The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-12-06

WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. 4, lS47.
The Oregon Territory-Ihe Pacific Mail Line
The Report of the Secretary of War-The Post
office Department.
During the last session OF Congress, bill or
ganzing the territorial government OF Oregon,
was reported from the Committee on Territories,
and passed the House very quietly and easily.
With MS much quiet and ease, 1t was given the
po-by in The Senate. To Mr.. Calhoun, and his
balance of power party, some persons are dispos-
ed TO attribute the non-action and want OF favor
to the Oregon people, as demonstrated in the
Senate. Why is thisl
The title to the country bordering on the Pa
cilic, and lying west of the Rocky Mountains,
has been vested In the United States, within GER
tain limits, by solemn compact with Great
Britain. at least as far uorth as ~ deg, and was
near going to 81 deg. 40 min. Firmness In our
government would have given us that limit. Will
this government protect, foster and rule the Peo-
pie of such territory, or shall they themselves
be permitted to organise government VIII
the United States consent to give up this distant
and most valuable possession, and permit the
people to carry on their operations independent
of the federal government! oregon OLy con,
tains a population of ten thousand souls: Day
after day, inhabitants arc pouring In, ana soen
will be in sufficient numbers to demand.
under the constitution, admission as a state;
especially, WHICH i'ioJoi iA"ti'S III W .'~.s.'
crs from Panama TO Astoria, shall get into
operation, and one can go from New York
to the mouth of the Columbia, in twenty five or
thirty DAYS. instead Of from three to six months,
overland or around the Cape. The contract OF
Major Harris (son-in-law Of General Armstrong;
is with the Navy Department, and compels HIM
to have three steamers, each OF not less than one
thousand tons burthen. The steamers are now
in course of construction, and within one year
will be on the Pacific coast, ready to cooperate
with the line of Col. Sleo from New York, via
Havana and New Orleans, to Charges. In these
almost continuous lines of steamers, such capi.
salists as George Law, Mr. Aspinwall, (Howland
& Aspinwall,) Grswold and others, have taken
an interest and in the enterprising character and
business capacity of such men, we have the pro-
mise of a complete and speedy fulhment OF the
contract One can then voyage from New
York TO the Columbia river, in thirty days, and
for an amount of money not exceeding the pricc
of a good mule. Thousands will migrate TO
Oregon and California, and other points on the
Pacific, because il IL not now a matter OF con-
lecture merely, that the commerce OF the East
Indies. China, and Jspan, with their hundreds
OF millions OF population, will in due course
of time, and before a very long time, tend
to the Pacific coast of the United States
The means of communication from Oregon,
overland to the Atlantic, by way OF the
Columbia, the Missouri, and the OHIO, ana by
the way Of Panama, and possibly. TehuanttPec,
and from California via the valley OF the MO
Grande, already foretoken the future course OF
trade with Eastern ASIA, and the rest OF the
commercial world. It's transit must pc over our
tcrritory--Oregon and California, i9eto'o.e,
among the frsl acts OF Congress, snou'e pe yn.
organizing the territorial Eeyernnrnl ~ ,he n.n
asmea--sa scasis,tor 81 bIoed|sss esRssesh