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About Oregon spectator. (Oregon City, O.T. [i.e. Or.]) 1846-1855 | View Entire Issue (July 23, 1846)
Annexation. Tlio lasl' accounts from America provo, whut iiiuny of tlio readers of tho signs of thu times have long foretold, tliut tlio An do Saxon race of tlio nortliorn portion of tliat i:ontinoiit urn destined to become tlio lords iiikI nnWrt of tlio whnlo of it. Tho lawn that govern tho oliti;al existence of Mates ure an invariuhlo iih those of tho material worid. Corruption und decay cannot onduro ; ifidy are hut tho process necessary to bo gone through heforo another condition of existence is attaiuod. Utter confiiNion and anarchy, the weakness of u state, n Hituk in ignorance and sloth, as no longer to produce men capa. lile of coriimanding others,' is equally uhhor. rent to the feeling of mufikiud. They know the evil, though they cannot remedy it, and, to escape from tho uucortainticH and turneries of u condition in which there in neither rule, head or order, they will accept almost any form of authority, provided it jiossosscs the great and important element of government (Kiwcr. So far from the truth arc tho dreams of some enthusiasts of human liberty,-that the great necessity of man in a bond of strength within which society can exist und act ; the destruction of the old fornix of that compact is inevitable, when they become worn out, effete, or unsuitcd to the character of tin uge ; but they must le replaced by new ones of equal efficacy ; and o imperi ous is tile necessity, tliat in all history we cannot find un instance of ierinanent stis. cnsioii of all government, or ruling energy not even among savages, whose condition the perversions of oetry and philosophv have represented tho most pcfect of all. On the contrary, history is full of examples of one form id' government decaying, and another rising from it, an strong kin! vigorous as its predecessor was weak and jxmerlexs. WImmi nations have not the internal vigor t clloot these changes within themselves, und are falling deeper and deejM-r into decrepi J inli' und degradation, they become suliject. I to the nearest und strouge-t state. Na. iioii.il pride survives national piwcr. and for. t i ll 1 rule is oft ol l detested, own while it is .li-ed; but the murmur is usclc; it is the penult of ueakucss and incapacity in men and kingdoms that they must obey ihnsctvhn have (siwer and ability to direct them. This is tlu principle at the bottom of " auuexa. lion," an extensive development of which wo must evidently be prepared for. The process wus anciently called " eon. quest," lint modes of acquisition vary with times and circumstances. The old and bar barous plan of openly seizing a territory by the fining hand, even when as well peoplisf, and, perhaps, as wisely governed, as the in yading state, has Uen generally abandoned; it was dangerous, and often led to hard knocks and small profits. The experiment is now most, ly tried by civilized countries on whut they call Imrlmriaus; thus Franco has "annexed" Algeria to her dominion, and talks of doing the same with Madagascar. The whole of our Anglo-Indian empire is the product of gradual "annexation," sometimes receiving a temiKirary check, as in Allgauistan, but on the whole constantly progressing, and even depending on that progress for existence. We -.hoiild bear this in mind when we feel tits, posed to censure whut we call the avidity of our American kinsmen in the "annexation" oi i exas to incir territory. There is not an argument we use against them we have not wholly .disregarded in our own case ; they have not taken a step which may not be pur allelcd by many in our own history. With respect to this annexation of Texas, of which so much has been said, wo cannot see why England should wish to prevent it, nor how sho could have prevented it, had she entertained the desire. Formerly belonging to Mexico, but peopled (where inhabited at at all) from tho northern state', it declared itself independentof thu imboellityof tho Mp.x ican government, which has uttorly ruined its own fino torritory, and has now noithor au thority, credit, nor respect. Tho settlprs in Texas wero all Americans, and to share in the advantages of tho only settled govern ment of tho continont, thoy wished to become u part of the Unitod States. Inasmuch as the union placos tho coasts and harbors of tho country in tho hands of an aotivo, ontorpriz ing, and commercial pooplo, Europe at largo will gain by it ; in tho hands of Moxico it would remain a desert. Tho world progres 808, and tho spirit that animates it will not pormit any stato to arrogato to itself rights over a torritory it can neither colonise, nor Oregon Spectator. T -T Vol. I. " Wetftrard lh Htnr of Empire talus iu way." Oregon City, (Oregon Ter.) July 23, 1846. No. 13. defend ; it must do' and act, or yield to those who can. If this should scorn to partako too much of tho "good old rule," and the doctrine that might makes right, it may be observed that the "annexing" principle is in active one ra- I tion in other parts of tho world with which ; wo ourselves aro intimately connected. Tho Americans have as complete a justification j of their policy provided for them in our pro. ' I! l.l! .1 Ill .'