^. r^.^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k A // ^.^^. ^ 1.0 I.I IAS 12.8 |50 "^~ us IS u >i^ I. ayub 14.0 IL25 mi 1.4 2.5 2.2 12.0 ^^ 0% ^ *>. ^ 'V^<^' > > > .•» .V '/ /^ Photographic Sdeices Corporation ^.>' <^ 23 WEST MAIN STRUT WEBSTER, N.Y. USEO (716) 172-4503 '^ CIHM/!CMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/iCMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibiiographicaliy unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur , I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagde □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pellicuiie I I Cover title missing/ D D D D D D D Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes gdographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/cr illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Reli6 avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ Lareliure serrde peut causer de I'cmbro ou de la distortion le long de la marge int^rieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout6es lors d'une restauratlon apparaissent dans le texte. mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6td filmies. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires; L'Institut a microfilmd le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6X6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique. qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la methods normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ D Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restauries et/ou pellicul6es Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages ddcoiordes, tachetdes ou piqu6es □ Pages detached/ Pages ddtachdes Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Quality in^gale de I'impression Includes supplementary materii Comprend du materiel suppiimentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible r~~\ Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ I — I Only edition available/ Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6X6 filmdes 6 nouveau de fapon 6 obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item i& filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiqui ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X Z6X 30X 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X tails t du odifier une mage Tha copy filmad hara has baan raproducad thanks to tha ganarosity of: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia Tha imaga', appaaring hara ara tha bast quality possibia considaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spacif ications. L'axamplaira film* f ut raproduit grica A la ginArr/sit* da: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia Las imagas suivantas ont 4t* raproduitas avac la plus grand soin. compta tanu da la condition at da la nattatA da l'axamplaira filmA. at an conformity avac las conditions du contrat da filmaga. Original copias in printad papar covars ara filmad beginning with tha front covar and ending on tha last page with a printad or illustrated impres- sion, or Vi9 back covar whun appropriate. All other original copias are filmed beginning on the first page with a printad or illustrated impres- bion, and ending on the last page with a printad or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimte sont filmAs en commenfant par la premier plat at an termin^^nt soit par la darniAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration. soit par la second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autras exemplaires originaux sont filmAs en commen^ant par la pramiAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — »> (meaning "CON- TINUED "), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboies suivants apparaitra sur la darniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE ". 1^ symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction radios. Those too large to be entirely in'sluded in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand porr Atre reproduit en un seul clichA. il est film* A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite. et de haut en bas. en prenant la nombre d'imagas nAcessaire. Les diagrammes sue /ants illustrent la mAthode. irrata to pel u re. in d G 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 9^. M 1 •* SPEECH ^f ^^- OF f MR. WENTWOETH, OF ILLINOIS, • N THE OREGON TERRITORY: DELTVBRBD IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Javvart 24, 1844. 