Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/308

 290 LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE "The Committee do not consider it expedient to estab- lish a Territorial Government in Oregon at the present time; nor do they propose, specifically, the formation of a military post there, in aid or token of exclusive posses- sion of the country, because they are anxious to observe, in the letter as well as the spirit, the text of the treaties between the United States and Great Britain." While their views regarding a military establishment do not seem in accord with the inclusion of estimates of the expense of the same, the general tone of the supplementary report was significant when compared with that of the first report. While the preliminary finding was not untouched with a bellicose spirit the second could give no offense to the most sensitive government. In spite of the fact that neither house of Congress carried action very far, the attitude of the public was much different than had been the case in the early 'Twenties, when the previ- ous agitation started. An editorial article in the National Intelligencer reflects this changed feeling as well as giving a hint that the Administration was not averse to having light thrown on the question. 15 "We have embraced the earliest opportunity . . . to publish the able and instructive report ... on the project of the Oregon territory. It is no more than four- teen years ago that a bill for the occupation of that ter- ritory was introduced by Mr. FLOYD then a representa- tive from Virginia. . . . who supported it with great earnestness and zeal. The bill passed the house of repre- sentatives by a vote of more than two to one, but, in the senate, was, after debate, ordered to lie on the table, on the motion of Mr. LOWRIE, then a senator from Penn- sylvania. "Mr. LINN, of Missouri, has, with equal earnestness, recently pressed the subject on the attention of the sen- ate; and now we have the elaborate report published today, understood to be the production of Mr. CUSH- ING, of Massachusetts. So that movements towards the occupation of the territory, and the organization of gov- ernment therein, have been made successively, from the 15 25 May, 1839.