early and amicable adjustment; and, in this view, I shall be prepared to renew negotiations, whenever Mexico shall be ready to receive propositions, or to make propositions of her own.

I transmit herewith a copy of the correspondence between our envoy to Mexico and the Mexican minister for foreign affairs; and so much of the correspondence between that envoy and the Secretary of State, and between the Secretary of War and the general in command on the Del Norte, as is necessary to a full understanding of the subject.

Washington, May 11, 1846.

JAMES K. POlk.

OREGON TREATY WITH GREAT BRITAIN, 1846

Both the United States and Great Britain laid claim to the large tract of territory west of the Rocky Mountains and north of California to the 54th parallel or farther. The claims of both governments were based on discovery, exploration, and occupation. In 1818 they agreed to occupy jointly the region then known as Oregon for ten years without a determination of each other's rights therein, and this agreement was subsequently extended. The long-standing dispute was partially settled by the subjoined treaty of June 15, 1846, and completely by the treaty of 1871. The present States of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho came through these treaties to the United States; Great Britain received British Columbia. Text in "Revised Statutes Relating to District of Columbia .. 1873-74... together with the public treaties. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1875, pp. 320-322. (See page 117.)

The United States of America and Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, deeming it to be desirable for the future welfare of both countries that the state of doubt and uncertainty which has hitherto prevailed respecting the sovereignty and government of the territory on the northwest coast of America, lying westward of the Rocky or Stony Mountains, should be finally terminated by an amicable compromise of the rights mutually asserted by

(Both the United States and Great Britain laid claim to the whole of Oregon. The American claim was based on the discovery of the Columbia River by Captain Grey in 1792, and on the expedition of Lewis and Clark who (1804-06) explored the country from the Mississippi to the mouth of the Columbia. By this expedition the United States was enabled to connect the claim to Oregon with the purchase of Louisiana. The portrait is from an engraving by S. Hollyer after the painting by Charles Wilson Peale)

the two parties over the said territory, have respectively named Plenipotentiaries to treat and agree concerning the terms of such settlement, that is to say:

The President of the United States of America has, on his part, furnished with full powers James Buchanan,

No.

This certifies that

has paid Twenty Dollars to the AuraICAN SOCIETY FOR ENCOURAGING
THE SETTLEMENT OF THE OREGON TERRITORY, as a pledge for the faith-
ful performance of obligations, to be stipulated and defined by Covenant
between him and the said Society.

N. B. The following are the principal conditions and stipulations of the Covenant, viz that the migrant shall give oath or affirmation to obey and Support all just and equal laws and regulations made and provided for the settlement by the Society, the same not being repugnant to the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America.

That all the common and public property and revenues of the settlement shall be held liable to the payment of all debts that may be incurred on account of sand settlement; and that, in all other respects he shall truly and faithfully demean himself a peaceable and worthy member of the Oregon community.

That the Society shall de tray all expenses of the first expedition from St. Louis, excepting sems, knapsacks, clothing d blankets, which are to be supplyed by the cangrants respectively.

That the Society allow to each emigrant, agreeable to the terms of their first Cicular, a lot of seaport land, or 200 acres of forming land, provided he or his spms continues to occupy it, two years from the time of receiving said lot; the Society will guarantee and maintain his or her right to a free enjoyment of relegious and civil treedom, and an equal participation in all the privilege s and immunities of a member of the Oregon settlement.

BLANK CERTIFICATE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR ENCOURAGING THE SETTLEMENT OF THE OREGON TERRITORY

(From the origina! broadside, 1831, in New York Public Library)

Secretary of State of the United States, and Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland has, on her part, appointed the Right Honorable Richard Pakenham, a member of Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, and Her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States;

(Appointed a member of Captain Lewis's expedition to the mouth of the Columbia River in 1804-06. The success of the expedition was largely due to Clark's knowledge of Indian habits. In 1813-21 he was governor of the Mississippi Territory, and in 182238 Superintendent of Indian Affairs in St. Louis. The portrait is from an engraving by S. Hollyer after the painting by Charles Wilson Peale)