Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/433

382 of Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri were forwarded to congress, expressing their faith in the validity of the United States title to the right of domain and exclusive jurisdiction between latitude 42° and 49°, urging the immediate occupation of the territory; and instructing senators and representatives to vote for the measure. These resolutions were read in the senate August 31, 1843. Nine memorials were presented in December, from different parts of the western states, asking that steps be taken for the immediate occupation of Oregon. One memorial from Ohio, presented to the house, asked permission to occupy and settle "not over twenty thousand square miles of land in Oregon in one body;" the settlers not to number less than fifty men, one half of whom must have families. The request was referred to a special committee, who already had in hand a petition from Illinois asking that a section of land be granted to every man over twenty-one years of age who should settle in Oregon.

Petitions were received from Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, and Indiana, of a similar nature. Public meetings were held at Alton, Illinois, Cincinnati, Ohio, and at Washington City, demanding the occupation of Oregon. Hundreds of letters poured in on Senator Linn, and continued up to the time of his death to make large demands upon his time. Nor did these petitions and memorials cease with the loss of Oregon's able champion. In the first session of 1843–4 petitions of the same nature were sent in from Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio. The citizens of Missouri desired that an appropriation be made for the survey and establishment of the boundary of Oregon Territory, and that the jurisdiction