Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/425

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At a public meeting held on the evening of the 5th of February, 184 3, in pursuance of public notice, in the Hall of the House of Representatives, to take into consideration tlie subject of the settlement and occupation of the Territory of Oregon, the Honorable Jesse B. Thomas was called to the Chair and Newton Cloud was appointed Secretary.

On motion of Mr. Trumbull, a committee of nine was appointed to pre- pare and report resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting.

The Chair appointed the following gentlemen said committee, viz : Lyman Trumbull, Governor Moore, Major Hackleton, D. L. Gregg, John Dougherty, William H. Davidson, Thompson Campbell, Edward Connor, and Mr. Long.

After some remarks by Judge Semple, Mr. Trumbull, and Mr. Peck, the meeting adjourned until Wednesday evening.

Wednesday evening the meeting was numerously attended.

Mr. TRUMBULL, from the committee appointed on the former evening, leported the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the right of the United States to the whole Oregon Terri- tory is not to be questioned ; and under whatever pretence any other nation may lay claim to that country, both the dignity and honor of the United States require that they should at once assert their right, and resist such claim.

Resolved, That the interest and safety of the United States demand that the Federal Government should take immediate and efficient measures for the occupation of the Oregon Territory, and the establishment there of a Territorial Government.

Resolved, That we view with distrust the occupation of any portion ot the Oregon Territory by the subjects of the British Crown, and cannot but believe that the object of Great Britain in establishing military posts in that country, and encouraging her subjects to settle there, is to cause its settlement by a people devoted to her interests, and to afford her a pretense hereafter to claim the country as her own.

Resolved, That the policy of Great Britain in establishing colonies in remote parts of the globe, contiguous to other nations, with a view af extending her own power, and encroaching upon the territory of other Governments, should not be permitted to be brought to bear upon the United States ; and that we will never give our consent to a surrender of any part of the Oregon Territory to that or any other power.

Resolved, That the settlement of the Oregon Territory by the citizer.s of the United States will prove of immense advantage to the commercial interest of the country, by affording harbors for our vessels in the Pacific ocean, and facilitating trade with the East Indies ; and will greatly add to the safety, as well as the honor of the Republic.

Resolved, That if the General Government will but assert its rights, and extend its fostering care and protection alike to all citizens wheresoever settled within her limits, the day is not distant when our enterprising and adventurous countrymen, invited by the salubrious climate and fertile soil of the country bordering the Pacific, will extend thither their settlements, and dispense from the western shore of this vast Continent, wealth, com- merce and freedom, to the remotest parts of the earth.