1 WASHINGTON: PRINTED AT THE GLOBE OPPIOH. 1844. X,!, ^ [ II in- Mr. WJ /ollows: Mr. Ch orable fric ^arpsc; and ,th|ui ni'-in plsased- 'i ments of i liupposed ibr no othe of Jastice irifnts cigaii ments. Bi Sllipriscd ii hisremaiks TC|)eated an the, whole \ nity of oui pnae to sur IMM) after a( right— that AJW NV'luit t by prior d one year be erjr under pnor posse; veuaber, m Gh«Bt Britai 1806; and, :an be no c 'oUowed by nore strong French and Tlamda treal ne|jbe (lain aify those Mmpount t 9 OUW — firs i'mnse; thin uently beci reaty of G\ le last war lOiKii of t) 4/' SPEECH. Mr. WENTWORTH addressed the House as /ollows: Mr. Chairman: I was writing at my desk, on ujgcnt business of my constituents, wlien my hon- orable friend from Kentucky [Mr. Thomasson] j^rpse; and nothing \ns further from my intentions Jthlin n(''lressing the House to-day. I was much piiased- 'lighly delighted — with the patriotic senti- ments of 1 V friend from Indiana, [Mr. Owen;] and I mipposed iliat the gentlem£in from Kentucky arose tar no otlicr purpose than also to sustain the cause of Justice and humanity — to vindicate the settlers' ri|^ts against Indian cruelties and British encroach- ments. But I must confess that I never was more wuprised in my whole life than at the whole tenor of lui remarks, &g entirely repugnant are thev to the oft- reipeated and well-known sentiments and feelings of the whole western people, and to the honor and dig- nity of our nation. And what may well add sur- priie to surprise, is the fact that he has said all he luMlj after acknowledging that Oregon was ours by rigttt — that our title to it was clear and indisputable. Am what title could be more so? We have it, first, by prior discovery under Captain Gray in 1792, one year before Great Britain's pretended discov- ery under Captain McKensie; and second, by prior possession under Lewis and Clark in No- I'ember, 1804, whilst the pretended po.ssession of 3reat Britain under Mr. Thompson was not until 1806; and, according to the law of nations, there uui be no clearer title than that of prior iliscovcry, "oUowed by prior possession. But our title is still nore strongly fortified by our succession to the ^'rench and Spanish titles, under the Louisiana and Florida treaties; and no impartial person can exani- ne the claims of these two governments, and espe- ■ial^ those of Spain, without acknowledging them •aramount to those of Great Britiiin. Oregon, then, s ours — fi'sl, by our own right; second, by that of ''ranee; third, by that of Spain, which has subse- uently been endorsed by Mexico. Again: by the *eaty of Ghent, such places as were taken during le last war were to be resttn-ed. The town at the louUt of lite Columbia, founded by John Jacob Astor In 1811, and called Astoria, wa« taken in the last war by Captaui Blake, in December, 1813; and , so it was formally restored to the United States Oc- tober 16, 1818, under this treaty. This shows how England regarded the matter at that time. It ia proof positive that she thought it ours. Now what has she done to gain a title since.' Russia l>&s con- ceded our right to 54 degrees and 40 minutea north latitude, which brings Russia forward to strengthen our title; and Spain concedes us all above 42 degrees. And the vtdue of this concession, I ought, perhaps, to enlarge upon, a.s it embracea the discovery of Cape Blanco, in 1543, ;i« far north as latitude 43 degress; of the straits of Fuca, uj lat- itude 49 to 51, in 1592, by Juan de Fuca; of the riv- er Umpqua, in 1603, by Aguiler, in latitude 44; of Nootka sound, by Perez and Martinez, in 1774, in latitude 49 to 50; and of Cape Disappointment, in 1775, by a company of Spaniards, m latitude 46. The right of these discoveries, outweighing any of Great Britain, was conceded to us by the Florida treaty of Feburary 22, 1819, and confirmed by the treaty with Mexico, January 12, 1828. Bissett, the English historian and successor to Hume, in naming the various tracts of country belonging to England, in 17C3, does not mention Oregon; and yet her diplo- matists claim she got possession by the discovery of Sir Francis Drake, in 1579, almost two centuriea before. And there are maps yet extimt, published by Eman Bowen, geographer to his Majesty, in which all the territory west of what was tlien the French territory, (as discovered by La Salle, in 1683, embracing all the country