Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-20

1912, and Kendc again in 1889 and complete examine
ion Of the western had been made l774 and l775
10Th by Perez and Quadra As to possession If Meares
ever actually restored TO his possessions Nootka Sound
whatever these have BEEN the undersigned has never
any evidence Of The fact Is not TO be found in the
ourna Of Vancouver although this officer sent from En-
gland for the ayoed pOposs Of witnessing such aestoaon
undersigned knows not whether any understanding
ook place between the British and Spanish Governments
his subject but fact placed beyond all doubt that the
Spaniards continued in the unsured possession of Nooka
Sound until the year 1895, when they voluntarily abandoned
place Great Britain has any time since occupied
this or any other position Vancouvsrs Island Thus
the score Of either discovery exploration possession this
island be the very last portion Of the territory in dis
pute to which she assert just claim.
In the mean time the United States proceeding with
the discoveries which served to complete and confirm the Spa
nsh American title the whole Of the disputed territory
Captain Robert Gray, in June 1888, in the sloop Wash
ngton, first explored the whole eastern coast OF Queen Char
ottes island.
In the Of the year Captain John Kendrck
having in the time surrendered the command OF the Co
lumba to Captain Gaysailed has been already stated,
in the sloop Washington entirely through the straits OF Fuca
In 1871 Captain Gray returned the North Pacific in the
Columbia and in the summer OF that year examined many
the nets and passages between the 54h and Seth degrees
Of latitude which the undersigned considers il unnecessary to
specify
On the 9TH May 1884, be discovered and entered Bufnchs
habo where he remained at anchor three days. trading with
the Indians. -.
On the 18th May 1892 Captain Gray entered the mouth
of the Columbia and completed the discovery Of that great
river This river had been long sought in vain by former
vgaors. Both Meares and Vancouver, after examination
had denied its existence Thus the world indebted to the
enterprise perseverance, and intelligence Of
tain Of trading vessel for their first knowledge Of this the
greatest river the coast Of America river whose
head springs flow from the georges Of the Rocky Mountains
and whose branches extend from the AID the SD paaels
Of latitude This the astand important discovery
the coast and has pepeuated the Of Robert Gray
In all future time this great river will bear the Of his
vessel.
1t is true that Bruno Heceta in the year l775 had been
opposite the bay Of the Columbia and the and eddes
Of the caused him. he remarks believe that this
the mouth Of some great river Of passage
other = and his opinion decidedly have been that
this the opening Of the strait discovered by Juan de Fuca
in 1892. To his own language
Notwithstanding the great difference between the position
Of this bay and the mentioned BY de have little
difficulty in concevng that they be the same, having OBJ
served equal greater differences Id the Attitudes Of other
capcs ports this coast shall show its proper time
and in all the attitudes thus than the
real ones"
Hecea from his own declaration had never entered the
Columbia and he in doubt whether the opening the
mouth of river of the and subsequent exam
atoms of the coast BY other navgato had rendered the opn
universal that such river existed when Gray first bore
the American flag its bar sailed its channel for TWEEN
tyve miles, and remained in the river nine days. trading with
the Indians. S
the United States Of Gays discovery, because his ship
the Columba) a trading and national vessel As
he furnishes for this distinction, the undersigned
will conne himself the remark that merchant vessel bears
the flag of her country at her and continues under
its jurisdiction and protection, in the though
she had been commissioned for the express purpose of making
discoveries Besides, beyond all doubt this discovery
made by Gray and to what nation could the benefit Of It be-
long, unless be to the United States Certainly mott
Great Britain. And if SPAIN the United States are
her representative.
Nor does the undersigned perceive in what manner the
value Of this great discovery be lessened by the that
e. Il Al -I~f(
Vancouver British authority Onthe contrary, its authen
cy being thus acknowledged by the party having adverse
interest," is firmly established than if had been rspub
shed in the United States
From careful examination and review of the subject the
undersigned ventures the assertion that to Spain andhe
United States belong all the merit the discovery the north
west coast of America south Of the Russian line not spot OF
which, unless may have been the shores Of Of the in
terror bays and nles after the to- them had been
known behed by British subjects until after had been
touched by Spaniard an American Spain pro-
ceeded in this work Of discovery not Of acquiring
title but for the purpose Of examining and surveying territory
which she believed she had incontesabe right This
title had been sanctioned Tor centuries by the acknowledgment
acquiescence of all the European Powers. The United
States alone could have disputed this e and that only the
extent Of the region waered by the Columbia The Spanish
md American titles united by the Florida treaty.
justly resisted by Great Britain Considered together they
constitute perfect title the whole territory dispute ever
the lth May, 1892, when Captain Gray passedhe bar
IT the mouth Of the Columbia which he had observed in Au
gust, 1888.
The undersigned will proceed show that this title Of
he United States at least the possession of the territory
he mouth Of the Coumba has been acknowledged by the
most solemn and unequivoca acts Of the British Government
After the purchase of Louisiana from France the Govern
nent Of the United States fitted expedition under
Messrs Lewis and Clarke who, in 1905, first explored the
Columbia, from its to its mouth, preparatory the
occupation Of the territory by the United States.
In 1911, the settlement at Astoria made by the Anne
the mouth of the river and several other
established in the interior along its banks The Of
1912 between Great Britain and the United States thus found
he latter in peaceabe possession Of that region Astoria
captured by Great Britain during this The treaty Of
concluded at Client in December 1914 provided that
all territory places and possessions whssoeyer taken by
either party from the other during the war;" &C. shall be
restored without delay In obedience the provisions Of
his treaty, Great Britain restored Astoria the United States
md thus admitted in the most solemn MANNER only thai
had been American territory possession the COM
sh during its continuance Il Is late 70 gain
explain away these facts Both the treaty Of Client
md the acts of the British Government under it, dsprove the
allegations of the British Plenpotentary that astoria passed
into British hands by the voluntary of the persons in
harge Of it and that restored to the United States
n 1918 with certain we-authenticaed reservations
In reply to the first Of these allegations it that the
eents Of the Amecan) Pacific Fur Company, before the
apure of Astoria the 18th October 1873 had transfer
ed oil that they could transferable private property Of the
ompanyto the (Bnish) Northwest Company but will
carcey be conended that such arrangement could impair
he sovereign rights Of the United States the territory. Ac
ordngy, the American flag still kept flying the
o until the lst December 1913, when captured by
lis Msjesys soopofwar Racoon and the British flag was
hen substituted. as
That il was not restored to the United States with csr
ain well authenticated reservations fully appears from the
ct Of restoration ITSELF bearing date 9th October 18Is This
absolute and unconditional the English language
Mat 10 n T.,xl