Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-05-31
ON THE OREGON QUESTION.


was observed that in all probability, Il Mr. Calhoun had
ne ofegon negotiation, he would have accepted the
Dsn Popo~uon m 1925 10 make the Columbia the boun-
oary rom where The 4sth parallel strikes that river This
On our part was entirely nferenta II was conclusion
drawn ate the Perusa Of his speech in the Senate during
s osson debate is4S We have since understood that
MS correspondence with the British Minister will show il
ever published that Mr. Calhoun Commended far ,b whole u
our claim 70 "a ~ according to the line adopted in the con
venion with Russia. How much less he woud have finally
consented to receive - Of course entirely conjsctura
supposed, IN welnfomed quarters what data we are nm
able to determine, that the British Government vii; adm, r
claim the 49th parallel but that the chief matter \; on
versy the south end Of Vancouyers island which tst ma
ralel would inersec the island lying between as and 81
north latitude In this island which divided from the main
land by the magnificent strait De Fuca is Nooa Sound 50
celebrated in diplomatic history The island contains num-
Der of fine habor Objects of course very attractive ma
rhine Power like that Of Great Britain. line at the 10Th
parallel carried from the Rocky Mountains to VancouveIs
island, leaves that island consequently round it
about one degree to the south Of 49,
know not the foundation Of this presumed British con-
cesson IL however, contrary to the uniform tenor OF their
communications with Government. What may throw
some light on the intentions of the British Executive, II we
are to judge of the present from the past passage which
has been extracted from Mr. Rushs work. entitled $ Residence
in London, which he published shortly after his return from
England he was Of the negotators will be recoect
ed IN 1878, and again in 1924 His remark s ssthat the
British Government made formal proposition for boundary
IN the Oregon territory, but ntmaed that the ITSELF the
Columbia was the most convenient and said that they could
agree to nonethR did not gire them the ha6or at its mouth
n With the United STATES" To this the American
negotaors would assent they having proposed the 49h
parallel three degrees nearly north Of the Columbia But
come down to the period Of the latest negotiation for evidence
OF the intentions of the English Government In the COM
municaions between Mr. Galatn and Messrs Arlington
and Husksson the British commissioners they declared that
their Government still ready abide by the proposition
made to Mr. Rush in 1924, for line Of separation between
the territories of the two nations drawn from the Rocky
Mountains along the 10th parallel of latitude the north
the that
river to the giving Great Britain all the territories north
and to the United States all south of that line" To this pro-
position Mr. Gaatn replied by repeating the offer made by
Mr. Rush and himself in 1873 for the adoption of the 49th
parallel the line of separation from the Rocky Mountains
the Pacific ocean, with the additional provisions that the
said line should cross any of the branches Of the Columbia at
points from which they navgabe by boats the main
stream the navigation of such branches and of the main
stream should be pe7peuaH free and to the people
81 both nations that the citizens subjects Of neither party
should henceforward make any settlements in the territories
Of the other but that all settlements already formed by the
people OF either nation within the limits Of the other might be
occupied and used by them for years. and longer du
ing which all the remaining provisions of the existing
ion should remain in force" The British Government re-
to occede to this any other proposition which should
aepraue them Of the northern bank Of the Columbia and the
ghf % navigating that yiver to and from the sea, though
hey expressed their readiness to renqush the United
States in addition to what they first offered detached terri
arg, extending on the Pacific and the strait of Fuca from
5uinchs harbor to Hoods canal and to spuate that
anks Of the Columbia, calculated impede the free naviga
ION OF that river by either party This negotiation resulted
IS KNOWN in the senewa for years of the convention for
oint occupancy.
ecen debate in the House of Commons when he corrected
ord John Russell in his of the negotiation 1925
The noble lord says Sir Robert Peel "appears think
hat the last proposition line drawn from that point
,here the 49th parallel of north latitude nersecs the Rocky
fountains to branch of the Columbia called the north
fcGiivay; that the line continued down that river to
ne point where joined the Columbia, and was then con-
nued to the point where that falls the But
he last proposition made by Mr. Canning that add
iona territory should be ceded the United States called
e Fuego which you will the map Vancouvers
Stand, and that certain peninsula, containing considerable
rac OF land to the north of the Columbia, should also be
d to the United States We have aluson this
passage of Sir Robert Peers speech any the of
ne American Journals 1t may have been the foundation,
art OF the inference that the only point in controversy
whether the line Of AZ should be continued through Van
island the Pacific that the line should pass
ne south end of that island fair construction Of this pas
age does not appear warrant the conclusion taken In
exion with the uniform of all previous diplomatic
nunicafons that the British Government o,c disposed
ied the entire navigation of and sovereignty the Column
ia to the United States
III admits Of this construction, the question is will
1e British Government adhere to her offers made in 1926
here public faith involved on either side the par
es could not agree boundary But il the British Gov
rnment will boundary which carries the line
partition throughout from the Rocky Mountains, leaving
nat Government in possession Of the whole Of Vancouve
and by carrying the line round il about one degree with
npuahon for the common right Of navigating the Columbia
would form of the happes arrangements that could
made II would be greater concession than offered
$40, and would be consonant to that spirit Of reciprocity
which they allowed the joint Of ST. Johns in the late
element Of the northeastern boundary 1t barely possible
ut assuredy improbable, in the face Of their uniform decla
ATOMS that the subjects of the British Government who have
ormed settlements the north shores Of the Pacific high
IS 49, and whose only outlet for the outward and inward
nerce in which they engaged the Columbia river would
e abandoned by the authority who implicitly, at least pro-
nsed them protection 1t is well known with what enaciy
hat Government holds to the principle of protection its sub
ecs IN their remotest settlements The British Government
give adequate compensation the Hudson Bay Company
breaking up their great depot for the fur trade Vancouver
md their other establishments the of the Columbia
md being satisfied with the outlet to the Pacific afforded by
rasers nyer higher up about the 49h degree NORTH and
which, like the Columbia is navgabe for vessels drawing
welve feet water
We have said that there never existed national boundary
ispute IN which the claims equally balanced to
present fair issue for arbitration Our treaty claims are GER
siny either feeble conflicting II is irrational to set up
light under the Louisiana treaty with its loose geography and
dened boundaries II is less contradictory TO claim ur
Ter the Spanish title in 1919 and the treaty of Client in 1914
we entitled TO Astoria, as restored post in virtue
Il the discovery Of Gray and the settlement by Asto
oud not ghtfuy take from Spain in 1919 that Of which
lad dsPossessed her in 1892 when claim have dcov
red the Columbia, and demanded the restitution Of Astoria
rom England in 1914 is impossible with any show of
usice to set up both titles claim by right Of dscov
and occupation throws overheard treaty right under
he Spanish II claim all the benefits Of this ces
ion, did Spain national wrong violently dispossessing
Ter Of part Of her territory in 1892 confirmed by treaty In
s4 But If do not set up sovereign righ over any
oron Of the territory which did not discover and SETTLE
merely the right of Joint occup1ncy then took from