Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-02-12

gentleman from South Carolina (RLetO seems per-
ceive evidence, or danger, of any such plan
ask him, is ii 90 for nothing. that while thou
sand American citizens have already settled South OF
the Columbia, not one, no not even one, has found
home North of that stream Are We TO pass over
as of no serious import the fact, that the Hudson
Bay Company deliberately, If without violence, in
duce the removal, to what tley call the American
side of the river, of every citizen Of these States who
attempts settlement what they persist in calling
the British side! Must lie have stronger portents
still can furnish them Tie following paragraph
is from Wilkes narrative:
Z" AS the character Of the Hudson Bay Company pre-
cludes their engaging in agricultural operations. another
Company has been organized under the title Of the Puget
Sound Company and It's officers are exclusively chosen
from among them" The capital Of the Puget
Sound Company is $500 900; Chat is about millions
and half of doars) "The operations Of the Company
are in consequence large they hogan by making large
lmportations Of stock from California and Of the
best breeds Of cattle from England They have also en-
tered into farming extensive scale, &c, Vol Nv.
p 500.
The Puget Sound Company, observe their centre
of operations being Fort Nisqually, at the Southern
extremity of the Sound; the very point at which, in
all prob8 biity, line of communication hence TO
China and the East Indies would terminate, and the
consequent point of embarcaon of the Asiatic trade
the New Orleans, In short, Of the Columbia Valley,
with half the world directly open TO the vessels that
shall leave her wharves. And this Puget Sound Com
pany has the chartered right and the capital found
extensive agricultural selemcnts settlements of the
most permanent kind settlements which must inevi-
taby and rapidly spread out, from that CENTRE south
to the very banks Of the Columbia.
And then, whose will that country be How will
the British Government dare, even if she would, neg
lect or abandon, the British interest that viii have
sprung up, under the protection and privilege of her
own laws and charters
Does the gentleman from South Carolina Think that
his inst tbofu havo
but to fold our hands, In sagacious inactivity and
look quietly on and all will be well! Then may we
also declare when the thunder grows, that there is
no storm in the air. Then may the patrol slumber in
security at his post, even when the enemy's cannon
give warning note, that he is advancing, in mass, to
the onset.
pass to the second proposition Of the gentleman
from Massachusetts, that it, under any circumstances,
we suffer war TO arise we thereby bring dscredit on
our country, and dishonOr on the age in which we live
Discredit dishonor strong terms l have al
ready shown, that we contend for no trihe, for no
Improbable right TIE only remaining contingency
under which such charges justly apply, is, if
contend for that which Is no right at ALL for that
which is bat profitable wrong.
Sir if there be situation in lie public or private
where wise and just man will set jealous guard ON
his reason, ii Is, when he bends its powers TO decide
question of disputed right, TO which he is one of the
parties. The best of US are but men. Our lOngings
iinge our judgments. That which we desire should
be- how readily do we fnd frame, plea TO Justify
When cur wishes urge, or interests solicit. how
prone are we all 10 rush upon conclusions to which
our unbribed reason would never have assented!
In spirit of scrupuous self-watchfuness, then, let
us approach this question. In the great cause now
pending between us and England, before the tribunal
Of the civilized world, let adopt the principles of
her declaration rather than those of own let
take the testimony Of her witnesses, rather than of
those it is our equal privilege to summon. And if,
even out of these materials, Of our opponents own
selection, we still erect an impregnabe title, not
only to what we have claimed, but TO much that we
have offered to renquish, then sefjealousy may
be satisfied and the judgment of candid world must,
per force, be given in our favor.
England, pending this negotiation, has virtually
abandoned all claims founded on discovery or prior
settlement very sufficient proof that she does not
consider them tenable. In the official statement by
her Penpotenaries appended to the protocol of the
sixth conference held in December, 1885, they DECLARE
Whatever title may have been, however either on the
part of Great Britain. the part Of SPAIN prior the
Convention Of 1890, it was. from thence forward, no
longer to be traced in vague narratives of discoveries
many Of them apOcyphai but in the test Of SdpuLatiOns
of thar Contention itself"-Doc. 1919 IT, r. 2Oh Cong
LIST session D. So.
This proposition, if it be admitted, narrows down
the whole controversy to very simple points to an
examination namely of the test and stipulaons -
of the Convention in question. the only just
of title, in either nation TO territory the North
west coast
Our negotiators have argued, that this Convention
being but of temporary character annulled by
the war between Spain and Great Britain declared in
1896 But Mr.. Pakenham still stoutly maintains the
contrary. In his letter 10 Mr. Buchanan of July last
he says:
The Nootka Sound Convention has continued in full
and complete force up to the present moment
! He argues, in another part of the same letter, in
regard to this Convention, that
1t must be considered as an acknowledgment of exist
ing rights admission If certain principles of ntena
tiOna law, be revoked the pleasure of either par
ty he aside by cessation Of friendly relations
between them"
In so far as the Convention actually recognise
territorial rights then eriStiig there is force in the
above view. And, at all events, after such declara
ton, England is for ever barred from demurring tC
any conclusions, to which, following the text anC
stipulationS of that Convention, we may Justly arrive
] Now. taking the words of that Convention thu.
expressly appealed to by Great Britain, interpreting
these in their plain and obvious sense cOrroboratet
and calculated by the most authentic commentar lie.
thereon, assert boldly and positively that this very
document recognizes in Spain-and consequently il
us as SPANS assignee-an ABSOLUTE UNDIVIDED
RIGHT OF TERRITORY, UP TO THE LATITUDE OF
roRTY-NINE AND HALF; and. IN BOTH NATION.
SETTLEMENT THENCE To TIN
BOUNDARY SINCE AGREED UPON WITH Russia
| repeat it: by the Nootka Sound Convention Eng.
land wholly relinqushes TO Spain all territorial righ
south Of latitude forty-nine and half; and grant,
to that country equal rights with herself north Of tha
parallel.
As to the accuracy and justice of this view of thu
case submit it without doubt as to the result
alike scrupulous friends home, and just minded
enemies abroad. If 10 the learned gentleman from
Virginia, (Baiey) who did not alude it yesterday
in his argument title to any one else, it seen
cfr nc | 10 tho
about TO adduce. Let him suffer me, in the frs
place, to refer him to episode in British history