The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-03-28
WHOLE NO. PA.

of it. But was it true that we had opened any of
those sources, or made single acquisitions An
honorable gentleman who spoke Immediately
before him had put the question upon its true
grounds.
Having caught the contacion of the speakers
who preceded him en- the same side, he had
talked OF gaining and acquiring; but, in the pro-
gress OF his argument, he had very properly stated
that we had acquired nothing, but only obtained
security for what VIC possessed before.
What, then, was the extent of our rights be-
fore the convention, and to what extent were they
now secured to liz! We possessed and exercised
the Tree navigation Of the Pacific ocean, without
restraint or Limitation. We possessed and excr-
cised tho right of carry ing on fisheries in the
South seas, equally unliimhed. This estate we
had and were daily improving; it was not to be
disgraced by the name of an acquisition. The
admlss on Of part of these rights by Spain was all
we had obtained 1t remained to inquire what it
had cost. Our right before was to settle in anv
part OF South or Northwest America not fortified
against US by previous oc eupancy, and VIC are
now restricted to settle in cagtain places only. and
under certain restrictions This was an impor-
tant concession on our part. Our right of fishing
extended to the whole ocean; and now it, too.
was limited, and to be carried OH within certain
distances of the Spanish settlements. Our right
OF making settlements was not, as now, right to
build huts, hut to plant colonies. if We thought
proper Surely these were not acquisitions"
With reference 10 the indefinite limits of
Spanish America, Mr.. Fox says:
"Cn this point, we have gained nothino we
have ronounccd the right of permanent settlcmon.
on the whole extent Of South America and where
the admitted right of settlement on the northwest
coast commenced was completely underlined il
was said at Nootka, but i've did not know that
N5Gttana wc;;iiaa 51 restored.
D,, al, Al. .s.,1
navigate the Pacific ocean and South seas, unmo-
Tested, for the purpose of carrying on ourfshcries.
and to land on the unsettled coasts for the pur-
pose OF trading with the natives; but, after this
ponpous recognition of right to naviration fish
ing and commerce, comes another article. which
takes a"av all right Of landing and erecting even
temporary huts for any purpose but that of carry.
ing on tho fishing, and amounts to complete
deroction of all rights TO settle in any way for
Ualle purpose OF commerce with the natives In
renouncing all right to make settlements in South
Anerlca, we had given to Spain what she consi-
|dered inestmable, and had in return been con-
tentcd with dross.n
That tfeaty was brought about by the cap
ture of two British vessels at Nootka sound,
by the Spanish Admiral Martinez, owing 10
the exercise of rights and privileges by The
British nayigators, which Spain contonded
were exclusively hers These captures were
regarded as degrading insult 70 his Britain
mic majesty and the British flag. War and
desolatiOn were threatened to Spair: The
insult 10 the pretended mistress of the ocean
was of such a character as scarcely to admit
of negotiation Negotiation was, however,
submitted 10, and lofty as the pretentions and
claims of Great Britain were, we sec to what
they were dwindlcd. England lost much,
and Spain gained much, by the negotiations.
The whole affair was inglorious 10 England,
but honorable and advantageous 10 SPAIN
England lost much, and Spain gained much.
What title did England gain TO soil or domin-
ion on the Pacific coas. by this treaty? Isit
contended that she gained temporary right
to occupy it for the purposes of fishing, hunt
ing, and trading with the natives in places
not occupied by the Spanish? If SO, those
rights which we're only acquired by treaty
we're liable to be terminated by treaty, or by
war, which terminates all treaties; and they
were so terminated, and were never renewed.
-Four years after the treaty, a war broke out
between Spain and England, which put an
end 10 that treaty, and all others existing be-
tween them, with all their conditions. Such
is the character of the British title TO Ore
gon, secured by the Nootka treaty, good fer
no other purpose but 10 brandish in con-
vontion. Mears and Vancouver were Bri-
tish navigators, but made no discoveries OH
the Pacific coast, within the limits of 40 and
55 degrees of north latitude, which were
not made before.
Vancouver was the latest of the two, and
figured on the Pacific in 1882. OF This na-
tvigator will have occasion to speak. He
was an honest man, and will be useful 10 us
in the support of our claim to Oregon. OF
Mcars | will not speak. He was vain
man, who looked more TO proud nama and
lofty character, than either TO the truth of
useful discoveries.
| now come TO speak of American disco
velies and of American titles TO the Terrific
| ry of Oregon. Permit me TO refer 10 that
principle of national law which before pre-
Esented, that secures toz,thc first discovorcr of
the mouth of river The territory which it
drains.
In the latter years Of which have been
speaking, American enterprise found its way
into the Pacific; and although not stimulated
! by the 4e!f:y hopes of founding empires,
planting colonies, and discovering northwest
passages to couple the Western and Indian
oceans, yet we're successful in gaining Oh
Iccts far more valuable than were attained
by those who were more ambitious. In the
year l7s7 The Columbia was fitted out by
some enterprising citizens of Boston for a
Pacific expedition. The command of the
Columbia, was given 10 Captain Gray, a ma
two Of Tho ITnitoI Stn.oc and n eiliHnn of