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Hall Jackson Kelley 27

the spirit of those civil and religious institutions, which con- stitute the living fountain, and the very perennial source of her national prosperity, great benefits must result to mankind. They believe, that there, the skillful and persevering hand of industry might be employed with unparalleled advantage ; that there. Science and the Arts, the invaluable privilege of a free and liberal government, and the refinements and ordinances of Christianity, diffusing each its blessing, would harmoniously unite in meliorating the moral c(»idition of the Indians, in promoting the comfort and happiness of the settlers, and in augmenting the wealth and power of the Republic.

"The uniform testimony of an intelligent multitude have established the fact, that the country in question, is the most valuable of all the unoccupied parts of the earth. Its peculiar location and facilities, and physical resources for trade and com- merce; its contiguous markets; its salubrity of climate; its fertility of soil ; its rich and abtmdant productions ; its extensive forests of valuable timber; and its great water channel diversi- fying, by its numerous branches the whole country, and spread- ing canals through every part of it, are sure indications that Providence has designed this last reach of enlightened emigra- tion to be the residence of a people, whose singular advantages will give them unexampled power and prosperity.

"These things have excited the admiration of every observer, and have settled in the policy of the British nation the deter- mined purpose of possessing and enjoying them, as their own ; and have induced their Parliament to confer on the Hudson's Bay Company, chartered privileges for occupying with their settlements the fertile banks of the Columbia; which settle- ments have been made ; and are flourishing, in rapid growth, under the culture secured by the provisions of a Colonial Gov- enunept.

"The Society conceive It clearly deduced, from all the facts in the case, Uiat the right of sovereignty over the Oregon territory is invested in the government of the United States of America, consequently, in her is the exclusive right of