The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-18
THE DAILY UNION.

curry, in an elaborate argument OF our claims 10 'he
Oregon territory seems TO us to concede too much 70
adverse writers. Its positions virtually strp US Oh
all right any portion Of the territory, ana REIN
la 'ish more than even British statesmen nave ae'
manded. -
Our title to Oregon, il says, rests on one OF these
grounds; discovery, settlement and conliguilyi pu'
It proceeds TO contend that on neither OF these
grounds does il appear that the United States have
any valid title, and endeayors TO show that the title
of The United States Through Spain) by discovery,
has been forfeited by non user; that we nave made
no settlement, and that the rule OF consuity does
not apply.
il would clearly defeat us of all our title, and prove
that the negotiations Of the last half century have
| been idle talk. For We have throughout asserted
our title upon all these grounds, with gravity ana
sincerity, and they have been admitted ny The
statesmen of all parties.
| Mr. Gallatin, in his famous argument, claims
| the possession Of the territory on the following
grounds:
The first discovery of the Columbia, by Gray;
the first exploration Of the territory through which
the river flows, by Lewis and Clarke, and the es-
adjustment Of the first posts and settlements IN The
| said territory by citizens in the United States.
The virtual recognition by the British govern
ment of the title Of the United States, in the restiiu-
| ton of the post near the mouth of the Columbia,
agreeaby to the first article OF the treaty OF Gheni
without any reservation or exception whatsoever
| Inc aCuulSltlOn Dy the Oultu otutco W q" "e "a
ties of Spain, which titles were derived from the
discovery and exploration of the coasts of the re-
gion in question: by Spanish subjects, before they
had been seen by The people of any other civilized
| nation.
And, lastly, upon the ground of contiguity, which
should give TO the United States stronger right to
those territories than could be advanced by any 9TH
er power.
Mr., Calhoun, il we remember rightly, has adj
mltted the perfect validity Of our title; and MIR. Nc.
Dniie pronounces il one Of the cearest ever made
the subject Of national controversy, to say nothing
of similar expressions the part Of Messrs Clay,
Adams Rush, and many others who have had oc-
cason TO discuss the point.
If the Mercury is right, then, our ablest an
| soundest statesmen have shown themselves set Of
blockheads to which the world affords few equals.
But the Mercury is not right; and its error arises in
taking for granted the absurd dicta of some of the
old writers on international law We have no space
to-day, we find, to 60 into formal discussion OF
these points, as we mean to do hereafter; but we
will assert, in opposition to the Mercury, that the
discoveries of our early navigators confer rights
upon the government; that our settlement of the
country has been sufficiently extensive and perma-
nent to sustain claim and that the right by con-
tiguty is perfectly valid, according to the almost
universal practice Of nations, and of Great Britain
herself, in particular.
Correspondence Of the Journal of Commerce.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Is.
The rumor which has prevailed in the city and
elsewhere that the administration has backed out
on the Oregon question, is Of doubtful correctness
Looking at the history Of the Oregon question, It
would be easy to find reasons enough for the posi-
ZION Of the present administration in regard to 1t,
without the surmise that it originates IN petty
personal jealousy, of which Mr.. Calhoun is the OBJ
ject.
Having listened, for years, to all the debates in
Congress on this question, and having read all
the correspondence respecting il, must say that
| never yet have met with but one view of our title
TO Oregon There has been difference Of opinion
in regar to the time and mode and extent of assert
ing it, During the last three four sessions, par
ticularly the debates have been earnest and inter.
esting on the subject, and not speaker ever in
timated doubt Of our title. The subscription for
Mr.. Greenhow's book was advocated by the wings,
on the ground that it would fully convince and sat-
isfy every one Of the validity Of title; and was
opposed by the democrats, on the ground that they
wanted no other further evidence than what they
already had.
Is to be forgotten that Mr.. Polk was elected upon
the Oregon and Texas questions? Is 1t not known
that the whole country, at that election, sanctioned
the resolution of the Baltimore conventions which
declares our little to the whole Of Oregon to be
Gear and unquestionable ~ Mr.. Polk, in his in
augural address, re echoed that declaration, and in
the ,cords.
We repeat, the New York journal of Com
merce" may dismiss its doubts Let US wait, how
ever for the message.