.. i.xuuiogs in inuju, tu iney couiu desire. J lie last Indian mail states that wo,are about to assemble an army on the banks of the Sut ledj ; for what purpose is not doubtful ; we never assemble an army in India bt(i for one end conquest ; or, as we may better call it in connection with our present theme, annex ntion. And how do wo defend this nolicv 7 i On the simple ground of political necessity. itlim the past week, one of our ablest po litical writers has thus Mated this necessity: " A slate which cannot govern itself must "he governed by its ncighliors for the interests of humanity are at stake. Without an effi eient eovernriient, a territorv wxin become a public nuisance, the harlior of disaffection and outrage, the focus of intrigue, the nur-sen- of revolution and war. It is enough that a territory is in so disorderly a condition as to entail on its neighlmrs the necessity of con tinual, inconvenient, and expensive precau tions. It is enough that it involves a more oppressive jiolice, a larger standing army, or any other interference with the liberties and immunities of peace. Such is the state of all that region cifajoscd within the Tpper Indus and its tributaries. Bloody revolutions, an insolent ami rclKJllious soldiery, a ruined and distracted ieople( keep Northern India in per petual alarm; Slf-pre-ervation compels the neighbors to abate theiiuisance. Such is the necessity, if not the duty, which now devolves on the Great Powers which Providence has made the centre and source of order to the Peninsula." Nearly the whole of this will apply as well to the government of Mexico, as to that of the Punjaub ; " bloody rcvolu. lions, an insolent anil rebellious soldiery, a ruined and distracted people" all tho "ele ments of disorder aro in full play in Mexico. Such a government by the side of the pow erful and Mill growing republic of the north, cannot stand. "Annexation" is destined to have u much wider range than the state of Texas will it spare Mexico itself? It is a question to which the answer, as yet, lies far in tho future; hut events seem to denote the extension of the race of the north tho de scendants of Saxon blood over tho whole continent ; and this will bo tho result not of policy or calculation, but of necessity. Mexi co is about live times the size of France, with no more than half the population of England; tho government is without authority, arms, or credit, for tho treasury is bankrupt, the army unclothed, unfed, unpaid, and in a state of revolt. Frequent revolutions and changes of rulers arc tho symptoms of public uneasi ness, us tho restlessness of the patient indi. catcs tho inward disease, but the changes bring no relief. So desperate arc affairs, that men can scarcely bo found who will accept public office. Such a government can nei ther dofend its torritory without, nor improve it within. What wonder is it to find it fall. ing to ruin, though not a hundredth part of its capabilities have over nccn developed. Tho annexation of Texas is regarded with apathy ; not even tho appearance of rcsis. tanoe is made to it. A squadron of ten ships in tho Gulf of Mexico, and two thousand men landed in Texas, provo into whoso hands pow. or has passed. So that a passago in the last Mexican mail scorns to point out probably enough tho futuro course of events : "Unless a miracle takes place, in half a century Mex ico must becomo a portion of tho American Union. It is already breaking up at the ox-, tremitics. Tobasco and Yucatan furnish no supplies to tho central government ; Texas has gona, California is meditating revolt, and New Mexico and othor northern states are speaking also of annexation. Is it possible for 7,000,000 of inhabitants, 4,000,000 of "ii-jiu are inuians, 10 resist the encroach ments of the Anglo-Saxons? Must not the red skin give way before the white ? Has not tho north overrun the south ? The Ameri can president JefTerson asserted sixty years ago that, in tho natural course of events, the American union must extend to the Isthmus of Panama. Tho union is daily occupied in working out that prophecy, and I seo no means of preventing its accomplishment. The diplomacy of Europe wilt not Iks able to pruvent this consummation ; which, look, ing at the disastrous consequences which have every where attended the rule of the Spaniards, will hardly be considered a ca lamity by tho world at large. Such inter, ference may bolster up a decaying empiro where it is in contact with the other powers of Europe ; thf ir mutual jealousy renders the seizure of the prey difficult. Thus pro tected, the empiro of Turkey still Mands erect, though rotten and decayed; Russia would seize it, but that she is held in check by bngland and France. When what arc called the Great Powers can agree in a di vision of tho spoil, that they show but very little regard to the national rights the par tition of Poland bv Russia, Austria and Prus sia, is o proof. The interests of Europe, with Mexico and the United States are those of cominerco and trade, and these will be bet ter served by the diffusion of the northern race. The great territorial posscsslbns of England are to bo north of the St. Lawrence, and do not interfere; with so rich a region as Texas and Mexico available, American en terprisc will hardly seek the cold and barren jvastes of the Oregon. It is evident that the possession of that vast tract stretching from the southern boundary of the Union to the Isthmus of Panama, will bo tho prize of the most energetic; and as no third party could interfere to prop up the weakness of Mexico, except at a most enormous expense, the is sue of the contest is by no means doubtful. Whether this spreading of the American peo ple over such on immense surface may not weaken the power of a government which al ready" needs concentration rather than ex. pansion, is another question ; but tho defect is ono which remedies itsclf--spaco remain ing fixed, and numbers always increasing. But such being the tendency of things on tho other side of the Atlantic, it becomos us to look into tho nature of " annexation," and not to bo frightened into paroxysms of pas sion whenevor it is named, as if its only meaning was that of robbery committed on ourselvos. Tho decay of weak, bigoted and ignorant nations, ought rather to remind us of tho only terms on which power is held, cither by states or individuals that of pre eminence is knowledge, justice, and general utility. Tho curse pronounced against the tree that only " cumbercth tho ground," is novcr suspended; tho ignorance and misrule of Mexico, if long continued, make England tho " annexed" of some wiser and stronger power, whoso legions might be encamped on her fields, as once wero those of the Roman. Tho Romans themselves fell before tho race of the north, when strength and wisdom de sorted them. Decay is tho penalty of nations; and in whatever shape it falls upon Mexico, it is difficult to say that it has not been do served. Front the Baltimore American. Indian Jauraal.