FEDERAL RELATIONS OF OREGON

45

Late in August, however, Calhoun could inform the British him about started For the first time the and again. negotiation Oregon since the conversations of 1826-7 the matter was taken up with the intention on both sides to bring about a decisive settlement; both governments wished the question closed, the

minister that he had the leisure to consult with

more

campaign of 1844, then in progress, held of difficulties in the future. increased The conpossibilities tinued agitation in Congress for the past years impressed the British government with the idea that the sooner the settlement so because the

came the better it would be, while the American Administrawas anxious to smooth the ways for the Texas program

tion

in the next session of Congress.

Neither President nor Sec-

retary of State was willing to let Oregon stand in the path of Texas, and both thought that an amicable settlement with

Great Britain would serve to remove certain obstacles which

might be placed in the way of expansion to the southwest, especially if it should be connected with California. After the customary preliminaries Pakenham presented a statement of the claims upon which the British title was based and then made the offer which had been submitted in 1824 and modified in 1826; i. e., the Columbia with a detached region between the River and the Sound for the United States. To this old offer Pakenham added that of any port desired by the United States on the mainland or on Vancouver's Island south of 49. 21 This was declined by Calhoun who an review elaborate of the American claim. Pakenpresented ham answered this with a counter-reply setting forth the British claim and inviting Calhoun to suggest an arrangement acceptable to the United States. In response Calhoun

government could not consent to the view that Great Britain possessed and exercised rights of joint occupancy of which she could be divested only by an equitable partition said that his

disputed territory, a premise which Pakenham's counterreply contained therefore he must decline to make a counter-

of

the.

27 Unless otherwise noted the correspondence Cong, ist Ses.

is in

Ho. Ex. Doc. No.

2,

apth