The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-10-21

land and build houses for the purpose OF
trade. al Nooska Sound, part of Oregon
Territory, (unfounded as we shall present.
ly show tina. 10 be,) is an acknowledge
ment of the want Of title to the sover-
eighty to the whole. IF they had tile to
the sovereignty Of the svhole territory,
why was it not disclosed, as il would
have been a sufficient warrant for occu"
plying a par,2 No reason can be assign
cd, except the consciousness that none
hen existed; and yet England has the eff
troniery noae TO assert title BY virtue ofa
discovery prior to that discussion, in point
Of time.
SO the ground upon which the RICH. TO
trade was made, viz, one which admitted
the exclusive right of sovereignty in Spain
to Oregon, is a proof that England, a, that
period, when the facts were all fresh in
mems memories, did no, venture upon g
claim so unfounded; but which they now
sci forth. But no nation or Individual is
allowed thus to blow hot and cold, (as it
is calIed,) or to Sc, ur contradictory claims
From all which j. plainly appears that
'Grea. Britain never had any RICH. to Ore
gon, by discovery prior to tina. of Spain,
under whom We claim
But thirdly, on the 9TH of June. 1890,
the Spanish government published a de-
claralion or manifesto, directed to all Eu-
ropean Courls.setling forth their exclusive
RICH, of sovereignty to Oregon territory,
founded upon their prior discovery. This
manifesto was never conlradicted or de-
MED BY Grea, Britain, either publicly or
privately, that has ever been known or
heard. Hence, it would follow ,hat,even
if England had had righ. of sovereignty
by discovery prior TO those Of the Span
Yards above clted (Which is not abmilted.)
that II has been absolutely and irretrievab-
ly aband ,ned by them (,he Bri,ish) so
far as regards the United States, who are
bona tide purchaser of Oregon. When
claim 10 anything ispublcIy made, ma
ture prompts those who have conflicting
ones to make them known; hence, silence
IS construed into an abandonment of rigl Int
and an acquiesence in the conflicting claim
made public; and wha, is once formally
abandoned can never be revived, especi =
ally 10 the prejudice of bona fde pur-
chaser. Had The claims of England and
Spain been originally equal, the law of
nations, in deciding between England and
the United States, would prefer the latter,
who have been guilty of no latches. to
The former, who have been gully oflatch-
es. 50 that, were it admitted that Eng
land had made the discovery of Oregon
prior to Spain, which is denied, J yet. IN
asmuch as Great Britain admitted The pri
or discovery set forth by Spain in their
manifesto, and no, denied al the time, The
United States, as assignee of Spain, may
now claim sovereignty of that territory
by more perfec. title. The principle
of the law Of nations, upon which this is
founded, will not and cannot be denied
Having thus shown lha, Great Britain
has no ulle to the sovereignty of Oregon
territory, let us examine more particularly
rhat scos advanced by her in regard 10
Nootka Sound.
The British government mig ( have had
a RICH, of sovereignty 10 NnoIka Sound,
N particular, without having any right OF
sovereignty 10 OGgpon territory. iE gene
al; but, had tina, been the case, it would
have been distinctly stated, innsmuch as
that partial light of sovereignty to the
whole territory by Spain, and also. thai
right OF partial sovereignty would have
been greater than the right Of trade and
traffic which was complained of being in
vaded, ard which would therefore have
been merged therein. But Mr. PITTS COM
plains are of the "shipsn having been ia
ken, moi the "and." In calling in cues
ton SPANS exclusive claims" denies
those only Which relate to the "trade.''
"claims (says Mr. pii) VIII CHI are totally
inconsisten, with the "righ,s of inderen,
dent navigalors To lands," which, being
before unapproprialeI, they should make
their own occupancy and labor"
The "righ,s" of ''independen, navga-
tors" Who are "independent naviga
,nrs2" Neither Mr.. Pin nor historian has
condesccnded to inform us. OF " hat are
they independent OF The law ofnalionsi
II that was the minister's meaning,,he idea
might have been suggested to bis mind by
recollsr'ing the claims To be knighted, oI
his counlrymen "Dlake" Independent
johnson says) is ''not supported by any
other"-''not controlled" (Sonth) -"no'
relating to any superior power" Bentley
"Independen' navigalors" must then be
those "gen,lemen of the sea-" who roam
about the world uncontrolled, holding
themselves responsible to no superior
power; the same Who, Blackstone tells
us, are HOSTS hunani generis;" in vul
gar language, 'pirates." Bu. it seems
thai these 'indcpendcnt navagators' have
"righ's..' Indeed The law teaches thai
there is no right without corresponding
| ,l,,,,.. bon,a ,t,,ea ,,,bo L. ,o :,