The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-01-11
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, l84
The Oregon Questiom in Nut-shsii.

xM OIeSOU VuSSetuvs ~ u 1vW% 7WsSts.
The debates In the House Of Representatives dur
ing the past week, the Oregon question, have eli
cited no new facts that are not already before the
public Indeed, the popular impression seems to be,
that the English Government have already relin-
pushed their claim far the 18th parallel to the
OCEAN, and are but now wavering whether or not to
give up the remaining portion. II may not be libe
on the general wisdom Of representatives TO OBJ
serve that there are many persons composing that
honorable body who are deporably ignorant Of the
exact state Of the question 1t is needless for those
gentlemen who claim the " whole or none' to quar-
rel with their less patriotic brethren for asserting
our right to less Great Britain will not accept our
most favorable proposal Of the 18th parallel, to the
ocean, and 1t were better to ascertain frst now we
are to get, and % hold, even that much The best
geographical view Of Oregon in existence Is COM
piled by Mr.. Wilkes, of the u. 8. Exploring Expe-
dition, from actual surveys made under his dlrec-
tons, and the latest information from the Huosons
Bav COMPANY II would afford me pleasure to
send you this map, but perceive the price Of the
sheet to be less than the postage, and no doubt
il can readily be procured In your immediate vi.
cinity The Columbia River I!sen va surveyed
Exoediton. who appears to have been, from the his
tory accompanying the charts, an officer Of sterling
Abilities BY reference to this map, II appears that
the parallel strikes the orsncn
lake and nver the river then pursues a. southerly
course, with, perhaps the difference Of aldegree in
Longitude, until reaching the fory-slxth degree OF
lafitude when it runs east to the Pacific Ocean
This il the line claimed by Great Britain, which
makes nearly an equal division OF territory-in TACT
for agricultural purposes, the advantage decidedly
in favor of the United States, tor explorers OF the
ground north Of fifty degrees, give no very glowing
ideas of its resources.
The Columbia is navigable for ships Of large draft,
about lao miles, to Fort Vancouver, where the Conf
pauy's trading vessels lie. From this point 70 the
Cascades net less than fourteen feet water 10 found
sufficient depth for the Mackinaw boats :: trans
port their trade to and from vancouver Here Is
also the grand depot of the Hudson's bay Company,
where their furs and skins are brought from the
lesser trading posts scattered far and wide, on and
hesween ali the upper branches and tributaries OF
the Columbia To continue the line OF iorty-ninc
degrees 10 The Straits Of Fuca, il not only cuts of
every vest,Qe Of valuable territory adjacent 10 the
fcrks Of the Columbia, and now in actual possesscn
of Great Britain, but 1t takes in the whole OF Pugets
sound and the Straits adjoining, which contain the
only really good harbors on the northwest coast
Now, l ask, after the hasty sketch have tried TO
give OF the real matter at issucs does II not seem
that England will resolutey retain possession OF her
present advantages No justice on our side-pcr-
suasons--threats or negotiations, will induce her
to torsake the soil and interests OF body OF men
whose trade Yields clear profit Of million aud a
hall sterina per annum. II there 10 70 be any back
inc out. il will be on the side or Mr. President Tx.
Meanwhile. rest assured that when the no'ie' ~
cease the Joint occupancy is glvenand y unqeocn.