Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-25
THE ENQUIRER.
RICH MON ID, VA.
Monday Morning, November "a, ls45.
STRONG EVIDENCE.

STRONG EVIDENCE.
To the exclusion of other matter, we repub-
lish from Thursdays New York Journal OF Com
mercethe following admirable letter OF VIM Cost
Johnson, Esq, distinguished Wing ex- member
Of Congress from Maryland. Though yea
lous Wing, Mr.. Johnson had the manliness 10
shake off the shackles of party, and TO stand b.
the country, in sustaining The annexation ! Tex
as. Upon The same high grounds, he comes ior-
ward, on the present occasion, TO vindicate the
rights OF the nation in regard to the Oregon ques-
ton. II will be seen that, in 1913, he considered
the title OF the United States was as good TO all Of
Oregon as TO part and was valid as whole.
Moreover at the same lime, number OF leading
Wings on the committee approved with him, Of
the Report including the public lands up 10 the
parallel Of 81 degrees 40 minutes A further ex-
animation has confirmed the convictions OF Mr..
Johnson that the entire claim OF The United States
is good
His reflections upon the attitude proper 10 be
taken by the United States at The present interest
ing crisis, will meet response in The breast OF
every American. The voice Of our veneraed
ancestors is made TO warn US Of the vital neces-
sily Of preserving an american character, that
the powers Of Europe may be convinced that we
act for ourselves and not for others"
No one deprecates war more deeply than our
selves but We are convinced, that The worst plan
to secure peace and gain the respect of other ma
lions, will be TO declare, as some do our title 10
hnp with tho (sfu1-
like, 10 surrender The whole country 10 an indie
pendent Republic. Mr.. Johnson points out the
true course, when he says that we should act not
"precipitalely, but with dignity and courage,
which avoids all extremes J"
WASHINGTON, Nov. II, l345.
I'oMc Editors OF The Journal ot Commerce.
Genllemen-My attention has been called 10 a
letter in late number Of your paper in which
some pointed ausion is made 10 opinions OF mine,
on the Oregon question, while acting in an OIL
fetal capacity as chairman of select Commit
lee, in the House ofRepIeSenta!ives OF the United
States.
| believe with your correspondent, that many Of
the Wings in Congress were in favor oil asserting
the title OF the United States TO the whole of Ore
gon.
His statements in regard to the Report on Stale
relief made by me, in the session OF l8i2-43
seem 10 call for some explanation
When aching as Chairman OF that Committee
il became my duly 10 make a Report in accor-
dance with the views ofits members. In the pro-
gress oil those labors called on the Commission
er OF Public Lands, for an estimate of the num-
her of acres OF all the public lands OF the United
States. He furnished me with copy OF a table
in which the area Of the public lands was calcu-
lated to the 49h degree OF North latitude. This
statement was unwilling TO incorporate in The
report, and required the Commissioner TO make
the calculation TO the latitude Of 81 degrees, 40
minutes. The Commissioner informed me that
he previously furnished Lord Ashbuuon with
copy of the same or a similar table, calculated TO
the 49,h degree.
As considered the title of the United States
was as good to all Of Oregon as part, and was
valid as 10 the whole. required the calculator 10
embrace what believed 10 be all the lands OF
the United States. 1t was accordingly made, and
entered on the books OF The Land Office, and
was furnished with copy which will be found
in House Report 296, Sd session of the 29lh Con-
gress, as follows:
"In making the foregoing estimate, the pa
rallel OF forty-nine degrees OF North latitude
was taken as the Northern boundary of Ore
gon Territory: II The parallel OF 81 degrees
80 minutes (lhe Norhernmost line claimed by
the United Staes) be taken as the boundary,
then lO4 Gao 900 acres will be added TO the whole
surface, and The aggregate amour, Of the public
domain remaining to be sold by The U. S. will be
lO42, 1871 CTS acres which, at the minimum price
OF the public lands would yield revenue OF
ST. 1903 ,4l4,7
"A true copy from the record
"THOMAS H. BLAKE,
Commissioner
"Hon. w. Cosr JOHNSON Chairman Select
Commuee on State Relief House OF Repre-
Senlatives."
In the body OF the Report, al page 3D. is the fol-
lowing sentence :-"By the estimate Of The Com
missioner of the General Land Office referring
10 the Commissioners report in the appendix
the quantity of land, yet unsold, or claimed by he
United States, is one thousand forty-two millions
seven hundred and lhirty-one thousand seven
hundred and sixly-ive acres, which, estimated at
one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, the mi.
nimum Government price. would make The sum
of their value to be, one thousand three hundred
and three millions, four hundred and fourteen
thousand, seven hundred and six dollars and
twenty-five cents, being nearly seven times the
amount of Government stock proposed TO be IS
sued"
When the Report was read 10 the Committee,
il was approved, and signed by the members in
the following order:
William Cos, Johnson, James Cooper,
Meredith P. Gentry, Thomas F. Marshall
John Quincy Adams, Calvary Norris
Zadock Casey, Jacob M Howard,
James H. Cravens.
The appendix being not completed at the lime,
was authorized by the Committee TO prepare il,
and il was ordered TO be printed by the House OF
Representatives, on the I'd March, lS43.
How far the several members OF The Committee
NAV consider themselves committed in favor Of
the claim Of the United States to all Of Oregon,
can only be decided by themselves examined
the subject at the time, and subsequent examina-
ton has confirmed my convictions, that The entire
claim OF the United States is good.
Il had never been viewed as party question,
and hope it never will be. What results parry
excitement may produce, | will not speculate
upon.
The United States and Great Britain Tor the joint
occupation of Oregon "a far North as the 54lh de-
gree. 40 minutes, il is sometimes said that il We
assert our right to all of Oregon, it may produce
serious difficulties between the United States and
Great Britain and for this reason il is urged, BY
some that the u States should abandon their
claim 10 all The territory beyond the 49lh degree
OF North latitude, &C. Although the treaty did
not settle The question in dispute, il dld moi
strengthen the English claim, nor weaken that OF
the United States. 1t left the right and title OF the
United States as previously existing, and noihing
since has impa red either the validity OF our orr
ginal title, or lessened our capacityto maintain il!
Il is doubtless unwise, in either England or the
United States, to desire a war between The Two
countries nor do the people of either country de-
sire it; but the people of the United States are The
last in the world to abandon just right under
the apprehensions OF a war. Its mol their char
acter.
This is not lime when The United States can
abandon any o: her proper rights The recent
efforts OF England and France TO prevent the an
nexation Of Texas, and thereby prevent the
spread Of our Republican institutions, forbid il, il
there were not other high considerations.
Whether the language Of M. Guizot, as the or
gan OF the French Cabinet, (Which was snbslan-
H., u,;n iniar in ninnI he