Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-12-30

the voyages OF Meares and Vancouver, n,
prior 10 Cooks who did not reach the north
western coast until l776. The Claims il
gave 10 SPAN of priority Of discovery
were transferred 10 Us, with all others be.
longing 10 her by the treaty Of Florida
which, added to the discoveries of Captain
Gray, places our right 10 the discovery of
the mouth and entrance into the inle, and
river beyond oil controversy.
1t has been objected that we claim under
various and conflicting titles, which mulu-
ally destroy each other. Such might in
deed be the fact while they we're held by
different parties: bat since we have right
fully acquired both those Of Spain and
France, and concentrated the whole in
our hands, they mutually blend with each
other, and form one strong and connected
chain Of title against the opposing clams
of all others, including Great Brnain.
In order to present more fully and per-
fectly the grounds on which our claims to
lie region in question rests, it will now be
necessary to turn back TO the time when
Astoria was restored 10 US, under the pro-
visions Of the treaty Of Client, and TO trace
what has since occurred between the two
countries in reference 10 the territory. ard
inquire whether their respective claims
have been affected by settlement, since
made in the territory by Great Britain, or
the Gee urences which have since taken
place.
The restoration Of Astoria took place,
under the provisions the treaty OF Chem
on the 9th day of October, 1873 the ef-
feet Of which was put Mr.. Provost, the
agent authorized BY our government to re-
ceive it, in possession Of the establishment,
with the right at all times TO be reinstated
and considered the party in possession, as
was explicitly admitted by Lord Castle
reagh in the first negotiation between the
two governments in reference 10 the trea
ty. The words Of Mr.. Rush, our plenipo
tertiary on that occasion, in his letter 10
Mr. Adams, then Secretary of the State
Of the l4'h of FEBRUARY 1873, reporting
what passed between hin, and his lordship,
are, ''that Lord Castlereagh admitted in
the most ample extent our right TO lie Ie-
instated, and TO be the party in possession,
while treating Of the title"
Tho negot alton terminated in the con-
vention Of the Goth Of October, 1915
the third article Of which is in the follow
ing words:
vt is agreed that any country that may
DO claimed by either party on the north
west coast Of America westward to the
Stony mountains, shall, together with its
harbors, bays, and creeks and the navga-
ton Of all rivers within the same, be free
and open for the term ofte years from the
date OF signature of the present convention,
TO the vessels, citizens, and subject 10 the
two powers: il being we'll understood that
this agreement is not to be construed to
the prejudice of any claim which either of
the two high contracting parties may have
to any part Of the said country; nor shall it
be taken to effect the claims Of any other
power or State TO any part Of the said coun-
try; the only object of the high contracting
parties, in that respect, being TO prevent dis
putes and differences amongst Themselves -
The two acts, the restoration Of our pos
session and the signature of the conven
ton, were nearly contemporaneous-
latter taking place but fourteen days sub
quenty to the former. We were then, as
admitted by Lord Castlercagh, entitled TO
be considered as the party in the possession
and the convention which stipulated that
the territory, should be free and open, for
the term Of ten years from the date of its
signature, to the vessels, citizens, and sub
Jec;s Of the two countries, without prejudice
to any claim VIII ich either party may have
to any part of the same, preserved and per-
petuate all our claims 10 the territory,
including the acknowledged right to be con-
sidered the party in possession, as perfcc-
lily during the period Of its continuance as
they were the day the convention was sign
ed. Ofthis there can be no doubt.
After an abortive attempt to adjust the
claims OF the two parties 10 the territory, in
1924, another negotiation was commenced,
in 1S2G-which Terminated in renewing,
on the 9th Of August, 1927, the third arti-
Gle of the convention of 1918, prior TO its
expiration. 1t provided Cor the indefinite
extension of all the provisions OF the third
article OF that convention; and also that
either party might terminate it at any time
it might think fit, by giving one years no.
tee after the Goth October 1928. 1t took,
however, the precauton of providing ex
press!y that .nothing contained in this con-
veniion or in the third article Of the conven-
ton Of the Goth October 1918, hereby con-
linued in force, shall be construed 10 impair
or in any manner affect the claims which
either Of the contracting parties may have
to any part of the country westward OF the
Stony or Rocky mountains" That con
vention is now in force, AMI has continued
20 be so since the expiration of that Of
1918. BY the joint operation Of the two,
our right to be considered The party in pos
session, and all the claims we had 10 the
territory while in possession, are prcser-
ed in as full yigor as they were at the date
o: its restoration in lsls, without being
affected or impaired by the settlements
since made by the subjects ofGreat Britain
Time, indeed, so far from mpairing our
claims, has greatly strengthened Them, Stree
that period, for, since then, the treaty Of
Florida Transferred 20 Us all Inc rights, claims
and pretensions Of Spaiu 10 The whole ter
riiory, as has been stated. Ia consequence
Of this, our claims TO the portion drained By
the Columbia riyer-the point now the sub
iect ofconsi lerat.on-have been streng,he'd,
by giving US the incontestabie clam 10 the
discovery of the mouth of the river by lie