, and the fact that American citizens are not dispers-
cd through the whole Of it.
"P. s. The Oregon was originally applied only 10
the country drained by the Oregon Columbia river How
long has been since has been used to cover the whole
northwest coast from 42o TO $40 4Vf"