The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-05-23

between the two countries, it is important that
the questions at issue should be thoroughly I'M
derstood by our people. The feelings and dc
tntcs of common humanity are rrpugnant to war
under almos, any mountaineering good men
doubt whether it can ever he ius,iiic,l-and low
indctd-lowcr than the cormon murdcrcr-musl
he have sunk who would urge his country to Gu
gage in a war that is clearly unjust, or which he
does not even know to be clearly right
Below we give an extract from an article in
the New York Spectator, beaded "lhe Truth
about Oregon" which claims to be an impartial
statement as to the title of both countries to the
territory in dispute. The article at least does full
Justice 10 England. I, will be seen that the On.
Iy claim that country insists on is derived under
the Treaty OF Escuriel," as it is called, and from
the article below, without further explanation,
there would seem to be some show of Justice in
that claim. But this is dissipacd by few facts.
The treaty Of Escuriel, or Nootka.sound treaty,
was concluded between Spain and England in
100, England obtaining under it a mere right of
/ occupancy in common with Spain for hunting, fish
ing, and trading with the Indians. In 1856 war
was declared between England and Spain. which
put an end 10 all treaties existing between the
two countries and although peace was again re-
stored, and treaty Of commerce concluded be.
tween Spain and England the Nootka-sound
treaty, or treaty Of Escuriel, was never renewed.
The English claim therefore at an end, and the
L. 5. buying out Spain in 1919, left the whole ii.
tic, clear and unencumbercd, in US.
Great Britain does not claim by virtue
of priority in discovery. though some
show Of stress has been laid upon certain
alleged voyages and proceedings Of the
freebooter, Sir Francis Drake. in 1879.
That INSCRIPTIONS gentleman did certain
ly land upon the Western coast Of North
America, ana go through certain ceremo-
MES called "acts of taking possession"
but although it has been asserted that the
place where he did this was in latitude
As or thereabout, the better opinion is
that latitude 80 was the northern limi. Of
his voyagng. The claim founded upon
Brakes supposed landing Is therefore
virtually abandoned, and G. Britain relies
upon another title.
This is derived from Spain. The coast
was visited, it is alleged, in 1912, by a
Spanish expedition, which proceeded as
far north as latitude "A ; by another Span.
ish expedition in 1852, gong as far north
as 81; again, by another Spanish navi-
gator in 1892, and yet by another in 1916
the last reaching as high rs SIS, and the
one preceding AZ. Under the visits, and
the accompanying acts Of possession,
Spain claimed the territory-untl 1890,
when she entered into convention with
Great Britain, called the "conven,ion Of
the EscuTia!," by which Spain surren-
dered the eTcluSiUe right derived from
prior discovery, and conceded to Great
Britain an equal and concurrent right, to
be made available only by actual occupa,
ton and settlement. !, is this equal and
concurrent right which Great Britain now
claims, and no other. 1t will be observ-
ed. however, that the equality and con-
currence are only with Spain; as against
all other nations Great Britain alleges that
her rights are exclusive.
But in 1919 Spain, by treaty called
the "treaty Of Florida" ceded to the
United States all her right and title to the
territory North Of the AID parallel. Since
The date of that treaty, therefore, the Uni
/ tod Stotnc bnva ctn,l - -, a.
shoes of Spain, holding that same equal
and concurren, right with Great Britain
which was established by the convention
Of the Escurial. Spain, then, is now out
of the case. as all other nations were be-
fore and the title lies between the Uni
ted States and Great Britain, subject, of
course, to the provision in the convention
of the Escurial, that il is to be made avail
able only by actual occupation and settle
ment; for Spain, by the terms of that,
convention, had OF course no right or
power to give more complete and exclu-
sive title.
But besides this concurrent claim, de-
rived from Spain. the United States put
forward an erc'uSire claim, on several
grounds; principal among which arc dis
covery by Captain Gray, in 1899, who
entered and sailed some distance up the
Oregon or Columbia river; exploration
by Lewis & Clark; priority ofse,,lemcnt
by American citizens; and the RICH, de-
rived from conliguily. or perhaps we
should rather say continuity, Of posses
sion. They also rely upon the surren-
der Of Astoria, by the British Govern
ment. in the treaty Of Client, 1914, that
settlement having been captured by a
British force in 1918, which surrender is
alleged to be virtual acknowledgment,
of The American claim. inasmuch as il was