Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-02-20


the soil are now found between the Lakes
and the Ohio. where. little more Than fiiy
years before, save only three or four halt
Indian French settlements, there was not
single white inhabilant. Nothing now
seems impossible to those men, they have
noIeVen been sobered by fresh experience.
Attempting TO do al once. and without an
adequate capital, that which should have
neen delayed fve-and.lwenIy years, and
nigh, have then been successfully accom-.
Plished, some Of those States have had the
modification to find themselves unable IC
pay the interest on the debt they had con.
iraeIed, and obliged 10 try 70 compound
with their creditors. Nevertheless, undi.
minished activity and Iocnmotion are still
the ruling principles; the Western people
leap over time and distance; ahead they
must go; it is their mission. May God
speed them, and may they thus quietly take
possession of the entire contested territory!
All this was as well known to the British
Government as to ourselves. A public
and official declaration by the President OF
the United States was unnecessary and at
least premature. Mr.. RuslI's correspon.
dence OF 1924 bears witness of its unior.
tunate effect on the negotiations of that
year. These feelings had gradually sub
sided. But, whatever may te the cause,
the fact that an extraordinary excitemen,
or this subject has manifested itself, and
does now exist on both sides, cannot be
denied. Time is absolutely necessary in
order that this should buhsidc. ANY pre-.
cipilate step now taken by either Govern
mcnt would he attended with the most ia.
tai consequences. That which, if done
some years ago, might have been harmless,
would now be highly dangerous, and should
al least be postponed for the present.
The first incipient step recommended by
the Executive is, 10 give the notice that
the convention of 1927 shall expire at the
end Of one year. This measure at this
time, and connected with the avowed in
tenlion Of assuming exclusive sovereignty
over the whole territory, becomes ques.
ton Of peace or war.
The conventions of 1919 and 1927, whilst
reserving the rights Of both parties, allowed
the freedom of trade &navigation Il through
out the whole territory 20 remain common
to both; and the ctizens or subjects of both
Powers were permitted to occupy any part
of it. The nconveniences Of that tempo
rary arrangement were well understood
at the time, The British fur companies
had established factories on he banks, and
even south Of the river Columbia, within
the limits Of tina, portion Of the country
which the United States had, whenever
the subject was discussed, claimed as be-
longing exclusively to !hem. The conli-
tons of the ogleemenl were nominally re.
ciprocul; but, though they did not give, yet
they did in fact leave the British company
in The exclusive possession of the fur trade.
This could not he prevented otherwise
than by rrsorting to actual forces the Uni.
ted States were not then either ready or
disposed to run the RISKS Of war for that
object; aud it was thought more eligible
that the British traders should remain on
the territory Of the United States, by viz
tue OF compact and with their consent.
than in deftnce Of their authority. It il
hut very la,ely that the Americans have be-
gun 10 migrate to that remote country: a
greater number will certainly follow; and
they have under the convention perfect
right 10 occupy and make settlements in
any part OF the territory they may think
woper with the sole exception OF The spots
actually occupied hy the British company.
What is then the object in view, in CIV
ing the notice at this time! This has been
declared without reserve by the Presidents:
"At the end Of the years notice, should
Congress think it proper to MIKE provision
for giving that notice, we shall have reach
ed a period when the national rights in Ore
gon must either be abandoned or firmly
maintained. That they cannot he aban-
doned without sacrifice Of both national
honor and interests, is TOO clear to admit of
doubt" Ard it must Ue recoIected that
this candid avowal has been accompanied
hy the declaration that "our title to the
whole Oregon territory had been asserted
and, as we believed, maintained by rreira.
gable facts and arguments" Nothing can
be more plain and explicit. The exclusive