Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-07-09

VoYAGE OF Discovery IN THE NoRrI
WEST CoAsr.
We advocate The assumption of the Or
egon Territory, not alone because the De
mocratic party advocates il. The ques
ton is a national, aud mol party question
lis two sides are those Of right and wrong
the former the American, The latter the
British side. The eminent statesmen o
this country have acknowledged and es
poused our claim and all examination o
its merits, only tends to confirm US in the
opinion, that if negotiation fails TO secure
US the entire and sole sovereignty and oc.
cupancy of the Oregon territory, in the
other alternative to which we shall be for.
ced, we shall be Thrice armed in the just-
ness of our quarrel.
Among the most important documents
on which we rely for materials and infor-
nation, are The aole reports of The Hon. g.
Gushing, from The Committee on Foreign
Affairs, presented to the House of Reps,
IN the Congressional session of 1889. MIR.
Cushine's Report and supplement. evinces
The deep research, The indefatgable indus
lrySclose reasoning, liberia views, and lit.
erary ability which 'characlerizes his la
bors. and entities him to the high rank he
holds in popular estimation. We Cannot
withhold the expression of our Indebted.
ness TO his labors in tho Investigation of
the Oregon Question.
As all claims TO territory are originally
based on discovery and exploration, il is
neither unimportant nor uninteresting 10
give rapid and cursory glance at the
early voyages TO The North west coas, of
America, and their results.
The Spaniards, after the conques, of
Mexico, we're anxious 10 secure the fruits
of their conquest by enlarging the limits of
their sovereignty in the New World. Va
rious expeditions were ilted ou! accord
ingly. fernando de Grijalva, commanded
one of these, lieutenant of Cortez. dis
covered California, 1884. This discovery
was followed by voyages Of exploration
under the auspices Of the emperor. one Of
which he conducted in5person: CaIifor-
MIA was ultimately settlel hvrlhe- Span.
Iarus, aud paved the way tor lhe explora
lion of The North west coast. In 1882
F,aucisco de Cali. in sailing from Macao
to Acapulco, between which ports the
Spanlards maintained a direct intercourse,
made the north west coast as high up as
latitude 81 80 North. There is good evil
dence TO believe that in 1888. a Spanish
voyager by The name of hlaldonado dis
covered the Straits IF Aniau.
Juan de Fuca, a Greek pio, in the
Spanish service, undoubtedly discovered
the straits OF Fnca; in 1899. On The 18th
of JANUARY, 1903, Martin de Sguila, on a
voyage Oft exploration, commanded by Viz
cano, who. however, left the fleet in lat.
50. reached the mouth of a river in lat. 43
norib, which is that undoubtedly called
Umqua. There were many other voya-
ges aad discoveries made by the SpanIards
at dferen, dates, bot We have noticed the
most important. Settlements were then
made on the coast, and Spain thus ac..
ouired incontes,ihle territorial ishts TO The
country its subjects had discovered.
Great Britain claims territorial rights Of
some sort, hased on the alleged discove-
ries of Sir Francis Drake, who landed on
some pointin California, in 1873. and also
made The cast in North latitude 42 or 43,
withou, landing or taking possession. The
spot where he did land in California, he
named New Albion, but his proceedings
could not iuva.idatc the prior claim Of
Spain.
The spirit of making discoveries in the
North west coast, remained dormant in
Europe until revived by Russia in the 18th
century, when the far Northwest was visi-
ted by the gallant and enlerprising Russian
navi gators, Eehring and Sschirikow, in
1928, 1928, and l74l.
Spain and England, jealous of the
movements of Russia, again fitted out ex-
pedilons Of discovery, and The former
power, by means Of her subject, Don Joan
Perez, obtaiued claim to the shores oi
Noorka Sound.
Four gears after the landing Of Capt
| Cook, an the same place, Perex, in,he mouth
of August. IVA, anchored in The road oI
Nooka, landed and gave tho spot the
name of San Lorenzo, his being he first
European foot that touched that shore. In
I775, The Spanish expedition commanded
by Hecela, Ayala. and auadre, explored
The coast as high up as lat. IS, and frs, dis
covered the mouth Of the river Columbia,
which was called Lutrada de Heceta. In
l779, 'Quadra, on another expedition sur
veyed the port Of Bucareli, and located
Muout st. Elias and the island Of La
| Magalene. Cooks explorations, being
| from Nuotka Sound northward, It'll un-
necessary to notice as disconnected with
the history of the Oregon Territory. The
unfortunate La Perouse, the French nay.
gator, was al Mount ST. Elias in 1855.
/! The occurrence ofpolitical events Of mag
ni,ude placed iusuperabIe obstacles in the
path of commercial enterprise, aud for &
period, the voyages TO The northwest coas
were entirely suspended. On nex' resu.
ming this subject, We shall notice {
memorable discoveries male b. OIL