Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-12-17

Stony MOUNTAINS snail, together with It's narDor,
bays and creeks, and the navigation of all rivers with
in the same, be free and open for the term of ten
years from the date of the signature OF the present
convention, to the vessels, citizens and subjects of
the two powers it being well understood that
this agreement is not be constructed to the prejudice
OF any claim which either of the two high contracting;
parties may have to any part OF said country: ncf
shall it be taken to affect the claims of any other
Power State to any part of the said country; the
only object of the high contracting parties in that
spect being to prevent disputes and differences among
themselves"
The negotiation of 1924 was productive Of no re-
suit, and the convention of 1918 was left unchanged.
The negotiation of 1926, having also failed to eff
feet adjustment by compromise, resulted in the
convention of August the 9th, 1927, by which it was
agreed to continue in force for indefinite period
the provisions of the third article of the convention
of the Goth of October, 1918; and it further pro-
vded that shall be competent, however, to either
of the contracting parties, either should think
fit, at any time after the 10th Of October, 1928,
giving due notice of twelve months to the other
tracing party to annul and abrogate this convention
and it SHALL in such case, be accordingly entirely
nued and abrogated after the expiration Of the said
term of notice." In these attempts to adjust the
controversy, the parallel of the 49th degree of north
latitude has been offered by the United States to
Great Britain and in those of 1918 and 1885, with
further concession of the free navigation of the Col
umbia River south of that latitude. The parallel of
the 49th degree, from the Rocky mountains to its
itersecton with the most northeastern branch of the
Columbia, and thence down the channel of that river
to the sea- had been offered by Great Britain, with
an addition of small detached territory north of the
Columbia. Each of these propositions had been re-
jected by the parties respectively.
| In October, lS43, the Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentary of the L. States in London
authorized to make similar offer to those made
in 1918 and 1926. Thus stood the question when
Al,
ington; and, on the twenty-third of August, 1884,
formerally opened, under the direction of my nI
mediate predecessor. Like all the previous negoci-
atoms, it based upon principles of 'ccmpromise
and the avowed purpose of the parties to treat
of the respective claims of the two countries to the
Oregon territory with the view to establish per-
manent boundary between the westward of the Roc
| ky Mountains to the Pacific ocean. Accordingly,
the 9th of August, 1874, the British Plenipoten-
tary offered to divide the Oregon territory by the
forty ninth parallel of north longitude, from the
Rocky Mountains to the point of Its intersection with
the n eastern branch of the Columbia river, thence
down that to the sea; leaving the free navlga-
ton of the river to be enjoyed in common by both
partes-the country south of this line to belong to
the United States and that north of it to. Great Bril-
tain. At the same time, he proposed, in addition,
to yield to the United States detached territory,
which lies north of the Columbia, extending along
the pacific and the Straits of Faca, from Buifnch 5
harbor inclusive, to Hoos canal and to make free to
the United States any ports south of latitude forty
nine Degrees which they might desire, either the
main land, or Quadra and Vancouver's Island
With the exception of the free ports, this was the
same offer which has been made by the British and
rejected by the American government In the negOtla-
ton of 1926. This proposition was properly rejected
by the American PlenpOtentiary the part of Great
Britain having been rejected the British plenpoten
tiary requested that proposition should be made by
the United States 'or an equitable adjustment of the
! question"
When came into Office, found this to be the
state of negotiation Though entertaining the set
tied conviction, that the British pretensions of title
could be maintained to no portion of the Oregon
territory upon any principle public law recognize
ed by natons yet in Difference to what had been done
by my predecessors, and especially in consideration
that propositions of compromise had been thrice made
by two preceding administrations, to adjust the ques
tlon on the parallel of fortynn Degrees and in two
lof them yielding Great Britain the free navigation
of the Columbia, and that the pending negotiation
had been commenced on the basis of compromise,
deemed it to be my duty not abruptly to break it of
In consideration toe, that under the conventions OF
1918 and 1927, the citizens and subjects of the two
Powers held joint occupancy of the country, was
induced to make another effort to settle this long
pending Controversy IN the spirit OF modeI aliuu
which had gwen birth 10 the renewed discussion.
A proposition was accordingly made, which was
rejected by the British pleuipolen,Iary, who with.
out submitting any hor proposition, suffered The
negotiation OH his part to drop, expressing his
trust tina, the United States would off. what he
saw fit TO call "some further proposal for the settle
mfnt ofthe Oregon question: more consistent with
fairness and equity, aud with the reasonable ex
pectations Of The British Government" The prop.
osiIiou thus offered aud rejected repeated The Offer
oflhe parallel Of torty-nine degrees nurlh latitude
which has been made by,lwo preceding admnls-
tfatrations but without proposing to surrender Ia
Gleal Britain, as they had done, The free naviga
ton of the Columbia River. The right OF any
foreign power TO the Tree navigation Of any OF our
country, was one which was unwilling 10 con.
cede. Il also embraced provision to make free
to Great Britain any port or ports OH the cape oil
Quadra snd Va0couver's Island, south ofth,s par.
allel. Had this been new question, coming un-
der discussion for the first tire, this proposition
would have been made. Hrhe extraordinary
and wholly inadmIssable demands of the BRUSH
Government, L. the rejection OF proposition made
IN Difference alone ID what had been done by my
predecessors, and the implied obls alton seemed ,u
impose, afford satisfactory evidence that
promise which the United States ought to accept
can be effected. With this convictlo. the propu-
osi,iou of compromise which had been AIDE and
rejected was, by my direction. subsequently with
drawn, and our title TO the whole Oregon Terrific '
asserted. and as is believed maintained by mreliag-
IDLE facts and argumen.sN
/ The civilized world will see in these proceed
ings. spirit of liberal Concession Oh The part OF