Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-12-19


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States have clear title, the British Droposalf
In the second conference falls far short of what
they can accept.
AS to ourclalms to other parts of the Terri.
tory than those drained by the Columbia. thew
extend as far as the Treaty of Florida with
Spain can warrant. 49,
Jan. Is, l845, MIR. Packenham to Mr.. Cal.
houn states that he has sent the discussions
already had to his Government, hut that in
the mean time, he is authorised to offer arhi.
tration, leaving the choice of arbiters for after
consideration.
January 81, l845. Mr.. Calhoun saws he has
laid the offer of Mr.. p. before the President.
and he cannot cUncede to the. proposal:@ He
hopes the question may bessettied by negotia-
ton. Arbitration might rather retard than ex-
pedite the settlement. Il
July 18th. 1915. Mr.. Buchanan having
been appointed Secretary of State, resumes
the negotiation, and proceeds in reply to Mr..
Packenham's note Of September 10Th. to an.
swef sMs request for propositions from the
United States Government; and also for a
statement of title. He commences with the
title first, and rests it upon the cession from
Spain, contending e that at the date of this
cession Spain had good title as against Great
Britain to the whole Oregon territory, and ifI
this be established. the question is then estab-
lished in favor of thS u nited S.ates.''
He proceeds first to ascertain the meaning
of the Nootka Sound convention, and main
} tains that itconferfed no rights upon Great
} Britain but to trade with the Indians, was
transient in its nature, and did not interfere
with the sovereignty of Spain over the terri
tory, and above all, that it was annuIed by
; the war between Great Britain and Spain in
! 1896, and has never since been renewed, and
/ consequently, that the claim Of Great Britain
T to any portion of the territory is destitute OF
foundation. Mr.. Buchanan proceeds to en-
force these positions with great ability and at
great length.
: Having established these positions, he states
3 the positions which he considers Mr.. C. ,lhoun
has proved, of our right to the whole Of the
{ territory drained by the Columbia, and main
: tains that the treaties Of Joint occupancy spe-
e cially exempt this title from being impaired
e by them or any subsequent action of Great
d Brit in. Our own title is older than that ac-
e quired by the Florida treaty; and admitting
the application Of the Noolka Convention as
J. nO1U sought to be enforced by Great Britain,
It it cannot affect title to this territory. The
y grounds are maintained and enforced with
n great ability and at length.
v He then says that the President, entertain
g ing these views of oar title, would not have
consented to yield any portion Of the Oregon
III Territory, had he not been embarrassed, if not
n committed, by the action of his predecessors
le in office, and with a view to manifest to the
y. world that he is actuated by spirit of mode
ration he offers the 49th parallel to the ocean,
,e without any port on Vancouver's island south
at Of that parallel.
July 29th, 1915. Mr.. Packenham, in re-
m ply of considerable length, combats most
c. strenuously the positions of Mr.. Buchanan
h particularly that claiming the American title
a to the Valley Of the Columbia, to be older than
lg the treaty Of 1919, inasmuch as 10 another par
MIR. B. had said that the title of Spain SO fal
ia, north as the 6lst degree, had never seriously
yh been questioned by any European nation; and
he if this were the case, the Americans could no
lie acquire any title to that to which the Spani st
en- title was perfect; while if the Spanish title
by were not perfect, and the American title by
at discovery is good against that title, then he
Of claims that there were earlier British dlscov
a. cries. tie also brings forward the American
de offer to divide the territory previous to the
to treaty with Spain in 1919, and he maintains
lis that the United States can found no claim OF
'm discovery, exploration, and settlement, Prio
ay to the Florida treaty, without admitting th'
an principles of the Nootka convention, and thu
by consequent validity Of the parallel claims O
On, Great Britaie, founded on like acts. He main
talns that he has shown that the Nootka con
to vention has continued in force until the pres
he ent time; and also, that if that convention ha
est never existed, the claims Of Great Britain ar
ms at least as good as those of the United States
ion He states the various discoveries, &C., the a
Ia mount of which appears to be that British nav
M igators and travellers discovered Vancouver
81, Island and Fraser's river; and American, To
G. lumbia river; he maintains, however, the Br
ted ish claim to the whole, and declines the o1e
sImade by Mr.. Buchanan.
.anf August Goth, 1915. In this communlc5
yes ton, which is the last Of the series, Mr.. Bu
hts chanan proceeds to reply, at great length,
her Mr.. Packenham's statement, and quotes tn
declaration of Messrs. Huskisson and Adding
and ton, OF 10th December, 1926, that ''GreatsBr
be tain claims no exclusive sovereignty over an
ca portion of that territory" Mr.. B. makes
sIlong and elaborate argument in reply to M
icy fP., restates most forciblySthe American It'll
nth and enforces it to the whole of Oregon, ar
Ter concludes by Withdrawing the proposition
est had made, giving Mr.. P, however. one
the two raps in relation to his dispatch, al
kes the fact that he had rejected the offer wltho
ex submitting it to his Government.
acy
sur NEW ORR EANS Dec. 7.
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