Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the Second Session of the Eighteenth Congress Page: 709
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709
March 1, 1825.]
OF DEBATES IN CONGRESS.
710
Occupation of the Oregon River.
[Senate.
made for the benefit of the West. In 1783, Great Bri-
tain stipulated, among other things, to surrender the
posts of Niagara, Detroit, and Mackinaw ; yet she re-
tained them for thirteen years, in violation of that trea-
ty, and for the avowed purpose of monopolizing the fur
trade, and retaining the command of the Northwestern
Indians. Two Indian wars, and the desolation of the
frontiers of Kentucky ar.d Ohio, were the fruits of tuat
perfidious policy. At length we have another treaty,
stipulating, among other things, for the surrender of
another Western post ; and already ten years have
elapsed, and tile post is not surrendered ! The cause
of retention is the same—the fur trade and the Indians;
the fruits will be the same—fresh wars with the Indians,
and the desolation of the frontiers of Michigan, Illinois,
Missouri, and Arkansas.
But gentlemen have put some questions, which 1 feel
myself bound to answer. They have asked, What are
to be the advantages of this occupation ? What the ef-
fect upon this Union ? What its eff ect upon the Asiatic
Powers ■'
1 answer, the advantages will be—
1. In securing to us the fur trade of the Rocky Moun-
tains, the Upper Missouri, and the Columbia, worth, per-
adventure, a million of dollars per annum, for a century
to come.
2. In preventing the British and Russians from acquir-
ing the control of the Indians on the waters of the Co-
lumbia. These Indians are estimated at 140,000 souls,
possess the finest horses, and are among the best horse-
men in the world. The present age has seen the Cos-
sacs of the Don and Ukraine, ravaging the banks of the
Seine and the Loire ; the next may see the Cossacs of
the Oregon issuing in clouds from the gorges of the
Rocky Mountains, and sweeping', with the besom of de-
solation, the banks of the Missouri and Mississippi.
3. In giving us a naval station on the coast of the Pa-
cific. The want of such a station was fully exemplified
in the cruise of Commodore Porter, during the late war.
In that cruise, we had the extraordinary spectacle of a
naval commander traversing, for three years, a sea infest-
ed with enemies, sometimes burning his prizes on the
ocean, sometimes hiding them in distant islands, some-
times seeking the enemy, and sometimes flying from a
superior force, and at last sustaining a murderous attai k,
and losing his ship, in a neutral port. The loss sustained
on that occasion, in prizes and a frigate, (to say nothing
of lives, above all price,) was fifty or a hundred times
the amount of appropriation in this bill. And this loss
we must expect to undergo, in all subsequent wars, un-
less we provide a post of our own in the Pacific Ocean.
But it is not ships of war alone, and their prizes, which
we are to lose for want of such a post. Our merchant
vessels need the same accommodation both in peace and
war. The numerous vessels engaged in the whale fish-
ery, in the commerce of the Northwest coast with the
Islands of the Pacific Ocean, and even with China and
Japan, demand this accommodation ; and not a govern-
ment upon earth, save that of these United States, would
hesitate to grant it. To gain a post in the same sea,
Russia has endeavored to open a harbor in the frozen re-
gion of Kamtschatka,and among the sand banks of Okots-
ky To gain this very Columbia, Etgland is resorting
to every trick of diplomacy, to the violation of treaties,
and to the audacity of menacing war; yet the Congress
of the United States hesitates, delays to take possession
of its own, and endangers its title by neerlecting to en-
force it. In their blind and contradictory opposition,
some gentlemen represent the mouth of the Columbia
as unfit for the purposes of a naval station ; but the re-
port of Mr. Prevost, arid the anxiety of the British to ob-
tain it, are conclusive refutations of such objections.
Mr. Prevost says:—
" The bay is spacious, contains several anchoring
places in a sufficient depth of water, and is by 110 means
so difficult of ingress as has been represented. Those
enjoying the exclusive commerce have probably che-
rished an impression so favorable to its continuance,
growing out of the incomplete survey of Lieut. Brougii
ton, made under the orders of Vancouver, in 1792. It is
true, that there is a bar extending across the river, at
either extremity of which are, at times, appalling break-
ers ; but it is equally true; that it offers, at the lowest
tides, a depth of twenty-one feet of water, [the tide ris-
ing eight feet twice in twenty-four hours,] throughout a
passage, exempt from them, of nearly a league in width.
The Blossom, carrying more guns than the Ontario, en-
countered a change of wind while in the channel, was
compelled to let go the anchor, and when again weigh-
ad, to tack and beat, in order to reach the harbor, yet
found a greater depth, and met with no difficulty eithec
then or on leaving the bay. The survey marked C, may
be rel ed on for its accuracy. The bearings, distances,
and soundings, were taken by Captain Mickey, who was
kind enough to lend himself to the examination, and to
furnish me with this result. It is the more interesting,
as it shows tha', with the aid of buoys, the access to ves-
sels of almost any tonnage may be rendered secure. In
addition to this, it is susceptible of entire defence, be-
cause a ship, after passing the bar, in order to avoid the
bi\ aking of the sea on one of the banks, is obliged to
bear up directly for the knoll forming the cape, at all
times to approach within a short distance of its base, asd
most frequently then to anchor. Thus, a small battery
erected on this point, in conjunction with the surges on
the opposite side, would so endanger the approach as to
deter an enemy, however hardy, from the attempt. This
outlet, the only one between the 38th and 53d degrees
of north latitude, embraces the entire range of country
from the ocean to the mountains, and its interior unites
the advantage of a water communication throughout, by
means of the many streams tributary to the Columbia,
two of which disembogue opposite to each other, within
twenty-five leagues of the port, are navigable, and near-
ly of equal magnitude with this beautiful river."
4. In opening a communication between the Valley of
the Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean.
This was the object of Mr. Jefferson in sending out
Lewis and Clark to explore the line of the Missouri and
Columbia rivers. That great man, always intent upon
benefiting the human race, had conceived the grand
idea of a commercial intercourse with India upon this
line of communication. But Lewis and Clark were ex-
plorers, without guides, and often fell on the most diffi-
cult and circuitous routes. Subsequent adventurers
have been more successful. In passing the Ridge of the
Rocky Mountains, Lewis and Clark wandered 12 or 1300
miles, over rocks, precipices, and mountains, in getting
from the Falls of Missouri to the Forks of (Mark's lliver ;
points which are only 150 miles apart, and between
which there is a well beaten Indian and Buffalo road,
over good ground, and through a country abounding
with grass, game, and horses. In fact, there is no diffi.
culty in any part of the route. The furs taken in the
Rocky Mountains will descend the Columbia to the Pa-
cific Ocean, and thence cross the sea to China. The
same vessel can bring a return cargo of East India goods,
and can ascend the Columbia to the head ot tide water,
183 miles. The Great Falls can be passed by a portage
of 400 yards on the left bank, and 1200 on the right;
but, during the periodical floods, in the months of April,
May, and June, they can be passed without any portagt} ■
at all. Vessels may be lifted over the fall by a vast luck,
neither made nor filled by the hands ot man. Mr. B« ex-,
plained this phenomenon-—one ot the most grand and
striking in the works of nature. The Great Falls had a,
pitch of thirty-eight feet perpendicular. Immediately
below, the river spread out into a basin of three miles
diameter. The river issued from this basin through a
channel narrower than that by which it entered. 1 he
consequence was, that, in every annual flood, the basin
filled up; the refluent current rolled back upon the ian.
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Gales, Joseph, 1761-1841. Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the Second Session of the Eighteenth Congress, book, 1825; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30752/m1/359/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.