Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-07-08
The Oregon Treaty.

information Of our readers, without endor
= sing its comments upon the treaty, and the
. advantages gained from it BY this country
8 WASHINGTON, June 5, 1916.
d As the stipuIations Of the treaty, which
: the Senate has advised the President iC
frame, are contained in several of my let
ters, ! have thought a synopsis in a single
one, with some explanatory remarks, wouI,
be desirable to the public, MS enabling
every one to see, al a birds eye view
what had actually been accomplished.
The treaty will consist Of articles, ex
Z elusive OF official forms, aud will be en-
/ bodied per6atim, ms they were laid before
the Senate. The terms Of the proposition
arc chosen from among the various offers
r Of the United States, submitted at different
periods to The BRUSH Government. No
new matter is introduced.
The 40lh parallel is the main basis Of
division and is to constitute hereafter the
Northern and Southern boundaries Of the
two countries, from the East side of the
Rocky Mountains 10 the ocean, with such
exceptions as are named in the treaty.
Great Britain is to enjoy the free navi-
CATION Of the Columbia River during the
charter OF the Ilndson's Bay Company.
which will expire in 1868. From The
phrascoIogy of the I'd article which con
iains this stipulation, some doubt arose in
the Senate as to whether it would not ex.
tendtoa re-chauer, should one be granted
The sound and legal opinion Of both
sides Of The Senate agreed il would expire
with the termination oil the existing char
ter. This objection was mnoted on the
first day Of the debate, and Mr., Paken-
ham was consulted, OF course, without re.
yeaIlng what had taken place. He set
tied the difficulty, by distinct assertion,
on behalf Of his Government, that the
present charter was designed as The Iimi-
talionj and two Senators rose IN their
pieces, and made the explanation, with
sem-o6icial authority, which at once re.
moved any cause Of apprehension for fu-
ture embarrassment, growing out of this
privilege.
The newspapers insist upon conf0und.
ing the year Of the operation Of the char
ter; the facts are simple and conclusive.
/ After the great contest between the llud
sou's Buy and Northwestern companies,
the latter was merged in the first BY an act
of Parliament aud ia 1921 was ncorpo.
rated for . years. In ls42 the chatter
was renewed for 2 years more, and will
necessarily terminate in 1858, as have
before stated, The right Of joint use OF
the Columbia, is subject to The laws Of ma.
ygaton and revenue Of the United States,
but no other laws are to be created, which
may impair the privilege Of Greal Britain
or impose new restrictions.
The whole of Vancouyer's Island is re
lingushed to Great Britain, which at best
is of ltIe or norcal consequence, 1t has
been discovered near 800 yelrs, and is
this day without a civilized settlement. It.
is barren spot, inhabited by a few scat.
tering Indians. It's Southern position mi ht
be made valuable for lortitcutou, as il
passes along the entrance of The Straits OF
Juan de Fuca, But no advantage can be
gained in point Of defence, if our govern.
ment will consent 10 spend as much money
in military walls as that Of Great Britain.
On our side of the Straits there is point
iultlng out which could he made 10 com
mand at once the approach from The ocean
and the passage through the Straits. The
absolute possession of Vancouyer's Island
and its bays and harbors was made sine
qua non in the proposition.
The right of passing through the straits
Of Juan de Fuca, is common to both go
vernmenls indefinitely.
There is a stipulation providing for the
possessory rights of botn parties. No per
feet tile Of course could DO AGO tired on
one side or the other, during doubtful so
veregnty. The British have settlements
on the north hank of the Columbia, and
few south OF il. The ownership is to he
confirmed by the United States upon their
becoming citizens, or it has the option OF
n purchase al fair valuation, should it be
dictated by motives of public policy OF
other considerations. ANY American set
Element north of the parallel of 40 will he |
compensated for by assessment. This |
stipulation upon our part, except in two in
stances, amounts to nothing more than an
ordinary grant of prescription.
The offer OF Great Britain contains some
advantages not contemplated by Mr.. Nc.
Lane. There is a letter from him dated !
ON the day before the sailing Of the llioer- /
mia, which informs the Government Thai |
Lord Aberdeen would accept nothing short
of the admission Of perpetual right 10
navigate the Columbia; whereas, the terms
submitted and accepted extend to period |
of rs or II Years.
Mr.. McLane's recent correspondence
with the Department shows that in what
ever light the action OF the Senate on the |