Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-12-19


:. ITo;ted States. as the line Of the Columbia
s sHe,,od that of ENGLAND. That his former pro-
Io. was offered by Great Britain as an hon
PPsohIa comnrouise, and that twas made with
~ ,,rcy;so that in no case in any further ne
'.ot;at,one should it compromise or weaken
e. claims of Great Britain, unless accepted
81 I'd. '44-Mr. Calhoun to Mr.. Pack
onbam--declines Mr.. P.'s proposal, as 1t
,wouId limit our possessions to narrower bounds
than what we had a clear right 10. MIR. Cal
bonn then enters into an able argument on our
claims to the territory drained by the Column
hia. arising from our proper right, and those
derived from France and Spain. The former
he grounds as against Great Britain, on PRIOR
ily of discovery, exploration and settlement.
The prior discovery is claimed for Captain
Gray, a citizen of the United States may H.
1892, who gave the riverits name: Ih's as
covery is opposed by those OF Meates anu
Vancouver. The former sailed along the coas'
through which the Columbia noWs, IN 100,
in order 10 ascertain whether the river laid
down in Spanish charts as ''St. hoc Teaiy
existed, and he declares "we can now safety
'sa.ort that there is no such river" Vancou-
yer. in April, 1892, explored the same coast.
a., own journal proves that he failed to dis
cover the river. lie even disbelieved Capt.
Gray's discovery. Gray gave copy of his
chart To Nadia at Nootka Sound, and on Van
conver's arrival at Nadia gave him copy.
Vancouver, guided by the chart, entered the
C,olnmh;a. Oct. 20, 1892. The attempt to
move that Capt. Gray sailed in private, not
limited States vessel. shows the strength o.
our claims.
Mr.. Calhoun then proceeds TO consider the
discoveries of the Columbia's branches by
Lewis and Clark. long before any British
subject visited these parts and asserts our
clear right by the discovery of the mouth and
head waters of the Columbia river.
He next describes the question of settle
ment by our citizens in 1909, 10, and IL
The taking possession by the British during
the war, and restoration after peace.
He then proceeds, ''We have added to our
claims those of France and Spain, by the trea-
ty ofLouisianasand the treaty of FIorila. The
cession Of Louisiana gave US nndlsPuted title
10 the summit of the Rocky Mountains, and
by Continuity to the Pacific, founded on the
treaty of 1853.
He then dwells on the argument of CONT
nuity, instancing the contest between Great
Britain and France which was terminated BY
the treaty of 1863. The fact that Great Britain
claimed this continuity for her colonies (now
the United States) forecloses her contestin!
this principle against US.
3 He then examines the treaty Of 1868, which
fixes the Mississippi as the boundary between
Great Britain and France, extingulshing tn
claims of Great Britain west of that boundary
The right of continuity was transferred TO Vi
by France in the treaty of Louisiana. Franc
held this right by the extinguishment OF Grea
Britain's claim by treaty of 1868.
He then proeeeds to defend our claims Of
she discoveries Of Spain which we have &C
quired. In place Of conflicting with each otE
strong chain Of title against all opposin
claims.
He then takes up the restoration Of Astori;
and quotes the admission of Lord Castlewag
TO Mr.. Rush, admitting our ample right to h
reinstated, and our right to possession Will
&reating5af title. Our claims have since bee
strengthened, by increase of our population
emigration. He concludes by stating thi
the same cause which peopled the valley
the Mississippi, will yet cause emigration
cross the Rocky mountains, and that the who
region drained by the Columbia is destined
be peoplcd by us. Mr.. Calhoun closes Ii
able paper by stating: that he reErAins ''tTo
presenting the claims which the u. 5. M
have 10 other portions of the territory" ths
those drained by the Columbia river, and
renewing assurances of high considerable
&c. &c.
Sept. 10, 1914, Mr.. Packenham writes
Mr.. Calhoun in reply to the above. That
has no evidence that Louisiana extended we
10 the Pacific, but that the Rocky moantal
was the western boundary, for which opini'
he quotes MIR. Jefferson. Even if the bound
e 81, -
tains, that France transferred to Spain in l76
and Spain to England, by treaty between
Britain and Spain in 1896, which abrogat
the claims of Spain.
He denies that the claimsof continuity c.
effect the claim Of right. He acknowledg
that Spain, in 1919, transferred her rigl
North of Ago, but that did not invalida;e
former concessions in 1920
In regard to the discoveries of Heceta a
Gray they conflict, and if Hecta's claim
good it favors Great Britain owing to the TIT
ty of179O.
The United States had no claim when tn
became a nation. Those of France were Of
nothing. He urges the commercial in s.
course of Great Britain with the North-W'
coast, the voyages Of Cook and Me"rs,
survey of the coast by Vancouver, which mai
Great Brtain's claims to discovery and {
ploration very strong. He sets the accura
and authenticity of Cook and Vancouver's S
vey against the discovery of the mouth of
Columbia by Capt. Gray. OF the exPIoratl
of Lewis and Clarke he says that Mckenz
British subject, crossed the Rocky Mo-
tains to the Pacific in 1898, and dlscove
the upper waters of Frazer's River. near
Ago, and puts this against Lewis and Clarke
He meets the authority of Lord Castleres
by the dispatch of Lord Castlereagh him:
to the British Minister at Washington, WI
giving up Astoria, claiming the whole tie
tory.
Great Britain and the United States are
joint occupancy; one cannot divest the OF
but by an equitable division Of what is join