Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-03-07
NATIONAL INTELLlGENCER.
THE WHOLE OF OREGON.

The WHOLE, OF OREGON.
Among the nnuendoes in the . Union 2 Of Satur
day night which we did not choose to notice, is one
founded upon our having quoted from another pa
per lhe statement Of an opinion that the claim 81
England on the Northwest Coast north Of forty hie
degrees is better than our claim. We now present
Democratic authority Tor the same opinion, to which
our attention has been requested by Democratic
Member Of Congress.
PROM MERcURr, FEBRUARY 49,
OUR TITLE TO THE WHOLE OF OREGON.
However many bad and indifferent arguments NAV
be urged for title 10 portion Of Oregon is unden
able that title 70 the Whok Of derived exclusively from
the ceson Of Spain in the Florida treaty Of 1919 CAPTAIN
Gray only discovered the mouth Of the Columbia river Lewis
ana Cae explored less than the southern half Of the terri
toy all petence OF title from France to the OREGON. as mari
q Louisiana must stop at the 49h degfee the rule Of con
guy and continuity would give lis no more than tmt M
fnAMss nt derived from the first chapter Of Genesis covers
@ 'ess ana mr. ALLEs from the Declaration of ndepsn-
uence o. good title to HudsoIs Bay as 10 Frazsrs river
Ic the region beyond latitude Ago we have hot haac Of
tue save that derived from Spain Mr. BUCHANAN in effect
acknowledges this and rests his claim to the uhok Of OREGON
On Inc spanish ule that falls the whole fabric Of his ar
gument cumbes to the EARTH and he is LEFT without excuse
or the rePusive arrogance with which he has treated all pro-
Posons Tor an amcabe adjustments and sc are found ready
70 rush into war to support the wrong.
PROPOSE them Y examine this title fol pur tssders bs
make good which this country is urged 70 the brink Of war
m tne late negotiation the British Minister admits we have
all ne rights that Spain had in 1872 But he contends that
ns Nooka Sound convention, made between Great Britain
ana spain III 1883, agreed that the whole territory
now known Oregon should be open to the common occupa
non and settlement Of the contracting parties that said con-
xnucn was IA full force In when Spain coded Her fights
snd CLAIMS % the United States consequently tile latter took
the obligations Of Spain with her rights and therefore that
no right oil exclusive possession Or settlement passed 10 Inc
United STATES by that In short Great Britain stands
towards US precisely she did towards SPAIN with the stip
ons Of The Nootka Sound convention giving her coordinate
the position of Great Britain NJ HsY B NJ
Inc Amencan negoaor does deny the inercnces drawn
Dy the British Minister from the Nuotka Sound convention
Ae adms a. any man Of correct mind must admit that II this
was In force Spain Seded ID the United States ouy
wnat she had under IL viz sght Of occupatlon and sete
ent common with Great Britain. But he denies that the
Nooa Sound convention Of fce in lsl9 when Spain
ceoed ner nights TO tho United States He airms that the
puaons OF this convention in favor of Great Britain were
concession of mere privileges on the part Of Spain which
were Withdrawn and abogated the subsequent war between
Treat britain and Spain in 1885, Therefore Span was t
united back 70 her original sovereignty the whole co
uy Which, by the treaty Of 1872 transferred to the Uni
ted States. This is our position. ia
we shall afterwards deal with Mr. Buchanans inference
tha the sovereignty of Oregon SPAIN and was trans
ered 70 ne United States But do hesitate say
mat ms position that the Nooka Sound convention was alb
rogated by the Of lYee Hpreghabe and is ATTEMPTS
OF the British nsgacf 10 shake il are decidedly awkward
cnd Intellectual He contends that the convention is still in
ce because was the mere acknowledgment Of preexsng
rights IN Great Britain II this be So then neither gave
Them nor took them away in any way aid the per
Peuaon Of those rights prove that the convention is still
IN FORCE they existed BEFORE they have another and
an independent foundations fas4f
lhe truth Is Mr. Pakenhan saw that the Nootka Sound
convention was moi mere acknowledgement Of tie rights o
Great Britain She had claimed tile right OF settling The
northwest coasts Of North America and thereby acquiring the
sIosve sovereignty OF the region Spain disputed this claim
H.
Inc matter was accommodated by the very singular arrange
mcnts Of the Nooika convention II was an execution to all
rule In every other instance the possession and settlement
savage region BY civilized nation have carried with them
ne exclusive sovereignty No other nacncsn enter territory
20 occupied but by act Of host. This convention ST.
paatng for common occupation and settlement Of Oregon
py ine subjects OF Great Britain and SPAIN was thing un
heard OF THEORETICALLY unknown TO the laws Of nations Il
was compromise by which these two Kingdoms agreed ~
leave the question Of sovereignty abeyce Each agreed
70 surrender as to the other the rights Of sovereignty and
hled her pretsnsions simply to and occupation The
convention was not Mr.. Buchanan maintains. conces
saon Of privileges from Spain 10 Great Britain but was T.
ma.on 81 privileges on the part Of both nations which pre-
vented either from gaining propney the territory by those
ec Occupation and se,emen which in their unrestricted
ioTce carry with them the sovereignty of the country.
But Il is quite unmporan the argument whether pri-
Seges or limitations guaranteed by the Nootka con-
venlion In either case the war Of lTsB between Great B-
Jam and Spain clearly abogated it. All spuatons in all
neatie either for or against naton end by war
The British negotator seeing the strength Of this position
mas endeavored to meet by maintaining that the treaty. Of
1914 with Spain revivng all treaties Of commerce. between
the two nations applies the Noota convention as frcafv
q commerce Unfortunately for Mr. Pakenham Lord Abcr-
deem during the last SUMNER in his reply the Spanish Mi
MISTER has broadly maintained, against the circumstances Of
Pa mat TINS stipulation in the treaty of 1914 did not apply
70 the colonies dependencies Of pan but was confined 10
ne commercial relations of the mother counties alone This
ends the argument and far the ersece in force Of the
Vodka convention is concerned leaves the American ncpo
tator entirely triumphant. sa. 500 . fI-F /
IL Is curious fact that at the time Great Britain bv
her negotiaoss contendng for directly opposite consc
tons OF the treaty of 1914 In Europe Lord Aberdeen was
enuousy maintaining that the treaty did not apply 10 the
dependencies Of Spain in the United States Mr. Pakenham
was as earnestly urging that Il did apply TO them With
reason Mr. Gaan In his late letter. remarks that
advocates.
We reserve for another article own notion of the con-
sequences flowing from the abrogaton Of the Nooka Sou,
convention, eit III f"'-
FROM rHK siMs riSra 6f frsRuARr Ia. |
, vur itfLE TO THE WHOLE OF ORrcos endeayored
briefly to set forth the true position Of Spain and
ON the Oregon question: dependant on the Nooa
ounu convention, sipulaing for common occupancy and
c subsequent war by which, maintain that conven-
on was abrogstcd The paftcs wee thus RENTED back TO
snsh original rights whatever they were As we stated
eaf Britain had claimed the right or settling and acqutinQ
n both on tbs gfou Of discovery and hat no other
nad gained any title IL Il BY possesson and sc Spain
ne sovereignty Of il on the ground of discovery Bi
had IN fact the possession Of the northern part
me ,clo az the time Of the breaking Of war; and have
e.u ever since. Spain never had settlement in any part
OF the territory Such the condition of things 10 which
The parties were RENTED back by the abropa,ion Of The Nooa
conventions We are indeed sstonished that neither Mr.
buchanan Mr. Pakcnham have scen The vo. al -,