ond the j river Oregon on

the British frontier to the head of the Gulf

of California, on the western slope of those

mountains. Superadded to these Hues requir

ing to be occupied, are the great lines of Jn

tercomtnunication between the valley of the

Mississippi and4 the Pacific Ocean, which im-i

peratively demand that protection which only

the United States troops can furnish. These

lines are very long, and are now extremely

important, whilst every year renders them

more and more so. From our western froriT

tier oCsttlferooUta.thofc of Nortbore Oregon

the distance is about 1,800 miles; from the

same frontier to the settlements of California,

via Salt Lake, is 1 18,000 miles; from the

frontier of Arkansas, at Fort Smith, by Albu

querque, or Santa Fe, to Fort Ttjon, is about;

1,700 miles; 'and 'from San Antonio, by El

Passo, to San Diego, near the borders of the;

white settlements, is 1,400 miles; constituting!

an aggregate line of 6,700 miles, which ought.

to be occupied, and which! we pretend, ijd