Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-13

London remarked, with great correctness III OBJ
of their reports that Prospecting The NOUN "
Columbia liver, we know nolll'ns OF Giay
coyeries but through British accounts, d;s.
In the next place, the connexion OF clay ;n,er-
coyery with that Of Lewis and Clarke IS my. ..,
Iun,ed bv The intervening exploration oil Leu
RIouphlon. OF the British surveying snip
ham," 1,v;s and
With respect 10 the expedition oil Lew" :, | Inc
Clarke il musl, on a close examination " ~.
route pursued by Them, be confessed 'na', an
on their outward Journey 10 The Pacific, no, y"
,he;r bomeward tourney 10 The UnlieI 1.a'..'
did they louch upon the head waters OF inc pm, ~
nal branch of The Columbia river which y. 81
10 The North OF The paris Of The country "a'e'S
and explored BY them. ,,o., Gamma
nv was The first civilized person VIZ nth II The
| The Northern. in reality The man, Dlahcn - -,
d,olnmLia or ,rayersed any part oil The cou'i"'
drained by it. rno Columbia that
T aw;s and Clarke made their way To inc ND ~
stream of lhat river which they leaeh.u ,wn
min, distant il is believed moi more man W.
hundred miles from The point TO when me i''e'
had already been explored by bfouSnlon. i, h.
These facts. The undersigned conceives, W.. M
fonDd,sufficient 10 reduce The vaiue o. I;,n;,s
Carkes exploration on The Colu.ho,a ~ - The
4 IA
rhoe valley drained By that river and lis o1a"c"-
| eS. ,.sl n,,r,e of The
As 10 settlement the qnalihed nature =, ~ ~
rinb,s devolyed 10 The United States oy virtue =.
,be RESTITUTION Of Tie Fort Astoria mas a'ie'''
been pointed out ,o3 confidently
believes that on thu grounds OF discovery, -
ration and settlement Great Britain mas ho'',h ~.
10 tear from comparison OF heI rla', h hnse ot
/ VIII
Oregon territory, taken as "hoie'
The United States: ;,oa hv the Co.
l,n,h;a Tho facts on which The United States Ies,
,hr case are far from being OF that colnPie'e dnu
axcl,s;vc character which would justify Cram
10 The whole valley OF the Columbia anu
Thar especialiy as relates TO Vancouve -:
island taken hy itself, the preferable clam OF W.
Rri,ain in every point Of view, seems 10 nave
been clearly demonstrated. ,.;n.J
After this exposition Of the views eh'ei'a'i
by The British Government respecting 'ne teia'lse
value and importance the British ana Ainerlcan
claims The American Plenipoteniary VII! MOI =.
surprised 10 hear that The underS,gnru uoeS nv.
feel al liberty 10 accept The proposal offered oy lhe
a msrcan pleppotentiary for the settlement oi
the question. ~, ,o,
This ,proposa, in fact, offers less than that Ten
dereJ hv The American Plenipotentlarles I'D me
negotiation Of 1926, and declined py 'he BRUSH
-
Government.
On thai occasion it was proposed that The nayi-
CATION of The Columbia should be made Tree 10
both parties. = ,,,;oh
the undersigned has now The honor reply; WINE,
with respect 10 the proposed freedom OF The ports
IN Vancouver island South Of latitude Az dess,
the facts which have been appealed 10 IN ms pa
Der. as giving 10 Great Britain The strongest claim
10 the possession oihe whole island, would seem
10 deprive such proposal Of any value.
The undersigned, therefore, trusts that The a. A.
meIican pienipoleniary will be prepared 10 oller
some further proposal for The settlement OF The
Oregon question more consistent with fairness
and equity and with the reasonable expectations
Of the British government as defined in The state
men, (marked d. which the undersigned had The
honor 10 presen, 10 The penipolenliary al The ear
" part OF Tie present negotiation.
The undersigned, British Plenipotentlary has
The h NOR 10 renew 10 he honorable James bucti-
anan, Secretary Of Stale and plenipolentlary oil
The United States, the assurance OF his high CON
sideraiion. X. PAhENftAHi.
Hon. JAMES BUCHANAN, &c.
ICorresD0n6jcnce 10 be continued.