Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-02-16
TIE OREGON QUESTION.
Mr.. RIvEs's LETTER.

IN 1893 he after the discovery of Amercs) all tn
countries inhabited by inides which che had discovered
should discover, and. drawing meridian line from pol.
pole hundred leagues the westward OF the Azores be
slowed in the penude of his power and bounty all tn
west OF this imaginary line upon SPAIN and all tho
OF IL upon Portugal This doubtless the real
ton of all the absurd aud ridiculous pretensons OF Spa
in the New World. She claimed the whole continent
America its Atlantic as well its Pacific side How TIN
tile was regarded by the sober OF the OF
kind. the successive settlements made and maintained b,
England, France, and Holland, all along the Atlantic
(thst which naturally rst the of Euro
Pesn enterprise have sufficiently proclaimed postcriy
Mr. Buchanan, however, that the right OF
eighty, which "Spsin had asserted for three ccntu
ures corresponding with the debate Of the Pspal gran
Just referred to- lover the whole side OF North
America, far north the sixty first degree Of latitude
had been seriously questioned by any European
ton "tefo-e the Nooika convention" MIR. Gsatn in
the able letters recently written by him and Published
Washington, very appostely that these exelu
sse preensions Of Spain were practically questioned
wholly drgardea in all the British colonial charters OF
the seventeenth century the limits OF which express
ly described extending from But, come
down TO later tunes It is remarkable aud instructive
cum,tance, that when SPAN appealed France virtue
OF the family compact for aid and support IN the Nootka
controversy, her ally aud friend denied her claim Of
sovereignty ON the northwest Of America In re-
bly, the subject OF which the celebrated Mirabeau
rapporeur chairman, it is expressly declared that 1.-The
territory dispute between the Powers in truth be
'Iones to neither; il is the property OF the inhabitants
whom Nature originally placed there" And then the
committee adds This line OF distinction appears Ia.
tie usee than that marked out by the
Pope; aud these people. distant from they are they
oppressed are they not alliesi"
MIR. Buchanan e1pends great deal of ingenious labor
me of ne In shn IA. NJ,
Spain did not expressly ren"unce her claim o exclusive
sovereignty upon the northwest OF America by the
OF that convention; and he also contends that the
ven"n was huihed by the subsequent war which occur
REQ between the contracting parties IN 1896, has
been revived, aud Is therefore longer force
Win great Difference, these 10 To be immaera
questions. The important inquiry the operation
aud effect Of facts words spain, claiming 10 be the
ubsJute "a II the northwest OF America cap
Iured Brush vessels which she ound NoOIka.
aud took possessions ot trading sab shment and bull
diRRs erected there BY sh subjects, expressly the
ground that rights sovereignty had been violated by
considered OF ciegn and unauthorized
intrusion upon her Engaud directly denied
the Spanish CAIN OF sovereignty, alleged that the
s open the first occupant that her subjects
had rshtuiy made settlement there, and demanded Of
Spain Tepaauon sud indemnify 10 the individual sufferers
for the force committed against them, and restors-
u buildings and Of land Of which they
had been dspusses,ed. The whole controversy turned
sovereign territorial rights claimed by Spain upon
the north In agreeing, she did, make the
reparauun demanded aud especially agreeing
British subject the buildings OF land
which she hsd dsP ssessed Ihem as being espassers
upon her territory and jurisdiction she condemned and
repudaIed her claim. The formal recognition
which supersddcd Of the right OF the subjects OF q
Britain, future, 10 make settlements III any parts Of the
territory previously occupied, but necessary and
inevitable c.roay. The feet OF these facts and ecum
without reference 10 the particular OF the
convention or the question Of It's being st IN force
written cnmpLci, athou. It Will be by reference
Official documents that former HeguuatOT, Mr. Galsn,
differs IRON MI Buchanan AMI considered the
So. fr- -.
claim exclusive sovereignty tire northwest OF
Amtrics, an operative and subslstug night. Such
the uaveal understanding eli" the transaction by ell Europe
the time II took pacs contemporary history affords
the most abundant testimony.