from the head wa- ters of the Mississippi to its mouth,) and extending to the Pacific ocean, was set down as belonging to Spain. This shows that the English claim must have arisen since 1763. And it evidently had no claim then; for, in his voyage, he never went aa high as 40 degrees of latitude, and that would only give England California, to which she lias never made a pretence of claim. And it is only until we consented to lier joint occupancy, and offered her all above 49 degrees, that she has begun to study the log-books of early navigators to make out a title to lB?7i^ 4 nny niition n\n ^(\\n by ■e with t}ie whi)le. And this is all Ci>mpromiKin^*ilH right for tlic' Hiike of jiriu Great Britain. Tlius wo lmv(; a tract twelve degrees and forty by a title fo stron* that. it could he sironujir. Bu* ' is enough for me that tl of ro-nitry enil)rai'iii;; niinulos, secured I" us 1 do not we!! see Ihav will let the title p;us. it irentleiuaii ha.s aeknowl- *;dged our ri,^ht to the country. Now, sir, why not defend that r\'j;M After kiiowi'".; wlmt our rights are, how lou'^ whall we see them tianipled upoii l)c- forc wc arouse lo their delenee: How loiji;^ aie tlio emissaries of the Hudson's Ixiy .'('lupiniy to niariuid ihe planis of Orei!;on, ])art and panel of ourconui on country, opprossin:; the liurily (lioneer in American enterprise, and wc, the framers of our country's laws — the guardians of otu- country's rii;lits — re- jiiain listless and 'nactivc? How nmch further, un- der the encouragement of hi^r old ally. Great I'rit- ain, are the Indians to extend their depredations ■upon American property and Ameriean life wiiliout an indiu;niuit response from the American Congres.s? There are nut only dwelling houses and mishiouary .st'itions in Orei^on, but chari;hes and siihool houses. And who am t( II how many ol' these may have been burnt to the groinid, or stained by the blood of mas- sacred American citizens, through the cruelties of our ancient and allied foes, (Great Britain and the In- dians,) whilst ihe gentleman wa.s nialcing his tem- porizing speech.'' Ay, sir, who can tell what outrages are perpetrated there, from day to day, upon Amer- ican soil, and ujion American citir.cnw, iui(/cr the sanc- tion of lairs'.' But whnt Uncs? The laws of the United States^ Those we have never given them. In vain does the poor Oregon settler ask for a trial by the laws of his country. In vain does he ask for a judge era jm-y. And, further yet, in vain does he ask for the protection of the American flng — a boon not denied one of our citizens in almost any other portion of the world. But how are they tried? By British laws, or by the British constitution? No, sir. Have they the advantages of even the old conmion law? iVo, sir. How, then, arc they tried? Why, by the whims and caprices of the Hudson Bay comj>n- i\y, which varies its laws to suit the times, the occa- Rions, and the cases; which follow the old )Scotch Jedburgh fitshion — hang first, and try afterwards. To do justice to Great Britain, I will state that .she lias enacted a few hnvs in relation to Oregon; and one of these provides that the Hudson Bay I'ompany have power to give judgment against any American citizen iti Oregon, and issue an execution, under cover ot' which he may bo confined in their forts, or sent to the jails of Canada, at their pleasure. So, ■when they do not want to try and punish American citizens on American territory, without law, or by itiob law, made on the spot, for fear of outraging public feeling, they will kidnap them, and take them to a British colony, to be tried liy British Judges and British laws. Now, under tlus state of things, we ask that a territorial goverinncnt he sent them; we ask for them laws, judges, and jurors; to all of which, every Ameiican citizen, however humble bis condition, and however distant his abode, is justly entitled. But if they cannot have these, as the scinticst pittance — as the least act of grace on the |)art of our government — we ask only the pro- tection of the American flng. And what less can we ask for those daring adventurers who, '■'■durli anvne jiotrtfC," sacrificing all the endearments of tlieir cnrlv Jiomea, and all the gay delights of the jBociul and fasliiouable circles, count their lives us nothing in the midst of their determination to ex- « ij,, tend the boinid < of American civilization, and plain jruj : th(! cross