Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-01-08

anu explorations, yet upon question OF such
magnitude as this, which is to involve the issue
OF peace or war, not OF our own people only, but
perhaps OF the world, the subject cannot be too
thoroughly canvassed and understood. And first
let US look TO our own title, depending on Disco
very and exploration. According to Me-. Buchan-
an
"Capt. Robert GRAY, i'm June 1889, in the sloop
Washington, Ia private meIchantman,) first ex-
Plored the whole eastern coast Of Queen Char
lotte's Island.
"ln the autumn of the same year, Cant. John |
kendrick, having, in the meantime, surrendered
the command of the Columbia to Capt Gray.
sailed in the sloop Washington, entirely through
the Straits of Fuca.
In 1871, Captain Gray returned to the North
racine In the Columbia, and in the summer of
that year examined many of the inlets and passa-
ges between the 55th and Seth deg of latitude
On the 1th May, 1892, he discovered and en-
tered Bullhnch's harbor, where he remained at
anchor three days, trading with the Indiana.
On the llth of May, l793, Captain Grav en-.
tered the mouth of the Columbia, and completed
the discovery OF tina; great river.
In the years 1866, Messrs. Lewis and
Clarke, under commission from the Govern
ment OF the U. 5. explored the waters of the Co
lumbia nearly from its head spring to the Pacific.
In 1911, John Jacob Astor, merchant of New
York, in spirit of private enterprise, establish
ed settlement OH the South side of the mouth|of
the Columbia river, called ''Astoria, ;" which,was
captured during The war, to witt on the LIST of
December, 1913, by the British Sloop Of War,
Racoon, but was again restored TO the u. S. in
1918, under that provision of the treaty of Client
which declared that "al territory, places, and
possessions whatever, taken by either party from
the other. during the war, &C., shall DO restored
without delay" which the American negotiator
regards as an unqualified admission on the part
oil Great Britain OF our territorial right while he
admits no such recognition the part of Spain
10 Great Britain in the restoration OF Nootka
Sound, to Meares aud the payment Of an indem-
nifty Tor injuries sustained and in this again,
mink he EXHIBITS want OF candor, and involves
himself In an Inconsistency that is only to be ac-
counted for, in gentleman of his acknowledged
ability, (tor 1 have great personal respect for
him,) by an overweening desire 10 shape his ar.
gumens to conform to the views Of the Presi-
dent, and to sustain him rather than our lust and
legitimate claim And this is the extent of our
claim as presented by our government through its
negotiator. by virtue of discovery, exploration
and settlement.
Let us see what is presented by the British
Iienipotentlary as an offset TO il, by virtue of
discoveries, explorations and settlements by Great
Britain, and 1t will be observed that up to this
time, have relied entirely upon the statements
and admissions OF MIR. Buchanan himself, quo
ting his own language wherever it was possible
to do so, and In no part of his entire correspond-
ence, In the conclusion of which he abruptly ter
inmates the negotiation, does he deny the facts
as stated by MIR. Pakenham, which follow:
"In 1873, Captain Cook discovered Cape Flat.
terry, the Southern entrance of the straits of Fuca
also OF Nootka Sound, as between Great Britain
and the U. s., (for the discovery of Perez has
hothing 10 do with the contending claims now
under eXamination)
"ln 1857, Captain Berkely, a British subject.
In vessel under Austrian colors, discovered the
straits OF Fuca.
In the same year, Captain Duncan, in the ship
Prlncess Royal, entered the straits, and traded at
the village of Classet.
In l7SS, John Meares, British subject, form.
ed the establishment at Noo,ka, which as before
stated, gave rise TO the Nootka Convention.
which terminated in the recognition by Spain of
the right OF Great Britain to make settlements in
the unoccupied parts Of the northwest portion of
the American Continent, [Oregonl and stipu
lation TO reinstate Meares in possession, and to
pay an indemnity for injuries sustained
''ln l192, Vancouver was sent by England TO
witness The iuiment of the stipulation TO restore
the possession OF Nootka, and 10 survey the north
west coast, which he performed by departing
from Nootka Sound, and entering the straits of
fuca, and after an accurate survey of the coasts
and inlets on both sides, discovered a passage
northwards into the Pacific by which he returned
TO Nootka, having thus circumnavipated the Is
land which now bears his name.
awhile Vancouver was prosecuting discovery
and exploration by sea, Sir Alexander Mckenzie
a partner in the Northwest COMPANY. crossed
the Rocky Mountains, discovered the head waters
OF the river, since called FraZer's river, and fol-
lowing Tor some time The of that river eff.
fected passage to The sea-beng the first civil
iIzed man who trayersed the continent of Ameri-
ca from sea to sea In these latitudes. On the re-
turn of Mckenzie to Canada, the Northwest
company established trading posts in the coun-
try 10 the w eastward OF the Rocky Mountains
"ln 1876 and III, respectively, the same Com.
pany established posts on The Tacoutche, Tepe
and Columbia.
''ln the year 1911, Thompson, the astronomer
oil the Northwest Company, discovered the wes-
tern head waters OF the Columbia, and following
lis course I'LL Joined by the rivers previously dis
covered by Lewis and Clarke, he continued his
journey 10 the Pacific.
"FTom that time till the year 1918, when the
arrangement Tor The joint occupancy of the terri
tory was concluded, the Northwest COMPANY
continued TO extend their operations throughout
the Oregon Territory"
These are the claims, as respectively set forth,
(chiefy in their own language,) by the American
negoiiasor and the British penipotentiary.
In the progress of lie negotiation, a propos-
ton was submitted by the British minister, to
divide the territory, by running the 49th parallel
of North latitude due west TO the point where
that parallel strikes the great Northesternmost
branch OF the Columbia river, with the free nay-
igaion oil said river 10 bot!. parties, and to make
Tree 10 the United States, any port or ports which
the United States might desire, either on the
main land or on Vancouver's Island, north of
latitude 49o, together with some separated terri
tory on the Pacific.
This was declined OH the par. of the United
States negotlator, and proposition was then SUBJ
united by him to divide the territory between the
two countries, by the 40lh parallel Of North lati-
tude, from the Rocky Mountains 10 the Pacific
Ocean, making free 10 Great Britain aDy port or
ports on 'aDcougcEs Island, south Of the 10Th