The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1845-12-09

all duultiou oi Small detacned territory
north of The Columbia. Each Of these
propositions had been rejected by the
parties respectively.
In October, 1S43, the Envoy Extra
ordinary and Minister PlenOpolenliary~
Of the United States in London was au-
thorized TO make similar offer to thoss
in 1918 and 1925. Thus stood the
question, when The negotiation was
shortly afterwards transferred TO WASH
| ington; and on The ihirly-Ihird of August,
! 1874, was formally opened. under the
direction Of my immediate predecessor.
Like all the previous negotiations, il
was based upon principles Of "coRpro-
mise" and the ayowed purpose Of the
4 parties was, "to treat OF The respective
| claims of the two countries TO the Ore
gon territory, with the view TO establish
a permanent boundary between them
westward Of the Rocky mountains to the
Pacific ocean," Accordingly, on the
twenty sixth Of August, 1914. the Brit
:sh plenipotenliary offered to divide the
Oregon territory by the forty-ninth par
alel Of north latitude, from she Rocky
mountains to the point Of its intersection
with the neriheaslernmosi branch Of the
/ Columbia river, and thence down that
river to the sea; leaving the free naviga-
tion of the river to be enjoyed in COM
mon by both parties-Ihe country south
of this line 10 belong to the United
States, and that north of it to Great Bri-
tain. Al the same time. he proposed in
addition, TO yield TO the United States a
detached territory, north Of the Colum-
bia. extending to the Pacific & the Straits
Of Fuca, from Bulfnch's harbor incIu-
sive. 10 Hoods canal, and 10 make free
to the United States any port or ports
south Of latitude foriy-nine degrees,
which they might desire, either on the
main land, or on Quadra and Vsncou-
ver's island. With the exception Of the
| free ports, this was the same offer which
/ had bsen made by the British, and reiec-
ted by The American government in the
negotiation of 1926. This proposition
was properly rejected By the American
plenipotentiary on the dav 1t was sub
milled. This was the only proposition
of compromise offered by the British
pIenipolcntiery. The proposition on tho
part Of Great Britain having been reject
ed, the British plenpotenliary requested
that proposal should be made by the u
nited States for ian equitable adjustment
Of the question.
When came into office, found this
to be state of the negotiation. Though
entertaining the settled conviction. that
the British prctensions Of silIe could not
be maintained 10 any portion of the Or
egon territory upon any principle of pub
lie law recognized by nations, yet in de-
ference to what had been done by my
predecessors, and especially in consider
alton that propositions of compromise
had been thrice made by two proceeding
administrations, TO adjust The question
on the parallel Of foriy-nine degrees,
and in two of them yielding TO Great
Britain the free navigation of the Co
lumba, and that the pending negotiation
had been commenced on the basis Of
compromise, deemed il 10 be my duty
not abruptly 10 break it off. In cOnsid-
Grafton, too, that under the conventions
of 1918 and 1927, the citizens of sub
iects of the two Powers. held joint oc-
cupancy OF thescountry, was induced
to make another effort to settle this long
pending controversy in the spirit Of mod
Grafton which had given birth TO the re-
newed discussion. A proposition was
accordingly made, which was rejected by
the British plenipOlentiary, who, without
submitting any other proposition, suffer
ed the negotiation on his part TO drop.ex-
pressing his trust that the United States
would offer what he saw fit to call''some
further propose! for the settlement OF the
Oregon question, more consistent with
fairness and equity, and with the rea-
sonabie expectations Of the British gov
ernmenl." The proposition thus offer
ed and rejected repeated the offer Of the
the parallel Of forty-nine degrees Of north
latitude, which had been made by two
preceding administrations. but without
proposing TO surrender TO Grea! Britain,
as they had done, the free navigation Of
the Columbia river. The right Of any
foreign Power, to the free navigation of
any of our rivers, through the heart of
our country, was one which was unwil-
ling 10 concede. Il also embraced pro-
vision to make free to Great Britain
any port or ports on the cape Of Qnadra
and Vancouver island, south OF this par
sIIel. Had this beer new question,
under discussion for the first time, this
prooosition would not have been made.
The extraordinary and wholly nadmis.
sble demands of the British government.
and the rejection Of the proposition made
in detereuce alone to what had been done
by my predecaesors, and the implied OBJ
! legation which their acts seemed 10 I'M
pose, afford satisfactory evidence that no
compromise which the United StaieSs
ought TO accept, can be effected. y nB