Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-09-04
Our Right To Oregon--Is if am Incs
fcSfabie Onet

boundary line of 81 deg 40 min., as arranged
Russia, not universally understood in this cour
not even by all those who unhesitatingly assert
right to the whole; and we, therefore, by way Of
lmPrtm's place the matter, bglefy, in our columns
order to give to the public clear view of the quest
All this, in unwieldly pamphlets and public do
ments, has been published, sbut active, emerge
Americans who - seer g fortunes, have only ii
% read news spers. after NHsve once started u,
active BUSINESS ersnhs
This matter, in all IFS ramifcations is thus arran1
n our minds and according to unimpeachable
CLAIMS OF SPAIN
1534.-Cortez discovers California.
l543.-Fenello discovers the coast OF Cape Mendoc
and the river Aquar-
l5s2.-GaIi discovers the coast beyond Oregon.
l599.-De Fuea discovers the straits Juan DE Fuca.
1603.-VIzcna explores the Of California
1603-Aquilar discovers the river Of AquiIar and in
Of Columbia.
1674.-Perez discovers Nootka Sound and San Loreuz
l774.-Martinez lands Nootka Sound.
l11o.-Hacea, AyOla, Bodega and QuLdra discov
the bay of the river Columbia, and call
Entroda de Hecta.
l779.-Martinez makes settlement at Nooika Sour
and erects Fort.
1779.-Fidago makes a settlement on Quadra
Island at the entrance of Juan de Fuca.
CLAIMS OF GREAT BRITAIN
lS7s--D!sss lands in Bodega bay, previously disc
versa.by The SFaniss
1575,-Drake saied Up to lat s5, but dir not land.
7l3.-The treaty of Utrecht between France
Great Britain appointed commissioners, VIII
liked upon the 10Th degree OF LAT. the line q
demarcatlon between the possessions Of The tyy |
nations west of the Mississippi river.
lTo3-The treaty OF Paris between Spain, France an
Great Britain fixes the boundary between thy
possessions of the two latter nations by lin !
along the middle of the Mississippi from id
source 10 the lbberyille, in Louisiana, along th{
middle Of that river, and lakes Mounpas and
POnchartrain to the sea.
1T1o.-Cook lands al Nootka Sound discovered bJ
&naar -
17S9.-Colnet attempts to take possession of Npotk
Sound he is taken prisoner by Martinez, the
Spaniard.
I790-Span and Great Britain entered into Couven-
ton, which reserves the sovereignty of Nooika
Sound 10 Spain, but granted some commercial
privileges TO Great Britain. This Convention
gave TO Spain the sovereignty and exclusive
ownership alt the coast 10 the north of
west America on the side of the South Sea, as
far as beyond Prince Williams Sound.
1792.-F ancouver enters the Columbia, having pre-
yiOusy received from Capt Gray an account
of his discovery of the river,
1793.-Mackenzie explores a river supposed To
enter the Straits of Juan de Fuca, north of the
Columbia.
1S06.-Frazer erects a fort on the head waters Of
Stewards river.
lSl8.-Treaty between the United States and Great
Britain leaves the county west OF Stoney
Mountains open TO the citizens and vessels in
both nations
1827-The provisions of the treaty Of 1878 extended
indefinitely unless either party chose to annul
by giving twelve months notice.
THE INCONTESTABLE. RIGHT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
17S3-The treaty of Paris gave the United States
all the territorial right Of Great Britain TO the
country bounded by her treaty with France in
1713 and 1868.
1755.-Capt. Gray, in Boston, of the sloop Washing
ton and Capt. Kendrick, of the ship Columbia,
entered the port of Nootka Sound.
1792.-Capl Gray Of the ship Columbia discovers the
mouth of river Columbia and sailed fourteen
lsO3.-The Uniied States purchased the right Of
France to the territory west of the Mississippi.
1S04.-Lewis and Clark, authorized by, Congress,
explore the Columbia from its source to its outlet
1el1-Astor erects fort at the mouth Of the Colum-
bia called Astoria.
ls12.-Astoria taken by the English. ii,
lsls-Astora is restored the United States by ths
treaty of Client.
ts19-The right Of Spain TO territory on the Paci6,
north of AZ degrees, is coded to the United States
1SA.-Trealy between Russia and the U. 3 fixes th
northern boundary of Oregon at 81 deg 40 min
north latitude.
These facts, thus chronologicaly arranged, asser
our clear and unquestonabe right to the length ane
breadth of territory as far north "a deg. 40 min
and it is here perceived that apart from the right
purchase derived from Spain, have stronger
claim than England produce in the priority of ou
discovery and occupancy; and another right. natu
raj one equally SUPERIOR is territorial connection
with the land in dispute 1t has been asserted, ant
is now maintained by eminent statesman, that ever
if our right by discovery and purchase inferior
to that of Great Britain, never permit that o.
any other European nation to occupy single foot Of
soil on this continent that they do not now own anC
cultivate 1t is true American policy-the declaration
of NJ Guzot TO the contrary notwithstanding-tc
regulate the affairs of North America, and in a few
short years, those of South AMERICA also This wa,
the declared policy of President Monroe. and fa
as Oregon is concerned, it was, believe, the sub
lect matter of despatch written by Mr.. Rush, wher
Minister in England to the British Government. Il
is not intention, however, to assert any abstract
claim to Oregon; it is unnecessary to do So Oul
roht is derived from two sufficiently irresis
ible for our purpose. First the right by discovery
second, the right by purchase.