The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-23

MS condition.. could mike Il moro pr onlSlng St.
lection of home. There are already some
100000 or 100000 inhabitants in California. OF
whom not o.ie-hundrcdth part are subssted by
cultivation of the soil. They are dependent
upon neighborng countries for their SUPPORT
In n very few Years, there will be hall million
of inhabitants there aud how long will il he
before there will b. two millions three mil
lions of inhabitants in n country, where there
are gold pacrrs OF hundreds Of miles IN extent
and where not one-hundredth part will ever be
sustained by agricultural ursuts, and must
draw their Subsistence from the surrounding
countries. California is now, ann informed
chiefly snppli d with Hour fro II Chill. II | am
not wholly misniorncd as to the character of
the soil and climate in Oregon it is destined To
be abundantly productive la Just those products
which will be So abundantv demanded for con
sumption ii California. In position il is immc-
diitey adjoining Californi,, and more conve-
nienily situated for furnishing those supplies
than any other country. Sir, there is no portion
of the agricultural districts of the United States
that is flvorlbly situated ut this time to offer
the vary highest nducements--there is no coun-
tly, with the exception ot California, which offers
my equal Inducements. Are not these Sufficient
advantages without our giving away this valid
able territory.
] know sir that gentlemen will axe snch
course rs they choose, and prob bly, snch one
rs this proposition contemplates. ! know the
nature of the rising popular sentiment; and il
gentlemen are disposed to run a popular career
on this subject they will vote for giving away
our public; dom in without stint. and whoever
attempts to interpose any restraint will find
himself overwhelmed b. such an opposition rs
he clnnot withstand. But is it not cnoTgh to
80 IA. ,rN.i
there without these Inducements, with such
glowing exp citations rs now present them
selves but must we H. addition to the Induce
IN 'ntS which now prcsret themselves visl,
those most pro table agricultural lands long
iny to the public domain Of the United States
!! am willing to give section of land to tIose
who went there without these inducements, and
suffered all the trials and hardships to which
reference has been made. But sir, Oregon is
NOW built mp into prosperous territory The
popul ,ton already there is strong enough to
stand, even without the protection of the United
States, asailst the weak Indian tribes upon their
borders. | am, repent ready to dead literally
by those VINO went there without tI,os: induces
mens which now exist, aad hid to encounter
the hard ships of the curly settlement OF the
country. But that tine has passed. Those
hardships are now passed. The settlers who
are there have earned their bounty. Give them
section apiece it You Please; bat do not lct.ns
clange our general policy, and give away the
public lands wiutonly aud unnecessarily. see
no necessity aud no reason for slch a change
in our pn'icy. ! see no reason why we shoul,
hold ont these extraorlipuy Inducements to the
settlement Of til cou,itry, which has so many
inducements of its own--nore verify believe
than any other territory OF the United States
S,ir | hIv, al, ,ra1 III, ay-
PLANTATION for the vote which shall give upon
this subject, will not dwell longer upon the
subject, aud upon the whole policy of gettin,
ri of all onr wild lands as speedily rs possible.
SHALL b, opposed to it. sail vote against it
from no want of libe:allty but rom my jnt, :
urnt Of what is judicions and proper.
Mr.. IiAlIIlN. do not rise to discuss the
questions, but to express the hope that the Sen
;.tor from Illinois will press this bill to vote
at once and that the friends OF Or goa will tie,
an not talk. | think Senators must bc fully !
sensible that ii we do not devote portion OF
our time to executive businesses, il must result !
in an extra session OF this body. For Que,
wish to avoid this result.
Mr. HOUSTON. II was not my intention to
make any remarks upon the bill, but simply to
have voted for its passage, until the remarks
made by the senator from Florida, Mr.. luLEE,
and his motion to strike out the fifth SECTION.
object 10 that section also, bat my objections
are very different from thosp pres intel by him.
| object to it because the ,duccmcnts Off red
IRE insufficient for the hazards aud difficulties OF
removing to the territory of Oregon. 1t has
bccn very particularly statcd--'nd grant you
that it is true-that it has not been in accord
arce with the usage of the Government to gftnt
lands in advance To cmiJrlnts who my hcreatter
90 to territory; but, sir, II is policy quite
similar to that pursued by the State OF North
Carolina in the Settlement of TIE State Of Ten
ntssee A boaniy Of $40 acres vas granted to
every inhabitant Of North Carolina who should
Setflc in the county then c,llcd Cumberland
which is now Western Tennessee. The reason
was that the country WIS infested with hostile
Indians, and it required some iaducement to lead
population into a country in which there was 50
much of d,nger and of difficulty. Some of the
best citizens--some Of the most substanti
families of the st tie of re lnessec--have grown
out If that wise and provident policy.
The settlement of Cumberland might have
been postponed some half century, if it had
not been for this wise and humane policy Of
North Carolina. The consequence was that
G imbcrlud soon obtained population suffi
Gent to defend themselves against the powerful
tribes of bo~dr Indians who surrounded them
Now sir what his been the situation If Ore
gon! 1t is so remote from the settlements OIL
the States, that it i. almost removed beyond
even the com Oh symptihies OF our kind II
recolIcct that when first came into this cham
ber Oregon WAS then ablne of contention, some
co tending thn aid should be- rendered to Ore
ron, while others opposed it; nd for some rca-
on Oregon has been neglected for ycars, aud up
to the present day. Wien she WAS most Sc
yercly pressed by the lJars. and u regimOit
was raised for her defence, it WAS diverted from
the object of lis creation and marched to Mex !
Coz SO that Oregon has been for years without
the benefits Of that provision of law. Well, sir,
the people who have gone to Oregon deserve
greet credit. They have gone there in accord
ance with the spirit of enterprise which belongs
to the American ch ia ter, and III accordance
with that spirit of during and adventure which
will doubtless remain while there is distant
country to occupy or difficulties to encounter.
Those who have gone tlrcr, and of whom II is !
said that they are anxious To return, VIII soon
find reason to b. satisfied with their condition,
IT this ndncemcnt is given 10 emf Ifant to go I"