of ('lirist on the shores of the Pacific? j,tt|c Mr. Chan-man, when wc have ascertained oin i„„|, rights, then is just the time to resent any encroach- mini nicnt upon them. Sudi was the governmg senti Her meat of oiu- patriotic forefathers in 1774, whc prn^ thought not a niomeiit of the power — the Ircmen- Jost i duns p(iw(r — of their mother eomitry, when they ner t found her the affgn ssor — when they found her ii who! the wrong, and they iliemselves in the right. And it -wuni poor lis they ilicn were, both as States and individ- ami i uals; if weak as iliey ilien wc:\; in every respect; i' hendi niiprotecled as they theu were against the Indian- way (umiK! side, and Great Britain on the other, thti ' dowi dared strike for thiir rii^lits, can wc long hesitut' Mail as 1,0 our duty? Sliall it be said that, ere the lib that i revolulioner has gone down to his grave, this iin - chase tion will condescend to tamper, to parley, to use th JVeve language of wea'-iicss and timidity, when a tract < until country, embracing one-fourth more than the origin;; we gr thirteen States, is "at stake: And that, too, bccausj was e as the gentleman has told us, England is powerfii with i and more prepared (or war than we are. But, the b( what consists this great, this formidable power. Sir, Eiiglam., sulHcienf, in the mind of the gentlcma: made to .slillc tlie voice of our people, to paralyze tlic actii 1783. of this body on so important a question as tin lamite Like Ihe niillionaires of 1836, England makes come great show on ijaper. She has possessions beyoi too Ir count; but, like those millionaires, she has lor of pin lived (ni that bubble!, expanded credit, and she before about out of funds. Her citizens at home, win our a; sweat and blood she has so long and so severe wester taxed, .M'e becoming fiictious and disorderly, wli -Wfion t her c.r lonists are bearing her yoke very impatient: importi She is in debt beyond her means or expectatio luinbii: ever to ]iay; and each year she adds to it. I! aware strength is anywhere else than where it ought to be to Gre in the aftcctanis of her people. And here, sir. ty-nin the impregnalilo fortress of the American govor floor, i ment. Her jieople love it, and will sacrifice tli ofl^er a all to defend it. But here Great Britain is we; '>that ct The people upon whom she relies for defence. 'Hot th groaning under innumerable cruelties and oppr leave t sions; and if they fight at all, it will be from ci «on wf pulsion and for pay, rather than love. And gives fj T.ilu'^ of such soldiers against men fighting for \\. *n be of inalienable rights, the struggle for ourindependf iic meJ fully tested. England has little to gain even, at K cuss til by going to war with us, and much, very nii: "treiityl to lose; and she has no idea of it. She has.' *way. enough of wars with the United States, wliere treaty ill ways geip worsted. She prefers uegotiations, wi' ourscH she always beats us. Hence we find her not w. »f the ing to fight for, but to negotiate for, Ore: TesortI Having no title to this desirable tract of I'l -firees try, she pretends one, and modestly d;i up "'n(| the whole. But in this enlighened Chris' wnh age, she docs not wish to go to war, and propos. lirgentj compromise. And thus far she has been very f" *'"<^ "'|l nate; for already has an American Secretary of > 'W'e wil (Mr. Clay, in 1826) instructed one of our mini? -^e lial (Mr. Galmtin) to oflier to give her all above 49 li *0'i 'M so as to make our boundary west of the mo liuuy I run parallel with that east — a surrender of 5 ^^ ^"1 and 40 mill. — almost luUf the country; and tlii?, «isj>os after he had written that Great Britahi could "lem. I mi'ke out a colorable title to any portion n! hevc i| northwest coast. She, however, in her conipln '•'^'''"'l cy, oll'ered to give us all below the centre ol iroinil navi'-'able current of the Columbia at its mouth. '•very | vmination tr cx- izution, (vnd plam of the Pacific? ascertained oni cut any cncroach- j^rovcriiinK scnti IS in 1774, whi ^^-cr — the Iromeii- intiv, when tiny hey" found her ii 1 the rij:;ht. And il Stales and individ- in every respect; i' gainst the Indian- on the other, the; we long hesitat. that, ere the l!^^ his e;rave, this na parley, to use th itv, when a tract ' nrc than the origin; 1 liiat, too, bccau!