The Portland daily press., 1867-04-22
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
Monday Morning, Apil %, 1867.
Acquis,sion of British eoiumb,.


This extensive region, including Vancouver
Island lies north of Washington Territory
and south of our newly acquired Russian pos
sessions. 1t is very extensive region. Though
having less than six degrees of coast line on
the Pacific, it has excellent harbors behind
Vancouver Island, and safe roadstead in
which the navies of the world might ride safe
ly at anchor. The territory is, like Washing
ton territory, rich in timber and minerals, and
its rivers-the principal of which is the Frazier
are rich in salmon, while vast quantities of
flrs are taken in the more northern regions.
1t is somewhat remarkable that the London
Times, as IT taking time.by the forelock and
preparing public opinion for probable event
says:
Even our tenure of British Columbia which
has SO lately voted for admission 10 the Con
federation, Is not prejudiced by the cession of
those wastes to the northward. 1t connection
with California was already much closer than
with any Of the colonies, and a large proportion
OF its inhabitants were already American. If
these influences are destined to overcome the spir-
1t Of loyalty and attract it into the linton, the
substitution of the American for the Russian
flag on the shores Of the North Pacific will but
hasten the operation by year or two.
As the Washington Chronicle truly remarks,
"here is confession from the quarter most in
terested in opposing the annexation of British
territory to this country, which almost invites
us to take it,"
1t has already been limited that our Alabama
claims for spoliations committed upon our COM
merce during the war, by British built, British
oficered and British manned cruisers sailing
md tho Gonfa6arafa ha off
against the acquisition OF this very territory,
and thus an element of discord and a
source of jealousy on the Pacific be
removed at the same time. Whatever signi-
fication or lack OF signifcation is to be
attached to this hint, it is evident from the
tone Of the British press upon American af.
fairs that England and other European now
ers have given up all hope of controlling the
destiny of any part of this continent" The
Chronicle says, referring to the tone of the Brit
ish press: H..
The absolute power OF the Great Republic
is conceded, and its manifest destiny indicated
with prophetic instinct. That which all men
feel must come to pass surely has foundation
in fact. We may as well prepare then, to re-
ceiye into our embrace the fair Lady of the
Lakes-British Columbia We presume that
is enough of the Constitution left to guaran-
tee her republican form of government.
The London Times says that the aspiration
of the United States to absorb the whole of
of North America is no secret, but that such
design is not really furthered by the purchase
of Russian America Quoting this remark
the Chronicle adds:
Perhaps not, though under what system of
mathematics it would be hard to tell 1t is
certainly furthered to the extent of adding ter
ritory about ten times as large as Pennsylvania
to our dominion. 1t is also furthered by the
control which this gives us Of the North Pa
cific and the ISLANDS thereof We are now
within thirty-six miles of Asia, across Beh-
rings straits, and the importance of that fact
may be developed in the future The internal
trade of India, Siam, China, Tartary, Persia,
and other Asiatic countries, which fnds its
way by land into Russia may through this
source find a profitable diversion. Two such
nations as Russia and America, owning all the
northern part of the European, Asiatic and
American continents, can accomplish great
deal for mutual interest and profit, and it is
merely useless to deny the palpable advantage
which the possession of Russian America gives
to the United States as a power aspinng to
continental proportions. The intrinsic value
of the territory may also be regarded as an
open question, for that which remained unde-
veloped in the hands OF Russia will not re-
main so as part of the United States.