Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-20

conver who sailed in ships of the royal navy of Great Britain
and who were sent Northwest Coast for the expresspur
pose Of exploration and discovery
In the next place. it circumstance not 10 be lost sight
of that it was for several years followed up by any act
which could give value in national point Of view
not truth made known the world either by the discov
himself or BY his Government So recently the
year 1896 the American Plenipotentaries in London
Marked with great correctness in of their reports that
respecting the mouth of the Columbia river know no
thing of Grays discoveries but through British accounts
In The next place. the connexion Of Grays discovery with
that of Lewis and Clarke interrupted by the Intervening
Poauon OF Lieutenant Broughon, of the British surveying
ship Chatham"
With respect to the expedition of Lewis and Clarke, il
must on close examination Of the route pursued by them,
be confessed that neither their outward journey the Pa
cc their homeward journey the United States did
they touch upon the Of the principal branch of the
Columbia ve which lie far the north Of the parts of the
country traversed and explored by them.
Thompson, Of the British Northwest Company, was the
FIRST civilized person who navgated the northern, in reality
the main, branch of the Columbia aversed any part of
the country drained by it.
1t by tributary of the Columbia that Lewis and
Clarke made their way to the main Of that river
which they reached at point distant is believed
than hundred miles from the point to which the river had
already been explored by Broughton.
These facts, the undersigned conceives will be found su
cen reduce the value of Lewis and Cares exploration
the Columbia limits which would by no means Justify
claim to the whole valley drained by that and its
branches.
As settlement the qualified nature Of the rights devoy-
ed TO the United States by virtue of the restitution of
Astoria has already been pointed out.
II will thus be seen, the undersigned confidently believes
that the grounds Of discovery exploration and settlement
Great Britain has nothing fear from comparison
claims to the Oregon Territory, taken whole, with those
That reduced to the valley drained by the Columbia the
facts which the United States their
being Of that complete and exclusive character which would
justify claim TO the whole valley Of the Columbia and
That especially relates Vancouvers island, taken by
ITSELF the preferable claim Of Great Britain, in every point Of
view, seems to have been clearly demonstrated.
After this exposition Of the views entertained by the Brit
sh Government respecting the relative value and importance
Of the British and American claims, the American Penpo
Tertiary will nor be surprised to hear that the undersigned does
not feel liberty accept the proposal offered by the Ame
Penpotentiary for the settlement of the question
This proposal in fact offers less than that rendered by the
American Penipotentaes in the negotiation of 1926, and
declined by the British Government
On that proposed that the navigation of the
Columbia should be made free to both parties
On this nothing said in the proposal to which the under
signed has now the honor to reply while with respect to the
proposed freedom Of the ports Vancouver island south Of
latitude 49, the facts which have been appealed in this
paper giving Great Britain the strongest claim the
possession Of the whole island would deprive such
proposal of any value,
The undersigned therefore, trusts that the American Pen
potentary will be prepared to offer further proposal for
tho settlement Of the Oregon question more consistent with
fairness and equity and with the reasonable expectations
the British Government defined in the (marked
d. which the undersigned had the honor present the
American PenPoentay at the early part Of the present
gotaion.
The undersigned British Penpotentiary has the honor to
to the honorable James Buchanan, Secretary Of State
and of the United States the Of his
high consideration. R. PAKENHAM.
Hon. JAMES BucHASAS, &c.
~. b. 2. Mr.. Buchanan to Mr.. Pdkenhdm.
DEPARrMESr OF STATE,
WAsHISeroS, Auousr 80, ls45.
The gnsd Secretary of State Of the United States
dee his duty make in reply to the
statement Of her Britannia Maestys Envoy Extraordnar,
an Monster Plenipo,enay, marked R. p and dated 10Th
July, 1916.
Preliminary the discussion necessary fix
tenton upon the precise question under consideration in the
present stage Of the negotiation This question simply is
were the titles OF Spain and the United States when united
BY the Florida treaty the 22d Of February, 1919, good
against Great Britain TO the Oregon territory far north
the Russian line, in the latitude of $40 40i IF they wee
viii be zdmed rnsr rnis whole Territory now te0ss ~
the United States.
The undersigned again remarks that is not his purpose
repes8 argument BY which his predecessor, Mr. Calhoun
has demonstrated the American title "to the entire region
drained by the Columbia river and its branches" He viii
thus impair its force.
contended, the part of Great Britain, that the Uni
ted States acquired and hold the Spanish title subject to the
and conditions of the Nooka Sound convention,
cludd between Great Britain and Spain, at the Escua
the 2sh October, 1890
In opposition the argument Of the undersigned contained
in his marked J. b. maintaining that this
ton had been annued by the between Spain and Grea
Britain, in 1885, and has since been revived by the
parties the British Penipotenta, in his marked
R. r., has taken the following positions:
!. That when Spain concluded with the United States
the treaty Of 1919, commonly called the Florida treaty. the
convention concluded between the former Power and Gea
Britain in 100 considered by the parties to it to be still
in force"
And 2. "But that il such treaty had ever exist
ed Great Britain would stand, with reference TO claim to
the Oregon territory in position least favorable the
United States"
The undersigned will follow step STEP the argument OF
the British Penipotenay in support these propositions
The British Plenpotentary states that the treaty 1890
Is not appealed TO by the British Government the Amer
can PenPotentary suppose, their reliance
in the present discussion, but show that by the Florida
treaty Of 1919 the United States acquired right exclusive
dominion over part Of the Oregon territory.
The undersigned had believed that since 1926 the
Noo convention has been regarded by the British Govern
ent as their MAN, il not their only reliance. The very
nre and peculiarly Of their claim identified il with the
sucion which they have imposed upon this convention and
necessarily excludes other basis Of title What but
accord with this construction could have caused Messrs Hus
hsson and Arlington, the British commissioners specify
ing their title, the 9Th December 1926 declare that
Great Britain claims exclusive sovereignty
portion Of that territory Her claim ia
any part but TO the whole, limited right OF joint
pancy 10 with other States leaving the right Of
sive dominion in sbeyanee."
And again
by that convention of agreed that all parts
on the northwestern Of Amerca already occupied
that time BY either Of the contracting parties should theceor
ward be equally the both all
and settlemente sovereignty remaining aey
ance"
But on this subject not e nferences how
ever clear. The British commissioners, their
IRON which the undersigned has Just quoted have virtually
abandoned Britain