The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-30 00:00:00

the state of the question. Mr. Calhoun desired a propose
from Mr. Pakenham, who said he would be able to make a
definite one at the next conference, and desired Mr. Cal-
houn to be also ready with his proposal. Adjeurned to the
26th of August, when it again assembled. Mr. Pakenham
Made a proposal to Mr. Calhoun, which Mr. Calhoun de-
clined. They then agreed that a more full understanding
of their respective views was necessary to facilitate future
Proceedings, It was agreed that written statements of the
Dews of both parties should be given before proceeding fur-
res. It was also agreed that the American plenipotentiary
should make his statement at the next conference, and,
/then ready, give the necessary notice.
Attached to this protocol is the offer of Mr. Pakenham to
take the 49th parallel of latitude to the Columbian River,
and the river to the sea ; and also to make free to the United
'plates any port or ports which they might desire on the main
Hind or on Vancouver's Island south of 49 deg.
Sept. 2, 1844, the third conference was held at the office of
the L nited States Secretary of State. The American negotiator
gave his views of the claims of the United States to the
Portion of the territory drained by the Columbia as his grounds
rot declining the British Minister's proposal.
, Sept. 12, 1844, the fourth conference was held'at the same
Nice, and the British Minister gave his views.
Sept. ,
20, fifth conference, Mr. Calhoun uthverea a re_
Joinder.
8-
--sat. 24, sixth conference.
The British Minister stated that be had read with due at-
tention the rejoinder of the U.S. plenipotentiary ; that he
!Lid not feel authorised to enter into any discussion relative
In the territory north of lat. 49 deg. which was understood
°Y the British Government to form the basis of negotiation
!II the part of the United States as the line of the Columbia
Mined that of England. That his former proposal was
ired by Great Britain as an honourable compromise, and
that it was made with the proviso that in no case in any
further, negotiations should it compromise or weaken the
claims of Great Britain unless accepted by the United States.
titpttmber 3d, 1844-Mr. Calhoun to Mr Pakenham-
wtlines Mr. P.'s proposal ; as it would limit American pos
tailona to narrower bounds than what it had a clear right to.
In Calhoun then enters into an argument on American
Frohls to the territory drained by the Columbia, arising
m right, and those derived from France and Spain. The
former he grounds as against Great Britain, on priority of
co Very, exploration, and settlement. The prior discovery
istlaimed fur Captain Grey, a citizen of the United States,
May 11, 1792, who gave the river its name. This discovery
opposed by those of Meares and Vancouver. The
firmerl sailed along the coast through which the Columbia
7,°i's, in 1788, in order to ascertain whether the river laid
town in Spanish charts as " St. Roc" really existed, and
declares "we can now safely assert that there is no such
''ver."
„Mr. Calhoun then proceeds to consider the discoveries of
4e Columbia's branches by Lewis and Clark, and asserts
bead
clear right by the discovery of the mouth and
',WI waters of the Columbia river.
Ie next describes the question of settlement by American
Xhuzens in 1809, 1810, and 1811. The taking possession by
IBritish during the war, and restoration after peace.
Itta then proceeds "We have added to our claims those of
abee and Spain by, the treaty of Louisiana and the treaty
Florida. The cession of Louisiana gave us undisputed
utle to the summit of the Rocky Mountains and by conti-
-4111„tY to the Pacific, founded on the treaty of 1763."
Aue then dwells on the argument of continuity, instancing
'ue contest between Great Britain and France, which was
illninated by the treaty of 1763
lie then examines the treaty of 1763.
r.Ftte then takes up the restoration of Astoria, and he con-
,ties by stating that the same cause which peopled the
114!?3,, of the Mississippi will yet cause emigration across the
t37ty Mountains, and that the whole region drained by the
27ilutubia is destined to be peopled by us. Mr. Calhoun
loses his able paper by stating that he refrains " from pre-
niting the claims which the United States may have to
'6,(l)ler portions of the territory" than those drained by the
a !ambits River, and by renewing assurances of high consi-
Arc.
hS,ept. 12, 1844, Mr. Pakenham writes to Mr. Calhoun in
...P4' to the above, that he has no evidence that Louisiana
