Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-12-28
Acquisition of Foreign Territory.

! Acquisition of Foreign Territory.
The New York Herald, referring to the outer
raised in England against the spirit of territorial ag
gression and acquisition which prevails in the Unite
States, contrasts what has been done by each Gov
ernment In this behalf. thus
Passing over the singular appropriateness of tn
discovery by a nation which, in common with our
selves sprang from the three bodest and greatest ra
ces of robbers that the world ever knew-the Sax
ons the Danes and the Normans and coming a
once to the charge fastened upon the United State
by British writer's, it becomes curious to compare h
number. extent and manner of the acquisition o
foreign territory which have been made by the Uni
ted States and Great Britain respectively since ht
former became an independent nation.
Those of the United States can be summed up ir
very few words. In 1900, MIR Jefferson bought Lou
siana from France for SIS 900, 600 In 1921 Flori
da was ceded by Spain, without violence or compul
sion OF any kind, in consideration of claims for spoil
alton upon American commerce. In l845, on hel
reiterated prayer, the independent State of Texas
was admitted to the Union In 184S, after the war
with Mexico, California and tract of unsettled land
were acquired from the conquered power by pur.
chase, and the latter enabled to recover from the
and renstate her government by the aid of the mo.
ney pail over by her conquerer, the United States
In 1853 strip of land in the Messlla valley was
purchased for $10,OO0,0O0 These are the acqusl-
tions which The United States have made.
Shortly after the establishment of American nde.
pendence the British concluded the Mysore war; and
on the death Of Tippo Saih seized the virtual sover
eighty of his domnons which contain three millions
of Inhabitants. The acquisition of lights which, if
not actually rights of sovereignty, fair SUBJ
stitute for them, followed the Mahratta war. In
1918, the Nepauese towns were occupied in 1917
Ahmedabad together with several other Cities were
ceded 10 the British ty the conquered people of Gu
zerat In the year 1924, Aacan was seized, and
during the two following years the Assam and Te
nasserim provinces. At the time, strange 10
Mall hV,fh fho ifISh In
peace secured by the occupation by British sol
ders of large tracts of land in Southern India and
on the Sulei. In 1874 Scinde was conquered, and
four five years afterwards, the Punaub and Satta
"a. Quite recently the Rajaship of Sumbuhlpore,
and most Of the kingdom of Birmah have been ad-
ded by force to the Indian dominion, Besides these
Indian possessions Great Britain acquired by treaty
from the Chinese, the island of Hong Kong in 1841.
In Africa, since the independence of the United
States, the British wrested Cape Town and its de-
pendent territory from the [ utch in 1895 Since
that time the territory has constantly spread itself
encroaching upon the Caffless, with
whom is constantly carried on
In the Mediterranean, Nelson seized and arpro-
priated Malta, for England, in 1900. In 1914 the
lonian Islands were received under British protec
tiOn Gibraltar having been secured long previously.
1t was in 1888 that the first British settlement was
made in Australia, and in 1915, in New Zealand
These two encroachmentS on land occupied by ma
tves have alone given to Great Britain extent of
territory greater than the whole settled portion of
the United States
On comparing these acquisitions with those of the
United States, it appears that Great Britain has
wrested thousands of square miles of land from their
owners, after victories in war; and by the mere jus
toHioriS, while this country has become peaceabty
dra" a "E4sS 6flrafh" hasA tefle4 vfroB1InF.
ions, has not proporionately increased the number
of free subjects of the crown, while the inhabitants
OF each new acquisition of the United States have
tod he rOhtS
and, finally, that for every square mile OF foreign
territory acquired by the United States since their in
dependence Great Britain has, during the Pc
riod. acquired more than ten.
The Boston Courier, in notice of Mr.. Ketell,
late editor of that paper, whose death has been an,
nounced, says that many of those historical COM
pendiums which came out under the name of Peter
Farley, were in fact the work of Mr.. Kettell. He is
The veritabe Peter Parey.'
A LADY THAT WAS PRESENT AT THE BATTLE OF
Margaret Martin, who is at present
stopping at the residence of her grandson in this
city, is SO years of age. She of the few re.
markabe women of the Revolution, who took part
in the memorable occurrences of the struggle of
American Independence Her husband, Gilbert Mar
tin, was sergeant in the army of Gen. Gates, and
was engaged in the battle of Saratoga Mrs. Mar
tin, then very young woman, on the field du-
RAG both struggles constituting this battle and
minating in the defeat Of the splendid army which
Burgoyne had transported with such immense labor
and expense from Canada, confidently anticipating
that he would be able with ii to divide The army of
the patriot and secure Sir Henry Clinton in the
possession of The southern line Of defense.
Mrs. Martin represents the struggle as most terrific
She says that towards evening, when Burgoynt,
madened by the conScientiOusness that all his spen-
did schemes were about to be defeated, directed his
whole reserve and cavalry force upon the feeble army
OF the patriots, the contestants stood within hall
muske rage of each other, and poured in their dead
ly volleys while whole files either side fell in
their tracks, and still neither gave one inch.
Towards evening, Mr.. Martin wounded in the
shoulder, and while his wife was in the act of affx
ing bandage. she herself was wounded in the hand
"Gilber sprung up like deadly lion, ''Peggy,'
said he, " | will 90 and teach these cowardly dogs
better manners than to shoot at woman, and
saw him no more till the fight over
Of such material were the men and women Of the
Revolution.
We readily imagine that the field of Saratogs
was strange place for The 'soer >eX.' Mrs. Mar
tin however, has evidently BEEN "A woman of uncom
mon energy and character. Her frame still exhbit
evidences of strength, and her eye sparkles as sht
recouns the deeds of that glorious dav, speaks
- that coward Gates, who staid safe and sound al
day iD his tent, and cared not for the men who were
falling like sheaves in the harvest"
One by one, the survivors and landmarks of TIT
revolution aresfading away
Letter froIn Gene raj Cass.
The following letter from this venerable States
man and Patriot will be read with interest by hi
friends and admirers in every quarter of the Union
It will be seen that that old veteran in his country
| Al,