Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-25

stantiy disappear from before well regulated
trade" "Many political reasons, which it is
not necessary here to enumerate, must present
themselves to the minL OF every man acquaint-
ed with the enlarged system and capacities of
British commerce III support OF the measures
winch have briefly suggested, as promising the
most important advantages 20 the trade OF the
United kingdom.n
For a boundary line between the United
States aud Great Britain, west of the Missis
slppi, Mackenzie proposed the latitude of as
degrees, because that latitude necessary to give
the Columbia river to Great Britain. His words
are: ''Let the line begin where it may on the
Mississippi. it must be continued west, till il
terminates in the Pacific Ocean, TO The South of
the Columbian
Mr.. B. said, ii curious TO observe with
what closeness every suggestion of Mackenzie
had been followed uphy the British government.
He recommendation the Hudson Bay K North
west Company should De united; and they have
been united. lie propcs al to extend the fur trade
OF Canada 10 the shore Of the Pacific Ocean: and
it has been soextended. He opposed that "a chain
of trading posts should be formed through the
continent, from sea to sea- audit has been formed.
He recommended that mo boundary line should
be agreed upon with tito United States, which
did not give the Columbia river to the British;
and the British ministry declare that none other
shall be formed. He proposed TO obtain the
command Of the fur trade from latitude 10 de
grees north; and they have il CIV en- to the Man.
dan Villages, and the, neighbour hood of the
Council Bluffs. He recommended the ex
pulsion of American traders from the whole re-
gion west ofthe Rocky Mountains; and they are
expelled from it. He proposed to command the
commerce of the Pacific Ocean; and it will be
commanded the moment British feet takes
position in the mouth of the Columbia. Be.
sides these specified advantages, Mackenzie
alludes to other "pohticrt considerations, which
1t was not necessary for him to particularize.
Doubtless 1t was not. They were sufficiently
understood. They are the same which in
duced the retention of the Northwestern posts
IN violation of the treaty of 1888; the same
which induced the acquisition of Gibraltar, Nal
ia, the Cape ol Good Hope the Islands ofC evlon
and Madagascar; the same which make Great
Britain covet the possession of every command
ing position in the four quarters of the Globe.
MIR. Is. here adverted to the inconsistency,
on the part of Great Britain, of following the
49th parallel to the summit of the Rocky Noun
tains, and refusing to follow it anv further He
affirmed that the principle which would make
that parallel boundary to the top of the noun
tam, would carry it out To the Pacific Ocean
He proved this assertion by recurring TO the
origin OF that line. Ii grew out of the treat,
OF Utrecht, that treaty which, in 704 put an end
to he wars OfQueen Anne and Louis the lIth.
Add liked the boundaries of their respective do
mnons IN North America The tenth article
OF that treaty was applicable to Louisiana and 70
Canada. Ii provided that commissioners should
be appointed by the two powers to adjust the
boundary between them. The Commissioners
We're appointed, and did fix it. The parallel
OF AZ degrees was fixed upon as the common
boundary from the Lake Ofthe Woods ..inCIef-
TateIy TO The los2t." This boundary was acques-
ced IN Tor an hundred years. BY proposing to
follow 1t to the summit Of the Rocky Mountains.
the British government admits its validity: by
refusing to follow 1t ont, they become obnoxious
TO the charge ofinconsistency and betrav de
termination 10 encroach upon the territory Of
the United States, for the undisguised purpose
OF selfish ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Nlr ). would not argue the title of the Uni
ted Staies to the same country. He would bare
ly stale it, and affirm that it was consecrated by
every requisite which gives validity to the claims
of nations. 1t rested upon
|. Discovery OF due Columbia river by Capt
Gray, in 1890
2. Purchase OF louisiana in 1908
3. Discovery of the Columbia, from its head
to It's mouth, by Lewis Clark, in 1905.
H. Settlement at Astoria in 1911
+ 5. Treaty with SPAN of 1919.
! by these several titles the United States have
Soected mo her own hands all the rights con-
tered b. first discovery and first settlement. re-
lnlorced by all the claims of Franco and SDain
The discovery Of the Columbia, from the sea,
IN 1850, was the act of an American citizen.
Capt Gray, OF Boston, sailing under the FLAG of
Ihe United States, was the first navigator that
ever saw or entered that river. He took posses
sion oft IN the name of his country, bestowed
upon 1t a name which IS Rqtionai in the United
states, winch has been recognised BY allthe pow
ers OF Europe, and which, in itself, constitutes
badge of our ownership. The purchase of
LOUISIANA gave us al! the rights of Spain west
OF the Mississippi. fit is objected, that Louisi-
ana cannot be pushed to the Pacific Ocean. if !
may be answered that she may he pushed at
least as far as Canada can be. The British |
Pu5h heir Canadian title Indefinitely to the west:
Louisiana can go as far. No American states |
man would rest title to the Northwest coast
upon the naked purchase Of LOuisiann; bnt he |
Wonld present 1t as a et-off to any British claim
Rounded upon the protrusion of Canada into the |
valley OF the Columbia. The discoveries of
Lewis and Clark were strictly national. They
were ohcers IN the service Of the United States
Ihey wore ITS commission, bore its flag, march |
ed at the head of its soldiers, and did all their
acts IN the name OF their country. They follow
ed the Columbia from its source to IFS mouth
established friendly relations with numerous In
dian tribes, took formal possession of the whole
country, and bestowed American names, badoes
OF sovereignty upon every considerable stream
and mountain. In 1911, a BODY of American
cItzenS, sixty or eighty in number. crossed the
continent from st. Louis 10 the mouth of the Co
iumbla, met another party which had come round
by sea, ant 'DUnded the establishment of Astoria
by tins act The liic of the United States was
cohsnnn.,ud Possession, without which dis
coyery would confer absolute right, now
ralr toll II.