The Columbian fountain., 1846-02-11

cation laws, adverse to any alteration. Re-
ferred 10 Committee Of the Whole, In rela-
ton 10 aNalional Foundry--the Cumberland
road, the tonnage of canal boats, SIC. and the
House went into committee on the bill appro-
priating million of dollars for Notifications.
Mr.. Mckay moved to amend by adding $300,-
QUO for the armament of Notifications.
Mr.. Flcklin wanted TO amend further by add
ing only half million for the Cumberland
road-out OF order The amendment of Mr..
the payment OF pensions was then brought un-
der consideration but not disposed OF. The
forti6cation bill was passed by the House with
Mr. McKay's amendmeng and the House ad-
journed.
The Oregon debate being now brougt TO an
end in the house, and not having given any
lengthy reports or even short abstracts, except
that of Mr.. Adams yesterday in the House, il
may be well here to name the most prominent
that have been made, on the three most distinct
propositions into which the subject has been
divided by its advocates, opponents, and amen
dators or qualifers. Among these, the speech
Of Mr.. Andrew Kennedy Of la. in favor Of the
notice; g the whole" of Oregon, and none OF
the "none J" in support Of the President in to-
to; the exposition Of Dur rights there and the
moral and physical certainty of our exclusive
possession and ownership eventually stands,
first, in unprecedented eloquence, in force,
sublimity and effect That Of Mr.. Pendlelon
OF Virginia, in opposition to the views OF the
administration, in keen but allowable ridicule
OF its proposed measures; in wit, manner, and
ability; stands next. That of Mr.. Hilliard OF
Alabama, in favcr ofgiving discretionary pow
er TO the President to give the notice, in power
OF language; in force Of argument; in attractive
and impressive style, in strict propriety OF
splendid ornature and chaste imagery, was
pre-eminent.
The most concise demolition Of the preten-
sions of Great Britain was given to US in the
speech of Mr.. Fickln, Of Illinois; speech
that contains more able and useful arguments
and information in relation to our rights than
can be found condensed in the same space in
any discourse or essay on the subject 1t
should be in the hands of every person, as an
important and the only key to the interprea-
ton of the Nootka Sound Convention, the
sole foundation of England's claims. He
argued that from the rights OF Spain accruing
to us by the Florida treaty of 1919, and from
the rights of France, which were secured to
her by her treaty with England of l763, and
acquired by US from her in the Louisiana
treaty of 1903, the whole force of the doctrine
of continuity once claimed by England now
belonged to US. He took the ground that
Mears was not in British vessel, nor under
the protection of her flag, but sailed under the
Portuguese colors. That Britain clustered and
threatened to annhilate Spain if she did not
yield 10 her grasping eXaclions. But in this
high-handed measure she was arrested by the
tortuitous concurrence of circumstances. Rus
sia and Sweden about that time made peace.
The French Revolution was then in the Sc
cond year of its progress, and threatened no
little danger from its spread throughout Eng
land, and over many parts of Europe; France,
on being applied TO by Spain, ordered that AS
sail OF the line be added to her feet These
things all concurring, induced England to re-
cede from her first position, and the question
was not what she would take, but what could
she get from Spain.
She appointed secret agent to France and
obtained the aid of the National Assembly in
negotiating the Noolka treaty. Hence that
convention provides only that she shall have
free commerce and the right Of hunting and
trapping, end does not in any wise affect the
right of soil or sovereignty. 1t should be dis
tinctly understood, that the only rights of Eng
land arise in this way, and that she is little bet
ter than tenant at will or sufferance. The
Hudson's Bay Company kept extending their
trading and trapping operations to the west
ward, until they found themselves within a
more convenient distance oi the Pacific navi-
cation than of the navigation of the lakes and
St. Lawrence, and by aotillas of battaux ma
vlgation crept between the Russian possessions
on the north, and those Of the United States
on the south, inclining southwardly to the
mouth of Frazier's river, and gradually to the
mouth of the Columbia river She now wants
all the lands north of the Columbia, and will
have them if we submit to arbitration. The
grounds of England's claims being thus stated,
in connection with Mr.. Adams's speech oil
yesterday, will be useful for preservation and
reference