Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-09-19

veDfion with Great Britain IN 1918, il
was agreed that East of the Rocky
Mountains the line should be the 49,t
degree OF latitude, il was also arranged
that the North West Coast, as it is cal
led, any country claimed by either ma
ton, should be for ten years open to
the people and trade of the other with.
cut interference with the claims of the
high contendlng parties.
In 1923, negotiations were opened,
and the question of title to the mouth
! OF the Columbia River began to DO con-
sidered important in regard to CONNER
cal relations with Great Britain. Al
this time Mr.. Rush was instructed by
MIR. Adams, as Secretary Of State, TO
urge the settlement of the point, the
5lst degree being designated as the
line west of the Rocky Mountains, but
with the understanding that should
Great Britain insist, he 10th degree
should be adopted to the Pacific Ocean,
as it already was the boundary to the
eastward. In answer TO Mr.. Rs.
proposition, the Government Of Great
Britain assumed the right to make set
Elements ON all unoccupied coasts in
America. In the Convention OF 1927,
which followed, the relations under
that of 1918 were continued, with the
understanding that either party might
abrogate on giving twelve months no.
tce. Ii is on this Convention that the
existing relations on the subject Of the
North West coast, between Great Bri-
tain and America, are based. The
Committee urge that if discovery be
alleged as the basis of the British
claims, the right of Spain is incontesii-
BILE, which right has been ceded TO the
United States. On the ground of dis
covery, Great Britain has, in the opn-
ion of the Committee, no right: they
therefore proceed to examine the title
Of the United States with regard TO the
same foundation. So far as the Uni
ted States are concerned, no actual in
vestiga,ion appears to have taken place
but in 1892, Captain Gray Of the
ship Columbia of Boston, discovered,
for the first time, the mouth of IA river
which he named the Columbia, and az
ter having ascertained the latitude,
bearing of headlands, &c. returned to
the United States and announced his
discovery. Such was the discovery oil
the Columbia from the sea. In 1903,
an exploring expedition was fitted out
by our Government to proceed by way
of the Rocky Mountains to the mouth
Of the Columbia River. the eminent sue
cess attending which was well known.
This expedition is deemed of impor-
lance to the American title, as II was
notice to the world ofour claim follow
ed up by possession in accordance
with the British doctrine. The extent
Of tho Territory SO acquired is regula-
ted by established principles in the law
of nations, the first Of which gives the
rivers and their tributaries TO those oil
civilized nations who have discovered
their mouths, and the second gives Ii
tie half way to the settlement OF the
nearest civilized power. Either oil
these principles will carry our line as
far as 40 degrees.
The possession OF the mouth Of the
Columbia is considered as of vast inn
portance in commercial point OF view,
as it would secure an immense inr
trade and would open direct com.
merce with California, China, Japan,
and the Sandwich and Oriental Islands
generally. The Importance of this
settlement is strikingly illustrated by
the fact, that tho United States have
SI2, 900, 900 worth ofproperty ahoat on
the Pacific connected with the whale
fisheries, by which 5000 seamen are
supported, and that it is necessary TO
have some port at which the vessels
may reft after long voyages.
The report proceeds TO quote from
the statements made by Mr.. Slacum
and other intelligent travellers, show
ing the great resources of the country,
and the variety of ways in which its
possession would be Of value TO US, but
we must decline proceeding further
with matters which, however interes--
ting on the score Of information, are
too extended in their character to war
rant US at present in dcvoting to them
as much of our columns as they would
require. There are many things con-
tanned in the sequel of this valuable re-
port well worthy of particular notice,
and we shall endeavor to present them
in such dress as may render them ac-
ceptable,