Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-05-10
OREGON.

FROM TnK INV romK coSxEncIAL ADVERTISER, MAY l.
The TRuTH ABOUT OREeoN.--Something more
than year ago we wrote and published series of
three articles, presenting what we conceive to be
the real truth as TO the title of the United States
and Great Britain in and TO the territory ON the
western side Of the Rocky Mountains-wtte which
is Dramatically asserted by journalists, here and
in London, who would be very much puzzled if
suddenly called TO give even the prominent points
of claim on either side. Unfortunately, these ar
tcles appeared just at the time when the annexation
OF Texas the one engrossing subject OF general
attention, and they seemed TO be quite overlooked
But recently we have the view we then took
presented and advocated in several journals of our
own and other cities giving rise to the belief that
more proper time had arrived for its discussion
TO this end we have re-examned the articles, and
condensed them into one, emitting such portions as
had reference to then existing features incidents
Of the controversy.
Tar OnEGoS QursrIoS.-The Washington letter. writers
tell that there is pause in the negotiation between Mr.
PAKrsHan and Mr. CArnouS that check has been given
by the utatum Of the latter propounded at once as
the basis that the ninth parallel Of latitude shall be taken
the dividing line between the British and American posses
sons west Of the Rocky Mountains Il is averred that Mr.
Pakt nhams instructions Of such that in view Of
this proposition ulmaum he is obliged 10 send home
io III mean Lmc TIE TWO dlIlomalstS have
thing to do. In order understand the precise effect of Mr.
Cahouns position is necessary observe that the United
States have claimed any portion territory north
of the forty ninth parallel and that Great Britain does moi
claim absolute and exclusive title south Of that PARALLEL
but only much right possessed by any other Power
reduce the country into possession The dispute, therefore,
is virtually not upon limitations boundaries, but upon the
nature of the conflicting claims Great Britain alleging that
she has as good claim that of the United States, both
being nchoate and the United Sales the contrary
tanning that Great Britain has claim ALL that there
choate right in the NATTER and that the claim of United
States is full, perfect, and incontroveribe.
Perhaps it will be WELL for still better understanding of
the case-which indeed is evidently very much wanted in
the peensons of the paes and the facts which they
Great Britain does not claim by virtue Of priority in disco
very though show of stress has been laid upon
alleged voyages and proceedings Of the freebooter Sir Francis
Drake in 1879 That INSCRIPTIONS gentleman did certainly
Lind upon the western Of North America, and 60
through certain soemnes called Of taking possession
but though 1t has been asserted that the place where he did
this was in latitude as heeabout the better opinion is that
latitude 3s the northern limit of his voyagng The
claim founded upon brakes supposed landing is therefore v
tualy abandoned and Great Britain relies upon another title
ibis derived from Spain. The visited, it is
alleged in 1912, by Spanish expedition, which proceeded
far north latitude Al by another Spanish expedition in
l5s2, going as far north 81 again. by another Spanish
navigator in 1892, and yet again by another in 1910 the last
reaching high 55 and the preceding Az Under the
visits and the accompanying acts possession Spain claimed
the territory until $780, when she entered into convention
with Great Britain, called the Convention of the Escura,
by which Spain surrendered the ercispe right derived from
prior discovery and conceded Britain equal and
concurrent right to he made available only by actual occupa
ton and settlement It is this equal and concurrent right
which Great Britain claims and other. 1t will be
Observed however, that the equality and only
with Spain against all other nations Great Britain alleges
that her rights exclusive.
But in 1919 SPAIN by treaty called the Tcay of Floh
d. coded to the United States all her right and title to the
territory north Of the 42d parallel Since the date Of that
treaty. therefore, the United States have STOOD were,
the shoes of Spain, holding that equal and
night with Great Britain which established by the
venton of the Escura span them now out the case
all other nations before and the title lies between the
United States and Great Britain subject of the pro-
vision in the of the Escura that il be made
Available only by actual occupation and settlement for SPAIN
by He terms Of that convention had Of right or
poker give complete and exclusive title.
But besides this claim derived from Spain, the
United States put forward exclusive claim, several
grounds the principal among which discovery by Captain
fray, in 1892 who entered and sailed distance up the
oregon OF Ny Lewis Siafke
priority Of settlement by American citizens and the right de-
rived from contguy, perhaps should rather say CONT
aufy Of possession They also rely upon the surrender Of
Astoria by the British Government in the treaty OF Ghen
lsthat settlement having been captured by British force
in lsl3whch surrender is alleged TO be virtual acknow
Judgment Of the American claim, inasmuch made
under the clause Of the treaty providing Cor the restoration by
each Power Of all territories and places captured from the other
during the
We do not propose 70 anayze these grounds Of claim the
view we take, and for the purpose presenting which this
ce is written, rendering that unnecessary.
We have shown that the claim up by Great Britain is
exclusive against all Powers except the United States and
that Is founded solely upon the title acquired by Spain
the sixteenth century, under the process OF prior discovery
We have shown also that the United States up CORES
pondng equal claim, derived from the and in
addition exclusive claim under priority Of settlement We
take the ground that neither Of the claims derived from Spain
is worth a straw
We protest against this whole doctrine Of acquiring title by
discovery II is relic OF the bafbarous ages perfect
analogy with, If not in fact modification Of the right for
mey asserted 10y the Pope, TO grant pleasure territories
discovered TO I've Observation-Disclosures known only sup
posed 10 be in existence II Is national feebootng large
SCALE Of precisely the class with the punJering exped
ton Of the Danes England in the Of Alfred finding
its justification only in the law Of FORCE and utterly destitute
Of foundation in morality
II the doctrine hroached for the first imcifmen
had not become accustomed look upon a settled and