Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-02-20

cncc 10 of1ctal documents ulat our iornlet ne
gotsstof, MIR. Gallatin. dinersf.c in Mr.. Buch-
anan. and considered the convention still IN
iorce 4. was the practical Surrender by Spain
of her claim Of cxclusive sovereignty over the
northwest coast at America, AS am operative
and subsisting right. Sucl, WAS the universal
undo rstandiDg al tie Transaction by all Europe
al tile time IL took place. "a contemporary his
tory st1orls the most abundant testimony.
Mr.. buchanan takes OCCASION more than
once in very emphatic terms TO remark that
there Is ~ evidence that Nootka S,unt. or
any other spot Oh tha northwest coast, WIS
ever surreni, red In Gna, Britain BY Spain in
pursuance OF the siipulations OF The oon,en-
tioa. and he afterwards quotes the authority
ola historical writer in England, (Behsham,l
strongly bissssd BY party feelings against the
administration which concluded the conven-
ton, for ths statement 'that the Spanish flag
flying at Nootka was never struck. and that
the territory has been virtually rciinqunsied
by England" On this subject ] find in n
book distinguished by it, careful accuracy.
and hab.tually app aled 10 with great respect
ia diplomatic discussions, (Roch's Historic
Abregee OF thu treaties OF peace between the
Powers ot Europe since the peace oi West
phalia continued by Shocll,) the following
explicit anj circulnstancisl statement TO the
CONTRARY which | translate literally from the
text: The execution Of the convention of the
18th October, 17y0. 1.-THE Nootka Convcntion)
experienced some difficulties which delayed
il till 1898. They were termincd the pa OF
March Of that year, ou the spot itself. by the
Spanish Brigsdier Alava sndthc English Lieu
tenant Poara, who exchanged declarations in
the bsy of Nootks; after which the Spanish
fort WIS destroyed: the Sponiauis embarked,
and the English dag was planted the sign OF
possession
| have advcrted To these considerations
connected with the ancient, exclusive Spanish
title, a now urged by our Government. be
cause | am fully of the opinion expressed by
Mr.. Gsllstin in one his late letters, that our
cause is weakened instead of being strength
encd, BY bringing to its supper, dubious ami
extreme claims. Our genuine American title
is too good am one To- bc thus hszarled or ex
changed. Let NJ not repeat the old Jolly oil
losing lh substance By grasping at the shadow
With a firm iousiIcss oil our own rights, !
we may afford To ,na' with respect the claims
of Others. IL would seem difficult. after oil
that has passed. now to ssy that England has /,
no colorado claims whatever in ANY part OF
Oregon. In tn northern part OF that territory
she has claims which she PROCESSES to sustain
our grounds similar IL those on which our
own, ia other parts OF the territory. resi-
the discovery and exploration OF Frazer Xiv
er, from The interior of tl.c continent, by ,
Mcheusie it, continued use by her subjects for
ma vigaiion aud trade: the early csia adjustments
made by the Northwest Company in the vi
ciDity OF tina, river; discoveries. explorations.
aud surveys OF the coast by her DsS~igalors: (
her settlement at Nootks. which il cost I
three millions sterling. IN her controversies ,
withSPain, TO maintain. am not prepared J
TO say how Tar any OF these claims may b.
well founded. But they exist; and they have !
been ~ lar inspected BY our Govern.
that We have ou four occasions, submit
ted n formal proposal In divide The country
her. The case, then, is clearly one Tor
compromise AMI amicsble arrangement; and
ann hunly persuaded that a satisfactory ar
rsngement can be effected whenever the
is approached by both parties in a
right spirit. |,
Indications are already offered that public
opinion IN Engisnd has made sensible ad,an.
ces towards . just and practicable bssis al
COMPROMISE. Shall we reerde from our ground
as she advances towanisit and show ourselves
less practicable rs she becomes more sof II
trust not. England has formally proposed
tho line al the Columbia river with some
advantages elsewhere, IA a basis of
compfoinise. From obvious reasons, we eau
never occedc 10 IL. We have proposed the
The ekteniion oil our boundary cast To the
ROCKY Mountains along the 18th parallel OF
north latitude, TO the Pacific ocean, as a basis
OF compromise. E.nglsnd has declined il, III
has been manifest to those who have aticn-
lively considered the correspondence between
The two governments, where the shoe pinchcd
and would continnc 10 pinch, in this propo.i-
ton OF ours 10 Englsnd. IL is particularly
disclosed IN a conversation of Mr.. Huskisson,
one Of the British Commission r., with Mr..
6sllalin, which is thus reported by the latter
in hts letter 10 MIR. Clay, Sccretsry OF State,
on The 25thot November. lS26: ..Mr. Huskis-
SON sad that IL would be lemcuable that. ia
THIS age, two such nations as the United
states aud Great Britain should b. drawn Ia
a rupture On such n subject as the uncultiva-
ted wilds OF the northwest coast. But the
honor aud dignity OF both countries must BE-
also consulted. lie then objected to the
oh eeted TO the straight lime which we propo-
SD az having no regard TO such convenience
aud observed particularly that ito cutting OF
The Southern portion II Quadm and Vancou. J
yer Island THAT on which Nootka SQUAD il
situated) was quite unsdm.s-ible.p
Mr.. Gallaiia replied BY showing the still
slIonger objections, on our part, To the line
oil the Coiumhsa nvcf, as proposed by Knr-
land, snd concluded by stating that we could
not agree to any boundary liuc which "would
not give US a portion Of fuca's Straits" the
afnVt the SEA which separates Vancou=sfs
Island nom the continent. Here, then, were
plainly developed iie elements of tho natu-
raj aud ultimate solution Of this vexcd qurs-
ton. The objections Of both parties would
ee obviated, aud The wants Of both provided
io' by running the boundary along the 18th
parallel of north lsttude-not &C. the main @
: cesn, ~ as To cut on the southern ex,mmitv
: OF V~nneonvers Island, but across the cont
: nenas TO the arm Of the sea (Fuca's stnits)
y which separates Nancouver's Island from the
Q main land, aud then. slightly DETECTING 10
the south, make the middle of tltose St1i,s
tie boundary line, Go the junction with the
: ocean IN about sdeg. 30 north latitude. Ma.
|" tutc herself suggest this compromisc, and /,
Is - impossible 20 look on the map william,
having !, an once presented both Ia the evs
= and the mind by It's 6neness aud coulorn;t ,
y 10 physical indications.
q u -, accordingly, the arrangement which
Mf. Gallatin, with all the authority Of his ex