The Yazoo City Whig. [volume] (Yazoo, Miss.) 1844-1851, 1845-02-28
VOL. 9, No. Whole. No. Al.

ancient plesensions. And We may here OBJ.
serve that all questions Of prior discovery,
and in fact all other question Of right e The
Oregon, between The conteDding parties are
merged into one definite issue, which forms
the starting point IF al discussions connec-
ted with the present controversy. That def
mite issue was made Up ~ the treaty-offhe
EscuTial, ratified by Spain and Great Brit-
amin 1870; and the stipulation on the point
in question was the result Of the capture of
the post al NooIka Sound by The Spaniards.
England demanded restitution andcompen-
sailon for this alledged aggression; Spain
yielded both; and then was formed the a.
gFeement respecting their mutual claims,
which constitutes the basis Of the very agree
ment now existing between our Government
& hat Of Great BfitailHon this identical point
''ln order ostrengthen the bonds OFFEND
ship. and 10 preserve in future apeTfect har-
mony and good understanding between the
two contracting parties, il is agreed" says
the treaty, ''that their respective subjects
shall not be disturbed or molesied, either in
navigating OF carrying on their fisheries in
the PACING Ocean, or in the South Seas. or
IN landing on the coast of those seas in places
not already occupied, for the purpose of car
Tying on their commerce with the natives of
the country, or of making settlements there
Upon this basis, then, stood the rival claims
OF Spain and Great Britain TO the Oregon
The question was left open, each party adj
hitting that the other had claims, but neith-
er assuming TO define the exact extent of
lis pfetensIons. Upon the same basis stands
the question now. the United States occu-
IPyng the position which Spain held, and
succeeding to all her rights.
! Our government, indeed, advanced claims
to the Oregon prior 70 1919. These claims
wsre founded partly upon the belief that the
Northern boundary of Louisiana, transferred
to US in 1903, extended TO the Pacific; and
partly upon the alledged discovery Of the
Columbia river in 1892 by Captain Robert
Gray. in the ship Columbia, Of Boston. Up.
q lon the first assumption AIf. Jefferson des-
9 patched Lewis and Clarke to explore the re-
u giOns west Ofthe Rocky Mountains: and in
q 1911 settlement was established by John
y Jacob Astor, Of New York, at the mouth of
e the Columbia river. This post was captured
. by the British during the last war and resrot-
ed a. the conclusion of peace-an admission
lby England of cur right to make settlements
|. there, although it was no admission of cur
8 fright to exclusive possession. England held
9 numerous posts in the same region, and still
t. holds them.
:. The claim founded upon the alledped dis
f covery of the Columbia river by Capt. Gray,
y in 1882, does not appear to have much
Y weight. TheScOast was visited by Spanish
10 navigators two hundred years before; it is
ot also claimed BY Spain that one of her cap.
n tains named Hecota discovered The river il.
u self before Capt. Gray ever saw il, and in
n proof of this the Spanish maps are appealed
d to, upon which the river now known as the
he Columbia appears under the name Of Rio de
ID San Rogue, so called by Hecota.
le But whatever rights may belong to The
10 discovery OF the great river Of Oregon are
ours, whether derived from Capt. Gray o.
IN from the Spanish navigator: because ali the
N rights which Spain held. and this among the
e. rest, belong to the United States by the
10 treaty Of 1919.
on Let Us briefly sum up the facts:
of i. We have no original claim 10 the o.
il Iregon prior TO 1890, when the treaty Of th,
ur Escufial was made By Spain and Great Bit
is lain. Capt. Gray's discovery took place il
by l792-the cession Of Louisiana was mad.
rst lin 1903.
nut II. The agreement of 1890. betweeI
sar Spain and Great Britain recognized ID,
claims of both parties, but admitted the ex
rth IclusiVe sovereignty of neither. The Who'll,
he unOccupied portion of the Oregon seems, in
an ldeed, to have beenFeg guarded as open TO SCI
81. element BY any people. Our settlement a
bat Astoria was restored at the close. Of The las
nd war, although we had not then succeeds,
to the rights held BY Spain.
at Ill. The present basis ofthe controllers
~ Is identical in substance with that establish
:. ed between Spain and Great Britaini in 179
.rt 1.-The former nation being substituted By ID
bst United States as party in the matter.
-. Nv The exclusive sovereignty new CLAIM
=. ed by some in behalf Of the United Stat,
s;,. over the Oregon can only be established
81 obtaining cession Of the claims Of Enalan
"a OF BY forcibly dispossessing her. Il is.
~ question of negotiation Of war.
:, We may remark, ia conclusion, thai q
;rs gradual progress Of our settlements II Il
~ Oregon may give Us possession Of that cOu
-. try in quiet way, and as soon perhaus.
- We shall need the Territory. The afie,
impetuosity al work among rs nay not s.
!. .elmit this slow process.
loE Butter not youE bread on both sides. i,
ne il your old age you be left without bre