The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-02

continent where strikes the 5sh degree ofnorth latitude
from this last mentioned point 10 the point OF lneeeuoi
Of the llst degree longitude will proysto be at the
distance Of more than ten marine Leagues non the ocean
the limit between the British possessions and the line
Of which to belong to Russia as aforementioned
shall be formed by line parallel to the windings Of the
coast and which shall exceed the distance Of ten
marine leagues thereo And the line OF demarcation
shall follow the summit OF the mountains situated parallel
10 the coast as far the point Of intersection Of the s
degree OF west longitude (o the meridsn and final
y IRON the said point Of intersection the said meridian ne
E ocean, s sSS or% the Limit Ss%ssa the Russian and
British possessions the continent OF America to the
northw eat"
Now, sir, do not quote this article because il
has the slightest bearing upon our claim, or ought
to have upon our inves CATION Of its extent but 10
show the mistake into which the honorable senator
has been led when he considers these two articles
as IDENTICAL either in their objects or in their terms
They are almost dissimiar in the one as IN the
other. The effort of Russia was the same. IL was
TO procure recognition from the only parties whose
claims interfered with hers, Of her title to that part
Of the country. This she effected by stipulation
with the United States that they would assert no
preiensons north Of $40 40 generally, and a stipu.
lauon with England that she would assert none
north of the same line, and west Of ten marine
leagues from the coast. On her part, Russia relin-
pushed all her preten sions south Of $40 iO, but
without touching the conflicting claims Of the other
parties, leaving them TO dust these in their own
manner as they would they could; and both
England and the United States are free this day
10 assert each lts own uue anu 10 oppose tnut OF It's
adversary, as they were before the execution Of
these conventions with Russia
| therefore remove from this discussion all the
honorable senator has said respecting the objects
the terms and the effect Of this treaty between Eng
land and Russia. We were no parties TO IL. Ii
was formed year AFTER our treaty with the latter
power, and we had Just as much night 10 regulate
the descent Of the crowns Of Russia asd England as
those powers had TO regulate right to the Oregon
territory. In fact, they assumed such monstrous
pretensons. And | must confess my surprise that
their arrangements are introduced here as binding
controlling territorial claims. And yet these
two articles placed by the honorable senator in
uxts. position, though they were parts Of The
same instrument, and his deductions respecting
rights seem TO be drawn from one the other in
Discriminatory: much So that the senator actually
says, 81 have shown yon the limits established
with Russia IN 1924; | have produced the treaties
mot treaty. which establish them and here Also is
map which illustrates them, and shows every thing
precisely | have read it from the treaties" mot
treaty. He then proceeds to point out errors
which II is not necessary TO examine, for they have
reference exclusively TO the treaty between Great
Britain and Russia, and not to that between Russia
and the United States. Our treaty merely provides
that the parallel of $40 40 shall be our northern
boundary. Now what have the errors of geogra-
pliers map makers in the protraction Of the line
between Russia and England, to do with the plain
undeniabs boundary which limits our possessions'-
read it in the treaty. What, therefore, is the direc
ton Of the other linethe Ang Russian line which
the senator has discussed, and whether it goes "a
$50 or 56o, 6lO, or, indeed, to the north pole
touches little as any other question in poit.
| cal geography.
Then, SIR ifty-four forty is resuscitated brought
to life-an existing boundary, to which we may GO
| but beyond which we may not pass. We can jan
| up 10 IL without any imputatisn upon wisdom
or our honor; and the place phere IL toa," is ye
| there, and there IL tciA continue 10 be.
Ii will be recoected, sir, that the honorable sena
tor has saked this issue upon the existence Of this
| line Of $40 4V; and when we point to the Russian
treaty, he attempts to meet by his construction o.
a treaty, and Of the causes that led TO it, between
Russia and England. We repudiate this, and refuse
| to have our line annihilafed without our consent
The line, then, exists. though the honorable sena
tor says it is confined by the precise terms Of the
treaty ito the islands and coasts, and having nc
manner of relation to the continent" And again
| This is the Russian line the continent with
Great Britain; the United States have continent
| al line, either with Russia or Great Britain"
| Strange assertions, as | shall show. Were THU
even So still should have our fav orite line though
it might stop short of the eastern extent of claim
| and though the honorable senator says have
mo boundary at $40 40." But where does Thu
line stop in its easterly progress' The honorable
| senator says it does not touch the continent
Why he makes it an insular boundary in the very
face of express stipulation, that it shall extenC
to the islands and the coasts, know not. As h,
gives no reasons for this Limitation of the natura
Construction of the articIe-not indeed. its natura
| construction merely. but its express and posiy,
| decIaration-I must be nermit,ed 10 believe tina
coast ia the coast of the continent and the islands
| "the islands adjacent to itn Adjacent to what, II,
the coast. To what coast To the north,ee,t coas
| of America. The treaty recognises two geographic
cal divisionsthe coast, continent, and the ada
cent islands The honorable senator saws it is con
6ned to the islands, and does not extend to the con
tinent. or coast. cannot argue this point.
Bv each of these conventions he saws sthe Russia,
claim i, con fined to The coast, and islands and bu each III
same limit { gren both TO the United States and Grea
R,;ioi, y Se II ,,a, Iimt ,,hoilu in m, mater mol
nil on N, land The B,if;,h oniu y,aehed Il bu goin
through Portland chann,ln
/ don't understand this at all, sir. The senate
one moment says that the United States and Grea
Britain have both The same limit; in the next tina
our line neyer touche. the land Int the British lin
| - IN g :, ~ a. -. -. -, ,L. SOW. linz n