The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-02-07

not national, vessel. AS he furnishes
no reason for this distinction, the un-
dersigned will confne, himself to the
remark that merchant vessel bears
the flag Of her country at her masthead,
and continues under its jurisdiction and
protection in the same manner as though
she had been commissioned for the ex-
press purpose Of making discoveries
Besides. beyond all doubt, this discov-
cry was made by Gray; and to what
nation could the benefit of it belong,
unless it be to the United States! Ger
tainIy not to Great Britain. And if to
Spain, the United States is now her
representative.
1 Nor does the undersigned perceive
in what manner the value of this great
discovery can be lessened by the fact
that it was first published to the world
through the journal Of Captain Vancou-
yer, British authority. On the con-
trary, its authenticity beng thus ac-
knowledged by the party having an ad-
verse interest, is more firmly establish
ed than if it had been first published in
the United States.
From a careful examination and re-
view of the subject, the undersigned
ventures the assertion, that TO Spain
and the United States belong all the
merit of the discovery of the northwest
coast of America south of the Russian
line, not spot of which, unless it may
have been the shores of some of the in
terror bays and inlets, after the en-
trance to them had been known, was
ever beheld by British subjects, until
after it ha been seen or touched by a
Spaniard or an American.
Spain proceeded in this work Of dis
covery, not as means Of acquiring IT,
tie, but for the purpose ofexamining and
surveying territory to which she be-
Iieved she had an incontestible right.
This title had been sanctioned for cen.
turies by the acknowledgment or ac-
quescence Of all the European powers.
The United States alone could have
disputed this title, and that only to the
extent of the region watered by the
Columbia. The Spanish and Ameri-
can titles, now united by the Florida
treaty, cannot be justly resisted by
Great Britain. Consider together, they
constitute perfect title to the terrific
nv in dispute, ever since the 18th May,
1892. when Capt. Gray passed the bar
at the mouth of the Columbia, which
he had observed in August, 1888.
The undersigned will now proceed
to show that this title of the United
States, at least to the possession of the
territory at the mouth ofthe Columbia,
has been acknowledged by the most
solemn and unequivocal acts Of the
British Government.
After the purchase of Louisiana from
France, the Government of the United
States fitted out an expedition under
Messrs. Lewis. and Clarke; who, in
1905, first explored the Columbia, from
its source to its mouth, preparatory TO
the occupation of the territory by the
United States.
In 1911, the settlement of Astoria
was made by the Americans near the
mouth of the river, and several other
posts were established in the interior
along its banks. The war of 1912 be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States thus found the latter in peaceful
possession Of that region. Astoria was
captured by Great Britain during this
Ewar. The treaty of peace concluded
at Ghent in December, 814, provided
that /" all territory, places, and posses
sions whatsoever, taken by either party
from the other, during the war, &c.
I" shall be restored without delay" In
obedience to the provisions of this trea-
ty,Great Britain restored Astoria to the
United States; and thus admitted IN the
most solemn manner, not only that it
had been an American territory or pos
session at the commencement of the
war, but that it had been captured by
British arms during its continuance. 1t
is now too late to gainsay or explain
away these facts. Both the treaty of
Client, and the acts Of the British Gov
ernment under it, dlsprove the aHega-
tions of the British plenipotentiary, that
Astoria passed "into British hands by
the voluntary act of the persons in
charge of it," and "that it was restor-
ed to the United States in 1918 with
certain we'll authenticated reserva-
tons" a flats1 rls'ss5 a8
In reply to the first Of these allega-
tions, it is true that the agents Of the
(American) Pacific Fur Company, be-
fore the capture of Astoria on the 18th
October, 1913, had transferred all that
they could transferable private prop
erty Of the company--to the (British)
Northwest Company ;but it will scarce
ly be centended that such an arrange