t`
`tended west to the Pacific, but that the Rocky Moun-
al4 was the western boundary, for which opinion he
otes Mr. Jefferson. Even if the boundary did extend
s_eatward of the Rocky Mountains, that France transferred
titin 1762, and Spain to England, teaty between
Britain and Spain in 1796, which gatedabr the claims
tee denies that the claim of continuity can affect the claim
114ght. He acknowledges that Spain, in 1819, transferred
fnf rights north of 42 deg., but that it did not invalidate her
er concessions in 1790.
In regard to the discoveries of lleceta and Gray they con-
° and if Heceta's claim be good it favours Great Britain,
'Ling to the treaty of 1790.
14 ; United States had no claims when they became a
4.4
tie "on. Those of France were worth nothing. He urges
commercial intercourse of Great Britain with the north-
eat coast, the voyages of Cook and Mears, the survey of the
t by Vancouver, which makes Great Britain's claims to
very and exploration very strong. He sets the accuracy
tri authenticity of Cook and Vancouver's survey against
qe discovery of the mouth of the Columbia by Captain
litttv. Of the exploration of Lewis and Clarke he says that
T;enzie, a British subject, crossed the Rocky Mountains
p,.•oe Pacific in 1793, and discovered the upper waters of
a.,iter's River, near lat. 49 deg., and puts this against Lewis
"",(1 Clarke's
i,44....e meets 'the authority of Lord Castlereagh by the dis
Vi„,, of Lord Castlereagh himself to the British Minister at
b,:rington, when giving up Astoria, claiming the whole
tory.
`/reat Britain and the United States are in joint occu-
si;f
cY;
what i one cas
jointly occupied.
4: claiming the Columbia as the boundary, Great Britain
141 et influenced by ambition of possessing large territory,
t by cons dier.ations of utility if not of necessity, which
-410 t be lost sight of.
141ttr. Pakenham concludes by requesting a proposal from
by inited States and statement of further claims alluded to
Or Calhoun.
,kpi. 20, 1844, Mr. Calhoun rejoins to this rebutting the
claims on the discoveries of Cook, Mears, and others,
satoe Nootka Sound convention, and on M'Kenzie's explo-
ain. Tha Frazer's River is an inferior stream and cannot
erect
the discovery of the Columbia.
Jan 15, 1845, Mr. Pakenham to Mr. Calhoun states that
bt has sent the discussions already had to his Government,
tt,t that, in the meantime, he is authorised to offer arbitra-
1, leaving the choice of arbiters for after consideration.
an. 21 1845, Mr. Calhoun says he has laid the offer
Of IAT ,
r• P. before the President, and he cannot accede to the
11°Posall. He hopes the question may be settled by nego-
atien. Arbitration might rather retard than expedite the
settlement.
Secretary
12, 1845. Mr. Buchanan having been appointed
of State, and seeming to overlook the later pro-
-Beci, ,ings, and replies to Mr. P.'s letter of September 12,
1:11. rests the American title on that of Spain, contend-
ing that, at the date of Spain's transfer of her rights to
America, she had a good title to the whole of Oregon
illigainst Great Britain. The Nootka Sound treaty conferred
O right on Great Britain but to trade with the Indians,
oia transcient in its nature, and did not touch the sovereignty
, Spain over the territory. That it was annulled by the war
•tWeen Great Britain and Spain in 1796, and has never
since been renewed, and consequently that Great Britain is
destitute of any claim to the Oregon territory. Having
defended these views at length, and enforced the American
title to the whole of Oregon, he says the joint occupancy
treaty excepts the American title from being impaired.
In this view of the subject the President, considering the
action of his predecessors, and embarrassed by their offer, to
,1,(::0W also to the world that he is actuated by a spirit of mo-
deration
-4
has authorised him (Mr. Secretary Buchanan) to
offer the 49th parallel to the sea as a boundary, with any
eurt in Vancouver's Island south of that latitude.
July, 29, 1845, Mr. Pakenham replies to Mr. Buchanan ;
Ntbits strongly Mr. B.'s position, particularly the claim
nf the United States to the Valley of the Columbia to be
°icier than the treaty of 1819. He examines the Spanish
American offer to divide the territory-the United
States can found no slain on discovery, or exploration or
settlement, prior to the treaty of Florida, without admitting
the principles of the Nootka Sound convention, and the pa-
rallel claims of Great Britain, He contends that the Nootka
Sound convention continues in force, and even if that con-
