Mobile register and journal. [volume] (Mobile, Ala.) 1841-1849, 1845-11-19

VIII go through the length and bi eadth OF the land
aud that it viii be hailed as il goes BY the Democrat
ic party with unanimous Amsa--and What then
The "Union" may well ask what henf And Mes.
tor as its editor s, he will find II hard to answer
what thenf Now, from one democrat at least, in
tins land, no such sound sentiment shall be heard
When he gave his vote for the President, II was
under the expectation that the constituted aulhori-
ties of the land would decide in council upon the
important aud complicated relations which our
country maintains with foreign countres; that
the decisions taken ia the cabinet would be
malurely and deliberately considered-that our own
rights would be maintained, and that the rights o.
others respected. lie certainly did not anticipate
that the question Of pence to be settled
by The Empire Club in New-York, or the Democrat.
ic Association in New-Orleans. ~
We furnished in our last communication, the evi.
dence Of some of the difficulties which surround this
question. These difficulties consist in the fact tina,
title is not clear and incontroveriible, that be
fore 1878, there existed nothing but claims TO this
territory. We had not the possession of u rood
Of land in its whole extent. Since 1918 the
country has been subject the joint occupancy OF
the people Of both nations equal terms. We pro-
pose now TO show another portion of the American
negotiations the subject of this boundary for the
purpose of calculating the same facts; that no ma
ton had maured s claims territory on the north
west coast into clear and incontroyerlible rights.
Spain unqnestionabIy made Il first discoveries on
that coast. C0rez visited the Gull Of California,
aud number Of navigators prosecuted voyages along
the coast far as The 54th degree and pos ion
was formally taken in The name of the crown. No
colonization followed. We mention these facts to
introduce The negotiaton by which The And degree
became The southern bound ry of the United States.
IL will be seen how little weight was attached by
our government to the transient acts ofvisiaton and
the cere"onious planting of a national flag. We
have shewn that louisiana was acquired with an
uncertain boundary the west. This boundary
was determined by the treaty with Spain of 1919, by
which we acquired Florida.
The project of Don Onis was that the western
boundary Of the United States should commence on
the Gull Of Mexico, short distance east of the Sa-
bine, follow the Arroyo Hondo TO the 32d degree,
from thence north crossing the Arkansas, Usage and
White rivers till it intersected The Missouri; thence
along that liver 10 its sources. The Uned States
to have all Of that line and Spain to the west.
A single glance will show that if That line had
been adopted the United States would have lost one
half the territory it now claims east Of the Rocky
Mountains and all west Of them. MIR. Adams, in
his reply, submitted the line OF the Sabne-the Red
River TO its sources in the Rocky Mountains he
line OF the mountains TO the 4lst degree Of north a
tude, and from thence 10 the Pacific Ocean, Don
Onis replied "whal you add respecting the exen-
sion Of The line beyond The Missouri along the
Spanish possessions to The Pacific Ocean, exceeds
by its magnitude and transcendency all former de-
'nands and pretensions started by the q. States
Combining myself therefore the powers granted me
by my sovereign, am unable 10 stipulate any thing
this point which may remain open for further ne.
gotiation " Mr. Adams rejoined. GAS you have now
declared that you not authorized to agree either
to the Of the Red River for the boundary, OF
10 The 4lst degree Of north latitude from the Snow
Mountains TO the Pacific Ocean, The President deems
it useless pursue any further the attempt of an ad
justment il this negotiation" The negotiations
consequently interrupted and not renewed till
additional powers were obtained from Spain by its
minister. The Spanish minister subsequently pro-
posed that the boundary on the Pacific should be the
Columbia rIver--Span 10 have the land south and
the United States north.
THIS was refused. The 42nd degree finally
s4epled as the southern boundary. This treaty may
be considered as settling the American claim 10 the
country between the Columbia river and California.
,aly with this mi with Snain
the with Eng lard for joint occupancy Of
the territory was also concluded The Spanish title
consists entirely in The VOYAGES Of her subjects
cOmpanied by possession. II in reference to ST.
milar evidences that Mr.. Adams made these strong
and we'll sustained remarks: "1o all such preten.
sions the part of Spain, am directed to inform
you that the United States can never accede The
President is willing 10 hope that the time will come
when your government will become sensible of The
uselessness of resortLg TO them. From the time
when the establishments of European nations on
these continents became common, and their resLec-
tive claims under the charters OF their sovereigns
were found to interfere with one another, reason,
justice and necessity concurred in pointing out TO
them certain rules and principles for the adjustment
of their conflicting claims BY these rules and prin-
cpes we are willing that the western boundary OF
Louisiana may lie decided. Till Spain, who has
repeatedly acceded to them heretofore. shall be pre-
pared TO abide by them this occasion, it will be
of little avail pursue discussion upon which the
principles Of The parties utterly irreconclleabe
together % After this conclusion by the American
government on the subject Of this boundary--after
4 IL L. .f.l--
ish claim-after the refusal negotiate, unless the
adjustment Of the claims to the Pacific embrace
ed-after the sanction Of The American claim by
Spain, aud the abandonment Of its own-we are
told that acquired the risht Of Spain BY that
treaty, and that right is better than any other.
We are unable to come 10 that conc usion upon
any evidence have yet SEEM and think that the
Government Of the U. States, in 1918, IN hands
quite competent to pass upon that SUBJECT. We
think that the conclusion put forth in the discus
sions which were then conducted embody the laws
of nations applicable to the case. That The ADAM
donment of our own claim 10 introduce one that we
had dsparaged and disgraced till we bad acquired
il, is utterly unworthy oil the dignity Of Our country
tina. it savors of chcanery and will bring cred
1t and no beneficial consequences along with it.
We have gone through with this Investigation 10
place this subject on its true and proper basis. In
the books pu lished about these preiens ions, the
Spanish title occupies the most conspicuous and
prominent place. A vast array is made ofthe voy-
ages and entries upon the lands by spaniards-an
array without any importance for the establishment
of legal right. They only neutrality-suspicious. aud
frail acknowledgements worthy of consideration
where no legal right has been established-demands