Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-01-07


different parties bot since we have right.
G,lly acquired both those Of Spain aud
Fnnce, and concentrated The whole IN our
handr, they mutually blend with each other
and form one strong aud connected chain
OF iillc, against the opposing claims OF all
others, including Great Britain.
IN order 10 present more fully and per-
fcctly the grounds on which our claims to
the region ia question rests, II will now
be necessary 10 turn back TO The time
when Astoria was restored TO ns, under the
provisions Of the treaty Of Client, and 70
trace what has since occurred between
tho two countries IN reference 10 the ter.
ritory, and inqdrc whether their respec'
tive claims have beea affected by the set
dement's since made in tho territory by
Great Bnnin, or The occurrences which
have since taken place.
The restoration OF Astoria took place
under the provisions Of the treaty Of Ghenl'
on tho Oh day of October, lslS-the eff
feet of which was to put Mr. Provost, The
ageni authorized by our government 70 re-
coiyc ii, in possession Of tho establish.
mcnt with the right al all times % be re.
inslated and considered tbs pariyin pos
session, as was explicitly admitted by
Lord Cnslereagh in the first negotiation
between tho two governments IN reference
10 the trcaiy. Tho words of Mr. Rush,
our plenipotentiary on that occnsisn, in his
letter 10 Mr. Adams, then Secretary OF
Smle, Of the 18th OF February, 1918, re-
porting what possed between him and his
lordshIp, are, sthat Lord CdStieredgh ad
mitted in The most ample ertem or right
10 be rcinstated, and 10 beMe party IN pos.
session, whiie treating Of tie ME-"
That negotiation terminated in the con
venlion Of the goth Of October, lSl6--the
third article Of which is IN the following
words:
al IL agreed that any country that mny
be claimed by either party on the north
west const of Americu, westward Of the
Stony mountains, shall, together with It's
harbors, bays, creeks, md the navigation
Of all rivers within the same, be free and
open, for the term Of ten years from the
date Of the signature Of the present con
yenlion, 10 the vessels, citizens md sub
iects Of the two powers; II being well I'M
derslood that this agreement is not 10 ho
construed 10 tho prejudice Of any claim
which other OF the TWO high contracting
parties may hnye to any part of the said
country; nor shall il DO taken 10 affect The
claims Of any other power or State 10
take any part of the said country; the on.
ly object OF the high contracting parties,
in that respect, being to prevent disputes
aud differences amongst themselves"
The two acts, the restoration of our
possession and the signature Of the con
yenlion, were nearly conlemporaneous--
the latter taling place but fourteen days
subsequently to the former. We were
then, as admitted by Lord Casllereigh, en-.
titled % be considered as the party in pos
session and the convention which stipu
lated that the territory should be free ont
open, for the term Of ten years from The
date ct is signature, TO the vessels, Cit.
zons, and subjects Of tho two counties
without prejudice 10 any claim which Ell
iher party may have to my part of The
same, preserved aud perpeluuled all on
claims 10 the Territory, including the &C
knowledged right 10 be considered the par
" in possession, as perfectly during tn
period Of It's continuance as they were tn
day the convention was signed. or lbi
there can be no doubt,
After an aborlivc attempt 10 adjust III,
claims OF the two parties 10 the territory
in 1894, another negotiation was common
ced in 1896 which terminated in renew
ing, on the 9Th Of August, 1927, the ihirc
article Of tho convention OF 1918, prior ic
its expiration. L provided for the indef
nile extension Of all the provisions of the
third article Of that convention; and alsc
thu, either party might terminate it atany
time II might think fiji, BY giving one years
notice, after the goth OF October, 1928
II took, however, the precaulion Of proyi.
ding expressly thai " nothing contained ii
this convention, or in the third article Of
the contention of The ooh October, 1918
hereby continued in force, shall be constru.
cd 10 impair or in any manner affect The
claims ,chich either Of the contracting par,
Tics may hare 10 any part Of The country
mestrdrd Of The Stony or Rocky noun
.faias." That convention is now in force
and has continued 10 re 20 since The OK
piration Of that Of 1918. BY the Join
operation Of the Two, our right TO DO con
sidcrcd Inc party in possession, and all The
claims we had TO the territory, while IL
possession, are preserved in as full yigor AZ
they we're at The date Of its restoration il
1918, without being affected or impaired
- L. ~. >. l..s al.