The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-05-14
oREeON-OUR CLAIms no IT.

AiSs1 " mS OANiuShS pOseesslOu VI OtcBOus
II is known TO our readers that the whigs-the
leaders at least, including The editors--take
the British side of this question, as they do in
most instances. They contend that America
has no right 10 its occuPancy-sO do The British
The title 10 Oregon is 50 clearly established that
we take those who deny Il, as opposing light and
knowledge, TO say the least Of it. We adopt
the following, prepared by an exchange paper,
as being the fullest expose of our title that we
have seen:
Great Britain claims, without reservation, all
the territory north Of the Columbia river, and
with an equal right TO navigate that river. It is
said that she has offered 10 make that river the
boundary between the two governments. This
claim, If allowed by the United States, would
take full one-half of Oregon--perhaps more.
TO this our country will never accede. During
ahe discussions in the papers and in Congress,
our tide to the 49th parallel was considered valid
and unquestionable.
H'he American title rests upon the strong and
acknowledged right of fd;scovery Captain Gray,
of Boston, in the year 1892, in the ship Colum-
bia, entered for the first time the great river of
Oregon, which he named after his ship--the
Colambia--and TO this day it bears that and no
other name ThsIs of some moment as there
IS a law of nations which reads thus: "The ma
xion which discovers and enters the mouth of
river, by implication discovers the whole coun-
try walered by it." In virtue of this discovery,
the Columbia valley belongs to the United
States as against England. As if perfect our
title, il is not denied that the Lewis and Clark
and Willamette rivers, its tributaries, which
spread through all Oregon, were first explored
by Americans, by the expedition sent out by the
American Congress, at the suggestion of Jeffer-
son, under captains Lewis and Clark There
was minuteness and fullness in their dscovc-
ries which give the highest authenticity to Ii
tie founded upon prior discovery
Oregon is also our by purchase Tin lSl9) from
Spain, undeniably the first discoverer and occu-
pant Of the coast, even as far moth as the 55th
parallel. In 1919, Spain, for consideration of
$5,000,000, ceded 10 the United States Florida,
and also all her rights, title and claim 10 all ter
rilory on the Pacific coast north of the AID
parallel of latitude.
The only circumstance calculated to weaken
the perfectness of the United States title, is the
we'll known Nootka Sound contest (;n 1881
Which, ili NOhFCHtiOh OSh"CSu
gland and Spain, in the year 1890, some twenty
years before our purchase from Spain, and with
which conditions our title is undoubtedly clog
ged. The terms of that convention have been
the source of infinite dispute. After an exam
ination of the terms of the trcaty--the debates
in the English Parliament when the treaty was
laid before that body--the cotemporaneous ac-
ton in relation 10 the surrender of the English
possessions on Nootka Sound. which had been
seized by Spain-which surrender, by the way,
an English historian, Belsham, insists was never
made--ihe whole convention seems 10 be resol-
we'd into joint occupancy on the part of En-
glishmen and Spaniards for commercial purpo-
SEES. Such one now exists and has existed for
tweniy-seven years between Great Britain and
the United States in relation TO the very same
territory. Yetwe doubt whether any American
considers that we yielded in the least our u:i-
mate title to the Oregon, by that joint occupan-
cy. Applying the same principle to the conven-
tion between England and Span, and the con-
vction will arise that the title was left in abey-
ance TO be determined by subsequent agreement.
The following is a clear summary of the Amer
ican title:
l. Discovery of the mouth of Columbia river
by captain Gray, of Boston, giving the name of
his vessel 10 the river
2. The discovery of the head of The same RI
yer, by Lewis and Clark, under the authority of
the United States
g. The settlement of Astoria under the au.
spices of Mr.. Astor, an American naturazed
citizen.
a. The treaty of 1903 with the French re-
public
5. The treaty of Spain of 1919, acquiring all
rights of Spain to land north of AZ degrees he
yond the Rocky Mountains.
g. The Nooka Sound contest (l7S0) between
England and Spain
I. The treaty of Utrecht (l7G3) between
France and England, settling boundaries--ihisI
settlement becoming ours, as the successor of
France in that part of her dominions.
8. The treaty of Client (lSl5) restoring As
toria TO the United States as American proper
ty.
o. American citizens were once in sole pos
session of the Columbia river gion.
Even should the Nootka Sound convention be
considered acession of title and sovereignty to|
England on tie part of Spain, it only applies toI
the places named therein, and those are situate
north of the 19th parallel of lati itudc. 1t is we'll
"Nol an inch of soil in the valley oil
the Columbia and its tributaries, were included
in tine provisions of the convention of 1902
South Of Nootka Sound all parties in this coun-
try concur that our title is "clear and unques-
tionabIc." And there is not the remotest prob-
ability that our people will ever consent TO sur
render an acre.
Though this question is evidently surrounded
with complicated difficulties and embarrass-
nents, growing too, in no small degree out of the
joint occupancy, we have the hope that it will
be settled peaceably, honorubly and satisfactory
ly, under the auspices of our President and his
able Secretary of State.
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ONO COoNERY. There IS beautiful row now
among the coons at Columbus Il appears that