Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-12-11
WIN. Cost Johnson upon the Oregon
Question.


We find the following letter from the Hon. VIM.
Cost Johnson, in the N Y Journal of Commerce of
Nov. 20. Mr.. Johnson is well known as a late men,
Der of Congress from Maryland. Being Wing in
politics, his views in aror of Oregon will be regard
ed with the greater interest," they cannot be sup
posed to grow out of any special attachment to the
Administration of Mr.. Polk.
WAsHIEeToS, Nov. IL, 1S45
To tbs Editors of TIE Journal of Commerce
GESTLEMEN-My attention has been called TO letter
in late number of your paper, in which pointed
auson is made to opinions Of mine, the Oregon ques
lion while acting in official capacity chairman of
select Committee, in the House of Representatives of
the United States.
believe with your correspondent, that many of the
Wings in Congress in favor of asserting the title of
the United States to the whole of Oregon.
His statements in regard TO the Report on State relief
made by me- in the session of 1929 to call for
some explanation.
When acting as Chairman of that Committee, it be-
came my duty to make a Report in accordance with the
called the Commissioner of Public Lands, for es
Of the number OF OF all the public lands of the
United States. lie furnished me with copy of table
which the of the public lands calculated
the 49th degree of North latitude This statement
unwilling to incorporate IN the report, and required the
Commissioner make the calculation the latitude Of
that he previously furnished Lord Ashburton with a
copy of the a similar table, calculated to the 49h
degree.
As considered the title of the u S. was good
all of Oregon as part and valid to the whole,
required the calculator embrace what believed to
be all the lands Of the United States. Ii accordingly
made and entered the books of the Land Office and
was furnished with copy" which will be found in
House report 296, Sd session of the 29th Congress-
follows:
ain making the foregoing estimate the parallel of 40
degrees of North latitude taken the northern boun
dary of Oregon territory If the parallel of "a degrees 40
minutes, 0he Northernmos line claimed by the United
Sates be taken the boundary then 104
will be added the whole surface, and the aggregate
amount of the public domain remaining to be sold by the
United States will be 042 73 675 acres which at the
minimum price of the public lands, would yield
nue. of 81 1903 4l4,706
GA true copy from the record;
THOMAS II. BLAKE,
| Commissioner.
"Hon. w. Cosr JOHNSON, Chairman Select Com.
State Relief, House of Representatives"
In the body of the Report, at page 49, is the following
sentence: By the estimate of the Commissioner of
the General Land Office, referring to the Commission
report in the appendx the quantity of land, yet
sold claimed by the United States, is one thousand
fory-two millions seven hundred and thirtyone thou
sand, hundred and sxiyhve acres which, estma
ted at dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, the
minimum Government price, would make the sum of
their value to be- thousand three hundred and three
millions four hundred and fourteen thousand hun
dred and six dollars and twenty-five cents, being nearly
times the amount of Government stock proposed
be issued"
When the Report was read to the Committee, 1t was
approved and signed by the members in the following
order;
William Cost Johnson, James Cooper,
| Meredith P. Gentry, Thomas F. Marshall,
John Quincy Adams, Calvary Morris,
Zadock Casey, Jacob nj. Howard,
James II. Cravens.
The appendix being not completed, at the time, was
authorized by the Committee prepare it, and
dered be printed by the House of Representatives,
the I'd March, 1s43
! How far the several members OF the Committee may
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 examination has confirmed my convictions
that the entire claim of the United States is good
1t had never been viewed as party question, and
hope it never will be. What results party excitement
may produce, will not speculate upon.
Notwithstanding there exists Treaty between the
United States and Great Britain for the joint occupation
of Oregon far north the 54h deg 40 mIn it is
times said that If right to all OF Oregon, it
may produce serious difficulties between the United States
and Great Britain and for this it is urged by
some that the u. States should abandon their claim TO
all the territory beyond the 49th degree of north latitude,
&c Although the treaty did not settle the question in
dispute il did strengthen the English claim, nor wea
ken that of the United States 1t left the right and title
of the United States as previously existing, and nothing
since has impaired, either the validity OF our original IT,
tIe lesened capacity to maintain IT. IS doubt
less unwse, in either England the United States to
desire between the two countries, nor do the
people of either country desire but the people of the
Unired States the last in the world abandon just
right under the apprehensions of war; II is not their
character
This is not a time when the United States aban-
don any of her proper rights The efforts of En-
gland and france TO prevent the annexation OF Texas
and thereby prevent the spread of republican ns
tutons, forbid IT. If there were not other high consde
rations.
Whether the language Of NJ Guizot, as the organ Of
the French Cabinet (Which substantially that France
will interfere, in restraining the growth and power and
glory Of this Republic by maintaining the balance Of
power induced in consideration of the expected
lection and guardianship of the English Government in
the neal descent OF the French Grown, the result OF
candid repugnance the part of the King OF France to
the growth Of republican Institutions will not attempt
to decide. IL the former controlled il was an in
suit the French people if the latter lndgniy TO
the United States.
81 believe the Commissioner made subsequent report to
Couge-his annual reporand again included the whole
Of Oregon, In bis estimate Of the public domain.