Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-13

II must indeed, be acknowlsdysd ,ha. ~ ne ,,sstv az
Spain d convey the United States all that she had
s ~ea y u.sf ~ ON the northwest of America,
nof q he aga parallel Of latitude but she could not BY
that transaction, annu nvadate the rights which he hal
previous Transaction, acknowledged 10 belong 10 another
| Power. :
by the treaty Of 2sth October 1880 so.n ..ro,,.,o.a
in Great Britain certain rights with respect 70 ,hose nar,s ~
the western coast of America not already occupied
This acknowledgment had reference especially "a the ,e
tory which forms the subject Of the present negotiation II
Spain could make good her right TO exclusive do
ion over those regions still less could she confer right
on another Power and hence Great Britain argues that from
nothing deduced from the treaty Of 1919 the United States
assert valid claim exclusive dominion any part of the
! Oregon Territory
There remains to be considered the claim advanced by the
United States on the ground of prior discovery and prior
poration and settlement
In that part Of the memorandum of the American Pen;no
ten'ary which speaks Of the Spanish title is stated that
e mouth OF the river afterwards called the Columbia river
was nrs discovered by the Spanish navigator Hecea The
able with claim to priority Of discovery from any thing &C
comphshed by Captain Gray To one and 10 one onv az
those commanders can Do conceded the merit Of first dscoye
~ II Heceas claim acknowledged then CAPTAIN (irav
is longer the dscoverer Of Columbia river III IN N.
other hand, preferences given the achievement o
Gray then Heceta discovery to BE- Of any yaue Bu
Ii argued that the United States represent both titles
the title Of Heceta and the title Of Gray-and herefre
that under the other, matters not which, enouob
be shown establish prior Discovery as agat
Great Britain This may be true far relates to the act
of first seeing and first entering the mouth of the Columbia
river but the Spanish claim prior discovery is 10 pre
vail whatever rights may thereon be founded are necessarily
restricted by the spuatons Of the treaty Of $780, which for
bid claim to exclusive possession.
If the act of Captain Gray, in passing bar and actually
entering the river is supcsede the discovery Of The en-
ancewhich is all that is attributed Heceta-then the
principle of progressive gradual discovery being admitted
conveying in proportion the extent of discovery or ex
ploraon superior rights the operations Of Vancouver in en-
erng surveying and EXPLORING to considerable distance
inland, the river Columbia, would, necessary
thing of the of taking possession in the Of his
egn-whch ceremony duly performed and automatically
recorded by Captain Vancouver.
This brings examination of the conflicting claims
Great Britain and the United States on the ground of dis
cove which may be said to form the essential point in the
discussion for has above been shown that the claim derived
from France must be considered Of little weight
while that derived from Spain, in far relates excu-
sve dominion is neutrazed by the stpuaons Of the Nooka
convention.
1t will be admitted that when the United States became an
Independent naon they passed claim direct or indirect
to the Columbia Territory Their boundary in those
days defined by the treaty Of 1888. Great Britain on
the contrary had at that time already directed her attention
the northwest coast of Americas sufficiently shown by
the voyage and discoveries Of Captain Cook who in l77s
visited and explored great portion of it, from latitude 44o
northwards.
That Great Britain the first acquire what may be
called beneficial interest those regions by commercial in
ercourse will either be denied In proof of this fact
have the voyages of several British SUBJECTS who visited
the and adjacent islands previously to the dispute with
Spain and that her commerce. actual well prospective,
in that part of the world considered matter of great
ona importance, is shown by the resoute which
she took for its protection when Spain manifested disposition
to interfere with it.
The discoveries Of Meares in 1885, and the complete sur
vey the and its adjacent islands, from about latitude
400 northwards which effected by Captain Vancouver in
1892 l793 and 1884, would appear give Great Britain
against the United States strong claim the ground
Of discovery and exploration coaswse well be magn-
ed limited only by what accomplished by Captain Gray
the mouth of the Coumbia--which far discovery
concerned forms the strong point the American side Of the
question R H
In point accuracy and authenticity sbeeved that the
performances of Cook and Vancouver stand preemneny
peor those of any other country whose vessels had those
days visited the northwest coast while in point Of value and
importance, surely the discovery of single harbor although
the mouth Of important river, cannot, giving a claim
territory be placed in competition with the
discovery and survey accomplished by the British navgso
As regards exploration inland, entire justice be done
to the memorable exploit Of NM Lewis and Clarke but
those distinguished travellers the first who effected
passage the Oregon Territory from the Rocky Noun
ans the Pacific As far back 1885, that had been
accomplished by Mackenzie British subject In the course
of this expedition Mackenzie explored the upper of
river since called Frasers river which, process of time
traced to its junction with the the 4sh degree
OF latitude thus forming in point OF explorations counter
pose the exploration Of that part Of the Columbia which
first visited by Lewis and Clarke. at @
Priority of settlement the third plea which the Ame-
can claim proper is made to rest.
In 1871 establishment for the purposes Of trade was
formed at the south side Of the Columbia river
mouth by certain American citizens This establishment
passed during the into the hands Of British SUBJECTS but
restored to the American Government the year lSlS
by understanding between the two Governments Since
then, has not however, been reality occupied by Amen
cans. This is the Of priority Of settlement
The American Plenpoentiary lays stress the ad
mission attributed TO Lord Casereagh, then principal Secreta
OF State for Foreign Affairs, that the American Govern
ment had the ample right to be renated and to be
sdered the party in possession while treating of this title
The undersigned is not inclined TO dispute assertion
ing such respectable authority But he observe in
the first place. that the reservation implied by the words
while treating of the title" exclude any inference which
might otherwise be drawn from the preceding words peud
authority Of the American Minister thus admitted for
servaion which is pleaded against England, is but fair that
the part Of the United States credit should be given to En-
gland Tor the authenticity Of despatch from Lord Caseeagh
to the British Minister at Washington which conmuni
Gated verbally the Government of the United States when
the restoration Of the establishment called Astoria Fort
George, contemplation, containing complete
ton of the rights Of England the territory at the mouth Of
the Columbia Statement Of the British Penipotentaries
December, 1s26)
In ne the present Of the question between the two
appears be this Great Britain and
in with the United States right Of Joint
occupancy in the Oregon Territory Of which right she be
Invested, with respect any part of that territory only by
equitable partition Of the whole between the two Powers
II is for obvious reasons, desirable that such partition
should take place soon possible and the difficulty APP
pears be in devisng line Of demsrcaon which shau
each party that precise portion Of the territory best suited to
its interest and convenience.
proposal lately submitted for the consideration of the Amc
h.o II