Venticn had never existed, the claims of Great Britain are as
good as those of the United States.
He then goes into a history of the discoveries, from which
.1t Might appear that American citizens discovered the Co-
lumbia River, while British navigators discovered Frazer's
River and Vancouver's Island. He repeats the British
claims to the territory, and declines the offer made by Mr.
akchanan.
....August 30, 1845, is the date of the last dispatch. It is from
air. Buchanan is reply to Mr. P. He quotes the declaration
Of Messrs. Huskisson and Addisonton that "Great Britain
Maims no exclusive sovereignty over any part of that (Ore-
gon) territory." Mr. B. makes a very long argument in re-
ply to Mr. P., maintaining the rights of the United States to
the whole of the territory, and concludes by withdrawing his
offer.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
This document occupies five columns of the Union, but the
following synopsis from that paper tells the whole of a long
story
It exhibits, in the first instance, the organisation, strength,
and constitution of the regular army. The rank and file—
embracing every arm of the service—does net exceed 6,500
Men. At this time there is stationed but a single regiment
on the whale northern frontier, from Maine to Lake Superior
--An extent of 2,000 miles; and on the whole line from the
Palls of St. Anthony to New Orleans (1,500 miles) only
one regiment of dragoons and two of infantry. The
artillery regiments—reduced by detachments of four corn-
Patties from each—now garrison the fortification of the sea-
board, from Newport to New Orleans. The remaining and
larger proportion of the army is now stationed in Texas.
The report gives an interesting account of the political
reasons which have induced the Government to give them
this destinaticn. The Secretary does not think it prudent
to remove the troops from this position until our relations
With Mexico have assumed a more decidedly amicable
character. In the event of there being any necessity to
Increase the army, he proposes to build upon the basis of the
regiments by adding to the rank and file of each company,
Instead of creating new regiments. This necessity may be
found in the course of Mexico, or in the conduct of the
Cumanches, or of the Indians that are found in Oregon, or
that may interrupt the increasing current of the emigration
to the Rocky Mountains. By the proposed arrangement of
filling up the infantry companies to 68 men, and the dra-
goons to 60, the privates are increased, without a corre-
sponding augmentation of the officers.
The report suggests that, besides this increase of the num-
ber of privates in the two existing regiments of dragoons,
another regiment of dragoons or of mounted riflemen may be
necessary, in the event of extending our posts to the Rocky
llountains.
It states that, though the concentration of so large a pro-
Portion of the army on the frontier of Texas may have, in
some measure, enlarged the expenditures (certainly in the
article of transportation), yet it has in some degree been
compensated by the improvement which has taken place in
the discipline of the troops. It renews the recommendation
for establishing a corps of sappers, miners, and pontoniers,
to assist, among other things, in constructing bridges, in con-
sequence of the military occupation of Texas. One hundred
Men will be sufficient for the purpose.
The report gives a rapid but interesting account of Col.
Rearney's expedition, during the last summer, to the South
Pass of the Rocky Mountains, the impressions it produced
among the Indians, the number of emigrants whom it met on
their way to Oregon, to the number of 2,325 men, women,
and children, with 7,000 head of cattle, 400 horses and mules,
and 460 waggons. This report of Colonel Kearney accorn-
.. pangs the communication of the commanding general, and
will furnish, no doubt, an interesting store of extracts, at
a season of greater leisure. It also refers to the adventures
of another detachment of the dragoons, under the com-
mand of Captain Sumner, nearly to the northern line of the
Lpited States; between Lake Superior and the Lake of the
Woods. Among the Indians whom they met with on their
route, and upon whom they made a due impression with
their military array, was a numerous baud of the half-breeds
of. the Red River of the North, who had come from the re
gion of the Hudson Bay Company into our lines to hunt
buffalo. l'hey had even solicited permission to reside in the
United States,

