The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-01-15
DEFERRED ARTICLE.
North Wes Coast of america.

hC 4NdhoIdI iiteliSeLCtT CONTAINS lne tOI-
lowing remarks on the late decree Of the en-
peror Of Russia respecting the north west
coast of America.
Z" We deferendaly recommend this piece of
information TO the committee Of Congress.
raised on the motion Of Mr.. Floyd, COR inqul
ring into the exPedency Of occupying tie
mouth of the Columbia River If they do not
besir themselves. the Emperor Of all the Rus
sias will be beforehand with Us; for when be
gets down as low as the 5lst degree of n. lat.
on the western shore, be will be on our Dor.
ders.
The inquiry il the House Of Representa-
lives, into the expense of transporting heavy
ordnance TO the mouth Of the Columbia. has.
we believe, been thought TO be rather prema-
ture. But i appears from the above article,
that it was not so very premature and that,
perchance, there may be occasion 10 use it, TO
defend American citizens, planted on Ameri-
can soil.
The ground taken in The report Of The com
mittee of Congress Of The last year, was, that
de United States had a claim to the sove-
reignty over the territory on the North West
Coast, as far north as the sixticth deg. Of north
latitude.
If this extent, however, be denied to our
right over the soil, it is asserted as indisputa-
bic, that we are the proprietors Of the coast,
from The 4 lst degree, 10 the completion Of the
SD degree of north latitude. Tie Ukase Of
the Emperor of Russia, it appears, denounces
conhscation Of ship and cargo, 10 any foreign
vessel, approaching within hundred miles Of
the 5lst degree of north latitude thus en-
croaching two degrees, and an hundred miles
more, on what has been assumed, by COM
mttee Of the House Of Representatives, Of
which Mr.. Floyd was chairman, TO be the un-
questioned property Of the United States.
We are not apprehenIive, however, that a.
ny thing serious will grow out Of this conflict
of jurisdiction between the Emperor Of Russia
and Mf Floyd. But it is not very violent
presumption to suppose, that this edict of Rus
STA grew out Of the Report above referred to.
made by Mr.. Floyd al the last session Of
Congress. If so, it is denial of the title of
The United States, 10 any part of the North
West Coast, north Of 81 degrees. Il would
appear, further, 10 be decree put forth for
the purpose OF conroverting the claim advan-
ced in that report-since ii cannot be IRE
tended that Russia could sustain any injury,
worth guarding against, by the visit Of half
dozen vessels per year, TO the vast region Of
sea coast, embraced between Behring's
Straits and the 5lst degree of north latitude
an extent of coast, twice as large as that of
The whole coast Of the United States, from the
Bay Of Fundy 10 Cape Florida and an ex-
tent Of sea, half as large as the Atlantic ocean.
The report Of the committee Of the House
Of Representatives Of last session, affords
key to this decree, which, we aPprehend, is to
be found in the following passage Of the re
port Of he committee If Congress
The committee believe, from The usage Of
all nations previous and subsequent to the dis
covery of Ameroica, the title of the United
States, to very large portion Of the coast 81
the Pacific ocean u tie we'll founded nor
have they been able 10 ascertain, that any 9th
er government than Spain, has made claim 10