UNITED STATES' PRETENSIONS.

307

If that the United States restricted its pretensions to a mere joint occupation and settlement with Great Britain, we could readily account for the anxiety manifested by President Polk in his late address, to "extend the jurisdiction of American laws, and benefit of republican institutions to the citizens of the United States residing in these remote regions;" for even these, and as they are administered within the more immediate jurisdiction of his government, are preferable to no laws at all; nor do we conceive that Great Britain would have any just or reasonable ground of complaint in the United States conferring these advantages on its own citizens, who may have settled within this territory. But the further observations of the American President would lead to a very opposite inference; and that instead of confining the United States' pretensions to a joint occupancy and settlement with Great Britain, its Government claim an entire and exclusive jurisdiction over this district; no longer restricting their demands within their former limits, but now extending them, from the 42nd to the 54th degree of north latitude, instead of the 49th, as heretefore.

To this unwarranted assumption, Great Britain

cans are all agricultural, and on a very small scale. More than 1000 emigrants have gone to that country from the United States during the years 1842 and 43, of whose movements and establishments no exact accounts have been as yet received.-Greenhow on the Oregon, p. 33.

VOL II.

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308

BOUNDARIES OF THE OREGON.

has already declared, she never can accede. Either America must abandon these visionary and extravagant pretensions, or else, enforce their admission by some other means than mere braggadocio, or the tortuous effort of diplomatic cunning and misrepre

sentation.

In whatever light we may feel disposed to regard this question, we must necessarily consider it, as one of the utmost importance, menacing as it does, the amicable relations at present subsisting between both countries. It is one, from among the many questions of international concern that have already occupied the consideration of both Governments, peculiarly fitted for compromise and mutual concession, and which every well-wisher of the prosperity of both nations, cannot but hope may be its ultimate decision.

The political boundaries of Oregon have never yet been determined by common consent of the parties claiming to possess it. In the United States they are considered as embracing the whole of America, west of the Rocky Mountains, from 42nd parallel of latitude to that of 54 degrees 40 minutes. Some geographers have, however, regarded as Oregon only, the region actually traversed and drained by the Columbia river, for which Oregon is erroneously supposed to have been the aboriginal name; the British Government has always insisted on a still farther contraction of its limits. The country between the Pacific coast and the westernmost chain of mountains, consists of ranges of low mountains,

ITS CLIMATE, SOIL, ETC.

309

separated by narrow valleys, generally running parallel with the great chain, and with the coast.

The climate of this region resembles that of California; the summer is warm and dry, and rain seldom falls between April and November, though during the remainder of the year it is violent and almost constant; snow is rarely seen in the valleys, in which the ground continues soft and unfrozen during the winter. The soil in some of these valleys, is said to be excellent for wheat, rye, oats, potatoes, pease, and apples; fifteen bushels of wheat being sometimes yielded by a single acre.

CHAPTER VII.

Course to be adopted by the emigrant on arrival in the United States-Precautions necessary to be observed as to health— Great valley of the Mississippi-Diseases incidental thereto-The caution and prudence necessary to insure a proper investment of capital-Choice of situation in the purchase of land-Various routes to the "far west"-Government lands-Land offices -Title and mode of securing lands-Sold and unsold public lands, 1843-The choice of location-The division and advantageous appropriation of land by the settler-The emigrant farmer-Apple and peach orchards-Distillation and pernicious use of whiskey-Distaste of Americans for agricultural pursuits-General advice to emigrants settling in the "far west."

HAVING, in the second chapter, of the first volume, safely landed the emigrant at New York, we will presume his plan of operations fully matured-his mind in part made up as to his future pursuits, also, as to what section of this vast country he may intend shall be the scene of his future operations. His delay at New York, without that his objects are purely mercantile, should be limited to as few days as possible; so long only, as is necessary to recruit himself from the wearisome voyage he has just ended, and prepare him for the further exertion he is to undergo. The utmost precaution should be observed, especially in the summer months, in reconciling and fitting his constitution to the climate of the country. He will find very considerable benefit to result from a limited course of medicine to reduce the temperature of his

ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS.

311

blood, and fit him for the exertion and consequentexcitement, incidental to his future proceedings. Flannel worn next the skin is also recommended, as absorbing perspiration, and should be immediately adopted by all new comers, as the best safeguard against those sudden chills, so destructive to human health but above all, he should guard against, not only the inordinate use of ardent spirits, but that which is equally pernicious to the constitution, the unrestricted use of animal food, which is unsuited to European habits and digestion, but which the American of every class, even to the lowest grade, is accustomed to partake of at all his meals; and which frequently produces an unhealthy state of repletion, exposing the system to frequent attacks of biliary fever, particularly in the summer or hot season, also dispepsia, and a variety of other complaints, incidental to the American climate.*

* The extreme rapidity with which Americans usually devour their food, for it really deserves no other appellation, has been remarked by all travellers and strangers in the states. Yet to this, as well as to many other peculiarities of our American friends, we soon became reconciled, as to a thing of course. The prevailing practice of living at a Table d'hote, or at boarding houses, amongst a numerous and mixed society, has probably originated this unbecoming and unhealthy practice. The meals at hotels are always provided in common for the inmates of the establishment -for the out-door, as the in-door boarder and traveller, who by the bye, is frequently most inconveniently obliged to accommodate himself to their hours. There are seldom less than from eighty to one hundred in any respectable hotel, or as they are more usually called, "public houses," who sit down together, and who