Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-12-11
EXTRA.

10 ine pfeIudtCe OF any Ctdltu "uiSH tlAhei
o. the two high contracting parties may
have to any part Of the said country, mol
/ shall it be taken TO affect the claims Of any
other Power or State to any part OF the
said country the only object of the con.
tracing parties in that respect being, &c
prevent disputes and differences among
| themselves"
The negotiation of 1924 was productive
of no result. and the convention Of 1915
was left unchanged.
The negotiation of 1896. having also
failed to effect an adjustment by eompro-
mise, resulted in the convention of Au-
gust the sixth, 1897, by which it was a
greed to continue in force. for an indefn-
lite period, the provisions Of the third ar
ticle Of the convention Of the twentieth
Of October, 1918; aud it was further pro-
vided, that "it shall be competent, howe
yer, to either of the contracting parties
in case either should think ft at any time
after the twentieth Of October, 1928. on
giving due notice of tweve months to the
other contracting party, TO snnul and alb
rogsie this convention; and il shall in
such case, be accordingly annulled and
abrogsted after the expiration Of the said
term of notice." In these attempts 10
adjust the controversy, the parallel Of the
forty ninth degree Of uorlh latitude had
been offered by the United States to Great
Britain, and in those Of 1918 and 1896,
with further concession of the free nav
igation Of the Columbia river south Of that
lititude. The parallel of the forty ninth
degree, from the Rocky mountains to its
intersection with the northe astermost
branch of the Columbia, and thence down
the channel Of that river to the sea, had
been offered by Great Bliiain, with an
addition of small detached territory
north of the Columbia. Each Of these
propositions had been rejected by the par
ties respectively.
In October, lS43. the Envoy Extraor-
binary and Minister Plenipotentiary of
the United States in London was author
ised to make a similar offer TO those made
in 1918 and 1896. Thus stood the ques-
lion, when the negotiation was shortly az
forwards transferred TO Washington and
on the twenty third of August, 1914, was
formally opened. under the direction of my
immediate predecessor. Like all the pre-
vious negotiations, it was based upon
principles Of compromise, and the "a
vowed purpose Of the parties was, ITO
treat Of the respective claims OF The two
countries TO the Oregon territory, with the
view 10 establish permanent boundary
between them westward of the Rocky
mountains to the Pacific ocean" Ac-
cordngly, on the twenty-slxth OF August,
1914, the British Plenipoten offered
to divide the Oregon territory by the for
ty-ninth parallel of north latitude, from
The Rocky mountains to the point OF IFS
intersection with the noItheastermoSt
branch of the Columbia river, and thence
down that river to the sea- leaving the
free navigation of the river to be enjoyed
in common by both parlies-the country
south OF this line 10 belong TO the United
ain. AT the same time, he proposed, 10
addition, 10 yield to the United States
detached territory, north Of the Column
bia, extending along the Pacific and the
Straits of Fuca, from Bulfinch's harbor
inclusive, TO Hoods canal, and TO make
free 10 the United States any port or ports
south of latitude forty-nine degrees, which
they might desire, either on the main land,
or on Quadra and Nancuuver's island
With the exception of the free ports, this
was the same offer which has been made
by the British, and rejected by the Amer
lean goyernmen in the negotiation Of
1926. This proposition was properly re-
jected by the American plenipolentiary
on the day ii was submitted. This was the
only proposition Of compromise offered by
the British plenipotentary. The propo-
sition on the part of Great Britain having
been rejected, the British plenipoteata-
ry requested that a proposal should be
made by the United States for ian equi-
table adjustment Of the question"
When | came into office, found this
10 be the state Of the negotiation. Though
entertaining the settled conviction, that
the British pretenslons Of title could not
be maintained TO any portion oil the Ore
gon territory upon any principle OF pub
lie law recognized by nations, yet in def
ereuoe to what had been done by my
predecessors, and especially in consldera-
ton that propositions of compromise had
been thrice made by two preceding ad-
ministrations, to adjust the question on
the parallel Of forty-nine degrees, and in
two Of them yielding to Great Britain the
free navigation Of the Columbia, and that
the pending negotiation had been com
menced on the basis of compromise, |
deemed it to be my duty no, abruptly to
break il off. In consideration, too, that
under the conventions of 1918 and 1921,
the citizens and subjects of the two Pow
ers had joint occupancy of the country,
was induced 10 make another effort to
settle this long pending controversy in the
spirit Of moderation which had gwen
birth TO the renewed discussion. A prop
ostion was accordingly made, which was
rejected by the British Plenipotentiary,
who, wi,hou, submitting any other prop
osition, suffered the negotiation on his part
10 drop, expressing his trust that the Uni
ted States would offer what he saw fit to
call .some further proposal for the settle.
ment Of the Oregon question, more con-
sistent with fairness and equity, and with
the reasonable expectations Of the British
Ths 0sano.,,,on thus If