MIR. Buchanan takes occasion more Than once, in very
emphatic eTns, remark that there IS evidence that
Nooka SQUAD any other spot the northwest coast,
surrendered Ia Great Britain by Spain pur-
# the supustuns OF the aud he
wards 4.oes the sulhofiIy Of historical Eng
land (Besham) -tro y Dased 10y party feelings against
the Administration which concluded the convention for
the statement" That the Span 81 flag flying NOUtka
struck, aud irat the territory has been yrtusly
lInqushed 10y England" On this subject | find IN
book d,.tnsuihed By At. careful accuracy and habiuny
appealed To win great resPect IN diplomatic discussions,
R0chs Historic Abrtgee OF the treaties u peace between
the Pow OF Europe the peace of Wesiphaa
tnued by Sehoell) the following explicit and crcumsnn-
sia statement 10 the contrary which Translate literally
from toe The execution Of the enton of the
2oh October, 1880" he Nooa yeniion) "expor enc,
ed come ticuies vh Gu delayed It'll 1895. They were
terminated the I'D OF March Ut that year. the spot itself
Spanish Bcadier Alsya and the English Leuten-
Posrl who exchanged declarations in the bay OF Moot
ka after which the Spanish fort destroyed the Spa
MAIDS embarked, and the English flag planted there
| IN sign Of secession -
have advered combinations connected with
the ancient exclusive, Spanish title, urged by our
Government because fully # the opinion expressed
by Mr. Gaatn Of his late letters that our cause
weakened instead Vi being strengthened by bringing TO it,
support dubious aud extreme claims Our genuine Amer
c'n title too goad to be thus h.zlded Or oI-
changed Let repeat the old lily o! losing The cub
stance by grlsping az the shadow. With firm conscious
ness Of own just rights, may afford TO with
respect claims VI IL would icult after
all that has passed. say that England hs no cOora
bic claims Whatever ~ any part OF Oregon. la the NORTH
part Of that territory sue has claims which she profess
rs to sustain grounds similar those which our
own other portions OF the territory rest-the discovery
and exploration Of troZers from the interior OF the
continent by Mckenzie, lie continued By her SUBJECTS
for navigation anu trad the early establishments made BY
the Northwest Company 10 the vicinity Of that ryer DIS
coyeres explorations, and surveys of by her
gator-; bud her settlement NOotka which It cost her
three millions sterling, IN her controversy SpaIn 1,
maintain. am not prepared 10 say how far any Of these
claims may De well founded. But they exist aud they
have hitherto been far peCted by
We have, four several OCCASIONS submitted formal promo
sa to DIVIDE the county with her The case then clear
one for cJmprOrse aud an cable Arrangements and am
firmly pursuaded that satisfactory arrangement can be
Effected whenever the subject approached by both par
ties in night spirit
Indications already offered that public opinion i,
England has made sensible advances towards a lust and
ground a. she advances towards and show Ourselves
! less practicable che becomes sol trust not
England has formerly proposed the line OF the Coiumba
river, with collateral advantages elsewhere a. basi.
Of compromise For obvious can never acceds
10 We have proposed tue extension Of our boundary
east Of the Rocky MOuutuns along the 40 parallel OF
north latitude, the Poe ic ocean, BAN Of compton,
ise England has declined It has long been mqnest
to those who have auenuvoy considered the correspon-
dence between the Governments. where the shoe
pinchsd, snd would continue 10 pnch this proposition
OF ours to E'ga III particularly disclosed m a con
yefsauon NJ Mf. HuskssOn, ono Of the British Comnis-
sioner' win Mr.. Gaaun, wb oh s thus cpor cd by the
latter 10 he letter 10 Mr. Clay. Secretary Of State on tho
2Jth Of Mover, -26: "Mr UuskssOn said that II would
be amcnwbe tb1i, in this ago, such nsJus Ne the
United States and Great Britain should be drawn 10 rup
tug such suhccfHs the uucuysrd wds Of Inc NORTH
west Bot the honor and gniy VI both cDunuie.
Doe respected. and tho convenience of both
parties should alec be o0n'Icd ile then objected o. the
straight inc which ue propuei, having NJ regard 10
such convenience, md Observed particularly that s cut
ting 81 The southern portion Qpadfa and VsucOuvers
Island lhbt or which EoOtsa Sound suacd) as quite
| nadmss.J.c."
Mr.. GlIatn r. Piled by showing the still stronger ohec-
tons, part, the line n the Cyubs nver pro.
] hy .f,Is a H..