- igland is powerfn m we are. But orniidablc power > 1 uf the gentlenia: ) paralyze the actii a question as tin England makes I possessions beyoi \ives, she has lor i credit, and she nis at home, whi )ng and so seven md disorderly, wh. ike very impatient; sans or expectatio he adds to it. I! vhere it ought to be c. And here, sir, ic American govor d will sacrifice tli reat Britain is we; relies for defence. cruelties and op])r , it will be from n than love. And men fighting for tr for our independf :> to gain even, at Iv id much, very mi a of it. She has '. ted States, where jrsuegotiations, w; we find her not w. legoliate for, Orcc sirable tract of »•» ind modestly da enlighened Chris' war, and propd^' lie has been very f" •ican Secretary of ^ cd one of our miniJ c her all above 49 i west of the mo ■ 1 surrender of 5 ■ country, and this, reat Britain could to any portion ('' 2vcr, in her compla ilow the centre ot ambia at its moutii. r line extended easterly parallel thereto, wiii<'h (call- inir the nionih 40 deg. and 10 min.) would giu; us a Jiitle over 4 dej;. --notciuite one third. She negotiates under every advantage, since every degree, every minute, pvery scrond, will be so inucli cle u' gain. f Icr condui't in this matter iirminds nic of the des- iiciatioM of a iiard-faced giunliler, who, tifler he had lo.st his last rent of thousands, proposed to the win- ner to fliji up a copper, find see wlio should have the whole pile of money on the table; and, when the wijnier, in the phrensy of the moment, consented, niid the copper was in the air, he cxi'laimcd, "Now, heads, 1 win; tails, you lo.se." Sir, tiiis is much the way England plays with us. When she first .sat ' dowji to negotiate for a portion of the State of Maine, she pretended to have no right whatever to that which she at last got; but was willing to pur- chase it. Wc were not willing to sell on her terms. Nevertheless, she kept negotiiiting and negotiatin? wntil she got all she wanted. To be sure, it is said •we got other territory in payment; but that territory • was ours, too. She took our proper' y, and tradi^d ■with us for more of our property, and cheated us in the bargain. Sir, the greatest mistake that our enuntry ever made was in not insisting fully upon the line of 1783. Every deviation from it has so far been ca- lamitous to our best interests, whenever we have come fully to understand them. England has been too long skilled in diplomacy for us to think of playing evcnhanded with her; and hence, before the stakes are down, I am for limiting our agents, and it is on this very account that western members wish to provoke discussion •upon this Oregon question. We wish to show the importance we attach to the great vtilley of the Co- lumbia, so that, if men trat'.e it away, they may be aware of the consequences. Wc have once offered to Great Britain, in an unwary moment, to the for- ty-ninth parallel. But who dare, .sir, say on this floor, that our people will warrant or sanction fhtu offer again; or nn offer to .surrender a single inch of ■that country? The gentleman has said that this is ■'Hot the time to act upon this matter. Sir, 1 beg leave to differ with him; and assign, as the very rea- json why we should act upon it, tlic one which he gives for not acting. He says a negotiation is about to be opened with respect to Oregon. Well, sir, it will i)c mere child's play — empty words alone — to dis- cuss the matter after the negotiation is closed, the trenty ratified, and, perhaps, half of Oregon given away. What avails it to discuss the Ashburton treaty now? Like it, or not like it, wc cannot help ourselves; and, though disapproved liy nine-tenths of the people who understand it, they have no other Tesort but to sancticni it as tliey would the de- crees of Omnipotence. The fiat has gone form, and no one can stay it. This may soon be the case with Oregon; and now is the time, ju^^t the time, the iirgent time, to sjieak out and declare our sentiments, ere diplomacy may have done its work. And speak •We will. Sir, ever since this session commenced, :We have been introducing proposition after proposi- ■(tion on this subject. But, until this time, our inge- tiuity has only been able to keep pace with that of the honorable gentlemen opposed to tis, in silently ■dis]iosing of them all as fast as we could introduce them, i will tell the House that the West has come here united to a man upon this subject; (I extremely regret, however, to except the honorable