The Secretary refers to the considerations which had
prompted General Gaines to dispatch the volunteers of
Loui,iana to the camp of General raylor. Ample justice is
done to their gallantry, and Congress is invited to make ap-
propriations for their compensation. General Taylor had also
acceited the services of four Texan companies of mounted
men for three months.

The estimates for the ensuing year do not greatly vary
from those of former years. The item for arming the fortifi-
cations is increased 100,000 dollars. The attention of Con-
gress is directed to the state of the fortifications—to the
armories of Springfield and llarper's Perry—to the establish-
ment of a national foundry for cannon—to the preservation
of the gunpowder belonging to the Government—to the con-
dition of the mineral lands in the north-west, which the
Secretary proposes to transfer from the managetnetit of the
ordnance department to some other (the President's Message
suggests to the Land-office).
It calls the attention of Congress to the 48 forts in process
of construction, and to the propriety of erecting new forts at
other points. Among these, as stiggested by the reports of
the engineers, are fortifications of the narrows at Staten
Island and Sandy Hook, and the condition of the long-sus-
pended fortress at the rea hitch ; an additional work at
7coint, for the protection of Baltimore; and projected
fortifications on the Florida reef. _

The Secretary speaks with great consideration of the school
at "% Vest Point, and proposes some improvements. He calls
special attention to the report of the chief of the corps of
topographical engineers, to the improvement of the harbours
on the lakes, which are so well calculated to furnish accom-
modations to steamers, that, in a state of war, may be turned
to the most effective purposes, and to furnish facilities to a
commerce that is now estimated at 100,000,000 of dollars
annually.
The Secretary speaks with enthusiasm of expeditions
under Captain Fremont, and his valuable services. He refers
to the reports of the pension-office, which has now returned
on its books 28,921 pensioners-2,371 added during the last
year, and 1,438 known to have died. He devotes a consi-
derable space to the Indian agency and the Indians— the
Pottawatomies, the Choctaws, and particularly the Chero-
kees. He lays before the President some highly interesting
communications from our Indian sub-agent in the territory
of Oregon.
He dedicates the conclusion of his compreheasize and very
interesting report to a subject which is of so profound an im-
portance in a free government—viz., the organisation of the
militia. He suggests various alterations, and, amongst the
rest, submits the question whether it might not be advisable
to reduce the period of service from 18 years of age to 21,
upon the ground that although citizens of 18 years of age
are not too young to bear arms, they were not generally
in a situation tp equip themselves with arms, as the• law re-
quires.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
The communication of the Secretary of the Navy opens,
without any preface, with the following sentence During
the past year the usual squadrons of the navy of the United
States have been maintained." In the Mediterranean Com-
modore Smith had command of the Cumberland and the
Plymouth. The Plymouth was ordered to the Brazil squa-
dron, and the Cumberland returned home, and their places
will be taken at the opening of the present season by a part
of the present African squadron. The African squadron was
organised under the command of Commodore Perry, who
was relieved by Commodore Skinner; the Preble and the
Truxtan contracted disease on board, and were sent home;
the Southampton, with stores, was sent out to remain, and
was fAlowed by the Marion and the Dolphin. The Boxer is
destined for the same station ; and in January the Cumber-
land, bearing the broad pennant of Commodore Read, will
relieve the Jamestown and Yorktown, which will proceed to
the Mediterranean. _ _ .

