The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-06


other, i, matters not which, enough can be shown
Z, establish case of prior discovery, as against
Gieat Britain. This may be true as tar as relates
TO the act of first seeing and first entering the mouth
ofthe Columbia river; but II the Spanish claim to
prior discovery 10 TO prevail, whatever rights may
thereon be founded are necessarily restricted by the
stpulations of the treaty Of 1870, which forbid
claim to exclusive possession.
II the act Of Captain Gray, in passing the bar and
actually entering The river, is to supersede the dis
covery Of the entrsncewhich is all that il attributed
Hecetathen, the principle Of progressive grad
ual discovery being admitted as conveying in pro-
portion to the extent Of discovery or exploration,
superior rights, the operations of Vancouver in en-
tering, surveying, and exploring to considerable
distance inland, the river Columbia, would, as
Captain Gray, to say nothing ofthe act Of taking
possession in the name of his soveregn-which
mpny was duly performed and automatically re-
corded by Captain Vancouver
This brings US TO an examination of the conflict
ing claims Of Great Britain and the United States
on the ground Of discovery, which may be said to
form the essential point in the discussion; for il has
above been shown that the claim derived from
France must be considered as Of little weight
while that derived from SPAIN in far as relates to
exclusive dominion, is neutralized by the stipula-
lions Of the Nootka convention.
II will be admitted that when the United States
became an independent nation, they ynssed no
claim, direct or indirect, to the Columbia territory
Their western boundary in those days was defined
by the treaty of 1888. Great Britain, on the con-
rary, had at that time already directed her atten-
lion TO the northwest coast Of Americans is suf-
fcienuy shown by the voyage and discoveries of
Captain Cook, who, in l77S, visited and explored
great portion Of it, from latitude 44o northwards.
That Great Britain was the first TO acquire what
may be called beneficial interest in those regions,
by commercial intercourse, will not, either, be de.
MED. In proof Of this fact, we have the voyages of
several British Subjects who visited the coast and
adjacent islands previously to the dispute with
Spain; and that her commerce. actual well as
prospective, in that part of the world, con-
sldered a matter Of great national importance, is
shown by the resolute measures which she took
for its protection when Spain manifested a DISPOSE
lion 10 interfere with il.
The discoveries of Meares, in 1888, and the COM
pete survey Of the coast and its adjacent islands,
from about latitude 400 northwards which was effect
ed by Captain Vancouver, in 1922, 1893, and 1894,
would appear To give to Great Britain, as against
the United States, as strong claim, on the ground
Of discovery and exploration coastwise, well
be imagined, limited only by what was accomplish
ed by Captain Gray at the mouth ofthe Columbia
which, as far as discovery is concerned, forms the
strong point on the American side Of the question.
In point of accuracy and authenticity, it is be-
leved that the performances Of Cook and Van
couver stand pre-eminently superior to those Of
any other country whose vessels had in those days
visited the northwest coast; while in point of value
and importance, surely the discovery of single
harbor although at the mouth of important river
cannot, rs giving claim to territory, be placed in
competition with the vast extent of discovery and
survey accomplished by the British navigators
As regards exploration inland, entire justice must
be done to the memorable exploit Of MN. Lewis
and Clarke but those distinguished travellers were
not the first who effected passage across the Ore
gon Territory from the Rocky mountains to the Pa
cifc As far back as l793 that feat had been ac-
compshed by Mackenzie, British subject. In
the course Of This expedition, Mackenzie explored
the upper watars of river, since called Fraser's
river, which, in process Of time, traced to its
junction with the sea, near the 49h degree of lat-
tude thus forming, in point Of exploration, coun-
tsrpoise the exploration of that part Of the Column
bia which was first visited by Lewis and Clarke.
Priority Of settlement is the third plea on which
the American claim proper is made to rest.
In 1911, establishment for the purposes of trade
formed at the south side Of the Columbia river,
near to it's mouth, by certain American citizens.
This establishment passed during the war into the
hands Of British subjects but il restored TO the
American government in the year 1918, by an un-
dcrstandng between the two governments. Since
then, has not, however, been in reality occupied
by Americans. This is the case Of priority of set
Element.
The American plenipotentiary lays some stress
on the admission attributed TO Lord Castlereagh,
t!en principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
pie right to be reinstated and be considered the
party in possession while treating Of the title"
The undersigned is not inclined to dispute an asser-
tion resting on such respectable authority. But he
must observe in the first place. that the reservation
implied by the words "while treating of the title
exclude any Inference which might otherwise be
drawn from the preceding words prejudcia to the
title Of Great Brit iin and further, that when the
authority Of the American minister is thus admit
ted for an observation which is pleaded against
England it is ut fair that, on the part of the United
States credit should be given to England for the au-
then,icity Of despatch from Lord Castlereagh to
the British minister at Washington, which was
communicated verbally TO the government of the
United States when..the restoration of the establish.
ment called Astoria or Fort George, was in con-
temptation, containing complete reservation Of
rights Of England to the territory at the mouth Of
the Columbia-( Statement Of the British plenpo-
temtaries, Dec, lS26.)
In fine, the present state Of the question between
Britain possesses and exercises in common with the
United States right of joint occupancy in the Ore
gon Territory, of which right she can be Invested
with respect TO any part of that territory only by
an equitable partition Of the whole between the two
powers.
1t is for obvious reasons, desirable that such par
tition should take place as soon possible and the
difficulty appears to be in divisng line of demarca-
ton which shall leave TO each purity that precise
portion Of the territory best suited to its interest and
convenience.
The British government entertained the hope that,
by the proposal lately submitted for the considera-
ton Of the American government, that object would
have been accomplished.
According to the arrangement therein contem-
plated, the northern boundary Of the United States
west of the Rocky mountains would for a consider
able distance be carried along the same parallel Of
latitude which forms their northern boundary on
the eastern side Of those mountains--thus uniting the
present eastern boundary Of the Oregon Territory
with the western boundary of the United States,
from the 49th parallel downwards.
From the point where the 49th degree of latitude
ntersects the northeastern branch Of the Columbia
Tivtr (calsd, in that part of its COURSE McGillv.
rays river,) the proposed line of boundary would
be along the middle Of that river ill it joins the
Columbia; then along the middle Of the Columbia
20 the ocean-the navigation Of the river remaining
psrpe,ually free 10 both parties.
In addition, Great Britain offers a separate terri
tory on the Pacific, possessing an excellent harbor,
with further understanding that any port or ports,
whether on Vancouver's island or on the continent
coi,ih If The AQih rarallel urhick III II,itod