gentleman from Keiitue.ky.) And we intend to speak out upon efleetual. For, when once negotiated away, the unanimous voice of the House — the unanimous voice of every lejiislature — ay, the unaiiimoiis voice of the whole American people caimot recall it. It is gone forever. To the friends of Oregon, then, this is not the time for silence. The qui^stion now peniling is to give the year's n.itice refpiired by the second article of the convention of 1»27 — to wit: that we wish to close the. joint occupancy; for such it has been called, though lately England has had the country all to herself. This vote should pass tiiis House before the British minister arrives, and then he will know somewhat of the opinions and determinations of our people; and then he and our treaty-making powers can shape their course accordingly. The gentl(!manfrom Kentucky has descanted on our weakness, as well as the strength of Great Britain, who, he thinks, will be provoked to war by any such vote as the one we recommend. He thinks we had better wait ten years, and the Oregon settlers will have, so multipli- (h1 mid strengthened themselves that they could take the country without help. Sir, I wonder that this modern temporizing policy never suggested itself to our sagacious forefathers. It was a rash act, throw- ing that tea overboard in the Charlestown harbor! The battle of Bunker Hill was entirely too early, besides being contrary to the law and constitution'. Our revolutionary sires were too jirecipitatc alto- gether! Had they waited ten years, perhaps Eng- land would have given up the couiury without fight- ing for it! Aiid there were men in those days who cried out, "wc tu-e weak," and wanted to wait awhile. But the gallant Patrick Henry replied: "We arc weak, but when shall we be stronger? Will it be next week or next year?" Apply this to Oregon. When will we be better able to take possession of it? Will it be when Great Britain shall have over- run it with her troops, armed every Indian, and built and manned a fort in every important position? Every day's delay, in my opinion, only makes that territory the. more difficult for us to take possession of. .And the very remarks of the gentleman, as eoiiiiiig from an j-inicrican congressman, will but kindle new ardor in British breasts, and make that government still more haughty and imperative in its requi.sitioiis. They were very impolitic, to say the least, at this time; and I think lie should not have uttered them, under i!ie circumstances, though he believed them true. I wonder this advice — "wait ten years" — was not thought of before our last war, when England was nabbing our gallant seamen. In- deed, there were, those then that not only cried "wait, don't make w.ir with the mighty kingdom of Englt'.nd;" but who even went further, and refused to vote appropriations for the war; and further yet, who fed, for )iay, clandc:!iincly, the British army. I hope, if gentlemen are not going to aid us in getting! Oregon, they arc not going to join the other side, and aid Britain to it. Wait ten years! Away with the proposition! Humanity revolts at it. It re-l minds me of a certain American statesman, who, in I his moments of patriotic feeling, indignant at his I country's wrongs, wanted a war by the 4th of July; afterwtuds, cold-blooded policy got possession of him, and lie explained it nwny by Hnyin|<; that he meant some future 4>i\ of July. Sir, mIicii wc almll have awaited these :eii ycurw, I four gentlemen will be as little ready tf mete out ju»tice to tlie hiirdy pi- oneer of Orcj2fO)i ixH they now are. The gcnllettuin from Kentui;ky has told us, that the land in Cirrgon is poor and sterile. He iuia talked of barren liills and anndy wastes. But, in tlie name of patriotism, I ask, what portion of our coun- try Ih 80 poor, is possessed lpe Flattery, both north of the Co- lumbia. Tliese, ho well says, are of no account. But, however little or inueli liiey may be worili, they are both ours now, as well as the mouth of the Columbia; and, th^aigh the game was well played by Lord Ashburton with the Maine people, the West will never al'ow persons to steal tlieir oxen, and then iuipudi'ntly come and trade them otf for their horses. For, in the law of nations, nothing is more definitely settled, than that the nation who dis- covers the mouth of a river is entitled to all the land that is watered by that river, its tributaries, and