Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-04-15

slallOn. i nOusand6, GlliilOns III pOth Soo"[s
tries would be reduced to poverty-lo ac-
lual suffering. The calamitous conse-
quences of such a war, independent alto
gelher Of the bloodshed and loss of pro
perty, would be incalculabe. Some es-
Inmates have been made of the consequen-
ces Of such war. And. indeed, | do be-
lieve tina, this is one of the cases in which
il is proper 10 count the cost. A prudent
man. if his honor be assailed, will sacII.
fee his life without any calculation al all
BuI when question is presented involv-
ing The sacrifice Of a small proportion OF
properly 10 which The lille is equivocal,
il is "A matter Of prudence whether more
will he gained or lost in the prosecution of
the claim. If the settlement Of this ques.
lion on The basis 70 which have alluded
could possibly imply in the minds Of any
intelligent, disinterested men, restriction
of our rights from fear, or any other cal
cula,ion ON the part of the United States.
no man would he more opposed TO il than
myself. But are there not reasons not
only jus'iiyins-nay, bot almost calling
upon US TO settle this qaestiou peaceably F?
was re(rrriag 10 calculations that had
been made Of The expenses Of such war.
The annual sacrifice, including The de-
stfuclion Df our commerce and the ex-
penses of the war, would be one undred
million of dullars. pu' at as .ne low
est esllmate aud as am responsible to
God. | would not give The tenth part Of
this sum for the whol Oregon territory.
Now his being clear question of calcu-
lation-nf prufit aud loss-as far as our
honor is not involved, have brought a
book here from which, having shown what
The title is 10 that for which we are con
tending, will proceed 10 exhibit 10 the
Senate The probable value of The country
In dispute. Ii ever there was portion
Of The earth in which would regard il as
the greatest misfortune Iur a poor man to
be obliged 10 settle, 1 consider that that
purtlon OF the earth is this Oregon terrific
ry. IL is country that almost appears
TO have been biastcd by The God oil crea.
lion. IL is totally destitute of every at
traction Ii Is almos, incapable oil sustain
ing civilized human being. And yel
ths is The country that has been masniied
Iutu perfect Ell Dorado! Let me now
call The attruicn oil the Senale 10 lew
short extracts, which | we'll remember,
was published mainly at The Instance Of
the present Secretary Of olale-,nen u
member OF TINS bOdy--a b"uk giving The
;liosl recent, perfect, aud accurate account
OF the Oregon territory. Of any that has
ever yet been published. The Oregon
territory is very remarkable Que. II Is
divided INTO dIlisrenl reg'uus by nluuntaius.
flrsl, there are the CdliluriuIa mouLlaius
running parallel with the coast about oU
miles from The sea; between them and
the sea, according u lhIs work, Is uu area
of 81 ,UUJ square miles, OF which about
oue-eIshth or one tenth Ouiy Is bit Tor cuI-
livatIuu--lhat IS, about four or five thou
SAND square niles; aud, as lar as can
learn, aud as lar as any just inference eau
be drawn from settlements iialie, this mis-
erable strip OF land is The only portion of
Oregon on which civilized human being
can rest his foot with, a cerainly that by
agricultural means he can support exfs--
tence! have said these are The regions.
The iirsl and best 10 thai neurest 10 The
ocean ; and the remarkable Iacl that no
settlement has been maGe this side OF the
valley Of The Willamette; that alter en-
tering Oregon. the emiSranl travels one
thousand miles before he can hud spot
invI,ins him to settle, is pretty conclusive
evidence that The region just alluded 10
is the only portion oil the territory capable
OF sustaining civilized human life. This
writer goes on 10 saJ
The climate OF this whole region is
more dry than that of the country nearer
the Pacific; the days are warm, and the
nights cool; hut the want Of moisture in
the air prevents the contrast Of tempera
ture from being Injurious 10 health. aud
this country is represented, by ali who
have had the opportunity Of Judging by
experience, as being OF extraordinary sa-
Iubrily. The wet season, as in the coun-
try nearer to The Pacific. extends from
October lo April but the rains are neither
frequent nor abundanl, and they rarely
occur at any other period of tho } ear, Ia
ine farming countryD la The southern
valleys there is Iille snuw; farther nurlh
il is more common, but it seldom lies long,
except on the heights.
Under such circumstances. il will be
seen that little encouragement is offered
for the cultivation of this par OF Oregon.
On the other hand, the palms aud valleys
appear 10 be admirably adapted for the
support of cattle, as grass. either green or
dry. may he found at all times within a
short distance, on the bottom lands or on
the hiIlsides. The want of wood musl
also prove n great obstacle TO settlement,
as this indispensable article can only be
procured from great distance up the
north branch Of The Columbia. or from the
Pacific region. with which the passages Of
communication through the mountains are
few aud difficult.
1.-The country farther east, between The