The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-26

any Othcr Tune. FOR my Poit H'ou6" ehot "oIe
right then, and think so nowi was senator then
as | am now. thought with them that New Cal
/ edonia belonged 10 the BRUSH; and thinking SO
4 still, and acting upon the first half Of the great
maxm-ask nothing but what is right shall not
ask them for il, much less tight them for IL now.
come now TO the third geographical division OF
the contested country, Purpcseiy reserved for the
last because il furnishes the subject for the appea-
ton OF the second half Of the great maxim' Submit
20 nothing that is wrong. | come 10 the river Co
lumbia, and It's vast and magnificent valley. once
made description OF IT, with an anathema against
its alienation. described IL by metes and bounds =
| by marks and features--and then wrote It's name in
its face. The hhy-four forties got hold Of my de-
scrpdon-rubbed out tho nafne-oblterated the
| features-expanded the boundarles-took in New
Caledonia, and all the rivers, lakes, bays, sounds,
islands, valleys, forts, and settlements all the way
up TO $40 4Ul and then turned my own anathema
against nv self because lstT minds could not apply
words TO things Well take no offence at this.
There are some people simple 70 get angry with.
| All we do with them in the West, Is to have them
"cut for the smples;" after which they arc cured.
They can perform this operation for themselves, or
have il done. II by themselves, all they have TO do
is rub their eyes, and read again. ifby others, the
operator must read and caution the listening patient
TO stick the word 10 the thing
The valley of the Columbia Is ours ours by dis
coyery by settlement, and by the treaty OF Utrecht
and has too often, been admitted by Great Brit.
ain TO admit Of her disPutng il now. do not plead
our title to that great country ! did that twenty
years ago. when there were few to repeat OF applaud
what said. | pass over the ground which trod
80 long ago, and which has been again so much
uodden OF late, and take up the question at fresh
place-the admissions OF Great Britain and show
that she is concluded by her own acts and words
from setting up any claim TO the river and val
ley Of the Columbia, or TO any part Of the territory
south Of the 49th degree
I kagi mil Mr A4tnra aeftleunsnt on the Co
lumbia, and rest upon It as a cornerstone in this
new edihce Of argument against Great Britain.
| What was that settlement Not a mere trading
post for temporary traffic, down in a corner, and
without the knowledge Of nations, or the sanction
Of his own government. On the contrary, II was
the foundation Of a colsny, and the occupation OF
the whole valley Of the Columbia and the establish
| ment Of a commercial emporium, OF which the
| mouth Of the river was the seat and the Rocky
mountains on one hand and eastern Asia on the
other were the outposts. Great Britain saw il with
out Objectionable United States with appreciation
and every circumstance which proclaimed and legit
| mated a national undertaking sgnalized and CON-
memorated its commence ment, existence, and over
| throw.
Il was in the year l8l0-four years after the re.
turn Of Lewis and Clarkes expediuon-that Mr.
Astor, with the enlarged and comprehensive view,
of a "msrehant prince" projected from the eastern
shore Of the Atlantic this great establishment on IN,
ed by an officer Of the United States navy, freight
ed with everything necessary for the foundation o.
\ colony, sailed from New York to double Capt
Horn: an overland expedition OF ninety men, LED
by gentleman Of New Jersey proceeded from 81
Louis to cross tie Rocky mountains In the spring
OF 1911 the two expeditions met at the mouth OF III,
Columbia, and Immediately proceeded to fulfil tn,
intentions OF the bold protector Of the enterprise
| Astoria was founded: its dependent post, the Oke
nakan, was established six hundred miles up the riv
err: the Spokan another dependent, was established
two hundred miles higher up and at the base of the
mountains: a third, the Wahlamath, was establish
ed upon the river Of that name, $50 miles southeas
Of Astoria. Parties OF traders and hunters covered
I all the waters of the ColumbSn- river from head u
mouth; fleets Of batteaus, carrying up merchandise
and bringing down furs, had their regular arrriva
and departure from Astoria. Two more ships ar
rived from New York. Canton, the S,nd wicl
islands, New Archangel, the coast Of California
were visited by Mr.. Astors ships. The Pacih
Fur Company vas in full tide Of success. Astor
became the centre Of an extended trade; her nam
became known to the world. This was notice L
the world that an American colony was ben.
founded on the Columbia, and no power in III
wide world objected to it. II was before the Span
ish treaty Of 1879, and Spain did not object. 1t wa
after all the pretended claims Of Great Britain, a
now set up and she did not object Special motto
had previously been given to the minister Of Grea
Britain, and he had nothing TO say against il
SpeCldl nOlICe ndu dlTeduy Deen gwen 10 the NOru
} west Company, and they invited to join in the en-
terprse as traders, which they refused to do, be
cause it was an American enterprise Far fror
Directing to the settlement, they sent a specie
agent across the continent to stipulate with M
Astor's agents that they should confne themselve
to the valley Of the Columbia, which arrangement
made. Special notice was given to our govern
ment, its sanction obtained, and its protection soil
cited and if protection, in the full sense of the wore
was not promised, il was because ii was felt to b
impossible to send troops and ships there, in tn
Of the war, to prevent its falling into the hand
Of the British; but that it to be projected in III
general sense Of the word, was promised, as wa
| proved at Client when peace came to be made.
Two years passed off in this way; Great Britai
o made no objection; her agent, the Northwest Con
u pany, agreed to our occupation Of the whole VALLEY
J and acquiescence, under these circumstances, b.
comes an admission Of American title which forevt
closes the mouth Of Great Britain.
In this manner the Columbia was settled by Mr.. Al
tor; in tn manner 1t was held by him for two year
Now for the manner in which it fell into the hands
a Great Britain. Two years had elapsed from tn
time Of the foundation of Astoria when intelligence
arrived at that place with the news of war betwee
the United States and Great Britain, and informao
u Of departure Of ship Of war from London t
=. join the squadron under Commodore Hilyar,
the Pacific ocean, and proceed to capture Astori
\ as an important American colony. At the sam
= time several partners Of the Northwest Compan
. arrived at Astoria, confirmed the information Of III
British designs the pos,, and offered to purchas
/ all the stock on hand, goods and furs Of Mr. Asto
. as the only means Of preventing them from becom
n ing prize to British squadron The agents
=. Mr.. Aston sold under this dnresse, receiving III
the fourth or, fifth part Of what the property wa
. worth. Soon after ship Of war from Commc
dore Hillyar's squadron arrived took possession {
the post without opposition, but with all the TO
mates Of British conquest and with great CHI
grin to the officers at the loss of their expecte
. booty. This is the manner in which the British g
, possession Of Astoria and with it the whole vale
4 IF the Columbia. As British conquest they too
it as such they agreed to restore it under the treat
of Client. And thus, at the settlement Of Astorie
. and the occupation of the whole valley Of The c.
4 lumhia, the British government, by its silent a.
= qniescence, admitted our unqusstonabte right TO
=, By Selling it as British conquest, they adm,,e
. our right again By agreeing to restore it under ii
!. treaty of Ghent they admitted it third time
, three times in Ave years; and this ought to
enough in all conscience, to preclude present caio,
Z founded on previous stale and vague pretensons.
= Now for the proof OF all that have said.
: happen to have in my possession the book,