The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-11

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government OF the United States, thought proper TO
protest agsinet our title, these were, ia effect, but
mere mental reservations, which could not affect the
validity of their solemn and unconditional act
/ OF restoration.
But the British plenipoentiary notwithstanding
! the American discovery OF the Columbia by Capt.
Gray, and the exploration by Lewis and Clarke OF
several Of lis branches, from their sources in the
! Rocky mountains, as well as lis main channel 10
the ocean, contends that because Thompson q
BRUSH subject IN the employment of the North
west Company, was the first who navigated the
northern branch OF that river, the British govern
ment thereby acquired certain rights against the
United States the extent of which he does not UNI
dertake TO specify. In other words, that after one
nation had discovered and explored great river,
and several tributaries, and made settlements on Its
banks, another nation, if il could find a single
branch on its head waters which had not been ac-
tually explored, might appropriate to itself this
branch, together with the adjacent territory: III
this could have been done, it would have produced
/ perpetual strife and collision among the nations a.
| ter the discovery Of America II would have vlo-
lated the wise principle consecrated by the practice
of nations, which gives the valley drained by river
and its branches to the nation which had hrst dis
covered and appropriated lis mouth
But, for another reason, this alleged discovery OF
Thompson has no merits whatever. His journey
was undertaken on behalf Of the Northwest Com
pany for the purpose of anticipating the United
States in the occupation Of the mouth of the Column
bia-a territory to which no nation, unless 1t may
have been Spain, could, with any show Of justice,
dispute their right. They had acquired it by dis
covery and by exploration, and were now IN the act
dertaken for such purpose that Thompson, In has
tening from Canada to the mouth Of the Columbia,
descended the north, arbitrarily assumed by Great
| Britain to be the MAN, branch of this river. The
period far too late to impair the title OF either
| Spain or the United States by any such proceeding
L Mr. HkN,a xaaa acN ntn mai
by aparty from Astoria, under Mr.. David Stuart,
who established post at the confluence oft Okn-
agan with the north branch of the Columbia, about
six hundred miles above the mouth of the latter.
| In the next year 16l2) second trading post was
| established by party from Astoria, on the Spokan,
| about six hundred and fifty miles from the ocean.
II thus appears that, previous to the capture Of
Astoria by the British, the Americans had extended
their possessions up the Columbia six hundred and
fifty miles The mere intrusion Of the Northwest
Company into this territory, and the establishment
of two three trading posts, in 1911 and 1912, on
the head waters of the river, surely not Interfere
with, or impair the Spanish American title. What
| this company may have done in the intermediate
period until the 10Th October l6lS-he date of the
first treaty Of joint occupaton--s unknown to the
undersigned, from the imPeneirabe mystery in
which they have yelled their proceedings. After
the date Of this treaty. neither Great Britain the
United States could have performed any act affect
ing their claims to the disputed territory.
To sum up the whole, then, Great Britain cannot
rest her claims to the northwest coast of America
upon discovery. As little will her single claim by
settlement at Nootka Sound avail her. Even Bel
sham, her own historian forty years ago, declared
it to be certain from the most authentic information
shat the Spanish flag flying at Nootka was never
struck, and that the territory has been virtually re-
linquished by Great Britain"
| The agents of the Northwest Company, pene-
trating the continent from Canada, in 1906, estab-
lished their first trading post west Of the Rocky
mountains, at Frazers lake, in the Saith degree Of
latitude; and this, with the trading posts establish
| ed by Thompson-to which the undersigned has
just advered-and possibly some others after
wards, previous to October, 1918, constitutes the
claim of Great Britain by actual settlement.
Upon the whole: From the most careful and ample
examination which the undersigned has been able
to bestow upon the subject, he is satisfied that the
Spanish-American title, now held by the United
States, embracing the whole territory between the
parallels of AZ deg. and 54 deg. 40 mn is the best
title in existence TO this entire region; and that the
claim of Great Britain to any portion Of it has no
sufficient foundation Even British geographers
have not doubted our title to the territory in dis
pute. There is a large and splendid globe now
in the Department of State, recently received from
London, and published by Malby and Company,
manufacturers and publishers to the Society for the
Diffusion Of Useful knowledge, J" which assigns this
| territory to the United States.
Notwithstanding such was and still is the opinion
and concession and in Difference to the action of his
predecessors, the Undersigned, in obedience to his
Instructions proposed the British penipotcnliary
to settle the controversy by dividing the territory
dispute by the 49th parallel of latitude, offering, at
the same time, to make free TO Great Britain any
port or ports ON Vancouyer's island south of this
latitude, which the British government might de-
sire. The British penipotentiary has correctly
suggested that the free navigation of the Columbia
river was not embraced in this proposal to Great
Britain; but on the other hand, the of free ports
on the southern extremity of this island had not
been included in former offers
Such proposition that which has been made
never would have been authorized by the President
had this been new question.
Upon his accession to Office, he found the present
negotiation pending. 1t had been instituted in the
| spirit and upon the principle of compromise. Its
object, as ayowed by the negotiators, was not to de-
mand the whole territory in dispute for either
try; but, in the language Of the first PROTOCOL sto
treat of the respective claims Of the two countries
the Oregon territory, with the view to establish
| permanent boundary between them westward of
| the Rocky mountains to the Pacific ocean,
Placed in this position and considering that Pres
idents Monroe and Adams had, on former occa-
sons offered to divide the territory in dispute by
the fory-ninh parallel of latitude he felt it to be his
duty not abruptly 10 arrest the negotiation; but so
far to yield his own opinion once more to make
similar offer.
Not only respect for the conduct Of his prcdeces-
sors, but sincere and anxious desire to promote
peace and harmony between the two countries, in
huenced him to pursue this course The Oregon
question presents the only intervening cloud which
intercepts the prospect of long career of mutual
friendship and beneficial commerce between the two
nations, and this cloud he desired to remove
These are the reasons which actuated the Pres
ident to offer proposition 80 liberal to Great Brit
ain.
| And how has this proposition been received by
| the British penipotentiaryi II has been rejected
without even reference to his own government
Nay, more the British plenipotentiary, to use his
own language, "trusts that the American plenpoten-
tiary will be prepared to offer further propo-
sal for the settlement Of the Oregon question more
consistent ,oh fairness and equity, aud ,o The reason
able erpectotons Of the British gopernment."
Under such circumstances the undersigned is in
struced by the President to say that he owes it to
his country, and just appreciation Of her title
to the Oregon territory withdraw the proposition
| to the British government which had been made un-