Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-04-29
Oregon.

f~~NNS~
Oregon.
We have lately seen some high praises
of Mr.. Benton, for his late speech on the
Oregon question, in which he was repre-
scented as oyerthrowing the argument oil
Mr.. Cass entirely, and enightenng tho
world with new fact, which is neither
more nor less than, that the whole matter
in dispute between this country and Great
Britain, on which some of the ablest men
of the age have been arguing for the last
30 years, was finally decided by commits.
sioners, appointed under the treaty of
Utrecht, in IVA, which fixed the bounda.
ry between the possessions Of France and
England in North America. That this
great truth had never before been disco.
yered either by the British Government
which was a party to that treaty-by
the French Government, which was also a
party to it., and which has lately taken a
most nnaccauntabIe interest in this Oregon
difficulty, nor by our own ministers in Pa
rIs or London, who were specially direct
ed, by Madison, TO inquire into the truth of
the fact, but that it was left to the renown.
ed Senator from Missouri, and the year of
grace 1916, to bring this important fact to
mans knowledge, took the world by sur.
prise. The light suddenly dazzled their
eyes, and like men who had long been
gropIng in the darkness, they mlsiook the
gIlmmerlng of taper for the glare of the
sun; and by its feeble rays indited the i'm
Porlant decree that the Oregon question
was settled. Mr.. Benton and the treaty
of Utrecht had at last done the business
But there are always two sides to
and it would be well for those
who have been laudng Mr.. Benton 10 read
the reply of Mr.. Cass, in which he sets out
with the remark
"If my vindication is not satisfactory to
every man, partial or impartial, will agree
10 be tied TO the chariot wheels of the ho.
norablo senator from Missouri, and 10 fight
the battles of 40; and hardly know two
more severe punishments that could be in
Hicted upon me-"
He then in long and able speech re-
viewed the whole subject connected with
that celebrated treaty, reterating his for
ner views and establishing:
81. 1t is not shown that any line was es-
on the parallel of 40 to the Pacific
ocean.
so. The country on the northwestern
coast was then unknown, and | believe |
or at any rate, no circumstan- |
,es had asisento call in question any claim
o it.F
SO. The British negotiators in 1896
md their minister here in 1874, fixed upon |
he voyage of Capt. Cook in l77s as the
Of the British title to what
8 now called Oregon.'
81. The treaty of Utrecht provides for
he establishment Of line between the
French and British colonies, including the
Hudson Bay Company. The British held
lothing west Of the Company's possessions,
which, by the charter, included only the
ands, countries, and territories on the
waters running into the Hudson's bay.''
"5. If England established this line to
he Pacific ocean, she can have no claims
'outh oil it; ard this kind of argument, ad
tonslaenl, becomes conclusive. And LET
ne add that owe this argument TO my
riend from Missouri, (Mr. Atchison,) 10
whose remarks upon Oregon the Senate
istened with pleasure and with profit some
lays since.m
IS. How could France and Spain claim
he country to The Pacific so as to divide
between them in l7l4, when, as late as
-79o, the British government, by the
Nootka convention, expressly recognised /
ne Spanish title TO that country, and
laimed only The use Of il for lis own sub.
ects in common with those Of Spainr' II
We are sorry we have not room for the
Whole speech; the following extract, how.
yer, is too pointed to be omitted;- 5
And will now ask the honorable Sc. I
lator from Missouri, il he believes that the I
'arailel OF 40 was ever established by I
commissioners under the treaty Of Utrecht, O
3 boundary west of the Rocky noun
a'nsf | will wait for the honorable gen. |
Ieman's reply" 7
Hero Mr.. Cass paused for short time
nt Mr., Benton not answering, he con
Inued.l 7
Well, the honorable gentleman does !
ot answer me. If be believed the line i
TN there, | am sure be would say IL; for if !,
dld run there, we are forever loreclosed !
-om any claim under the Louisiana treaty !,
nd the force Of the honorable gentleman's !
tack upon me would be greatly strength. !
ned. AS he does not answer, shall ;,
IKE 4 Tor granted that he believes no !"
lch line was ever established there.-- !,