-An Indian (State. The Choctaws havo elected one of their chiefs as a representative t' congress. His namo is Pitohlyn. He is said to be a man of intellect and commanding influence among his people. The election of a territorial representative by the Choctaws is regarded as a step to wards the organization of an independent government among tho Choctaws and the neighboring tribes, with a view, to ultimate admission into the union. Tho accomplishment of this design would work an important change in our Indian poli cy, and would tend to bring about a new sort of relation between.our government and th red men of tho west. The Choctaws are among the most civilized of the Indian tribos; they have, to some considerable extent, made themselves familiar with agricultural pur. suits, and with habits of a settled mode of life. The want of these habits has hitherto been, tho grcaobstaclc in the way of bring, ing the Indian tribes into friendly assooia tions with us. The general feeling of thu American people has always been well dis posed towards the admission of the Indians to all the privileges of our government and institutions; but the traditions and habits of their forefathers, and their attachment to hunting, in preference to any occupation of regular industry, have had too strong a Iwld upon these children of the forest. , No at tempts to civilize them have yet had any complete success. The present movement, however, coming from the Indiana themselves. seems to promise well. A representative of the aboriginal race, sitting in the great coun cil of the white men, a brother amount brath- ...ill !..- - !;.. I J - . ran, win (.-uiyiiiiuie a living uona oi consocia tion to draw both nations into friendly coales cence. And who, of all that shall assemble in the capitol, will have a better right to sit there than this son of the soil f The territorv which Pitchlvn will renre- sent in congress, is said to contain some eight thousand Indian warriors. They rmnain of many tribes and fragments of tribes, meat of them having once dwelt on this side of the Mississippi. 1 ho lands which they bow hold arc guaranteed to them by the government of the United States in consideration of the surrender by them of lands which they once occupied in the states. As a measure of poli cy nothing would be more advisable than a ' friendly uriion with these tribes. Thefron tier would need no bayonets nor armed regu lars as a defence against Indian aggressions u me policy were once tound to be practical ble of fraternizing the tribes as the settlew ment ot white men advanced towards there. The Albany Argus, referring to this subject strong urges the policy " It seems tousV says that journal, that the admission of the Indian stato into our union, with a full com munity of privileges to them,, as much an to the -vhite citizens of our country, would tend to make them fast friends, not froJn fear of our army, but from love and respect for their white brethren of tho United States," It strikes us that this is the true way to turn the edge of weapons that sagacious men fear may yet be used against our countrymen. Thu North American Indian in character is noble, and, as all history shows, peculiarly grateful and true to his friends. He bates with the same warmth as he loves. The in fluence of members (elected by Indian voters) residing at Washington, and participating in all the proceedings of congress, and thus act ing as the natural and proper guardian of In dian interests, would be a constant source of confidence to tho tribes, in the justice and propriety of any legislation which might af fect them. Such political and social ties would be the best and most enduring guar anty of permanent peace and friendship, and would be bettor than a standing army of a thousand soldiers. Winter of Mo-'O in the U. S. This winter appears to have commenced with great severity. Tho thormemcter has stood several degrees below zero throughout New England. Jn ono instance, the "feed-pipe of a locomo tive actually jrote up while the tram was tm der way from Boston to Worcester ;" and of course the cngino was stopped for want of steam. CandIes. Prepare your wicks about half tho usual size, wet with spirits of turpentine, put them into the sun until dry, then mould or dip your candles. Candles thus mado last longer, and give much clearer light. In fact they aro nearly, or quite equal to sperm, in clearness of light. ( (ttr"Wllore does tho fire go to Paddy,. when it goes out?" Faith anf its aisy.to be t tellin' you the like o' that; yhero should the ure go 10, x au at an, out io,wnsre you at ways find ft again?" Andparp.fs that,' Paddy?" Wfjy at tlio end. of & lucifersJ to be euro." '&A7. Kr'The Hwon"river hai. become the, greatest thoroughfare, in the Uaited .frefrs. tatiitics show thM not leu than 100,000 pas.: sengera a month go up and down the rive . l tj