The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-12-12
Prr.ident's Message.


of the Democrat, Journal, advocate, and Gem
Chicago, the publishers of which respectively
have our sincere thanks for their attention 10 us
The Message is very long-double the length o
any Of rresiden, Tyler's, for which reason, and
for the adlional one lhal !, would delay US q
day or two, we have determined to issue to-day''
paper wiihou, it, and to anticipate our puhl'ea'
ton DAY few days next week, 50 as not 10 be
too far behind tie times. We however give be-
low nearly all that par, of the Message which re.
ia,cs to Oregon. which is looked for with mos
anxiety, aud is doubtless tho most iuporlan,
part ofi,:-
My attention was early directed to the
negotiation. which, on the 4tli of Malch
last, | found pending at Washington be.
tween the U.i,ed States and Great Bri.
tain, on the subject Of. the Oregon Terri.
tory. Three several attempts had been
previously made to settle the question in
dispute between the two countries. by
negotiation. upon the principle of com.
promise but each had proved unsuccess-
lui. q sA a..t,a..E
The negotiation took place at London,
in the years 1918, 1924, and 1896; the
two first under the administration of Mr..
Monroe, and the las, under Mr.. Adams
The negoclation Of 1918 having failed to
accomplish its object. resulted in the
convention Of the 20ih Of October Of thai
year. BY the third article of that con-
vention, it was "agreed, that the country
that may be claimed by either party on
the northwest coast of America. west.
ward Of the Stony mountains. shall, To-
gelller with its harbors, bays and creeks.
and the navigation OF all rivers within
the same. be free and open for the term
of ten years from the date OF the signiture
of The present convention, 10 the vessels,
rilizens, and subjects Of the two powers;
il being we'll understood that this agree
menl is not to be construed 10 the preju-
dice Of any claim which either Of The two
high, contracting parties may have 10 any
part Of the said country: nor shall it be
taken 10 affect the claims of any other
power or state to any other part of said
country; the only object Of the high con.
tracing parties in that respect being to
prevent disputes and differences among
themselves" W .... ....
The negotiation of 1924 was produc-
tive Of no result, and the convention OF
1918 was left unchanged. .Is......
The negotiation Of 1926 having also
failed 10 effect an adjuslmen, by co,npro-
mise, resulted in the convention of Au-
gust the 9Th. 1927, by which il was
agreed to continue in force for an indef-
mite period the provisions of the third ar.
,lcle OF the convention Of the ooh of o.
iober, 1878; and il was further provided,
that it shall be competent, however, to
either OF the contracting parties, in case
either should think fit. a, any time after
the Goth October 1923, on giving due no
tice Of twelve months 10 the other con-
iracing party, to annul and abrogale this
convention and it shall, in such case, be
accordingly annullej and abroga'cd after
the expiration of said term Of notice." In
these attempts to adius, the controversy,
the parallel of the 49ih degree of north
latitude had been offered by the United
States TO Great Britain, and in those Of
1918 and 1926, with further concession
OF the free navigation of the Columbia ri.
yer south Of that latitude. The parallel
of the 49lh degree, from the Rocky
Mountains 10 its Intersection with tie
norlheaslernmost branch of the Columbia,
and thence down the channel of that RI
yer TO the sea, had been offered by Grea,
Britain, with an addition Of small de-
'ached territory north of the Columbia
Each of these propositions had been re.
jecied by the parties respectively.
In October, lS43, the envoy extraor.
binary and minister plenipo,en,iary Of
the United States in London was nu.hor.
lied 10 make similar offer to those made
in 1918 and 1927. Thus stood the ques.
ton when The negotiation was afterwards
transferred TO Washington; and on the
Odd Of August, 1874, was formally open.
ed under the direction Of my immediate
predecessor. Like all the previous nego-
siatlons, il was based on the principles Of
"cempromse;" and the avowed purpose
Of tbs parties was TO "ireat of the respec-
tive claims Of the two countries to the Or
egon territory. with view to establish
a pcrmanen. boundary between the west.
ward Of The Rocky Mountains TO the Pa.
ciic Ocean," Accordingly, on the 26lh
of August, 1874, the British plcnipo,en.
'iary offered 10 divide The Oregon terrific.
~ by the 40lh parallel Of north latitude,
from the Rocky. Mountains TO the poin,
Of intersection with the Northeastern
branch Of The Columbia river. and thence
down thai river 10 the sea F; leaving the
free navigation Of the river 10 be enjoyed
IN common by both pariies--,he country
south Of this line to belong to the United
States, aud That north Of il TO Grea, Bri.
tain. Az the same time, he proposed, in
addition, 10 yield 10 the United States a
detached territory, north Of The Columbia,
extending along the Pacific and the straits