head waters. Now, some of the head waters of the; Columbia are above both those ])oiiits (one is above 54°^ which she is endeavoring to steal from us as capital witli which to buy the joint navigation of a river at whose mouth, on the north, (and ( am in- formed there are in.superaiilc obstacles to there ever being a town on the south,) there must, some dav — and that not tin- distant — be one of the most opu- lent and important cities in the world. And, were we to adopt as our doctrine; that by which Euiiland justified her driving the Spaniards from the F'alkland islands, the Dutch from New York, or the Swedes from Delaware, we should not only aiuuU the article for joint occupation, but should order her from the territory forthwith. Thfl country, for the mogt part, i» well inter npersed with prairie And timber, so as to facilitu gets all Hettlimtents; and the river regions, particularly piug ti abound with heavy timber, furnishing spars eqiiii claimed to those of New Zealand, which are unsMrpasar' doing a by any in the world. And the mouth of the Co that co lumbia is within twenty days' sail of Peru or Chih per cen which arc detntitute ot all ship-building materials the exp The number of beautiful sites for large towns aloris cans ou navigable streams, and along others possessed o^n u imequalled water-power for moving mnnufccturin: dealin i machinery, is very great. The streams abound wit! able At salmon weighing from 25 to CtO pounds, and 10,()(li for viol; barrels can be taken out per annum, without dimiii preesive ishin;' the stock. The Wallamctte valley, whei waJM st the Methodist mission is, is larger than the State o tinr itse New York, and is said to be the finest country i: which t the world; and, though it is all below the mo.s QOlvitry .southerly point claimed by Great Britain, yet tli perfect Hud.son Bay company have driven the settlers frnr pwy hi the valuable' mill-sites at the falls of that river, whir! pwwig were nuah needed, and which, from their costly irii <5 paltry t! got in Illinois or Missouri." The clunate, thouglbnijge ti various in the same latitude, is much milder, arKthia we more uniform west than east of the mountains; aiiithat Lc ploughing is done almost all winter, and now am he knov then there is a winter when the ground neve Perhaps freezes, during all the tune, enough to interrupt tliiration f<: progrc ss f)f the plough. And every kind of })ro(]pui*; of uce raised in our western States is more easihada to n raised here, unless it may be Indian corn, vvhidof our s seems not a favorite with the Oregon soil. It isthe gen however, the finest in the world for tobacco niiiabout tl hemp. To all these facts, which give importance t( Britain tlial country, let it be added that it is within thirtiof stean days' sail, over an unrufHed ocean, of China aiuEaet Im the F.ast India seas, and ten of the Sand w id a* they islands; and it would be of great advantage to us iibalte, gi our Pacific fisheries, if we had an American tow lolways and a strong fort at the mouth of the Columbi^iWeetern And it is not an over bold prediction, that there notable to f are, on the stage of action, those who will live t u* that see steamboats making their regular trips from tli'thoae V nnnith of the Columbia to Canton. m*"^' ' IV) give instances of the iniquity practised by tliibIoniui.sil<'8 riiishiiig Hpars equii clai»i'''l ''y ''>« coinjiariy, in ilic iinportaiit oiinof ich are^unHurpassr doiiif? ill! llin trrulinir, all tlio huying and selling in he mouth of the i!n ihiat country. Tin; company lay aside n certain «ail of Peru or Chili pw rentimt; of their annual profits, to be used for ip-buildin^ materials the exfire^s and avowed purpose of keepini^ Ameri- 'or large towns ulnti> cans out of trade; nntl thi.s liu» been time and time others posseHScd apuin used to perseeuu; Americans who dared to ovin" manufccturin. deal in furs. Indeed, they once sentenced ii respect- streams abound wit! able American to wear skins for a number of years I pounds, and 10,lHli for violatin;,' one of their arbitrary, uidu)ly, and op- mum wilhoiU diniiti pre6.sive re^'ulntions concerning; trade. And the amclle valley, whei n»fU" H'udy of the company is, how it can best for- rtrer than the State (I tirjr itself in view of the gusiiinj; fide of eniij!;ration tlie finest country r which they well know must eventually overrun the all below the mo.