Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/420

 392 Documents. The language of that convention was firm and determined, and I believe it is the opinion of nearly every man west of the Alleghanies.l | The people of the West have not contented themselves with expressing opinions — they have acted. For many years our citizens have gone into the country west of the Rocky Mountains for the purpose of hunting, trapping, and trading with the Indians. They have also more recently gone for the purpose of making permanent settlements. During the last year more th&n a thousand brave and hardy pioneers set out from Independence, in Missouri, and, over- coming all obstacles, have arrived in the Oregon. Thus the first attempt to cross the extensive prairies and high mountains which intervene between the settlements in the States and the Pacific ocean has been completely successful. The prairie wilderness and the snowy mountains which have heretofore been deemed impassa- ble, which were to constitute, in the opinion of some, an impenetra- ble barrier to the further progress of emigration to the West, is already overcome. The same bold and daring spirits, whose intrepidity has heretofore overcome the Western wilderness in the midst of dangers, can never be checked in their march to the shores of the Pacific. During the next summer I believe thousands will follow. Extensive preparations are now making for a general move toward that Country. The complete success of those who have^irst gone will encourage others; and as the road is now marked out, I do not think I am at all extravagant when I suppose that ten thou- sand emigrants will go to Oregon next summer. In the meantime, what course shall the Government pursue? The indication of public opinion thus everywhere expressed, and the apparent determination to emigrate, I am sure cannot be dis- regarded by this Senate. For one, I am sure that I cannot dis- charge the duty I owe to my constituents without usin^ every ex- ertion in my power to effect the object they have so much at heart. I cannot compromise, I cannot yield any part of the Oregon Terri- tory. I cannot agree to wait for negotiations. I cannot agree that there is sufficient doubt as to our title to admit that it is a subject proper for serious dispute. The joint occupation of the country never ought to have been a subject of negotiation. Our Government committed a great error, in my opinion, when the treaty of 1818 was made; and a still greater error when that treaty was indefinitely prolonged. It is, however, not beyond a remedy. The treaty was made on the supposition that it might become necessary to abrogate that part providing for a 1 1 See Note C.