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

tain and the United States and above ALL the proposal ac
tualy made the part of the United for partition Of
the Oregon territory all which transactions took place in The
year sS when yet, Spain had made transfer or ces
sion her ghsaPpear 70 be as little reconcabe with any
regard for those rights while still vested in Spain, the claim
founded discovery, exploration and settlement accomplish
ed previously to the transfer Of those rights the United
States.
Surprising the arrangement proposed in the year ss or
any other arrangement for the partition Of the Oregon terri
tory to have been concluded in those days between Great B
tam and this country what would III hatcasc have become
Of the exclusive rights Of Spain
There would have been refuge for the United States
but in appeal the principles Of The Nooa convention
To deny then, the validity Of the Noota convention
proclaim the ilegaly Of any tile founded discovery,
oraon or settlement previous to the conclusion of the Flo
rida treaty.
To appeal to the Florida treaty conveying TO the United
States any exclusive rights, attach character Of
croachment and of violation Of the rights Of Spain every
10 which the United States appealed in the negotiation Of
1918, as giving them claim territory the Northwest
cast.
These conclusions appear the undersigned be esis-
tble.
The United States can found no claim on discovery expo
ration and settlement effected previously The Florida treaty.
without admitting the principles Of the Nooka convention
and the consequent validity OF the parallel caims OF Great
Britain, founded on like acts they appeal 10 any
elusive right acquired the Florida treaty without unset;
ting all claims adduced in their proper right by of
discovery, exploration, and settlements antecedent that ar
rangemenf
Convention of 1870 (he Nootka Sound convention has
continued in full and complete force the present moment
BY reason, in the first place, of the commercial character
Of of its provisions, such expressly renewed by
of August, 1914, between Great Britain and
Spain:
BY reason the place. of the acquescence Of Spain
various transactions to which rs be supposed that
that Power would have assented had she felt bound by
the provisions of the convention in question.
And, thirdly by of repeated Of the Government
Of the United States previous to the conclusion Of the Flo
nda treaty, manfesng adherence to the principles of the
Nooka convention at least dissent from the exclusive pre-
tensions Of Spain.
Having thus replied, and he hopes satisfactorily to the OBJ
servatons of the American Penpoenary with the
effect OF the Nooka Sound convention and the Florida treaty.
bearing upon the subject Of the present discussion the UNI
dersigned must endeavor to show that if the Nooka
Sound convention had existed the position Of Great
Britain in regard her claim whether the whole or to any
particular portion Of the Oregon territory at least az rood
as that Of the United States
This branch of the subject be considered first with
reference to prncpe-o the right of either party, Great
Britain or the United States, to explore make settlements
the Oregon territory without violation Of the rights Spain
and next supposng the first be decided amavey with
reference to the relative value and importance of the
discovery, exploration, and settlements effected by each
Asreaes the question Of principle the undersigned thinks
he furnish better argument than that contained the
following words which be has already quoted from the
statement Of the American Plenipotentiary
The title Of the United States the valley Of the Column
ba older than the Florida treaty February 1879 under
which the United States acquired all the rights Of Spain to the
Northwest of America and exists Independently Of its
provisions" And again The title of the United States to
entire region drained by the Columbia river lis branches
perfect and complete before the treaties Of Joint
occupancy Of October, 1918, and August, 1872
The title thus referred must be that resting on DISCOVERY
explorafion and settement
> n Is good, guuu us sv.frss
the exclusive Pretensons of Spain, previously the concu
of the Florida treaty, the Claims of Great .;
resting on the same grounds be good also.
Thus, them 1t seems manifest that with without the aid
OF the Nooka Sound convention the claims of Great Britain
resting on discovery exploration and settlement are in point
OF principle, equally valid with those of the United Staes
Let how the comparison will stand when tried
BY the relative value Importance and auhenciiy Of each
Rejecting previous discoveries north Of the 42d parallel Of
as not socienty authenticated, win be on tho
de Of Great Britain that in l77s, Captain Cook dscover,
Cape Faitery the southern the straits Of Fuca
Cook must also be considered iscoverer of Nooks p
consequence OF the want of authency in the alleged pre-
ious discovery Of that port by Perez
In 1857 Capt Berkeley British subject in vessel unde,
AUSTRIAN colors, discovered the straits of Fuca.
In the same year, Capt Duncan, in the ship Princess
loyal entered the straits and traded the village Of (as
In 1888, Meares, British subject formed the establish
nent at Nooka which gave the memorable discussion
With the Spanish Government ending the recognition bv
hat Power OF the right Of Great Britain settlements
the unoccuped parts Of the northwest portion Of the
american continent and engagement ON the mart Of
pain 10 reinstate Meares in the possession from which he
ad been elected by the Spanish commanders
In 1892, Vancouver who had been sent from England 70
Witness the fuhlment Of the above mentioned engagement
nd TO effect survey of the Northwest Coast departing from
Sootka Sound, entered the straits Of Fuca and after an
ccurae survey Of the on both sides discov
red passage northwards into the Pacific by which he re-
umed to Notwithstanding thus circumnayeaed the island
which bears his And here have as far AZ re-
ates to Vancouvers island complete discovery
xpoaiion and settlement well he presented giving
Great Britain IN any arrangement that be made with
egard to the territory dispute tho strongest possible claim
0 the exclusive possession Of that island.
While Vancouver prosecuting discovery and explora
ion by Sir Alexander Mackenzie partner in the North
vest Company crossed the Rocky Mountains discovered the
eadwsiers OF the river since called Frazers river and fol-
'wing for time the Of that river effected pas
to the sea-being the FIRST civilized man who ayersed
IN the of Mackenzie Canada the Northwest Com
any established trading posts in the country to the westward
the Rocky Mountains.
In 1906 and 1911, respectively the company esah-
she'd posts the Tacoutchd resse, and the Columbia
In the year 1911, Thompson, the Of the NORTH
est Company discovered tho northern headwacrs Of the
Columbia, and following Its till joined y the rivers
revousy discovered by Lewis and Clarke he continued his
urney the Pacific.
From that time until the year 1915 when the arrangement
n the JOINT occupancy OF the territory was concluded the
northwest Company continued extend their operations
roughout the Oregon territory, and occupy il may
SAID Tar occupation be effected in regions SO in
:cessbe aud destitute Of resources.
While all this passing the following events occurred
hich constitutes the American claims their proper right
In 1872 Gray entered the mouth az the Columbia river
In iS05 Lewis and Clarke effected passage across the
ocky Mountains, and, discovering branch Of the Column
a rser, followed i until they reached the ocean
La Isl The trading post settlement Of Astoria was es
bshed at the mouth Of the Columbia on the northern side
that river AZ,