New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-12-08
From Washington.
Oregon OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Caucns' &c.
Correspondence OF The Tribune
WAsrrrxnrnN Dec. Oh. 1915


The Union of this morning for ii is to all inients
and purposes morning paper, contains the Reports
of the Secretary of the Nary, and the Report OF The
Postmaster General Mr.. Bancrofts Report has
laudatorv Editorial notice; but Mr.. Cave Johnson
has ouIv line or two. You have already had the
Reports from the ar and Treasury Departments
from R J Walker and ". L. Marcy. the Secre-
,ares; leave them in your hands 10 dispose OF them
even es seemeth good 10 thee. You have had the
most important documents in these four Reports
accompanying the Presidents Message; bG; there
are still some behind not be published immediate
". which think worthy OF consideration. One o:
these, the Diplomatic Correspondence on Oregon,
now proceed 70 glance at.
The first is letter from Mr. Fox, the British Min
ister, TO Mr.. WEBSTER. United States Secretary Of
State, dated " Washington. Nov. Is. 1882. covering
copy Of part Of letter from Lord ABERDEEs 10
Mr. Fox requesting that the United states Minister
a, London might be furnished with instructions 10
treat with such person as might be appointed by
England. on The North Western Boundary Assur
ing Mr.. WEBSTER that England was ready 10 enter
into fair and equitable compromise OF the difficulty
Mr. WEBSTER replies to Mr.. Fox Nov IS. 1912,
20 the u mixed States Minister &; London
Mr.. PAcKESHAM writes to Mr.. UPsHUR, United
States Secretary OF State dated Washington, Feb.
"a. 1914 n:mating the anxious desire OF the British
Government to come 10 q speedy settlement, and
proposing conference
MIR UPsHUR TO Mr. PAcEESHAM, Feb. 26, le+4.
names o'clock 4 NJ next day for said conference.
Mr.. PAcKENHAM writes 10 Mr.. Calhoun, July %,
1874. announcing that the death OF Mr. UPshpr ION
Feb-2sth &c. had prevented prompt attention 10 the
Oregon Boundary and that now as Congress had ad-
journed il would be proper time 10 proceed with it,
Mr.. CALHOUN TO Mr.. Packenham, Aug -. 1914.
appointing o'clock P. NJ. next day for conference,
concurring with the English sentiment In desiring
speedy settlement OF the question
Mr. P. 10 MIR. c. Aug. -. ii agreeing 10 the hour.
The conference was accordingly held on tie 23d
of August Isl: and the Plenipotentlaries proceeded
to examine the state of the question. Mr. Calhoun
desired a proposal from Mr.. Packenham, who said
he would be able 10 make definite one al the next
conference and desired Mr. c. 10 be also ready WITH
MS proposal. Adjourned 10 the goth August, when
it again assembled. Mr. Packenham made propo-
sal 10 Mr. Calhoun which Mr. Calhoun decined.-
They thenagreed that more full understanding OF
their respective views, necessary to facilitate
future proceedings Ii was agreed that written state
meuts of the views OF both parties should be given
before proceeding farther. II was also agreed that
the American Plenipoienary should make his state
ment at the next conference and, when ready. give
the necessary notice.
Attached 10 this Protocol is the offer of Mr.. Pack
enham TO take the 49ih parallel OF latitude to the Co
luynba River and the River 10 the sea; and also 10
make free to the United States any port or ports
which they might desire on the mainland or on VAN
couvers Island South Of az.
Sept ID 1914 tile third, conference was held at
the Office OF the L. States Secretary OF State. The
American negotia;or gave his views OF the claims
of the United States TO the portion of the Territory
drained By the Columbia as his grounds for de-
clining the British Minister'S proposal
Sept IL 1874, the fourth conference was held at
the same place, and the British Minister gave his
views.
Sept 2Oth fifth conference, Mr.. Calhoun delivered
reioinder
Sept; oath sixth conference.
The British Minister stated he had read with due
attention the rcoinder of The L. 5. Plenipoentiary
that he did not feel authorzedto enter into any dis
cussion relative 10 the Territory North OF lat i9o
which was understood by the British Government
TO form the basis OF negotiation the part OF the
L. States as tue line OF the Columbia formed that OF
England That his former proposal was offered by
Great Britain az an honorable compromise and that
it was made with the proyso that IN no case IN any
further negotiations should compromise or weaken
the claims OF Great Britain unless accepted by the
United States.
Sept 3D. '4i-Alr. Calhoun to Mr.. Packenham-
declines Mr. P's proposal. as it would limit our
possessions 10 narrower bounds than what we mad
clear right to. Mr.. Calhoun then enters INTO an
able argument on our claims TO the territory drained
by the Columbia arising from our proper right, and
those derived from France and SPAN. The former
he grounds az against Great Britain, priority oil
discovery exploration and settlement. The PRIOR
discovery is claimed for Captain Gray, citizen OF
the United States. May II, 1892, who gave the river
lis name. This discovery is opposed by those OF
Meares and Vancouver. The former sailed along
the coast through which the Columbia flows in l'eo
in order TO ascertain whether the river laid down In
Spanish charts as ST. Roc really existed, ana he
declares I'VE can now safely assert that there is no
such river Vancouver, In April, lg2, explored the
same coast His own journal proves thai ne failed
10 discover the river He even disbeeved Captain
Gray discovery. Gray gave copy OF his chart 10
Nadia at Nootka Sound, and on Vancouver arrival
Nadia yavebim 4 copy. Vancouver, guided b. the
chart entered the Columbia Oct. 20, 1872 The at
tempt TO prove that Captain Gray sailed IN pr
vate, not nited States vessel shows the slrehe'h
of our claims.
Mr. Calhoun then proceeds 10 consider the disco.
veries OF the Columbias branches by Lewis and
Clark long before any British subject visited these
parts and asserts our clear right by the discovery OF
the mouth and head waters of the Columbia river
He next describes The question OF settlement by
our citizens in 1909. 10. and IL The taking pos
session by the British during the war, and resiora
ton after peace
He ,henproceeds 1--WE have added TO our claims
those of France and Spain BY the Treaty OF Louis.
lana and the Treaty of Florida The cession OF Lou
isania gave Us undispued title 10 the summit OF The
Rocky Mountains and By Continuity TO the Pacific,
founded on the Treaty OF 1903.
He hcnd,Sells on the argument of Continuity, m
stancng the contest between Great Britain and
France which was terminated by the Treaty OF
1863 The fact that Great Britain claimed this con-
tiuuity for her colonies now the United States) fore
closes her contestiug this principle against US
He then examines the treaty OF 1868, which likes
the Nlississippia as the boundary between Great Brit
ain and France. extingushing the. claims OF Great
Britain w es; OF that boundary. The right OF con
tinry was transferred to BY France inthe Treaty
of Louisiana. France held this right b. the eX.
iinsuishment OF Great Britaius claim by Treaty OF
1863
He then proceeds to defend our claims on the
discoveries OF Spain which we have acquired In
place of conflicting with each other they naturally
blend together forming strong chain o! title against
all opposing claims
He then takes up the restoration OF Astoria. and
quotes the admission OF Lord Castlereagh 10 Mr..
Rush, admitting our ample right 10 be rein5taied,
and our right TO possession while treating OF tile
Oar claims have since been strengthened, by IN
crease of our DODnla,iOn bv emigration de con-