Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-03-21

The Legislature of Oregon Territory adjourned
on the 18th of January, after session extended
to its fullest legal limit Several important bills
were passed, and amongst them one TO submit to
the people the question of calling Convention to
form State Constitution, preparatory to admission
into the Union. The bill for this purpose, which
PASSED the House of Representatives at the late
session. not finally acted upon in the Senate for
want of time.
The first movement in Congress on the subject of
Oregon was made by Mr. FLOYD, of Virginia, (af-
forwards Governor of that State, more than thirty
years ago. On the 10Th of December, 1920, on
his motion, a committee was appointed to inquire
into the expedency of forming settlements upon the Pa
cifc ocean, and the expedency of occupying the Coum
ba or Oregon river On the 25th of January 1921 Mr.
FLOYD reported, from select committee, bill to
thorze the occupation of Columbia river and regulate
intercourse with the Indian tribes.
The subject discussed for several sessions in the
course of which time Russian edct issued forbid
ding foreign vessels to land any of the coasts
islands between Behring's Straits and fty-one degrees
of north latitude This led interesting correspen
dence between Mr. JOHN Q. ADAMS Secretary of State
and Mr.. PoLETIoA, the Russian Minister, which was
marked with great ability and courtesy on both sides
The Minister gave the grounds of the Russian claim
based he considered it upon historical facts going
back to the time of the Emperor Peter l. in 1925 when
the celebrated Capt BEHR1SG made his first voyage
He dsclamed for his Government any intention of aim
ing blow at the maritime interests of the United
States.
Congress did not at that session pass the proposed
bill; but Mr.. FLOYD never faltered in his purpose He
renewed the inquiry two years afterwards, at the
first session of the 18th Congress, commencing in
nhor xvha ho nvod in fbo of
Representatives resolution for an inquiry into the ex-
pediency of occupying the mouth of the Oregon Coum
ba) river and select committee appointed con-
ssting of Messrs Floyd Gurley, Scott Hayden, Basset
Frost, and Baylies.
On the 10Th of January, 1924, Mr.. FLOYD reported
from his committee bill authorize the occupation of
the Columbia Oregon river. 1t not however act
ed upon at that session.
President MONROE, in his message of December It'll,
1924 brought the subject to the notice of Congress in
the following paragraph:
In looking to the interests which the United States
have on the Pacific and the western coast of
this continent the proprety of establishing military
post at the mouth of Columbia river at other
point in that quarter within acknowledged limits, is
submitted to the consideration of Congress- Our
and fisheries in that and along the coast have
much increased and increasing 1t thought that
military post, to which ships-of-war might resort
would afford protection to every interest and have
dency to conciliate the tribes to the Northwest with
whom trade is extensive. 1t is thought Also that
by the establishment of such post the intercourse be-
tween Western States and Territories and the Pacific
and trade with the tribes residing in the interior
each side of the Rocky Mountains would be essentially
promoted"
On the Goth of December, 1924 Mr. FLOYD called up
the bill for the occupation of the mouth of the Columbia
Oregon river and entered into argument show
tha INN of Of
States and the disadvantage under which our traders
abored in competition with the British In reply the
suggestion that the inhabitants might separate from u.s.
Mr. F. said they could have no inducements to do so:
What interest Che asked could be subserYed by such
separation? The point at the mouth of the Oregon
the only spot that whole coast which watere
by so noble and extensive stream-a river whose
branches spread from the forty second to the hythrd
degree of latitude The country healthy and very
fertile and though considerably north of this city eli
mate mild as this.
Mr. FLoYD- rAf~--Aa- -.A- .AA, -----a-difieulty of
'sHe was - concurrent reports of all
travellers and navgators say that the river Oregon
itself would afford subsistence to population Of almost
any amount. One gentleman said the salmon so
abundant in that water that they alone would support
fifty thousand men, and know that the potato grows
wild there, and that the natives of all the adjacent
try live upon it,
After abiding to the means of intercourse with that
region, and the habits of the Indians VINO engaged
in manufactures for themselves and had ocks and herds
Mr.. FLOYD took view of the lines of communication
between the mouth of the Columbia and the United
States He made statements to show that by crossing
the Isthmus proper points and using steamboats, the
passage from the proposed settlement Pensacola might
be made in from twenty-seven to thirty three days:
"Whilst making SO many treaties with one nation and
another (said Mr. F. he did not know that it would
be well for the United States for permission
to that strip of land in order establish
communication between different parts of our own
territory
This suggestion not followed for many years. but
its wisdom has been since amply vindicaed In answer
to motion to refer the BILL Mr.. F. did see the
cessy of that. 1t proposed in addition the military
post erect the settlement into Territorial govern
ment.
'He appealed to the American feeling Of every gen.
tleman whether it proper place under military
law the caprice of the commander of post of two
hundred troops the number of persons who would belong
to such civil settlement. He could not for his own
part, think of such thing for moment The persons
there would be chiefly engaged in hunting and fishing
and he thought it just that they should have the
blessings of civil government their circum
stances would admit of it,
Mr. TRIMBLE of Kentucky, referred to the danger of
leaving the country in undivided possession If Great Br
tain for the fourteen years the treaty with that country
had to At the end Of that time, held part
it would be hers by the right of possession.
ssWhst up Mr.. 7. begged leave to return his thanks
to the gentleman from Virginia, Mr.. FLOYD who had
long and with much assduty labored collect and
present facts for the information and guidance of the
House in matter of great national importance and
which he had at successive sessions brought forward
On the 21st December 1924 the subject was further
considered. Mr.. TAYLOR of New York, opposed to