Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-06-19

then to explore the coasts southwark to California,
looking for places convenient for the reception Of
Spanish colonies. : The commanders, on their return,
reported that the Russians had eight settlements on
tie coast, containing altogether 252 Russian subjects,
all west Of Prince Williams Sound, and that they
were informed that two vessels had been sent that
summer from Kodiak TO form an establishment at
Nootka Sound. The yiceroy t~hereupon despatched
vessels early in 1859. with orders, in case any Rus.
sian OF British Vessel should appear at Nootka, 20 re-
ceiye her ciyily. but to declare the paramount rights
of the crown of Spain. Up to this period, May, l7S9,
no settlement or establishment whatever had been at
tempted, for the alleged settlement of Meares at Moot
ka must be regarded as a mere ~pretence, and no CIV
ilized nation had exercised any jurisdiction in any
part Of the west coasts of the New World between
San Francisco and Prince Williams Sound.
Arriving at Nootka, the Spanish commanders land
ed materials and built a fort; and afterwards seized
two British vessels, which were engaged in the trade
of the coasts For this proceeding the British gov
eminent demanded reparatlon a warm dispute arose
between the two governments, that had well nigh
ended in war but finally, under the mediation of
France, it was brought TO a close by a convention,
commonly called the Nootka treaty, or the convention
of the Escurial which, as it is importsnt in this con-
%trovetsy, we shall give entire In the course Of this
article.
The Spaniards also forced another settlement on
the south side of the Strait of Fuca and they conf
tinued at Nootka, with some interhnissiOns, until
about 1875, when they left it, for no other reason, so
far as it is known, than that it was useless and exs
pensive. Since then they have had no settlements
north Of San Francisco.
The first settlement of any kind made by British
subjects west of the Rocky mountains was in 1906,
by Simon Fraser, who formed a trading establishment
at a small lake, in the oath PARALLEL of latitude. Neie
ther he nor any other British subject saw any Of the
waters of the Oregon until five years afterwards, and
after Astoria had been founded in the Oregon country
itself by American citizens. Before 1910, Mr.. Hen.
ry, an agent of the Missouri Fur company, had es-
~tablished a trading post on a branch of the eYi
river, one of the tributaries Of the Oregon, The hos-
tilty of the Indians, and the want Of provisions, led
to lie abandonment, however, in that year. In the
same year, Captain Smith, Of the ship Albatross, OF
Boston, attempted a settlement on the Oregon, about
forty miles from Its mouth. He built a house, ana
planted a garden; but the site not being good, he left
it before the close of the year. Meantime Mr.. As
tors expedition had been fitted out, and in March,
1911, Astoria was founded at the mouth of the Ore
gon. During the war il was captured by the British,
but was restored in October, 1918, in pursuance of
the stipulations of the treaty Of peace. :.
From that time to the present, the two governments,
with few internissions. have been engaged In uegoti-
atiohs about the title to the country. And it was
agreed between them, first in 1918, and afterwards. in
1897, IT might be temporarily occupied by the people
of both NATIONS, without, however, impairing in any
way the title of either.* So that none of the discoy-
cries or settlements, of either America or England,
since that time, can, In any manner, affect the title.
So far, then, as occupancy is concerned, it appears
scarcely disputable that the first settlements were by
Spain, the second by America, and the last by Eng
land and that the rights derived from occupancy are
held in the same order.
The rights we have been hitherto considering, are
those which are derived from discoveries and settle
ments, on the Pacific coasts or overland, from the
eastern side of the mountains. But there are certain
other rights which must not be overlooked the rights
derived from discoveries and settlements on the Attain
tic coasts.
On the first colonization of the New World, the
discovery and settlement of the Atlantic border were
claimed to give a title across the continent. The en-
J larged charter to the first colony of Virginia, for ex-
ample. granted the country extending along the sea
; coast four hundred miles, and into the land through
out from sea to sea.
De Soto, a Spaniard, was the discoverer Of the Mis-
sissippi but the French from Canada first explored
Its northern branches, established posts and colonies
on their banks, and advancing down the river, finally
got possession of the whole valley. Up to the peace
of 1853, France claimed and possessed the countries
watered by the St. Lawrence and the Mistissippi, and
their dependencies, under the names of New France
and Louisiana and by the treaty then made, Cana
da was ceded to Great Britain, and the Mississippi
adopted as the boundary of their respective territories
on the south.
THE conventions between the two count les are as fol-
lows;
Convention of October 20, 1918.
Arr. 8. 1t is agreed that any country that may be
claimed by either, party on the northwest coast of Amer
lea, WESTWARD OF the stony mountains, shall, together
with Its harbors, bays and creeks, and the navigation OF
all rivers within the same, be free and open for the term
1 of ten years from the date Of the signature of the present
convention, to the vessels, citizens, and subjects of the
two powers II being well understood that this agreemen,
is not to be construed to the prejudice of any claim which
either of the two high contracting parties may have to
any part of the said country the only object of the high
contracting parties, in that respect, being to prevent dis.
putes and differences among themselves.
Cooperation Of august 6, 1927.
5 ART. i. All the provisions of the third article Of the
a convention concluded between the United States OF
America and his Majesty the King of the United King.
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, on the 10Th Of Octo.
Der, 1878, shall be, ard they are hereby, further indef-
z nitely extended and continued in force, in the same man.
I pr as if all the provisions of The said article were herein
4 specifically recited. .s...
/ Arr, 2. IL, shall be competent, however, to either OF
the contracting parties, in case either should think ft, at
q any time after the Goth Of October, 1923, on giving due
notice of twelve months to the other contracting party. 10
annul and abrogate this convention and it shall, in such
case, be accordingly entirely annulled and abrogsted, af-
ter the expiration of the said term OF notice.
ART. 3. Nothing contained IN this convention, or in
5 the third article of the convention of the 10Th October,
1918, hereby continued in force, shall be construed to i'm,
e pair, or in any manner affect, the claims which either Of
the contracting parties may have to any part of the co.n-
try westward of the Stony or Rocky lnlountEins.
lTo BE CONTINUED
Small POx.
The Small Pox is said to prevail to a limited extent
in Tippecanoe, Jennings and Jefferson counties, in