The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-14

by few references To Salmon, the most extensive
historian OF his day. aud the third edition Of whose
modern history, an three folio volumes, was pub
llshed at London In l746 illustrated by the geogrsph
cal maps OF Vol, who il certified in the king
ieenee TO be "the most accurate and correct geog-
| rapher Of this age"
The greatest and best part Of America this histo-
nan declares TO DO "under tho dominion Of the
kings OF Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and France
Tie limits the British dominions entirely TO the east
err coast OF North America, and amongst the Span
lsh dominons, the western coast is embraced
New Mexico.-Voi Id, D. l55.
"New Mexico or Grenada is bounded by UNI
known lands on the north, by Florida on the east,
by Mexico or New Spain on the south and by the
Bay or Gulf Of California, which separates il from
California on the west, lying between the 18th and
45ih degrees Of northern latitude according 10 the
spaniards, and between 100 and 1870 degrees OF
western longitude, from the meridian Of London Bui
whether we should extend contract these limits on
the north and east, will not pretend to determine
We know no people north Of New Mexico. The
Spaniarts II they please, may call The countries htui
as far as the pois."-yoL III, p. 236.
This same historian, complaining of the French
for their appropriation Of the Louisiana territory,
which embraced the great valley Of the Mississippi,
says; "But if the English should Gas see nothing
can prevent them bat their own soth aud negi-
gence) extend their settlements to the westward
lar as The rver Mississippi and the Spanish htus 10
easily be done, as their settlements already como
very near the banks of that river Louisiana prob
ably will he no more heard Of in few years. ''-Ib.
Thus do we see that, one hundred years ago Eng
land made no pretence Of claim To the country west
Of the Mississippi, and conceded the same 20 SpaIn.
Eyenthe discovery of Behring's straits by Behring,
IN the Russian service, made eighteen years before
(l726,) had not yet ripened by settlement INTO a
Russian claim, in The estimation Of the English his
torian. ......
Il will not he denied that the geography Of
the western coast at this time very imper-
feety understood; yet, upon the map OF North
America accompanying the work above cited
outline OF the entire coast is represented far
the straits Of Amman, called Behring's straits
and evsn short distance beyond. And upon the
same map, Just beyond the head ~aiera Of the Ms
souri,. in latitude AZ degrees and in the country now
called Oregon, determining from Santa Fe, which is
correctly located upon the map in north latitude SO
degrees, impepeeiiy da0n hso branches Of rrer
Touring iOoar& the Pacific. Judging from the scale
and appearance Of the map, no one can hesitate
to believe that they designed represent the
main branches Of the Columbia, already explored
from the interior TO their point Of union but the dis
covery of which, TO their outlet in the Pac &c ocean,
was completed by the united explorations Of Cap
tain Gray in 1892, and Lewis and Clarke in 1905
Are not the English, then, estopped from claiming
Oregon as country hitherto unknown, unoccupied,
and unclaimed
Was it not known TO. claimed, and partially ex-
plored by the Spaniards one hundred years ago and
conceded TO them by England herself
Was not the sovereignty of Spain in Oregon ae-
kno wledged and did not the United States succeed
10 her sovereign rights by the purchase Of 1879
IL IL most manIiest that these questions must be
ans wered in the affirmative.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. w BUEL.