The disposition of the remainder of the naval force is thus
stated : _ _

On the Brazil station, Commodore Rousseau, the first officer
west of the Alleghanies ever selected to command a squadron,
relieves Commodore Turner. The Raritan will repair to the
home squadron; the Boston is ordered to return to the
United States. The Columbia, the Saratoga, the Plymouth,
and the Bainbridge, will, for the present, constitute the Brazil
squadron.
Commodore Parker, after a very successful cruise, returned
from the Asiatic station in September, bringing home the
Brandywine, the St. Louis, and the Perry. At the Bay of
Islands, Captain 111‘Keever, in the St. Louis, had the happi-
ness to render valuable service to the inhabitants of an infant
British settlement.

In May, Commodore Biddle sailed for the East Indies in
command of the Columbus ship- of-the-dine, and the. Vin-
cennes, bearing the Minister to China, and the ratified treaty
between the United States and the Chinese Emperor. The
health of Mr. A. H. Everett, the minister, having induced his
return, the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty was
committed to the charge of Commodore Biddle, who will
doubtless show that an able and gallant naval officer conducts
satisfactorily all affairs entrusted to him.
The Constitution is on her return from China, after having
visited different ports and islands in the Indian seas.
The Pacific squadron, under Commodore Sloat, has con-
sisted of the Sayan. ah, the Levant, the Warren, and the
Shark. The three first will return in 1846, and will be re-
lieved by the Congress, the Portsmouth, and the Cyane.
The home squadron has been under the command of Com-
modore Conner, who has distingnished himself by sound
judgment in the performance of Lis duty. His force, which
consisted of the Potomac, the Falmouth, the Vandalia, the
Lawrence, and the Somers, was weakened by the return of
the Vandalia, which visited Hayti, and was driven home by
the yellow fever, contracted at Port au Prince, where she
had been ordered on duty. The squadron was increased by
the Princeton and Porpoise, the St. Mary's, and the Sara-
toga,
under Commodore Stockton, and soon after by the John
Adams, and the steam ship Mississippi.
The Secretary visited all the naval establishments but
those at Pensacola and Memphis, and they are generally in
excellent order.
He recommends that the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia,
at which are now more than 160 sailors, be never enlarged,
but that new pensioners should be placed " in some salubrious
spot near the ocean, where the aged seaman can watch ships
as they come and go, and have old familiar objects in sight."
There is a dash of romance in this suggestion which is rather
unexpected.
He condemns as a fruit'ess expenditure the employment of
professors and instructors on board ship—and suggests that
midshipmen, in the intervals of sea duty, may be collected
together on shore and be suitably instructed. The instructora
being provided, the idea was carried out by organising a
school at Fort Severn, at Annapolis, under the direction of
Commander Buchanan.
He recommends that the plates of all the charts engraved
by order of Congress be depobited in the National Observa-
tory building.
The grant of a large sum for the establishment of a well-
furnished and efficient navy yard at Pensacola is recom-
mended, and he disapproves of the grant for the Memphis
Depot, as too large for a mere work of preparation. He
thinks Congress should confine the use of the money first to
the construction of a rope-walk ; and, next, to simple ar-
rangements for building and equipping steam-ships. He
justly adds, that " the United States should produce all the
hemp used in the navy, and that to introduce at the west the
manufacture of American hemp for the navy. will prove a
national benefit."
The subject of lake defences is reserved for a special com-
munication.
The care of the reservations and plantations of live oak,
he thinks, should be transferred to the Land Department,
which alone has the proper means of ascertaining titles.
The present contract system requires modification.
The balance of appropriations with rigid economy, be be-
lieves, will be sufficient for the fiscal year. The estimates
for next year contemplate no increase in the force employed
during the present year.
No estimates are presented for the increase of the navy :
the department awaits, in that matter the instruction of
Congress; but he remarks, that in comparison with other
nations, our own is poorly supplied with sea -going steamers.
The navy is praised for its excellency and efficiency, and
its able and skilful officers. He thinks the capable only
should be promoted, and his position is illustrated by the
following remarks :
"Age alone now claims precedence, though that claim
is unauthorised by the constitution, and unsustained by the
law. Seniority demands promotion as its right, and the
highest rank and pay are awarded to the longest life. Yet
the chances are that the eldest are not the most meritoricus.
Excellence seeks the opportunity of displaying itself, and is
selected for the most perilous and wasting service; while
mediocrity fails to be employed, and obtains length of days
in safe and affluent retirement. Promotion by seniority is a
premium upon inactivity.
" Many of the best among the older officers received high
promotion while comparatively in early life. The younger
officers of to-day are equally full of talent and ambition ; but
the present system refuses to them the opportunity of com-
mand while life is in its vigour, and reserves it for the de-
cline of their powers. In consequence, the average age of
captains is constantly increasing, and is already nearly sixty.
The average number of annual promotions is about two.
The average age of commanders, from whom captains are
and should be taken, is not much less than fifty. From their
great numbers, the little sea-service to which they are called
is favourable to longevity. Continue the present usage
twenty years longer, and while hope will be crushed in the
voung men in the service, the class of commanders will itself
be composed of none but aged men, and there will not be a
captain under threescore years and ten.
" This custom discourages the most worthy, and lead the
incapable and the indolent to cling with tenacity to their
commissions.

