The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-05
OREGON.
THE DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT.

lsh on the northwest coast of America anterior
the period Of the recognition of the independence
the United States; in which we showed that ever
part OF the coast now claimed by our republ
was discovered and claimed by the Spaniards b,
fore it was seen by the people of any other natior
This fact is always studiously kept out of view b
the British, who avoid, far as possible, all mer
ton Of any other discoveries or visits to that part
the world, during the period in question, excer
those of Drake and Cook--as they in like name
reject all accounts Of subsequent examinations. ex
cept those of Vancouver. At this point, it will
necessary for us to take leave of the Pacific coas,
for the time, in order to follow Lord John Russell,
arguments relative to treaties of an earlier date:
"The next description Of title to which we com
(conunued his lordship) is that founded on treatie
and conventions; and here will, before procee,
further, state what conceive TO be the position O
the Oregon territory. II may be considered to b.
the territory which extends east and west between
the Rocky mountains and the Pacific ocean. ant
which extends north and south between latitude 4:
and latitude 81. So far ascertain, this larg,
territory does not appear to have been subject o
stipulation between any of the countries of Europe
until late in the last century 1t is said, believe
by the Americans that the treaty of Utrecht refer
red to the territory; but have found nothing either
IN that treaty or IN the history Of the negotiations
which preceded. it, to show that il was SO men.
toned"
The positionand extent of Oregon are here correct
ly described Under that name are included all the
countries drained by the Columbia river, and those
intermediate between the former and the Pacific, as
well as the adjacent islands in that ocean, and these
countries extend from the AID parallel of latitude
which has been adopted. by treaty as separating
Oregon from California, to the vicinity of the 54th
parallel, where the northern sourceso of the Columbia
are situated. We may here be permitted to express
our qualification seeing these countries recognised
as belonging to the United States by high scientific
authority in Great Britain; namely, by globe, the
largest and most beautiful ever constructed with an
engraved surface, which has been recently published
In London, under the auspices of the celebrated
"Society for the Diffusion of Useful knowledge"
II is also certain, that these countries were never
made the subject of specific stipulation between any
OF the powers of Europe before 1890, in which the
Nootka convention was concluded between Spain and
Great Britain. We are not aware that the treaty of
Utrecht had been said by the Americans to re-
fer to the territory in question That treaty. does
indeed provide for disappointment of commissioners
to settle the boundaries between the Hudson,s Bav
territories belonging to England, on the north, and
the French possessions on the south; and it has
been said, and generally believed in the United
States, that the 49h degree of latitude was thus
adopted as the dividing line, westward from point
north of Lake Superior. But there is not the
slightest evidence of the correctness of this belief or
of the determination Of any line for that purpose;
nor would any line so adopted have applied in any
way to Oregon; as the Hudson's Bay company, by
the express provisions of their charter, hold no
other lands than those drained by streams entering
Hudson's Bay; excluding, of course, all west of the
Rocky mountains. The belief that such demarca
ton Of boundaries was really made, which has no
better foundation than old map in Postletwhai,,
dictionary of commerce, nevertheless formed the
basis ofhe adoption of the 49h parallel, in 1918, as
the line of separation between the territories of the
United States and those Of Grea. Britain, from the
Lake OF the Woods to the Rocky mountains; as
well as Of the offer made by the United States and
rejected by Great Britain, to continue the line on
the same parallel westward to the Pacific. Fort,-
nately, as regards the boundary already fixed, none
better for both parties could under existing circum-
stances, have been selected the policy of continuing
1t farther westward appears by no means SO clear
We continue the extract from Lord John Russell,s
speech
'Ithas been said, on the part Of America. that the
treaty of 1862 at the peace of Paris gave to France
or Spain ito one or the other, for it has been put
variously by American caimants) all the territory
to the west Of the Mississippi. | have carefully
read all the negotiations which took place previously
% me peace OF Paris, as well as the treaty itself,
made in 1863. have recently had occasion TO read
he dispatches of the Duke of Bedford and the Due
1c Choseu with respect to that treaty, and il ap-
pears to my mind quite clear, from all those doca-
nens, and from the articles of the treaty which
was afterwards agreed to, that the only question at
nat time between France and England was the set
cement of the territories of Canada and Louisiana
he whole OF Canada was given by that treaty to d
England, the territory of Louisiana was given To | .
France, hear hear,] with the exception of Mobile,
part OF the territory of Mississippi, and New Or
cans mere was also stipulation with respect to S
district between the Mississippi and the Iroonois
n the treaty; but in part of the treaty itself or
he dispatches which preceded it, is there any refer
'nce to the countries beyond the Rocky mountains
Is terrltoryto which either country had claim
near, near The only question, then, to consid- Il
u, In order to ascertain if the Oregon territory
included in that treaty, was whether Louisiana in o
luuea any OF the territory to the west of the Rocky
Mountains. In an able pamphlet written by Mr. n
aconer an extract from the instructions of Louis !,
ne Fourteenth to Monsieur Crozat is given, and :
Lon
'iana extended at that period SO far as The Rocky
1ountains--ii extended to the countries washed by s
ne mississippi, the Missouri, and the Ohio and i ).
vas placed under the authority Of the French gen.
raj governor of Canada. That is the description u
wen by Louis the Fourteenth in his instructions; ii
nd 1t does not appear from them that Louisiana h
omprised any territory extending beyond the :
Iocky mountains, nor does the treaty of 1853, y
ther I'm express terms or by implication refer to II
ny place beyond the Rocky mountains. Hear, il
ear, hear. |"
Now as the first half of this paragraph is report il
somewhat differently in other London journals,
e have no disposition to render Lord John Russell :,
'sponsibe for the numerous mistakes which he is f.
ere represented as having made, with regard to the M
rrtones assigned to England and France respect h,
eY oy the treaty of Paris. 1t is indeed very pos
Die that in the early part of the negotiation between
e puke oil Bedford and the Due de Choiseu there .,
Jay nave been discussions as to the line Of separa- "
tuppn de IL 4