Mississippi Democrat., 1846-01-07

so that he failed to discover the river--of
which his own journal furnishes the most
conclusive evidence, as well as his strong
conviction that no such river existed. So
strong was it, indeed, that when he fell in
with Captain Gray shortly afterwards, and
was informed BY him that he had been OF
the mouth of a river in latitude 46 40,
whose outlet was so strong as TO prevent
his entering, he remained still incredulous,
and strongly expressed himself TO that ef.
feet in his journal. 1t was shortly after
this interview that Captain Gray again
visited its mouth, crossed its bar, and sail.
ed up the river as has been stated. After
he left il, he visited Noolka sound, where
he communicated his discoveries to Qua
dra, the Spanish commander at that place.
and gave him chart and description of
the mouth Of the river. After his depar.
ture, Vancouver rrrived there. in Septem.
bert when he was informed of the disco.
verles of Captain Gray, and obtained from
Quadra copies of the chart he had left
with him, 10 consequence Of the infor.
nation thus obtained, he was induced 10
visit again that part Of the coast. Il was
during this visit that he entered the river,
on the Goth October, and made his survey.
From these facts, it is manifest that the
alledged discoveries of Meares and Van
couver cannot, in the lightesl degree, shake
the claim OF Captain Gray to priority Of
discovery Indeed, so conclusive is the
evidence in his favor, that it has been at
tempted TO evade our claim on the novel
and wholly unlenable ground that his dis
covery was made not in national but pr.
vate vessel. Such, and so incontest,bIe,
is the evidence of our claim as against
Great Britain-irom priority Of discovery
as to the mouth of the river, crossing its
bar, entering it, and sailing up its stream,
on the voyage of Captain Gray alone
without taking into consideration the prior
discovery of the Spanish navigator, He.
ccta, which will be more particularly re.
ferred to hereafter.
Nor is the evidence of The priority of
our discovery Of the head branches of the
river, and its exploration less conclusive.
Before the treaty was ratified by which
we acquired Louisiana, in 1903, an expe-
dIion was planned, at the head Of which
were placed Meriweihcr Lewis and Will
liam Clarke, TO explore the river Missouri
and its principal branches to their sources,
and then 10 seek and trace to lis termina-
ton in The Pacific some stream, "ptether
the Columbia, The Oregon. the Colorado,
or any other ,ohich might offer the most di.
rect and practicable mater communication
across the continent, for The purpose Of
commerce." The party began to ascend
the Missouri in May, 1904, and in the
summer Of 1905 reached the head watcrs
of the Columbia river. After crossing
many of the streams falling into il, they
reached the Koosko1skee 10 latitude 43:
"a, descended that TO the principal north
ern branch, which they called Lewis's,
followed that to its junction with the great
northern branch, which they called Clarke,
and thence descended to the mouth Of tho
river, where they landed, and encamped
on the north side, on Cape Disappoint-
meni, and wintered The next spring.
they commenced their return, and cont.
nued their exploration up the river, noting
its various branches, and tracing seme Of
the principal; and finally arrived at St.
Louis in September, 1906, after an abb
sence of twD years and four months.
1t was this important expedition which
brought to the knowledge of the world
this great river, the greatest by far on the
western side of this continent, with its MI.
merous branches, and The vast regions
through Mhtch II flows, above the points 10
which Gray and Vancouver had ascended.
1t took place many years before it was vi
sited and explored by any subject of Great
Britain, or of any other civilized nation,
so far as we are informed. II as clearly
entities US TO the claim Of priority Of dis
covery, as TO its head branches, and the
exploration Of the river and region through
which il passes, as the voyages Of Captain
Gray and the Spanish navigator, Heceta,
entitled US to priority in reference TO its
mouth, and he,entrance into its channel.
Nor is our priority Of settlement less
certain. Establishments were formed BY
American citizens on the Columbia as ear
ly as 1909 and 1910. In the latter year,
company was formed in New York at
the head Of which was John Jacob Astor,
wealthy merchant Of that city, the OBJ
ect Of which was to form regular chain
Of establishment, on the Columbia river
and the contiguous COASTS of the Pacific,
for commercial purposes. Early in the
spring Of 1871, they made their first es-
tablshment on the south side Of the river,
few miles above Point George; where
they were visited in July following by Mr..
Thompson, surveyor aud astronomer Of
the Northwest Company. and his party.
/ They had been sent out BY that company
70 foresiall The American company in oc-