The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-03-28

tlilCs anu lOT SOlnC llllc subsequently, tHC
Pacific and southern Atlantic were filled
with pirates of most of the European 60
vernments, who pursued their iniquitous vo-
cation, if not by the authority of their 60
vemments, with but feeble and reluctant
restraints. Spain, from the fact that she was
the first discoverer of the Pacific ocean, and
its coasts, claimed the exclusive right to
navigate, fish, and trade in the ocean and OH
its coasts. This exclusive right was denied,
and was denounced as an odious monopoly
by the other European governments; hence
the apathy in the restraints upon piracy.
That piracy was called free trade, and the
pirates were called froe-traders; and that
frcc-tradc consisted in plundering every
SSTpani-n town on tic coast of the Spanish
American and Pacific coasts, as we'll as cap
turing and plundering every Spanish vessel
either on the Pacific coast or south Atlantic
oceans. After Drake had plundered every
town OH the Pacific coast which he could
reach or find, and loading his vessel with
costly, rich, and valuable spoils, he turned
his face towards England; but, fearing his
passage might be arrested by the Spanish
vessels in doubling Cape Horn, he deter
mined TO return home by the Cape of Good
Hope. lie sailed north as far as the 42d or
43d degree; but the weather being stormy
and cold, and his men suffering therefrom in
consequence of the sudden ;Gi;;;: aaiis;;o:. from
southern ;0 northern latitude, he sailed
south as far as the 3sth deg, where he land
ed OH the Pacific coast, reftted his vessel,
pretended TO take possession of the country
in the name of the crown of Great Britain,
and ON behalf of his corrupt, criminal, and
adulterous mistress, Queen Elisabeth; and
to accept and receive homage and loyalty
from the stupid, ignorant, and naked savages
All this was vain and contemplate fummery
for, as before stated, the Pacif. coast be-
tween the AID degree of north latitude and
the southern limits of California, together
with tho gulf, adjacent country and the entire
region drained by the Colorado river, had
been discovered, possessed, and was then
occupied, by the Spaniards. Towns had
5ocn erected, scnj2lls established, churches
built, as well as commerce, trade, and agrl-
culture set in operation. And yet, with all
these well known facts staring them in the
face, the British ministers, in all the conven-
tions and negotiations with our American
ministers on the subject of the title, posses
sion and occupancy Of Oregon. have the
temority. to set up claim founded upon the
discovery of Francis Drake! Such a claim
to title could only be the offspring of stupi-
dity or fraud. The claim is worthy of him
whose discovery gives it origin; who was
himself but robbcr and plundercr.
Here is point at which / may refer TO
one of the principles of national law which
presented; which is, "that when country
is discovered, if it is the intention of the
country making the discovery to avail itself
of that discovery, it must not only make
known its intention to possess, but must
actually possess and occupy the same in a
short time" How was it in the case OF
nraakc's discovery? Did Great Britain avail
herself of his discovery and pretended pos
session, by following them up with occu.
pancy "n q short time" | believe Captain
Cook was the next English navigator who
attempted explorations on the Pacific coast
and his instructions from the court of admi
gality were to attcr:nt no discoveries soutl
of the G5th degree of ncrth latitude. The
sole object OF Cooks voyage was to effect
the anxious object of securing passage from
the Pacific to the northern Atlantic; ano
his operations were to be confined north q
the 65th degrce-south Of which it was
.l,.>,a III: cot tIN1,
Drake's plundering expedition was in the
years 1889, thirty-fve years after the ex.
ploring expedition of Cabrely and Ferrelo
Cooks expedition commenced in l77G-
that is, one hundred and ninety-eight years
after Drake's. During all that time do moi
know that we have any evidence that sub
iect of Great Britain trod Oregon SOIL Was
that taking possession Of and occupying, " n
a short time" the pretended discoveries oI
Francis Drake? Drake and his corrupt pa
troness had been dead hundred and fifty
years before Cooks voyage. Everything
that lived on the face of the earth, in England
as we'll as out of England had been consign-
ed TO the dust of earth more than a hun
drcd years. repeat, that was not taking
possession and occupying soon after brakes
discovery; and no title is gained to Great
Britain. even if Drake's discovery and his
possession were worth anything at the time
it purports TO have been made! And yet,
strange TO say, Drake's discovery of CaIifor-
MA furnishes title to Great Britain for the
Oregon Territory? Bit in all our conven-
tons with the commissioners of Great Britain
on the subject of Oregon, VIC are presented
with title by the British negotators derived
from Cooks discoveries; and this leads me
to return 10 Spanish navigators, explorations,
discoveries, and rights.
Between the time of Drake's and Cooks