The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-08-20
c PreSidentcfhe United States Of Amerl
A PROCLAMATION,

States OF America and her Majesty the Queen
Of the United Kingdom Of Great Britain and
Ireland was concluded and signed by the
Plenip otentiaries at Washington on the fif
teenth day Of June last, which treaty is word
for word as follows:
The United States of America and her
Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom
Of Great Britain and Ireland, deeming it to
be desirable for the future welfare Of both
countries that the state of doubt and uncer-
tainty which has hitherto prevailed respecting
the sovereignty and government Of the ter
ritory on the northwest coast of America ly-
ing westward of the Rock or Stony Noun
tains, should be finally terminated by an ami
cable compromise Of the rights mutually as
serted by the two parties over the said terrific
ry, have respectively named plenipotentiaries
to treat and agree concerning the terms Of
such settlement, that is to say: the President
of the United States of America has, on his
part, furnished with full powers James Blu
chanan, Secretary of State Of United States
and her Majesty, the Queen of the United
Kingdom Of Great Britain and Ireland, has
on her part appointed the Right Hon. Rich
ard Packenham, a member Of her MaieSty's
most honorable Privy Council, and her Maj
esty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary to the United States, who,
after having communicated to each other their
respective full powers found in good and due
form, have agreed upon and concluded the
following articles:
Art. l. From the point on the the forty
ninth parallel Of north latitude, where the
boundary laid down in existing treaties and
conventions between the United States and
Great Britain terminates, the line of bounda-
ny between the territories of the United
States and those of her Britannia Majesty
shall be continued westward along the said
forty ninth parallel of north latitude to the
middle of the channel which separates the
contincntfrom Vancouvcr's Island; and thence
Southerly through the middle of the said chan
mel and Of Fucas straits to the Pacific ocean:
Provided, hoWeuer, That the navigation of the
said channel and straits south Of the forty
ninth parallel of north latitude remain free
and open to both parties
Art, H. From the point at which the forty
ninth parallel of north latitude shall be found
to intersect the great northern branch of the
Columbia river, the navigation Of the said
branch shall be free and open to the Hudson
Bay Company and to all British subjects ira
ding with the same, to the point where the
said branch meets the main stream Of the Co
lumbia, and thence down the said stream to
the ocean, with free access into and through
the said river or rivers, it being understood
that all the usual portages along the line thus
described shall in like manner be free and
open. In navigating the said river or rivers
British subjects, with their goods and produce,
shall be treated on the same footing as citizens
of the Uniled States; in being, however, al
ways understood that nothing in this article
shall be construed as preventing, or intended
to prevent, the Government Of the United
States from making any regulations respect
ing the navigation of the said river or rivers
not inconsistent with the present treaty.
Art. III. In the future appropriation ofthe
territory south of the forty-ninth parallel Of
north latitude, as provided in the first article
of this treaty, the possessory rights of the
Hudson Bay Company, and Of all british sub
jects who may be already in the occupation Of
land or other property lawfully acquired with
in the said territory, shall be respected
Art. ". The farms, lands, and other prop
erty of every description belonging to the
Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, on the
north side Of the Columbia river, shall be
confirmed to the said company. In case, how
ever the situation of those farms and lands
should be considered by the United States to
be of public and political Importance, and the
United States Government should signify
desire to obtain possession of the whole, or of
any part thereof,the property so required shall
be transferred to the said Government, at a
proper valuation, to be agreed upon by the
parties.
Art, V. The presenttreaty shall be ratified
by the President Of the United States, by and
with the advice and consent Of the Senate
thereof, and by her Britannia Majesty and
the Publications shall be exchanged at Lon
don, at the expiration of six months from the
date hereof, Or sooner, if possible
In witness whereof, the respective Plenipo-
tentiaries have signed the same, and have at
fixed thereto the seals Of their arms.
Done at Washington, the fifteenth day of
June, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and forty-siX.
JAMES BUCHANAN, Isl
RICHARD PACKENuAM, L. S
And whereas the said treaty has been duly
ratified on both parts, and the respective rat
ifcations of the same were exchanged at Lon
don, on the seventeenth ult., by Louis
McLane, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States, and
Viscount Palmerston, her Britannia Majesty's
principal Secretary of State for Foreign AZ
fairs, on the part Of their respective Govern
ments:
Now, therefore, be it known that l. JAMES
X. POLK President of the United States of
America have caused the said treaty to be
made public, to the end that the same, and
every clause and article thereof, may be OBJ
served and fulfilled with good faith by the u
nited States and the citizens thereof.
In witness whereof, have hereunto set my
hand, and caused the seal of the United State
to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this fifth
day of August, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and forty
six, and of the Independence of the
Ills. United States the seventy-irst
JAMES X. POLK.
BY the President;
'J,,,rs RrCuANAN .Secycto,,u of State