Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-10-10
Mr.. Buchanan 10 Mr.. McLnne.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

WAsHINGToS, july II, lS45.
Sir Although the President does not intend to transfer
the Oregon negotiation from Washington London, yet
her Britannia Maestys Ministers will doubtless afford you
frequent opportunities Of conversing upon the subject it
proper that should be wenomed of the present state OF
the question. For this purpose is necessary to furnish you
with brief historical sketch of the propositions for It's adjust
which have been heretofore made and rejected BY the
respective Governments.
The first negotiation that of 1918, which terminated in
the Of the Goth October OF that year. II
ducel by Messrs Galan and Rush, American Plenipo
tentimies in obedience instructions from Mr. Adams, then
Secretary Of State under Mr. Monoes Administration. Our
Plenpoentiares inform that they did that occasion
that the United States had perfect right to the coun
try but insisted that their claim least good against
Geal Britain" They therefore offered to compromise b.
adopting the parallel of 49 degrees the dividing line between
the countries and by surendeng TO Great Britain the
free navigation of the he Columbia OF course included
which might be inerseced by this line. The British Pen-
poeniiaes (Messrs Robinson and Goubun,) in answer,
did make any formal proposition for boundary, but
ntmaed that the river itself the most convenient that
could be adopted and that they would not agree to any that
did give them harbor al the mouth of the river in
mon with the United States" But, although they did not
propose boundary, they did make most extra
ordinary proposition the American Plenlpoenares which
instantly and properly rejected This was less in effect
than that the United States should surrender to Great Britain
the exclusive sovereignty the whole territory north OF AZ
degrees whilst that portion of which lies between the 45h
and the 49h parallels embracing the mouth and nearly the
whole the Columbia should be free and open
the subjects and citizens of the two States respectively for
the purpose of trade and reserng the claims Of
the respective parties not to the whole territory, but TO this
section OF il merely.
This negotiation resulted the adoption Of the third article
Of the convention the goth October 1885, under which the
United far yielded TO the claims Of Great Britain
agree that the whole territory should " be free and open for
years from the date of the signature of the pre-
convention the vessels citizens and subjects OF the
two Powers"
The second negotiation this subject during the Admin
sration Of Mr. Monroe was conducted in 1924, by Mr.
Ia
of Mr. Adams In the time the United ates had
quircd the Spanish e embracing the whole territory in dis
pute under the Florida treaty of the 22d February 1919
and Mr. Monroe had made his celebrated declaration TO the
world that the American continent should longer be sub
ect colonization. Notwithstanding this change IN the re-
atve position of the parties Nh Monroe anxious to settle
the conflicting claims Of Russia Great Britain and the United
States the territory the northwest coast OF America and
knowing that this could only be done by compromise autho
rized Mr. Rush, through the instructions from Mr. Adams
dated the ord July, 1929 "with view TO draw definite
line Of demaaon for the future to spulate that no settle
shall he made the northwest coast or on any Oh te
islands thereto adjoining by Russian Subjects south OF latitude
SIS by citizens Of the United States north Of latitude 81 de-
eees or by British subjects either south of 81 or north OF So
mention (says Mr. Adams) the latitude of 81 the bound
within which willing TO limit the future settlement OF
the United States because not to he doubted that the Co
lumia river branches far north as al AS however,
the line already runs in latitude 40 degrees, TO the Stony
Mountains should be earnestly insisted upon by Great B
tain we will consent carry ii in continuance the
parallel to the sea-
Mr. Rush. with great ability, attempted to execute his in
stucons He first proposed 81 degrees and afterwards 40
degrees but in vain. These propositions severay
ected by the British Plenpoeniares, Messrs Huskisson
and Straford Canning who proposed the 49th parallel as
permanent boundary between the two countries until should
strike the norheasernmos branch OF the Columbia ver
fMcCilvray and thence down the to its junction
with the ocean, the navigation Of the whole channel being
pcpeualy free the subjects and citizens Of both parties
This proposition rejected by Mr. Rush, and here the
collation. ended.
IN
during the admin ytraon Of Mr. Adams and conducted
by Mr. Galatn American Plenipotenary under nstruc-
tons from Mr. Clay then Secretary of State. The third ari
Of the convention Of October 1918, was about to expire
by its own limitation and most formal and serious effort
was then made finally adjust this vexed question: but
utterly failed This negotiation displays great research and
ability on both sides Mr. Gsllatin i'll behalf of the United
States again offered compromise the question Ivy adopting
the 4gh parallel of latitude the dividing line between the
two countries west the Rocky Mountains and TO that
the navigation of the Columbia should be perpetualy free
to the subjects Of Great Britain IN common with the citizens
Of the United States, provided this line should strike the
or any other branch of that river at point
from which it navgabe Tor boats
This oAer was rejected by the British Plenpotenarcs
Messrs Husksson and Addngton) in very strong terms
they repeated the offer which had been made to Mr. Rush
the part Of Great Britain 1924 with this addition that they
were willing concede to the United States the possession of
Port Discovery the southern coast Of DE Fucas inlet and
annex thereto call that Of country comprised within
line to be drawn from Cape Fatery along the southern shore
Of De Fucas inlet Point Wilson, at the northwestern
tremy Of Admiralty inlet from thence along the western
shore of that inlet the Of Hoods inlet TO the
point Of land forming the northeastern extremity Of the said
inlet from thence, along the eastern shore of that inlet TO
the southern extremity of the from thence direct TO the
southern point of Gay habor from thence, along the shore
Of the Pacific, Cape Flattey, as before mentioned
This proposition rejected by Mr. Galain, and the ne
COLLATION. terminated in the convention Of August 9th, 1927
which continued the third article Of the convention OF October
1873 until should be abrogaed by the party the other