The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-07
THE DAILY UNION.

Spain. up 10 THIS period, May, lioy, no settles
ment or establishment whatever had been attempted
for the alleged settlement OF Meares at Nootka must
be regarded mere pretence, and no civilized
ton had exercised any jurisdiction in any part of
the west COASTS of the New World between San Fran.
cisco and Prince Williams Sound.
Arriving at Nootka, the Spanish commanders
landed materials and built fort; and afterwards
seized two British vessels, which were engaged in
the trade of the coasts. For this proceeding the
British government demanded reparation; warm
dispute arose between the two governments, that
had well nigh ended in war; but finally, under the
mediation Of France, It was brought to close by
convention, commonly called the Nootka treaty, or
the convention Of the Escuria which, it is inn
portant in this controversy, shall give entire in
the course of this article.
The Spanards also forced another settlement on
the south side Of the Strait of Fuca and they
tinued at Nootka, with some intermissions, until
about l795, when they left it, for other reason,
so far as is known, than that it useless and
expensive. Since then they have had settle
ments north of San Francisco.
The first settlement of any kind made by British
subjects west of the Rocky mountains was in 1906,
by Simon Fraser, who formed trading establish
n,ent at a small lake. in the 54th parallel oflattude.
Neither he any other British subject any of
the waters of the Oregon until five years afterwards,
and after Astoria had been founded in the Oregon
country itself by American citizens. Before 1910,
Mr.. Henry an agent of the Missouri Fur company,
Lewis river, one Of the tributaries of the Oregon.
The hostility of the Indians and the want of pro-
visions, led TO its abandonment, however, in that
year. In the year, Captain Smith, Of the ship
Albaross, of Boston, attempted settlement on the
Oregon, about forty miles from its mouth. He built
house, and planted garden; but the site not being
good he left il before the close of the year. Mean
time Mr.. Astor's expedition had been fitted out, and
in March, 1871, Astoria was founded at the mouth
Of the Oregon. During the war il was captured by
the British, but restored in October, 1918, in
pursuance of the supuations Of the treaty of peace.
From that time to the present, the two govern
ments, with few intermssons, have been engaged
in negotiations about the title to the country. And
it agreed between them, first in 1918, and after
wards in 1897 it might be temporarily occupied by
the people of both nations, without, however, i'm
pairing in any way the title Of eithers So that
Of the discoveries settlements, of either America
or England, since that time, cam In any manner affect
the title.
So far, then, occupancy is concerned, it appears
scarcely disputabe that the first settlements were by
Spain, the second by America, and the last by Eng
land; and that the rights derived from occupancy
are held in the same order
The rights we have been hitherto considering, ere
those which are derived from discoveries and settle
ments, on the Pacific coasts or overland, from the
eastern side of the mountains But there are certain
other rights which must not be overlooked; the
rights derived from discoveries and settlements on
the Atlantic coasts.
On the first colonization of the New World, the
discovery and settlement of the Atlantic border
claimed to give title across the continent The
enlarged charter to the first colony of Virginia, for
example, granted the country extending along the
sea coast four hundred miles, and into the land
throughout from sea to sea.
De Soto, Spanard, was the discoyerer of the
Mississippi; but the French from Canada first ex-
plored its northern branches, established posts and
colonies on their banks, and advancing down the
river, finally got possession Of the whole valley Up
to the peace Of 1862 France claimed and possessed
the countries watered by the St. Lawrence and the
Mississippi, and their dependencies, under the
names of New France and louisiana; and by the
treaty then made, Canada was coded to Great Brit
ain, and the Mississippi adopted as the boundary of
their respective territories on the south.
The conventions between the two countries are as fol-
lows:
Convention of October 30, 1918.
Arr g. It Is agreed that country that may be claimed
Of the Stony mountains shall together with its har
bors bays, and creeks and the navigation of all rivers
from the date Of the signature present convention
the vessels citizens and subjects of the two powers be-
tred to The prejudice Of any claim which either Of the
two high contracting parties have to any part Of the
other power state TO the said country
the only object of the high contracting parties in that
pect being to prevent disputes and differences among
Conrenfion of august 8, 1897.
ART All the provisions of the third article of the
vention concluded between the United States of America
and his Majesty the King Of the United Kingdom Of Great
Britain and Ireland the goth of October 1878 shall be,
and they hereby further indefinitely extended and
nued in force in the e all the provisions
Of the said article were herein specifically recited
Arr q shall be competent however to either Of the
contracting parties in either should think fit at
time after the 10th of October 1928 giving due notice of
twelve months to the other contracting party to annu and
abrogate this convention and it shall such case, be
cordngy entirely annued and abrogaed after the expn
ton Of the said term of notice. H
Arr g. Nothing contained in this convention or in the
third article Of the convention Of the goth October 1915
hereby continued in force shall be construed to impair
in any affect, the claims which either of the
tracing parties may have to part of the country west
ward Of the Stony or Rocky mountains.
TO BE CONTINUED.