Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-04-15

an early stage OF these explorations
very far south 10 be sure, made some
discoveries, and set up some monuments
anG to this an appeal has been made tt
establish claim in the face of ar all.
thori,y which declares that they were
idle ceremonies, and give no title al all
Now let me State to you in very few
words thu great historical fact in regard
10 the whule of the Oregon territory.
Several gentlemen, particularly my
friend from Nav York in my real, Mr..
DIX went through very interesting
detail OF The several discoveries made
by Spanish navigators on the coasl.
But it is remarkable fact, that, al
though that narrative has tended from
the earliest period Of the Spanish pos
sessions in America, there is not one
that has any application to this subjrc,
before l774. The discovery Of Per 3
in ,hat year, and Hrceta in 1775, were
The first Spanish discoveries that gave
them a semblance of right-even if dis
covery alone could confer a right-ln
any portion of the northwest coast of
America, except in California. Now
this question is one Of grave importance;
and it is SO vitality important that the
people of the United States should real
ly unders ana it, as it has become in
some respects, q question Tor their de-
cision, that | will uut lesl upon my own
bare assertion even as 10 This great his
tolical fac' to which [ aIIude. have
before NE very full collection OF all the
discoveries made by Spin on the north
west coast of Amarica-made by MIR.
Greenhow, gentleman employed in
the ufice of Secretary Of State. IL is
here slated broadly and unequivocally
That from the first discovery ol Ameri.
ca to the taking possession of Nrolka
Sound in 1889, no civilized nation ever
made any settlement, however slight, on
the northwest coast Of America from
the bay of San Francisco to Noolka
Sound; and at that period the country
was open and uninhabiied. This fact
is so very important, stated, too, b.
writer who certainly v is not unfdvorable
to the claims Of the United Stares, that.
| beg leave 10 quote from him. Mr.
Med. here quoted Sifonr Gfeenhos,=l7
Now, | have heard it declared on this
floor, by gentlemen protesting gea'szeat
Ior the maintenance of our rights, and
no doubt entertaining conscientious coa-
vic,ions Of their justice-thai the dis
coveries Of Spain were valuable on ac..
count of their antiquity. Hr seems to
think that there IS peculiar force in The
fact, that these discoveries were made
three centuries ago. Now, Mr.. Plesi-
dent, have always understood that an
cient possession constitutes tlle, but
that ancient discovery not followed by
settlement should give any right, is what
I confess l am totally incapable cf COM
pretending; and would be- very happy
if some senator on this side nf the house
would inform me on what ground such
cldlm can rest. 1t is in vain, M.
President, 30 disguise the fact; and |
believe that if the Spauiards we've now
claiming, their tile would not be regard
ed as wurth auytlling at all By any civ
iiz.d nation on the face Of the globe.
THIS is in iacl, the merest fgment ever
brought forward, and gravel y urged in
any discussion. II Spain was now as
much in possession rs she ever was, |
repeat her title would not b" considered
of the slightest value. He, first alleged
discovery Was that Of De Fnca in 1892;
uul thai discovery can never be advr.t-
ed 10 as aflorting any ground OF tile in
Spain, fol Sptnish aaIhorilies themselves
treat the whole story as fabrication,
and deny that such IA man as de Fuca
ever existed. Nobady, therefore, in any
Of the previous negoIiatlons-no minis
len Of the United States attached any
consequence at all to this early discove-
ry. But putting that out oflhe question,
as mele fable, as it unquestionabIy is,
and worth nothing even if made, as
Spain never claimed il, bu on the coa-
trary denied it, the first Spanish disco7-
cry on the northwest coast OF America
was in the year 1774. mihe Secreta>
~ Of State says, and says correctly.
that SPUN had claimed this country for
three centuries; and he also sa, S, upon
what authority do not know-for l
have not been able 10 find ii-,hat al
the nations OF Europe conceded to Spain
the righE to this territory Now, if
there is any evidence in history sthit
the nations of Europe acknowledged
this claim, I should be happy TO see il.