The New York herald., 1876-02-27
OUR TERRITORIAL HISTORY.

Professor Rossiter W. Raymond lectured last night
In the Cooper Institute the interesting subject OF
the Territorial History OF the United States" As is
usual in the Cooper Union popular series of free lee
for the people, the great hall crowded to the
doors by very intelligent and attentive audience.
The platform was occupied by Mr.. Peter Cooper DR..
Zacus and several others Professor Raymond in
troduced amid great applause by Mr.. Cooper.
The lecturer took his stand al eight O'Clock and with
rod in hand, followed on the map Of our Union the
different territorial acquisitions which been from
time to time added TO the public domain since the
United States became nation, 100 years ago He
sketched the origin Of the names Of the different
States and Territories comprising this Union,
and including immense area situated between the
23d and SD degrees Of north latitude and the eth
and 135th degrees OF west longitude The
traditions OF the mound builders
great antiquity is attributed TO the instruments
utensils found the remains of the Indian tribes
now in the far West The first American settlers mad
little or NO difficulties with the Indians represented by
Algonquns. the lroquois and other powerful native
tribes until they became the allies OF our English
mica Revertng TO the question as TO how 10
acquire the title 10 these lands we must back 10 the
time of the Crusades. Prince Henry Of Portugal and
other European potentates assumed the right Of giving
TO Christian conquerors all the pagan lands that might
be discovered and brought under the influence of Chris
rsnity. Ine qSarreS o. nag Sonn oi p ppo1sugl ana
decision between them, awarded the hons share 70 the
Castiana The English
PoPE's DECISION,
but commenced, by virtue OF their own enterprise to
explore and settle the north coast OF this continent
In carly times II was thought that America
row strip OF land and a part Of India In 1eo6 King
James Of England gave away for settlement all that
great territory included between hs and
fortynrst degrees OF north LATITUDE in 1eos the vir-
gnia Company obtained from England grant OF their
land under the Great Seal and in 1920 the Plymouth
Company We're awarded a similar right After The Yr-
ginia Company had been in existence for eighteen
years the King OF England perceived that he had been
LIBERAL II GRANTING AWAY LANDS;
he revoked all former grants and eompenced TO give
away all the country again The French, on the
northern boundaries Of what was called the Britsh
North American colonies ntruded themselves into The
southern part OF OHIO aud our own Washington, when
quite young man in the service Of England was sent
TO them out Of Pittsburg then Fort Duquesne
The well remembered Louisiana purchase from Napo
leon much TO the satisfaction OF the people Of this
country. brought under the American flag all that
tensve and valuable country running from the mouth
Of the Mississippi away up that river TO the forty.
s Srands nS'h THIS oUs hC nson
only s23 0o0 Amer while the United States bartered
away tho territory Of Texas for the territory Of Florida
but subsequently conquered the one from Mexico and
purchased the other from Spain. The fixing OF our
northern boundary at "a deg 40 min north latitude
next followed by our treaty with Russia In ls2A The
question OF adjusting northern boundary line came
up and in the discussions that followed we claimed,
by Of Pope Alexander Borgas bull granting 10
Spain in 1ll0 all that territory which had
chased nom Spain away up TO the traditional line Of 81
deg 30 min. North latitude Aiterward In ls4s by
acquired California, New Mexico and other exten-
sve territories and thus with Texas rounded on
boundary line toward Mexico.
Amer the United States acquired their independence
the area the country 400 900 square miles, and
the present 600 900 square miles The entire
OF immense territorial acquisitions since the
United States took their position among the nations Is
sSs 900 0ooa figure which, upon the whole, is very
reasonable.