Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-02-03

both sides. We condense the following statement |
OF the merits of the case from MIR. Calhouns
speech
1. Priority Of discovery by Captain Grey of Bos-
ton in 1883, of the mouth OF the COlunbla.-
From this follows the right TO such country, |
watercd by river TO its sources. This discovery
was explored more fully 10y Lewis and Clarke
g. The cession by Spain of all her rights OF terri
tory north ofihc AID parallel Ct latitude.
q The French claim 10 which the United States
succeeded.
On the other hand Grea, Britain sets up her title
TO the same territory on the following grounds:
/. Priority OF discovery by Mears sailing under
Vancouver.
9. That Spain in 1890 yielded to Great Britain
free access aud settlement to this country with
her own subjects
g. The cession to Spain 10y France, in l763, OF all
her rights.
As shutters sand, therefore, the United States
assert IA complete and pDrltcI title to the Oregon
Territory Great Britain claims only The right OF
udmilnuce or her subjects, Tor all the purposes OF
trade, setlement &c. Various efforts have been
made to settle this conflict OF titles. As com
promise, our Government offered to fix the paral-
lei of 40 degrees limit between It's on that
cousl that OF Great Britain to claim nothing south
of the mouth of The Columbia River in latitude
46 degrees. These efforts failed, neither party
accepting the propositions made.
A fresh negotiation was opened in ISl7. Then
! it was agreed that the respective claims OF each
county should remnin for ten years, each having
! the common enjoyment OF IL Tor trading, hunlinS
! or settlement for those purposes.
In 1927 another attempt was inrde to dispose
! of this question Il failed, The two Govern
J menls returned TO the understanding Of 1917 and
agreed To yield 10 each other pJrtiUa in common
! with liberty TO renUuncc the arrangement oil eth
Tier side upon years notice.
l Ii thus appears that Great Britain makes no
claim to the right Of coon2iug, and that we, by
the convention, have prohibited ourselves from Ia
! king exclusive possession or jurisdiction.
Nowthe bill before the SeuUe violates the treaty
OF lo27. IL cOniers upon our citizens fixed pos
session in grants OF land. 1t does 10, coulter II II
once, hat il binds the government to do it. II i
III reality taking possession OF the country.
=. sovereign power could not make an net mor
complete III this respect, the Only limit IN tie b
being the alleged extent OF our territory, 50 tina
il excludes Great Britain from the whole now i
dispute. On the other other hand that Govern
r meut had been more cautious. The act of Pan
Lament is not to take possession of the countr.
grant its SOIL but TO extend to tue British sui
g iecls the protection OF the British law.
q We should pursue a Juscr course. Whethe
+ the treaty was wisely or unwlsely made, we Ell
- tered into it and are bound 10y it. We must Civ
e the years notice before we can grant land in,
lake possession Of the Oregon territory. But
g surer policy still remains II we rush into col
test with Great Britain, as we must do, should "
Il viollle our treaty with her, and forfeit our ia
when she has maintained hers, we eudangcr eve
:. thing on that distant coast. Her resources in
e STA nre great. She could concentrate them in ii
q Pacific far sooner than we, aud ia such force
1t to put us at defiance. But it, not yielding o.
e rights, maintain peace aud leave 1t to time, al
d the rapid march Of our settlements We may Q
d sure the peaceful, bu; certain enforcement OF o
N rights Let this matter, said Mr.. Calhoun, ha
n its own na,ursI course, and, lay and 10y, you ma
D. easily pucks ripe peach gather VIII
g. thus 1t would be hardly possible TO tear away.