Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1846-01-29

American continents, by the free and lnde-
pendent condition which they have assum-
ed and maintain, are henceforth not to be
considered as subjects for future COLOMBIA
tion by any European Power"
1t is not in words alone that he re-aflIrmS
the position OF Mr.. Monroe. The Immedi-
ate application of the abstract principle Is
made to Oregon, and he advises the Legs
lature to give England notice OF the terml-
nation of the Joint occupancy-to establish
an Indian agency in Oregon-to extend the
laws and jurisdiction of the United States
over its citizens residentthere-to make IL
beral grants to ''lhe patriotic pioneers" who
may choose to open up ''the vast wilder
ness intervening between our frontier set
dement's and Oregon" TO connect the
northwest territory with those frontier set
Elements by chain of stockades and block
houses and move able columns Of mounted
IriAemen-and to establish monthly over
land mail between the States and the Ame-
rican squatters on the Columbia.
In the same message which recommends
this system of operations the annexation
of Texas is dwelt on with triumph; threats
of on aggressive war are held in suspense
over the Mexican republic; and, with a
Iside-glance to the n orth, it is affirmed that
I''the people of this continent alone have the
right to decide their own destiny'-"should
any portion of them, constituting an indie
pendent state, propose to unite with our
Iconfederacy, this will be a question for
fo-
reign interpostion'-" American sys-
tenn of Government is entirely different
from that of Europe" In short, the Presi-
dent of the United States advises Congress
to arm and organise the citizens in order
that they may be prepared to avail them
selves of any emergency, to receive all
communities already settled on the North
American continent, into the bosom Of the
Union, and prevent the colonization of any
part of the continent by European nations
IfCongress adopt the principle enunciated by
Messrs Monroe and Polk. they will arrogate to the
Government of the u States the sole and exclusive
right to colonize the yet unoccuped portions of the
North American continent. The mere eX-parte de-
claration of one government cannot make any doc
trine part of the law of nations; the common consent
of all, or of majority Of governments is required
for that purpose. But the doctrine recognized by
the majority Of civilized nations this head is, that
all tracts of country inhabited only by savage OIL
nomade tribes not organized into state, may be
take possession ofthem, and that government may
by certain preliminary measures, establish an excu
sive right to colonize more extensive tract O
country than it is prepared to do at the moment
The Government of Washington is entitled to in
sist that all tracts of land to which it has establish
ed such an exclusive shall be coonzed either by it,
own citizens or by individuals who agree to submit
Ito its peculiar laws ard institutions; but any Other
Government in any part of the world is entitled tc
do the same; and Russia and Great Britain have
done it.
1t possible, no doubt, that principle which has
not actually been recognised part of the law o
nations may deserve to be recognised. The prin
ciple asserted by the Presidents Monroe and Polk
though not law, may be equitable that the British
government would do we'll to combine with that OF
the United States to urge its adoption upon all other
governments. 1t is worth while to examine the
proposition of the American statesmen, with view
Ito ascertain whether, since it is not, already, 1t
ought not forthwith to he made law. .
The claim, then, which they assert, is neither
more nor less than exclusive right of colonization
over all unoccupied tracts of the American contl-
nent for the government Of the United States.
To this exhorbitant claim they can show no bet
ter title than the accidental circumstance that their
government is actually resident on that continent.
That government and its citizens are themselves
colonists from Europe their settlement gives them
valid title to the territory they have actually taken
possession of, but no right to exclude from the un-
occupied tracts other colonies which Europe and
European governments may send after them. The
first law delivered to man was that he should re-
plenish the earth. In virtue Of this law all denzens
of overpeopled countries entitled to seek for and
take possession of new and unoccupied lands. They
are entitled to transplant the institutions which
habit has made second nature to them to their
new homes.
The European colonists have the same right to
plant monarchica or aristocratcal institutions IN
the territories to which Russia and Great Britain
have established their preferable right of colonial
ton that the United States colonists have to plant
democratic institutions in the territory which his
Government has laid it's hands. In point of equity,
the claims of the European coonists the strong
er; for their ovorpeopled countries leave them nc
option but to emigrate, while within the settlement:
of the United States the population is insufficient to
occupy the soil. The Polk and Monroe policy i:
the dog-in-the-manger policy, of excluding Europe
ans from regions which their own countrymen will
L. ...al,lo To ocn,n,r for cent uries to come