< QOUlitry. The Cape and Tongue, points are two reat Britain, yet ti: perfect Cibraltars on the Cohunliia; and this corn- riven the .settlers frnnpftOy has already taken the iutter, as thoy are |)re- 11s of that river, whic: paling to do every eligible spot on that river for from their costly iiii <;o»mnndnig its navi-ration. able to lose. Such i: • W view of these facts and considerations, our ve are cd led upon t Oiily •'^'d'i and politic course .'s in doing as we did coimtry more unnw byihe origiiud great northwest territory, and as we ) well known to nrnaw now doing by Florida, Wisconsin, and Iowa, n "aside from the C' I We should extend our jurisdiction over Oregon, TH the otlier valliyand give it a territorial govenmient, and let the 1 good Imid as can l paltry thought that such a course may give imi- Thc cliuuite, thoug|Dn|ge to Great Britain pa.ss by unheeded. And is inuch milder, antthil we should do, although the gentleman tclK^ us If the mountains; an(that Lord Packenham i.s coming. But how does winter and now am be know that he is coming to treat on this subjecL' 1 the ground neve P*riu>ps lie may be coming to make some renuuie- lough to interrupt tli'^ation for the burning of the Caroline, or the kidnap- id every kind of prodping of Grogan. For my part, 1 hope he is. To States IS more easihadtt to our terror on this occasion, to frighten us out e Indian corn whirlof Our sympathies for the expo.sed Oregon pioneers, he Oregon soil. It isthe gentleman from Kentucky has told us that. tobacco aiiiabout the time our last treaty was made, Great ich give importanoe ti Britain had paraded about our const a whole line lat it is within thirt\of atean'ships, ostensibly for carrying the mails to ocean of China aiiiEaat India, but really for battering down our cities, tu of the Sandwiriasthey were loaded with cannon, cannister, powder, eat advantage to us iibaMa, grape-shot, and other ammunition of war. I d an American towiolways wondered at the late treaty, and so have our ulh of the Columbia"w*atern triends generally. We never have been iction that there nowaW* to account for it. The gentleman did not tell those who will live t "■ that our treaty-making powers got a peep into re-ndar trips from ili'tho»e West India mail-bags. But he has told his nton. Mv c. story, and left us to draw our own inference ciui't'v practised by tliWood boils with indignation at the utterance of sucfi ioiuii to' their driviii:aentimeius, knowing, as I do, that these remarks of i on the falls of t!i^"i American congressman will give a hint to that in the couniii^^at Britain how she can get another treaty signed o cet' they have lav, *<> "wit I'cr purpo.ses, always providing that the ris;ht such as fijrbiddin" \ folks arc at the head of our gnvcrnment. "Give ear, oh whilst in the coui'^^**®"^' 'I'^cnd, oh earth!" hush, ye senators and rep- f dl to us they iiursiii'"^*"tatives! Lord Packenham is on his way to Anie- inanifest'desi're to cx''«»; and very likely he may take along those West the same difterci"'*'^"'*"^"'' "'^^ *'^'' ''■'^i'* '^'■*^*'''y"'i^''^'*^*i''** '^o'ool^ i"'*') t of thc'lndians in tlii*"^. "ee the dread preparations for war, and then be kind of denredati'i'®"'*^®'' "''^^ '^ wanton surrender of their own citi- I'MU quirrelsoni^*"" — '^ ^'"^^^ "^'^ valuable part of their country. Sir, UMralit esooVhin-aiitJlope'V" f"^''''^",''''"'' "'*''I*' '""1 •^'"'"•'| "^- |)lher The compamS«»»e » hostile attitude, as m days of yore, there ' e II .iw. «ii nd even soui:'*™*' '^ ?'^''' "'^ cannon the proper direction tor the .owns; a , ^^^^^^-^^^ 'j^jjl^ nuschief and destruction. But 1 have my ms out rji]|,;feari; sin.^e, let what question arise that will, there , l^"","" , . ' r,M,..:ire always some that instinctively espou.se the f tlS tS "an fS?."ti?h side. F.u- one, I have no ^onceVn for any Diu- so that, if Englaia^^^^vixntageous cllects aiising from the discussion of this question, even if Lord Pnckenlunn does come; and let him come — and come to lake the mouth of the Columbia, too, if it so pleasi; him. We have had one Packenham on a visit U) our sliores, with a view to lake the mouth of another celebrated river; and does the gentleman remember the wtmn rece|ilion he met with, and the result of /u.s nego- tiations.- He found uKire cannister and grape here than he brought in his mails; and, liefoie he could ell'ectually open his despalthcs I'or our government, he was