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


exploration and were now in the act Of taking
Il enerprse undertaken for such purpose
Thompson In Fastening from Canada 10 the mouth Of the
Columbia descsnded the NORTH arbitrarily assumed by Great
Britain be the main, branch Of this river The period
late TO impair the title Of either Spain or the United
States by any such proceeding
Mr. Thompson, his return. accompanied by party
from Astoria, under Mr.. Dasid Stuart who established post
at the confluence Of the Oknagan with the north branch Of
the Columbia about six hundred miles the mouth Of
the latter.
In the hext year. lsl2J trading post was esab-
shed by patty from Astoria, on the Spokan, about hum
bred and fifty miles from the ocean.
It thus appears that previous to the capture of Astoria by
the British the Americans had extended their up
the Columbia six hundred and fifty miles The inHu-
of the Northwest Company into this territory and the
establishment Of two three trading posts 1911 and 1872
the head-wates Of the river, surely not interfere with
impair the Spanish American title. What this company
may have done in the intermediate period until the 20h Octo
be l0l6the date of the first treaty Of joint occupaons
unknown to the undersigned from the. mpenetrable mystery
in which they have yelled their pocsedngs Aer the date
of this treaty. neither Great Britain United States could
have performed act affecting their claims % the disputed
territory.
To up the WHOLE them Great Britain cannot rest her
claims to the northwest coast Of America upon discovery As
little will her single claim by settlement Nootka Sound avail
her. Even Belsham, her historian, forty years ago. de-
claed i TO be certain from the most authentic information,
"tha the Spanish flag flying Nootka was never struck
and that the territory has been vualIy reinquished by
Great Britain"
The agents Of the Northwest Company, penetrating the
continent from Canada in 1906 established their first trading
post Of the Rocky Mountains Fraxsrs lake. in the
Saith degree of latitude and this hthe adngposs
bshed by ThompsOnto which the undersigned has adj
vertedand possibly Others afterwards, previous Oc-
tober, 1885, constitutes the claim Of Great Britain BY actual
etement .s
Upon TIE whole from the careful and ample exami-
nation which the undersigned has been able to besow upon
subject he satisfied that the Spanish American title,
held by the United States, embracing the whole territory
between the parallels Of AZ deg and 81 deg 40 Minis is the
Of Great Britain any portion Of il has sufficient fSunda
ton Even British geographers have not doubted title to
the territory in dispute There is large and splendid globe
the Department Of State recently received from Lon
don and published by Maby and Company. manufacturers
and publishers to the Society for the Diffusion of Useful
Knowledge, which assigns this territory to the United States
Notwithstanding such and still is the opinion Of the
President yet the spirit Of Compounded and concession
and in difference the action Of his pedecesso the UNDER
signed in obedience his Instructions proposed to the B
fish Penpotentary settle the controversy BY dividing the
territory in dispute by tho 49th parallel Of latitude. offering
at the time, make free TO Great Britain any port
ports Vancouyers island south Of this latitude, which The
British Government might desire The British Plenipoen-
ay has correctly suggested that the free navigation Of the
Columbia embraced in his proposal Great
Bnan but on the other hand the use Of free ports on the
southern extremity Of this island had not been included in
former offers. Z. ts8v
Such proposition as that which has been made never
would have been authorized by the President had this been
new question. III
Upon his accession Office he found the present negota-
ton pending II had been instituted in the spirit end upon
the principle of compromise IT'S object avowed by the
negoiato demand the whole territory in dispute
for either country, hut in the language Of the first protocol
to treat of the respective claims Of the countries the
OREGON territory, with the view establsh permanent
boundary between them westward of the Rocky Mountains
to the Pacific Ocean"
Placed in this position and considering that Presidents
Monroe and Adams had former occasions ofsred to d
vide the territory in dispute by the forty ninth parallel Of s
tude he felt to be his duty not abruptly 70 arrest the nego
iation but far to yield his own opinion once
make q similar offer. ss8
Not only respect for the conduct Of his predecessors but
sincere and desire promote peace and harmony be-
tween the two countries influenced him pursue this
The Oregon question presents the only Intervening cloud
which ntercrts the pospecto long of mutual friend
ship and beneficial between e two nations and
this cloud he desired to remove
These the which actuated the President
proposition so liberal to Great Britain.
And how has this proposition been received by the British
Plenpoentiary has been rejsced without even refer
ence 70 his own Government Nay, more the British Plein
potenary, TO his language tatfhe Ameri
PIenpoendy will be prepared offer some further pro-
posal for the settlement of the Oregon question
emf tcih airess and equity, and Nth tie reasonable erpec
fations Of the British Government"
Under such circumstances, the undersigned is instructed by
the President say that he ii his country and
just appreciation Of her title the Oregon territory with
draw the proposition the British Government which had
been made under his direction and is hereby accordingly
Withdrawn. @a
In taking this necessary sep the President still cherishes
the hope that this pending controversy yet be finally
adjusted in such to disturb the peace
terupt the harmony now happily subsstng between the
two nations. Ntes~
The undersigned svails himself &c.
- LANES BUCHANAN.
The Right Hon. r. PAxEsHAm, &c.
MARYLAND MINING C0MPANy.-The Cumberland
Civilian supplies the following information respect
ing this Company operations