" Those that are capable—and our service abounds in
those, and those only should be promoted."
lie argues against the probable objection that selection
will degenerate into favouritism, and asserts that wherever
the principle of discrimination has been carried out, it has
been attended with success.
The number of midshipmen in the navy has become so
reduced that new appointments begin to be made, and he
suggests that it would be desirable if a system of free com-
petition could be devised.
A remedy in the mode of paying pursers, and against the
progressive amount of salary given according to service, is
desirable.
A change is needed to protect the treasury and to secure
the prompt payment of balances.
An increase of six acting boatswains, and as many acting
gunners in the navy, is represented as being needful. The
apprentice system will soon be revived, in a simple form, in
the hope of better results than heretofore.
The report closes with some general remarks upon the
evils which exist in the navy, and the causes from whence
they have sprung.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury (R. J. Walker)
states the receipts for the year ending June 30, 1845,
29,769,133 dollars, to which the balance in the Treasury of
7,857,379 dollars may be added, making the total means
37,626,513 dollars. The expenditure during the same period
were 29,968,206 dollars, and, therefore, left a balance in the
Treasury of 7,658,306 dollars, July 1, 1845. The total means
estimated to accrue up to June 30, 1846, is 34,478,306 dollars,
including the balance left over from the former year. The
expenditures are estimated as follows :
The actual expenditures fur the first quarter, Dollars.
ending 30th of September, 1845, amounted 8,463,092 41
The estimated expenditure for the public service during the
other three quarters,. from Ist October, 1845, to the 30th
June, 1846, are as follows, viz.:—
Civil list, foreign intercourse, and miscella-
neous purposes
Army proper
Fortifications, ordance, arming militia, &c 2,346,778 82
Indian department
Pensions

Interest on public debt and Treasury notes
Redemption of the residue of the loan of 1841
Treasury notes which are yet outstanding and
payable when presented
Naval establishment

856,976 48
29,300 00

29,627,051 90

Which, deducted from the total means before
stated, leaves in the Treasury, on the Ist
July, 1846, an estimated balance of ...... 4,851,254 32
But this balance is subject to be decreased by such addi-
tional appropriations as Congress shall make, to be expended
during the fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1846, and to be
altered by the sums which may be presented for payment of
the old funded and unfunded debt, and old Treaeary notes.