The Arkansas banner., 1846-03-18
LITTLE ROCK, WEDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH ls I946


 ] that may be claimed by either party on the northwest coast of America, westward of the Stony mountains, shall together with it's harbefs, bays, and creeks, and the navigation oi all rivers within the same, be free and l open for the term of ten years from the date ol the signature of the present convention, to the vessels, citizens, and subjects of the two 1 powers, 1t being well understood that this agreement Is not 10 be construed to the prejudice of any claim which either of the two high contracting parties may have to any part ol the said country, nor shall Il be taken to affect the claims ofany other power CT Slate 10 any part of ihe said country; the only object Of the high contracting parties. ln that respect, being to prevent disputes and differences among themselves"
 Coanration betlceeh he Uuited Siaies and GfeR Britain, sigRed ct London August
 6, 1927.
 ""AGT. ]. All the provisions of the third article of the convention concluded between the United States of ofAmefica and his Majesty the King of the United Kingdom Of Great Britain and Ireland, on the 20th of October, 1918, shall be, and they are hereby, furtller indefinitely extended and confirmed in force, i'll the same manner a3 if all the provisions of the said article were herein specifically fecited Hs
 .ART. } Il shall be competent, however, 10 either of the contracting parties, in cas c either should think fiji, at any time after the 20th October, 1928, on giving due notice oI twelve months to the other contracting party. 10 annnl and abrogate this convention ;and 1t shall, in such case, be accordingly entirely annHlled and abrogated, alter the expiration of the said term of notice. aH5I ; ~
 'sART. 3. Nothing acontaiaadjn this con- vention, or in the third article of the con. venlion of the 20,h October, ISIS. hereby continued in force, shall be construed to ita- pair, or ill any manner affect, liIe claims which either of the contracting parties may have to any part of the country westward oi the Stony or Rocky moaniains.n II she had no right to oit then, she certainly has none now, ' ct she pfetends 1o the sovereignty To Oregon. If (said Mr. Y ell, had doubts as to our ttle to Oregon, would have gone to the correspondence ol hlr. Calhoun with the British minister, which was marked by his usual ability, and was conclusive beyond reasonable doubt And not still fully convinced, (said Mr. Y.,1 would have resored to that of the able and distinguished Secretary of State, who has placed itbeyolid the possibility of doubt.
 venture to say that there Is notone indi- yidua D thousand, who has read that cor respondence, that Is not convinced by il It IS possible, that by hlunders in negotiations in former propositions to compromise, this government may have to giveup part of the territory
 But Mr. CALHOUN did not talk about stop ping at 49, Nor has any gentleman who has spoken III this debate shown, or endeav- ored to show. that the 49th is the proper line. The offer ofthat parallel was intended and made, merely in respect to former ad- ministrdtions, as is full and fairly stated by Slr. Polk, as will bs better understood by re ference to the following extract from his message:
 "When came into office, found this to be the state of the negotiation. Though entertaining the settled conviction tha; the | British pretensions oI tide could not be main ianed to any portion of the Oregon territory upon any principle of public law recognized 1 by nations, yet, in delerence to what. had been done by my predecessors, aud especial- ly in consideration that propositions of com promise had been thrice made by two preee- ding administrations, to adjust the question oil the parallel of lorly-nine degrees, and in two of them yielding to Great Briainihe free navigation of the Columbia, and thatihe pen ding negotiation had been commenced on the basis of compromise, l deemed il 10 be my duty not abruptly to break it off. In consid- eration, too, that under the conventions of 1918 and 1927, the citizens and subjects of the two powers held joint occupancy of the country, was induced to make another ef- fort to settle this long beading controversy m the spirit oi moderation which had given birth to the renewed discussion."
 ] ask why this line of 49 is proposed : Where is the claim or tlle that fixes that line as the true boundary2 Or where is the plausible reason given by Great Britain for the Columbia as the proper and true boun- dary There is none, sir, that have heard offered, except that two preceding admins- tratious had ollired to compromise at49, and that therefore we were in good faith bound to accept il now, if offered. To that l have only to remark, that if our title to the coun- try was clear and mdispuiable, the govern ment had no right or authority to cede 1t away; and as the proposition was rejected by England, and withdrawn by the President, we are neither honorably or equiiably bound now to accept it if offered. Our title 10 Oregon is not weakened by the offer or re- jecuon. am sure tie President will not renew the proposition; and if ii shonld De made by Great Britain, have confidence enough in the administration and the Senate to believe that the interests and honor of tlie country will be maintained.
 If we claim by conligu!ly, or by Spanish tile, there is no reason for settIingal 49o, or at the Columbia river, save on principle of compromise merely; there can be no other ground for selecting lhatll tell gentle men now that they may settle this boundary, but they Lever will unless they give this notice; every thing depends npon t. Give the notice, and yon will settle your boun- i dary;. neglect to give il, and you will be beg ging and snpplicsting Great Brliain for years to come 0 dc that which you have right yourselves 10 do, without giving oiIenca. l We mi0ht as we'll meet the question now.