Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-11-11


York. would seem 10 preclude the necessity
of present discussion.
When Mr.. Fitzherbert arrived at Madrid,
and The Spanards insisted upon their right to
Noo,ka Sound, as part Of Oregon, which they
had irst discovered and taken possession of,
he reiterated the sophislry Of Mr.. Pitt. What
ever is common, (said this Ambassador be-
longs to the first occupier.'" The Spaniards
answered, that was once common, ceased to
be SO, and became exclusive property by prior
discovery and taking of possession. Every
nation, (said the Ambassador has right to
appropriate whatever it can acquire, without
,respassing upon the previous appropriations
of Others Ergo, the British had right to
seize upon Noo,ka Soupd, which had been
previously appropriated! This was the diPlo-
rne,ic logic. 1t is marvellous how such con-
clusion could ever have been allowed; but the
English historian, Bisseit, explains it. "This
Language, Che says Of British justice de-
manding what British power could SO easily
enforce from any aggressor that dared to pro
woke its vengeance, was as well 1t might be)
considered naughty and menacing" by the
Spaniards. Great Britain had 1853 ships of
the line, with which Spain was unable TO con-
tend, and France, TO whom she applied, was
unable TO afford her any assistance. Thus the
Spauiards were defrauded and robbed of their
rights. And (says the historihn) other pow.
ers were taught that British subjects (even
when acting as lrepassels) were not 10 be mo-
Tested with impuGity.'
From all which it Is obvious that Great
Britain never had any title to the sovereignty
of Oregon by right Of prior discovery. That
she never had any cession from the Spaniards
will be equally apparen. 10 any unprejudiced
person who will examine the subject. All
that she demanded of Spain was "a right OF
traffic and ,rade;' and that she obtained no
more, is proved not only by the words of the
cession itself, (Which appears to have been
very. carefully drawn, with the view Of exclu.
,herefrom all subsequent inference that right
Of sovereignty was therein contained,) but al
go, from the acknowledgment of Mr.. Fox, in
the British Parliament, when this Treaty of
Cession wus under consideration. tina, nothing
hadbee acquired. and the congratulatory vote
of the House Of Commons, that ian adequate
repara,ion had been provided for the violence
which was committed at Nootka. and the Sc.
curity to his majesiy's subjects of the exer-
else Of their navigation, commerce and fisher
los, in those parts OF the world, which were
the subjects Of discussion
But, fourthly. The United States has
title to Oregon Territory by virtue of her own
discoveries and settlement.
IL is q we'll known principle Of the Law of
Nations, in regard to discovery, that the nation
who discovers the mouth Of river is entitled
TO the sovereignty 10 all the land which is
wa,ered by such river, its tributaries and head
waters.
In 1854, Mr.. De La Lalle. Frenchman,
navga,ed the Mississippi river from Canada
10 its mouth. In virtue whereof, France claim
cd the sovereignty Of Louisiana. on both sides
of the river, from the Gulf Of Mexico TO the
40 deg, Of latitude, Aud this title OF France
was acknowledged by Grea! Britain, in the
Treaty Of Utrecht, Of 1918, and of Versailles,
10 1863.
In 1892. Captain Gray, Of the American
ship Columbia discovered the Columbia ris,
or, which no named after his ship. He landed
held an intercourse with the natives. who had
never before seen white man or a ship.
In 1904, Lewis and Clarke, in the employ
of the United States, assembled the Missouri,
passed the Rocky Mountains--.up TO that time
unex pored by white man. discovered and
explored tho head waters Of the Columbia
Riyer.-.and followed that River down TO its
mouth; where they passed the winter Of ls0l-5.
In 1908, the American Missouri Fur Com
pany established several trading posts. one on
The River Lewis, branch Of tho Columbia.
In 1911. Astoria was founded, at the mouth
Of the Columbia River, by Mr.. John Jacob
Astor, Of New York.
In December, 1919. Astoria was captured
by the British sloop-of.war. Raccoon, Captain
Blake.
By the Treaty Of Client, il was agreed that
all Territories. &c. taken by either party from
she other, during the war. should be restored
wi,hou, delay. Astoria was restored the 9th
OF October, 1918.
BY virtue Of the above mentioned discovery,
settlement, aud restoration, the United States.
without the aid Of any other titles. have right
TO the sovereignty and soil Of Oregon Terrific
~.
Great Britain pre,ends to say that Alexan-
der Mckinsey, one of their subjects, discover.
ed north branch of the Columbia River prior
10 our discoveries; but Mckinsey himself has
said tina, his discovery was in May, 1898,
whereas tina, Of Captain Gray was in 1899; and
il any impartial person will read Mckinsey's
account, he will be convinced that the river he
saw was no, n head water Of the Columbia.
See Report Of Committee on Military Affairs,
made 10 YIN congress, lhe miro SESSION. NO.
3l,p.l71 They also contend tha, Mr.. Thomp-
son, Astronomer. of the Northwest Fur Com
pany. established posts among the Flatheads
and kootanie Tribes of Indians. on the head
waters or main branch ofthe Columbia, IN the
same aud subsequent years, assthe discovery
of Lewis and Clarke. Bu, when the evidence
upon this point is examined. it turns out that
Lewis aud Clarke reached the Pacific Ocean,
after exploring the Columbia River, on the
18Th November, 1904, and tina, the earliest