Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-08-06
Ffazer's River -Grggon-A "Reminiscences

Ffazer's River -Oregon- Remiiniseenc6
MIR. Buchanan was Secretary of State un-
der James K. Polk. Those who remember
the political struggle Of 1874, which re-
suited in the election of Polk to the Presi-
dency, will recall also the "piatform'' Of the
Democracy that year, which declares our
and indisputable, and the defiant motto of
organs and watchword OF orators. "fifty -four
forty or hght.' Such was the claim and such
was the mode of asserting it.
By the treaty negotiated III that term, un-
der the auspices OF Mr.. Polk and his. .Secrc-
tary of the State, DIR. Buchanan, our Gov
ernment relnquished to Great Britain all
the territory North of 49S, being a belt of
the continent to which our title was deciar-
ed clear and iudisputahle, nearly fear hun.
dre1 a:ea miles in parallel breadth, embracing
Vancouver's Island, the magnificent straits
of Juan de Fuca, and a portion of the Pa
cifc Coast most desirable for commercial
and maratime interests; besides large re-
gion of the interior of the continent, now
regarded SO suitable for settlement and val
liable. These vast rights upon this continent
were signed away with a scratch of the pen
as recklessy as spendthrift conveys his
patrimony.
Robert :. Walker was rtenibef Of the
Cabinet at that time, the salfie who has since
promulgated the s'isothermal' theory in re-
gard TO slavery, that is to say, that slavery
is essentially tropical and dependent upon
latitude. Under that theory or rYon any
possible hypothesis of politics at that tiftie
slavery ih Oregon was otit OF lie Question
and the REIMBURSEMENT of territory from which
it was excluded, was highly aesettatle IL
| the slavery extension Interest. 1t the glory
of Folks Administration is based upon the
| acquisition of New Mexico and California
| by conquest, its peaceful REIMBURSEMENT o
an "indisputable title' TO the Northern Tef
ritoy of Oregoa, Hili stand in the Iuture III
| the record of its shame. Slavery accom-.
| plished double triumph then, in what was
| given a1ay, as well as in what was acduif
ed. Fot California as well as New Mexico
was an expected aud coveted field for thu
extension of slavery.
The recent discovery Of rich gold digging
ON Frazer's River, in the British Possessions
and the rush of emisrants thither. even trom
the gold fields of California. give a new in
terest to the geography of that country. =
Fraaer's River ie between 49S and 50e o
North latitude; it is within the limits OF tina
memorable cession, OF territory declared Il
be ours by every acknowledged title, and our
by right indisputable. Frazer's River, b.
the law of association recalls to every mint
the unwise and sinister diplomacy o. 5ame
Buchanan when Secretary of State.
Who was there, reffect:dg upon the past
that really expected any war or serious dis
turbace of friendly relations with Grea
Britain, from the late ''rght of visitation
question! Was not MIR. Buchanan, Presi
dent, the same man who relinquished ter
ritory OF 400. 900 square miles, or more, t
Great Briiain9 Was not the interests Of tn
South on the side of peace! The sam
: South that was forward in it's acquiescenc
I in the cession of Oregon TO Great Britain
True, there was pretentious swaggerin
5 about sour fag;'' but had the clamor bee
v tt~s- I, r"~i. anr rr'cr@' -