Indiana State sentinel., 1846-02-19

true. Ii Is, however, extremely probable that the
unanmity of the House in passing the resolution of
notice has, or may produce propositions, renewal
of negotiation.
have the honor &c. &c.
w. w. WICK.
Oregon Speech of Mr. Owen of Indiana.
Translated for the Stale Sentinel from the Courier
des EtGfs Unis," Of the Sd February.
The Senate seldom sits on Fridays and Saturdays;
and the House of Representatives has been making
sundry excursions historical, geographical and dipo-
matc from the AID to the 54th degree of north ati-
tude. Quite recently, however,5 these excursions
have lost some of their monotony, thanks to a joke
two, and some sharp words exchanged between some
of the speakers. A motion Of Mr.. Petit of Indiana
excited much laughter; he proposed that all those
who had made doubtful speeches should be allowed to
put forth second edition of the same, revised cor
rected and considerably enlarged. And there is,
doubtless, more than among the members of the
House, WHO would be glad TO have bis speech to de-
liver again, that he might remodel 1t, after
speech pronounced, On Thursday last, by MIR. Owen,
of Indiana, who in this out discussion in which
every thing seemed to have been said and
again. found means TO say things novel they
impOrtant and establish, in the short space Of
hour, (to which each speaker is restricted by the
parliamentary rules of the House, the rights Of the
United States to all the territory of Oregon, with
more ability and vigor than Messrs. Calhoun and
Il
This speech seems to US to have shed so strong
light the question that we proceed here to give
analy isis of it.
Tie only point which had remained in dispute in
the last discussion which took place between Mr..
Bur hanan and Mr.. Pakenham to determine, first,
whether by the Convention of NOOtka, Spain had
granted to England the territory situated to tie
north of latitude 42S any rights of sovereignty as
the English diplOmatist alleges, or only temporary
privileges as the American Secretary contends and
also, whether the treaty of Madrid has, has not,
revived that Convention abrogated by the of l790.
The first of these two questions is the more impor
tant; for if it be proved that the Convention of
Nootka conferred on Great Britain territorial
rights ii is evident that she could acquire by
tile treaty of 1914 On the other hand. if Spain,
prior to 1918, had alienated none of her rights of
sovereignty it incontestble that she transmitted
these entire to the United States by the Florida
treaty. And in that case it is of little importance
to what navgators, English American, belongs
the honor of first discoveries made a century two
after the Spanish explorations for these pretensions
are but secondary, and only have force so far
as there may remain doubt as the true intentions
of the treaty Of Nootka and the legitimate inferences
to be drawn therefrOm Now, we believe, that Mr..
Owen has succeeded in clearing away all doubts which
the already powerful argument of Mr.. Buchanan had
left hanging the question The speaker drew his
proofs first from the test itself of the treaty of l79O
and secondly from the commentaries of which il was
the subject the British Parliament itself on the part
of the celebrated members Pitt and Fox-the one the
chief of he Cabinet the other the leader of the oppos-
/ ton.
As to the general Interpretation of the text, Mr..
Owen adhered To the argument of Mr.. Buchanan, to
demonstrate that In recognizing in British settlers the
right to be renstaed in the possession Of certain
establishments and tracts Of land of which they had
been dispossessed in 1889, Spain had in way sur
rendered her sovereignty surrender which, in fact,
was not demanded of her. But this new commentator
on the Convention of Nootka has deduced from the
fifth article IF that Convention, much stronger argu-
ment than any used by his predecessors. By that
article it is stipulated that the subjects of the two
nations shall have equal rights Of commerce and
navigation, not only In the places to be restored TO
British subjects, but also in all other places, situated
to the north Of those already occupied by Spain But
no one thinks Of denying that in 1890, Spain occupied
Noo,ka: that fact being admitted even by Captain
Meares himself the individual who caused the threat
} ened war that was averted by this Convention.
: Nootka being situated in 49a north latitude and
the English not having received by the treaty in
question, any privilege OF permanent settlement
south of that establishment il follows that tie sove-
reignty of Spain has passed perfect and unncumbered
to the United States at least for all territory up to
latitude forty-nine and half. And again and again
once even within the last six months America has
offered to divide the territory the forynnth degree
and England refused the ofier
There remains the territory comprised between
latitude 49a and latitude 81 deg 40 min In regard
to that territory by the fifth article above referred to
it is stipulated that the subjects of both nations shall
have free and shall carry their trade without
any disturbance OF molesaton. That is all. II is
joint occupation of the territory but it is not foi
England any acquisition, nor for Spain any abandon
r ment of sovereignty This is the Interpretation put
on the Convention in the House Of Lords and in the
House Of Commons, when there was offered in both
motion for a vote Of thanks TO the crown for tho
negotiation of this famous Convention. In the House
Of Commons especially there arose, between Fox snc