Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-24


northern boundary Of Louisiana. Il has been accordingly
thus settled far the Stony Mountains by the convention
Of 1918 between the United States and Great Britain and
no adequate reason can be given why the same boundary
should be continued far the claims OF the United
States do extend that to say, far as the Pacific Ocean
II appears very extraordinary that any geogra-
pher or map-maker should have invented dividing
line, with such specific details, without having suf-
fcient grounds for believing that it had been thus
determined by the Commissioners under the treaty
of Utrecht. Ii is also believed that Douglass s
Summary mot at this moment within my reach)
adyerts to the portion of the line from the coast OF
Labrador to the Saguenay. Finally, the alluson
to the 49th parallel as boundary fixed in conse-
quence Of the treaty Of Utrecht, had been repeat
eddy made in the of preceding negotiations,
as well as in the conferences of that of the year
1926; and there is no apparent motive, if the as
sertion known by the British negotiators not to
be founded in fact, why they should not have at
once denied it. 1t may be, however, that the ques-
ton having ceased to be Of any interest to Great
Britain since the acquisition of Canada, they had
not investigated the subject II is of some import
ance, because if authenticated, the discussion would
be converted from questions respecting underlined
claims into one concerning the construction of a
positive treaty or convention.
Ii is sufficiently clear that under all the circnm-
stances of the case an amcabe division of the ter
rtory, if at all practicable, must be founded in a
great degree on expediency. This Of course must
be left to the wisdom of the two Governments.
The only NATURAL equitable, and practicable line
which has occurred to me, is one which, running
through the middle of Fuca's Straits from its en-
trance to point on the main situated south of the
mouth of Frazer's river, should leave to the United
States all the shores and harbors lying SOUTH and
Great Britain all those north of that line, including
the whole of Quadra and Vancouver's Island. It
along the parallel Of about 4Sa degrees, leaving to
England the most valuable and permanent portion Of
the fur trade dividing the seacoast nearly pos
sble into two equal parts, and the ports in the most
equitable manner. To leave Admiralty Inlet and
its Sounds to Great Britain, would give her pos
session in the heart of the American portion of the
territory. Whether from the Point where the line
would strike the MAN, it should be continued along
the same parallel run along the 49th, is mat
ter of secondary Importance
If such division should take place, the right of
the inhabitants of the country situated on the upper
waters~of the Columbia to the navigation of that
river to its mouth, is founded on natural law and
the principle has almost been recognised as the pub
lie law of Europe. Limited to commercial purpo-
SEES, it might be admitted, but on the express con-
diton that the citizens of the United States should
in the same manner, and to the same extent, have
the right to navigate the River St. Lawrence.
But | must say that, whatever may be the ulti-
mate destinies Of the Oregon territory, would feel
great regret in seeing it in any way divided. An
amicable division appears to me without compari-
son preferable to for that object between the
two countries. In every other view of the subject
it is highly exceptionable. Without adverting for
the present to considerations of higher nature it
may be sufficient here to observe, that the CONVEX
sion of the northern part of the territory into Br
fish colony would in its effects make the arrange
ment very unequal. The United States are forbid
den by their Constitution to give preference to the
ports of State those Of another. The ports
within the portion of territory allotted to the Uni
ted States would Of course remain open to British
vessels; whilst American vessels would be exclu-
ded from the ports of the British colony unless oc-
casionally admitted by special acts depending on
the will of Great Britain.
ALBERT GALLATIN