The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-11

lNS'df"NuJfoH P"st wi
Vanconver's ISLAND, as complete case of discovery
exploration and settlement, az can well be present
ed, giving TO Great Britain in any arrangement thai
may be made with regard TO the territory in dispute
the strongest possible claim TO leexcusiye posses
sion Of that island y
The discovery thus relied upon is that Of Nootkg
Sound, by Cook, in 1873; whei, il has been demon
slrated that this port was first discovered by PERIL
IVA The exploration is that by Vancouver, II
passing through the straits of Fuca, Ia 1892, ant
examining the coasts of the territory in dispute
when de Fuca himself had passed through these
straits in 1892 and kendrck again in 1859; and q
complete examination OF the western coast had beer
made in l77i and l715, both by Perez and Quadra
AS 10 possession, II Meares was ever actually re-
stored TO his possessions Nootka Sound, whatever
these may have been, the undersigned has never
any evidence of the fact IL is not to be found
in the journal of Vancouver although this Officer
was sent from England for the avowed purpose OF
witnessing such restoration. The undersigned
knows not whether any new understanding took
place between the British and Spanish governments
on this subject; but one fact is placed beyond al
doubt that the Spaniards continued in the undis.
turbed possession of Nootka Sound until the year
l795, when they voluntarily abandoned the place
Great Britain has never at any time since occupied
this or any other position on Vancouver's island
Thus, on the of either discovery, exploration
or possession, this island seems to be the very as
portion of the territory in dispute to which she can
assert Just claim.
In the mean time, the United States were proceed
ing with the discoveries which served to complete
and confirm the Spanish American title to the whole
of the disputed territory.
Captain Robert Gray, in June, 1883, in the sleep
Washington, first explored the whole eastern coast
of Queen Charotte's island.
In the autumn of the same year, Captain John
Misunderstanding in the mean time surrendered the
command of the Columbia TO Captain Gray-saed,
has been already stated, in the sloop Washing
ton, entirely through the straits Of Fuca.
In 1871, Captain Gray returned to the North Pa
ci6c in the Columbia; and in the summer OF that
year, examined many of the inlets and passages be-
tween the 54th and 56h degrees of latitude, which
the undersigned considers it unnecessary to spe-
city.
IN the 7th May, 1892, he discovered and entered
Bulfnchs harbor, where he remained at anchor
three days, trading with the Indians.
On the 18th May, l792, Captain Gray entered
the mouth ofthe Columbia, and completed the dis
covery of THAT great river. This river had been
long sought in vain by former navigators:. Both
Meares and Vancouver, after examination, had de-
MED its existence. Thus is the world indebted to
the enterprise, perseverance, and intelligence OF an
American captain of trading vessel for their first
knowledge Of this the greatest river on the western
coast of Americas river whose head springs flow
from the gorges of the Rocky mountains, and whose
branches extend from the 42d to the SD parallels Of
latitude. This was the last and most important dis
coyery on the coast, and has perpetuated the name
of Robert Gray, In all future time, this great river
will bear the name of his vessel
It is true that Bruno Heceta, in the year IT'S,
had been opposite the bay of the Columbia; and the
currents and eddies of the water caused him. as he
remarks, to believe that this was ''the mouth OF
some great river, or Of some passage to another
sean and his opinion seems decidedly to have been
that this the opening of the strait discovered by
Juan de Fuca in 1892. To use his own language:
Notwithstanding the great difference between the
position ofthis bay and the passage mentioned by
de Fuca, have little difficulty in conceiving that
they may be the same, having observed equal or
greater differences in the ATTITUDES of other capes and
ports Oh this coast, as shall show at its proper
time; and in all cases the ATTITUDES thus assigned are
higher than the real ones"
Heoeta from his own declaration, had never en-
tered the Columbia; and he was in doubt whether
the opening was the mouth Of d river or an arm Of
the sea; and subsequent examinations of the coast by
other navigators had rendered the opinion univer-
sal that no such river existed, when Gray first bore
the American flag across IFS bar, sailed up Its chan
mel for twenty-five miles, and remained in the river
nne days, trading with the Indians.
The British pleniPotentary attempts to dePre-
ciste the value 10 the United States OF Gray's dis
covery because his ship, Che Columbia,) was 2
trading, aud not national, vessel. As he furnishes
no reason for this distinction, the undersigned will
con6ne himself to the remark that merchant vessel
bears the flag Of her country at her mast head ana
continues under its jurisdiction and protection IN the
same manner as though she had been commissioned
for the express purpose OF making discoveries. Be-
sides, beyond all doubt, this discovery was made
by Gray and to what nation could the benefit OF II
belong unless it be to the United Sates' Certainly
not to Great Britain. And if to Spain, the United
States are now her representative.
Nor does the undersigned perceive IN what man
the value OF this great discovery can beessencd
by the fact that il was first published to the world
through the journal of Captain Vancouver, British
authority. On the contrary, its authenticity being
thus acknowledged by the party having an adverse
interest, is more firmly established than 1t II had
been first published in the United States.
From careful examination and review of the
subject the undersigned ventures the assertion, that
to Spain md the United States belong all the merit
of the discovery Of the northwest coast OF America
south Of the Russian line not spot OF which, I'M
less it may have been the shores of some Of the in
terror hays and nlets after the entrance to them had
been known, was ever beheld by British subjects,
until after il had been seen or touched by Span
lard or an American. Spain proceeded in this work
Of discovery, not means of acquiring title, but
for the purpose of examining and surveying terri
tory to which she believed she had an incontcsta-
BILE right. This title had been sanctioned for cent-
ries by the acknowledgment or acquiescence u all
the European powers. The United States alone
could have disputed this title, and that only TO the
extent of the region watered by tho Columbia. The
Spanish and American titles, now united by the
ASS.S>S~
Britain. Considered together, they constitute a
perfect title to the whole territory in dispute, ever
since the 18th May, 1892 when Captain Gray pass
ed the bar at the mouth Of the Columbia, which he
had observed in August, l766
The undersigned will now proceed to show that
this title of the United Sates at least to the posses
sion of the territory at the mouth of the Columbia,
has been acknowledged by the most solemn and I'M
equivocal acts of the British government.
After the purchase Of Louisiana from France, the
government of the United States fitted out expe-
dition under Messrs. Lewis and Clarke; who, in
1905, first explored the Columbia, from its source
to its mouth preparatory to the occupation Of the
territory by the United States.
In 1911, the settlement at Astoria was made by
the Americans near the mouth of the river, and
several other posts were established in the interior
along its banks. The war Of 1912 between Great
Britain and the United States thus found the latter
in pcaceable possession Of that region. Astoria
WIS captured by Great Britain during this war.
The treaty Of peace concluded at Client in Decem-
her, 1914 provided that "al territory, places, and