American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-12
anreriral1 Rfpltbltcan,
AND BALTIMORE CLIPPER.
MONDAY MORNING, MAY Il, l845.

TITLE TO OREGON, Great Britain claims
to have u title 10 part, the United States TO til,
whole, of the Oregon territory. The title o
tie former is prcdcalcd upon the discovery Of
the country SAID to have been made by Sin
Francis Drake in 1919, and upon the cession
by Spain in 1890 to England, of concurrent ju-
ri,diction with herself over the territory, 10 bo
made available only by actual occupation and
settlement. The Albany Argus gives the fol-
loving summary OF the American title:
J. Discovery of the mouth of the Columbia
river by Captain Gray, OF Boston, giving the
name of his vessel to the river,
.. The discovery of the head of the same RI
yer by Lewis and Clark, under the authority of
the United States.
;. The settlement of Astoria under the aus
plces of Mr.. Aston, an American naturalized
citizen.
l. The treaty IN 1908 with the French Re-
public
5. The treaty of Spain of 1919, acquiring all
rights of Spain to land north AZ degrees beyond
the Rocky Mountains.
6. The Nootka Sound contest (l7S9) be-
tween England and Spain.
!. The treaty of Utrecht (l763) between
France and England, settling boundaries-this
settlement becoming ours, as the successor OF
France in that part of her dominons.
3. The treaty of Client (lSl5) restoring AS
to!ia to the U. States as American property.
8. American citizens were once IN sole pos
session of the Columbia river region.
The same paper well remarks, that "this
question is evidently surrounded with comph-
Gated difficulties and embarrassments, growing
too, in no small degree, out Of the joint occu-
pancy" by the United States and Great Britain.
As this subject has become of vast impor-
lance, and the dispute about the right to the
territory may result in war between two pow
ertu nations, it is desirable that the people of
both shall be placed in possession of all the facts
connected with the case, so that a correct judy
Inent may be formed as to the justice Of the
claim set up by each power pamphlet EN-
Nacing the required details, compiled from Of
fetal documents would no doubt be extensive
iy circulated, and we hope that competent
hand will undertake the task. "Give US but
light" 1t is not sufficient that each party as
serts It's rght-that right should be clearly
shewn and established by proof before it is at
tempted to enforce it by an appeal to arms
There are few persons who understand the |
whole merits Of the pretensions made by the two
nations to exercise jurisdiction over Oregon;
and it will not do to sustain the claim of either,
right or wrong. Both parties should be guided
by the principles of strict justice. Our maxim
should be "to ask for nothing which is not
rlsht-nor submit to any thing that is wrong"
BY assuming this ground we shall stand justif-
ed in the eyes Of mankind. But, whether our
title to the whole territory be clear or dis
Putabe, our policy is TO avoid war under pre-
sent circumstances. For years to come the
Joint occupancy might be permitted to con-
tinue without endangering our rights; as emlgra-
ton from the United States will guaranty their
safety.