Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-12-10

'"eHN euu omciaI form, aid report tn
result with us little delay as possible. ;,
My attention was early directed to th'
negotiation, which, on the fourth Of las
March | found pend ing at Washington be
tween the United Sta les and Great Britain
on the subject of the Oregon territory -
Three several attempts had been previous
ly made To- settle the questions in dispute
between the two countries, by negotiation
upon the principle Of compromise, but eact
proved Unsuccessful.
These negotiations, took place at Lon
don. in the years 1918, 1924 and 1895
the two first under the administration o
Mr.. Monroe, and the last under that o
Mr.. Adams. The negotiation of 1918
having failed 10 accomplish its object, re-
suited in the convention ofthe twentieth oil
October Of that year. By the third artl.
Gle Of that convention, it was ''agreed, that
any country that may be claimed by eth
er party on the northwest coast Of Amer
lea, westward of the Stony mountains,
shall, together 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 sig
nature ofthe present convention, tothe YES.
sells, citizens and subjects Of the two Pow
ers; it being well understood that this q.
greement is net to be construed to the pref
udice Of any claim which either Of the two
high contracting parties may have to any
part Of the said country. nor shall it be to-
ken to affect the claims ol any part ofthe
said country; the only object Of the high
contracting parties in that respect being to
prevent disputes and differences among
ihemselves.o
The negotiation Of 1924 was productive
Of no result, and the convention Of 1918
was left unchanged. .....
The negotiation Of 1926, having also
failed to effect an adjustment by comprom-
ise, resulted in the convention of August
the sixth, 1927, by which it was agreed to
continue in force. fer oil indefinite period,
the provisions of the third article Of the
convention Of the twentieth Of October,
1913; and it was further provided, that sit
shall be competent, however 10 either Of
the contracting parties, in case either
should think it fit, any time after the twen-
sissh Of October, 1928, on giving due notice
Of twelve months to the other contracting
party to annul and abrogate this convention
and it shall, in such case. be accordingly
entirely annulled and abrogated after the
expiration of the said term Of notice." In
these attempts to adjust the controversy,
,k> -. roIloi of tho tortv o;n,b Jo~.oo oc
north latitude had been offered by the u
nited States to Great Britain, and in those
oil 1919 and 1926, with further conces-
sion OF the free navigation Of the Columbia
river south OF that latitude. The parallel
OF !, for.y ninth degree, from the Rocky
molnsa ne 10 its intersection with the north
easlernmost branch Of the Columbia, and
thence down the channel Of that river TO
tho sea had been offered by Great Britain,
with an addition Of a small detached terri
tory north OF the Columbia. Each ofthese
propositions had been rejected by the par
ties respectively.
In October, l543, the Envoy Extraor-
dinary and Minister Plenlpoten,lary Of the
United States in London was authorized
to make similar offers 10 those made in
lsls and 1926. Thus stoodthe question
vhsn the negotiation was shortly after
wards transferred to Washington; and, on
.hs twenty third Of August, 1874, was for
maily opened, under the direction of my
immediate predecessor. Like all the pre-
vieus negotiations, it was based on princi.
pies ot '.compromise;" and the avowed
purpose Of the parties was, ''to treat OF
the respective claims Of the two countries
TO the Oregon territory, with view 10
establish permanent boundary between
them westward OF the Rocky mountains te
the Pacific Ocean," Accordingly on the
tweniy sixth Of August, 1914, the British
plenipoten,,ary offered to divide the Ore
.on territory by the iorty.ninth parallel o
north latitude, from the Rocky mountains
TO the point of its intersection with the
northeasiernmos branch OF the Columbis
river, and thence down that river to the
sen; leaving the free navigation Of thu
river to be enjoyed in common by bosf
parties--lhe country south of this line t
belong to the United States, and that norti
Of it to Great Britain. At the same tint
he proposed, in addition, to yield to the U
nited States q detached territory, north o
the Columbia, extending along the Pacif
and the Straits Of Fuca, from Bulfinch'
harbor inclusive, TO Hoods canal, and t
make free to the United States any port o
ports south of latitude 40 degrees, whic
they might desiss. either on the main isne
or on Qpadra and Ysncouver's Island
With the exception Of the ports, this wa
shs same offer which had been made BY tn
British, and rejected by the American Go
yernment in the negotiation Of 1926
This proposition was properly rejected b.
the American plenipotentiary on the Day
was submitted This was the only prope
sition Of compromise offered by the Britis
plsnipotentiary. This proposition on tn
part Of Great Britain having been rejectee
tho British plenipotsnliary requested that
proposal should be made by the U. State