Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-10-27
BY PETER A. BROWNE, l. l. D., Of PhlIa'
dolphin.
"Ducit amor patriG."


"Dacit amor patriG,"
The subject OF the present essay is Of
the utmost Importance to every Amer.
ican, native or nalursIized, who retains
within his breast one spark of national
feeling, or one remaining sSperalon tor
the glory or welfare OF this republic, -
Our best hopes OF present public pros
perlty, and our most devont expectations
oil future public renown, are intimately
connected with one word-'OREGoN:> !
and the American citizan who would
refuse TO listen To the voice Of lrulh IN
regard to the momeniOUs national ques
lions connected with that Territory,
must be either too supne to be a good
or valuable member Of this community,
or too subserVIent 10 the inordnale am
btion and avarice Of a rival nation, who
would rob our children OF a noble inhe
ritance. For the.present exposition and
discussion is, therefore, claimed de-.
gree oil attention much greater than lis
author has right, personally, 10 expect,
but which cannot exceed that which the
subject mperioesIy demands. As here
\ is much TO say,lpo further time will be
expended in predatory remarks, but an
immediate entry upon the discussion
will be made.
Has The United States title TO the soy
ereignty Of Oregon Territory?
According to established maxims OI
the laws of nations, there are three ma
thods in which nation may acquire the
sovereignty Of country. lat BY ria.
covery Cd, By cesslon Of the righ!lu
owner. 81. By conquest.
A brief explanation Of the first tirI'
may be useful. Under this title tn
sovereignty OF all the vast regions o
North and South America. az well as o
the West India Islands, was original,
acquired; and under this title is it nov
held medialeIy or immediately, Upor
the Justice Of a Christian peonle lnvad
ing the Territories Of bar5arous nation
and hrusling them from the soil upo
which the great God OF the universe hs
planted them. not one word viii be sal
not one word can be said except lhf
il appears 10 be law OF nature, thu
CirHized man shall gradually succeed
the uaclvized. Its too late TO discus
the question between the European AT
the Indian with views OF retrhutloI
and certain it is, that neither Eng Ian
France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Swt
deu, nor Denmark, can object to tt
sovereignty thus acquired, since lho
have all severally, more or less, part
cpated in the practice and enjoyed Il
profits
To her POSSESSIONS in Canada, Ems
land can produce no better tile lhan h
first discovery. and that Of the Frenc
under whom she claims To the il
mense regions in South America Spa
never had any other title. Porug
holds the BrozIs IVY he same tenur
With what Justice then could it he r.
ouired of the United States to prodU
any Other title than her own prior d
coverv and those Of the nations und
whom ahe claims! No other ulIc ev
did exist in them, nor ever can
shown
But what is meant by prior disco,
rg?' Il. a mere view Of the land frC
distance? l. if the first sight, folio
ed up by landing upon the soiI2
it the first sight Of it, landing upon I
soil and taking formal possession?
is it The frs, sight of the land, follow
up by landing and taking posses'r
and subsequent settlement Of the sau
within reasonable lime, under all
circumstances of the casef
1t is proposed TO show, and will
shown, that the nation with whom
are al present conlending for the rig
Of sovereignty to Oregon Territory h
at different limes, claimed and ma
tanned sovereignty under every one
these definitions oCprlor discovery
that the United States can show title
tho sovereignty of Oregon Terril,
under Them ALL
L., US h,gin with the case Of
Falkland Islands In 1892, Capt Da
who had been sent ouI with CagendI
in his last voyage, was driven by sto
towards the Straits Of Magellan, VIII
he, accidentally SGiD some of these
lands from the deck of his ship
left them, without observation, or g
giving them a name.
10 1893 A, SirRichard Hawkins I
y ono Of these lsIaDds, took il for