The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-15

works Of he Almighty. which man cannot remove or
change and which belong to the whole country Unjust
sought in mountains our lakes, or our rivers
If look there, we find one, and only one, sumcieny
national and unapproprated, the Alleganian or Apala
chan chain Of mountains that vast chain which sees on
its eastern decvtes the States of the Atlantic and casts
its shadow westward to the Father Of Rivers The Chippe
are too little familiar to us No one OF the northern lakes
national enough And our only national river with ITS tn
butaes has already given name to six Of our states MIS-
sssipp Arkansas Missouri Tennessee Ohio and Illinois,
Now present to the society these two alternatives
We leave you to judge between them We only put 1t
that according the Information receive, it is deem
ed impraccable change the of the continent 1t
not be opinien. Ii is not mine. DOUBT II DC
| thai of the other members Of the committee But admit
ted the objection and in that view sought the best
designation Of this country Now, in reference to that
maintain that the word Alleghana" most significant
ghania Indians necessarily did in fact cover the
whole this part of the country but is from the blended
mountains which pervades the continent, and which,
whether got its from the tribe, or gave the name
to it, is perfectly immaterial There was race OF In
dams now extnct-more ancient than any-which have
left few of their existence but these very remark
able consisting of mounds spread over the country and
original words, which as am informed by Mr. Gala
tin, cannot be translated by any Indian dialect now
Known case similar to that presented IN England;
natives of the island to be found on the highest peaks
of the mountains Of Wales But that is enough with re-
gard to the Indians. Now gentlemen may cavl about
the wordthat it is not sonor0us word-that better
be got That may be- SO far as we can discover, 1t
ton Of the cosntry feel the full force q the objection
that does not designate the portion beyond the Rocky
Mountains But that does designate the greatest
portion of territorial limits and whether be ever
adopted not il certainly may be very appropriate
designation in works Of science to be used for this par
tcular portion Of the country. You may, you like,
take the other alternative and do nothing You may take
that which we have recommended We would be happy
to see tho society adopt the resolution that America
is the distinctive national of this country and that
geogphers and others be recommended to usc the word
"Columba" to designate the continent But If the so.
ho nf
consequence to have special designation for
this portion Of the continent and If So whether any bet
ter one than "Aleghania" can be found We commit
this matter, then to the better judgment of the society
If that judgment be entirely in favor Of the word Amer
ica shall be very happy to concur Or If the society
prefer to take action equally agreeable. All
ask is accept the report"-dschargc the committee
and resolve that you neither adopt reject the pro-
position but leave the whole subject to the future action
Of the people,
Mr. FIELD then resumed his seat
w. B. LAWRENCE, Esq, then addressed the Society.
He said had determined to take part in this discus
sion, and my hesitation in rising to address you was
greatly enhanced by the certainty that any remarks
e
mtee entirely dsappont the expectations OF those who
probably expect at least to hear that which considered
the popular sde sustained with equal force After hear
ing the letters and replies returned to the communlca-
ton of the Society, and looking at the form in which
that communication went before the world, giving it
sort of semohicial aspect. did not feel that could
with justice to myself either as an Americana title
which hope always to retain, or as member Of this
Society, give silent vote this question. And
since the last meeting have prepared some resolutions
expressing my own views on the subject and what as
far as can gather, the views of large majority OF
the Society, well of the people of the country at
large Before offering these resolutions however,
here present will suppose, that any remarks made in
these resolutions intended in the slightest degree to
be dsrespectful either to the learned ust the chairman
of the Committee or to his associates who have acquired
reputation and added greatly to the honor of American
literature. am very sure that the Society is under
great obligations to them only for the able manner
in which they have presented their views but also from
the circumstance that public attention in every part OF
the United States has thus been directed to this society
showing that very high estimate is placed on every
thing that emanaes from the New York Historical So.
cety. (Murmurs Of satisfaction and appause) It ap-
points which it is important to take into consideration
that necessary for us first to decide whesher or not
have national name-wheher it be suitable one-and
thirdly if we are now to 80 in quest OF new name-it
to be baptized for the first tme whether the sug
geson Of the Committee is one worthy of adoption.
shall not examine these matters in detail aware that Sc
veral gentlemen present who much more compe-
tent than myself to discuss this subject shall there
fore make but few cursory remarks these matters
taking up the last point first would ask this society
whether they prepared to that the term Aegha
MA giving It the most extensive range Of which it Is ca
will not enter into any consideration Of the point
whether is likely to be COMPOUNDED with other terms
benefit and relief this change is understand chiefly in
tended new territory-a new empire has grown up
been given and there be any apprchc nson of be-
ing COMPOUNDED with the Patagonans is there not greater
ii
being COMPOUNDED with the mongrel French, who plant
themselves in Africa aughter) But this is matter
Of little Importance 1t seems to me- that in this mat
ter the learned juris while studying the works Of that
distinguished author from whom the idea first emanated
has not been somewhat carried away BY his imagna-
tion-whether he has not slept with Rip Van Winkle
and adopted designation which half century ago
might have been well enough, but which is really
DC deed al ms
of the Allegheny mountains dividing that territory the
waters of which flow one side into the Atlantic and
rtpkr<
fined to slip comparatively on this side Since
then the country has made mmens; strides not only by
territory acquired by convention by treaty but by the
progress of emigration and civilization And without
having any reference at this moment to what we ac-
quired by the Louisiana treaty referring to ques-
ton which ought not to be introduced into such socle
y to the proprey of certain adopted by the
last Congress- sensation) know historical
fact that territory has extended large portion
of that country lying the Gulf of Mexico. We
know also that at the time of the Declaration Of In
dependence our rights extended to the Pacific Ocean II
back to the charters granted by the Charlcses and
Jameses will find that the chartered provinces extend
ed to the Pacific Most assuredly there is not that
would be willing to give color to the report of the CT
derant government paper time since that this society
had been bought up by British gold and operated on by
Sir Robert Peel to strengthen his claims to the Oregon
Q.aughter) But know from my former "reminiscences
that of the strongest claims pressed by our nego-
ators that right to the Oregon was founded on
these colonial grans-grants by which the British gov
eminent forever esoppcd from denying our right to
that territory And if name is so important as 1t is
considered by the learned Committee may not the very
that these rights which have assumed since the
adoption Of the Constitution, not reahat they may
thus be invaldated by own action 7 In such mo.
this when single straw may turn the force Of
negotiation especially If submitted to the considcra.
ton and decision Of umpire, it strikes as all
important that every part Of the American people
that the sopans Of the country, at all events.
should do nothing nvadae the territorial claims Of
country. That is sufficient to show me that Ale
ghania, is not a proper term. To say nothing OF the
prospective claims which America must have upon a
large portion of the country growing out of the natural
course Of events and tho superiority of that
which always to be destined to dispossess in.
ferior races which has at all events the right and
title to do that the first European settlers Of this
tnen had to possess it against the aborgnes do not
know what may hereafter happen, but know that a
most important island lying in the Gulf Of Mexico and
United States has been the subject of the greatest posi-
BILE apprehension lest should fall into the possession of
Of the most powerful nations OF Europe In the
hands of Spain there is little danger but possessed by
France England the danger would be Of the most i'm
minent character and compared with which
ton would be looked as a small evil. "a laugh.)
Now, would ask the society, supposng the United