The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-06


He thinks our title is not 'elear and unquestiona-
BILE TO the Oregon" territory The gentleman says
he has not examined, nor does he intend to ex.
anime, how much better it is 10 the 49th parallel
than to $40 40. II occurs to me, sir, that as the
gentleman has so many doubts IN his own mind AZ
TO our utle and is scrupulous about taking thai
which does not belong to u.s. he should be well sat
isfed of rights before he asserts determination
not TO yield the territory. He does state that
thinks our title better to ago than to $40 4O, al
though he has not examined, nor does lie intend to
examine, how much better; and yet he concludes,
determined as am never, at any hazard, 10 yield
anything below the 49th degree Of north lati-
tude.n
IL cannot be that my colleague resolved TO differ,
right wrong, with the executive, as to our nte 10
Oregon; and yet cannot reconcile his conclusions
4 Why this resolution expressed, not 10 yield any
thing below the 18th degree Of north latitude al the
same time that he declares our title TO Oregon Is
not "clear and unquestionable'p IL we have no
right 10 the territory, he ought not TO claim ~ on
the contrary, IL we have rights there, they should
be enforced. II we have title to the 49th, and no
further, there should he 90 and stop. III orr title Is
good to $40 4O', every principle Of honor and duty
| prompts US 10 enforce Il.
will first, MIR. Chairman, briefly allude to our
title by our own discoveries, explorations, and set
Elements. In May, 1892, Captain Gray, IN the
ship Columbia, from Boston, entered the mouth OF
the Columbia river, sailed up the river for several
miles, and gave it the name which II has since
borne. IL is true that the British commissioners,
in 1896 in the statement annexed TO the protocol OF
the sixth conference, held at London, assert that
\ "Mr. Menres, a lieutenant Of the royal navy, in
1888, had actually entered the bay Of the Columbia,
to the northern headland of which he gave the name
i Of Cape disappointment, a name which Il bears TO
this day" II this assertion Of the British commits
soners was sustained by the facts the English could
not reap the benefits Of his discoveries, as will ap-
pear from the following extract from Greenhow's
! History Of Oregon, page l72:
For the expedition in question: vessels fitted
out at the Portuguese port oil Macao, near tsnion' In
had been previously made to the northwest coasts Of
America In search Of hrs They both placed under
on half pay who sailed In the ship Feice, supercsrgo
the other vessel the brig lPhgenis also carried British
subject william Douglass, In the same capacity both
vessels were however commanded osensbly least by
Portuguese captains they both furnished with
granted by the Portuguese aathos, Of Macao and ho.
ing them to be the property Of Juan Cavao Portuguese
merchant OF that place The instructions for the conduct
nf tho voyage were written only in the Portuguese Ian
guSge and contained nothing Whatsoever calculated to Of
tuguese subjects interested In the enterprise Finally
the vessels sailed from Macao the LIST OF January l7ss
that any other displayed by them during the exped
ton"
If any nation is entitled to the benefit Of his dis
coveries, it is certainly Portugal.
Lieutenant Meares, it is true, sought for the
mouth Of the Columbia in the latitude where ira
diton had located it, but he in his journal that
che can now safely assert that there il such
river that Of ST. Roc existing, az laid down in
the Spanish charts" As evidence Of the sincerity
of this assertion, he gave the name Of Cap, Dis
appointment TO the promontory, and the bay obtain
ed the Of Deception bay
i The next question Is, whether We followed up our
discovery soon enough, by exploration and settle
ment, TO perfect our title Coming to a conclusion
upon this subject, we must take into consideration
Il the vast distance to that country, and the difficult
IL uvhi haa IN Otry
is material difference between perfectng title un-
i der such circumstances, and where no such obstacles
prevail Reason and common sense would lead us
/ readily to the conclusion that in the exploration
and settlement OF Oregon, It was done in
Die time from the discovery Of the mouth Of the ST.
1 Roc by Capt Gray.
In May, 1904, Lewis and Clarke, commissioned by
the government of the United States, began the as
i cent OF the Missouri, and on the 18th Of Novem-
4 ber 1905, arrived at the mouth OF the Columbia
This was evidence TO the nations Of the earth that
our government had asserted her title TO the terrific
~. In March, 1911, Astoria settled by colo
} ny sent out by John Jacob Aston, from New York
\ The next subject of inquiry is, what were the
rights Of Spain in Oregon at the treaty Of 1872
Mr.. Pakenham does not date the English discov
cries earlier than l788 In his communication Of
July 80, l645, he says:
Rejecting previous discoveries north of the 4a parallel
the side of Great Britain" &c.
/ II will now be important, Mr. Chairman, 10 as
certain what the extent and importance Of the
4 discoveries made by Spain prerious to 1888.
1892, Juan dc Fuca discovered the straits bearing
his name.
north latitude to 1910, and discovered Nootka
sound
! ITS, Heceta sailed along the shore, from $40
north latitude 4lo; Of his leutenants explored
the coast from $50 $40 north latitude, and exam
med it carefully from 45o to 400.
| 10 rda
to Mount st. Elias, in latitude 6lo As CONCLUSIVE
evidence Of this fact, refer the committee to the
following admissions made by Mr.. Pakenhum, in
his communication to the Secretary of State, July,
ls45:
But saws the American plcnipotentia in another
Of his statement the rights Spain the
Of America north the degree of latitude
were so complete to have been seriously ques-
toned by any European nation They had been maintain
by Spain with the most visant jealousy ever since the
discovery OF the American continent and had been acqui
. esced in by all European powers"
This position is not controversial by the British
minister. Then, Mr.. Chairman, we must consider
it clearly settled that the Spanish claim to the ter
rory OF Oregon, north to 6lo was acquesced in by
the powers Of Europe, down to the Nooka conven-
ton, in 1890. 1t becomes our duty, therefore, to
inquire what was the force and effect of that
, venon.
: The following is the Sd article of that conven-
y vention:
"ARr g. In order to strengthen the bonds of friendship
and in future perfect harmony and good un
derstandng between the two contracting parties, II Is
that their respective shall not be disturbed
molested either in navigating carrying their fshe
ries Pacific in the South in landing
OF those in places not already occupied
the purpose carrying their commerce with the ma
tves Of ntry. Of making settlements thereht
whole subject nevertheless to the restrictions specified II
% the three following articles"
1t is contended that, by the provisions Of this ar
= tice, the English had the right OF making permanent
!, settlements upon the north coast; but it will be
seen this right restricted by the following ar
!, ces
Art Ills Britannia Majesty engages to take tho mos
prevent the navigation and the fshnI
e OF his subjects in the Pacific ocean or in the South sea
being made prrtext for Illicit trade with the Spanish
4, settlements with this view, IL Is moreover expressly
stipulated that British subjects shall not navigate, carr.
their fishery in the said within the space OF ten
leagues from any part OF the coasts already occupied b.
Z Spain.
Art g. As well in the places which to be restored
the British subjects by virtue Of the first article as In oil
other parts Of the northwestern coasts OF North America
Of Islands adjacent situate to the north cf the parts
the said coast already occupied by Spain wherever III
subjects either Of the powers shall have made settle
n ments since the month OF April 1882 shall hereafte
nft ka