The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1846-01-14


Ill the year 1895, when they voluntarily aban-
1oued the place. Great Britain has never at any
time since occupied this or any position on Van
couver's island. Thus, on the score of either
discovery, exploration, or possession, this island
seems to be the very last portion of the territory
in dispute 10 which she can assert u just claim.
In the mean time, The United States were pro-
ceedng with the discoveries which served to
complete and confirm the Spanish American IL
lie 10 the whole of the disputed territory.
Captain Robert GRAY, in June, 1883, in the
sloop Washington, first explored the whole Eas-
tern coast of Queen Charloue's island
In the autumn ofthe same year, Captain John
Misunderstanding in the mean time surrendered
the command of The Columbia to Captain Gray
sailed, as has already been stated, in the stuop
Washington, entirely through the straits of Fuca.
In 1871, Captain Gray returned to the North Pa
cifc in the Columbia; and in the summer of that
wear examined many the nlets and passages
between the 54th and 56th degrees of latitude,
which the undersigned considers it unnecessary
to specify.
On The 7h May, 1892, he discovered and en-
tered Bul6nch's harbor, where he remained al
Ianchor three DAYS trading with the Indians
On the Illh MAY, 1852, Captain Gray enter
! ed the mouth of the Columbia, and completed
the discovery of that great river, This river had
been long sought in vain by former navlgators'
Both Meares and Vancouver, alter examination
| had denied its existence. Thus is the world IN
debled to the enterprise, perseverance, and intel
lgnnce of an American Captain ofa trading yes
Is,I for their first knowledge of The greatest rVel
II A r,tt ryK,,n g
head springs flow from the gorges of the Rocky
mountains, and whUse branches extend from thf
12d IN The SD parallels of latitude. This was
The las; and most important d ScOvery ON the co1s'
and has perpeuaed the name of Robert Gray
| In all future time this great river will bear tho
name of bis vessel.
| 1t is true that Bruno IIeceta, in the year l775
mad been opposite the bay of the Columbia; ant
The currents aud cddieS of the water caused him
he remarks, to belevc That this WIS 'ihe moutI
OF some great RIVER, or Of some passage TO anoth
er sea;' and his opinion seemed decidedly t'
have been that this was the opening of the shal
discovered by Juan de Fuca in 1882 To ust
! his own language: Notwithstanding .ule g'ea
difference between this bay and tlla passag'
mentioned by de Fuca, have little djhcnlly II
conceving that they may be the sames haNln!
observed equal or greater differences in Ahes lalI
tudes Of other clpes aud ports on this copst,as
shall show al its proper lime; and in all cases tn
attitudes thus assigned are higher than the rea
ones
'Heceta, from his own declaration, had neVe
entered the Columbia; and he was in doubt whe
ther the opening was the mouth of a river or al
arm Of the sea and subsequent examinations G
the coast by other navigators had rendered tn
Iopinion universal that no such riverexsted, ,whe
1 Gray first bore the American flag across its bar
land sailed up its channel twenty-five miles, an
remained in the river nine days, trading with tn
Indians.
The British plenjpoten,iary attempts to depre
Iciate the value to The United States of Gray
discovery, because his ship, (the Columba,) wa
a trading, and not national vessel. AS he flu
Inshes no reason for this distinction, the unde
signed will confne himself to the remark that
merchant vessel bears the flag of her country t
her mast head, and continues under lis JurIsd!t
ton and protection, in the same manner as tb'
she had been commissioned for The express pn
pose of making discoveries. Besides, beyond .
doubt, this discovery was made by Gray; and
what nation could the benefit gift belong, unle:
| it be to the United States? Certainly not TO Gret
= Britain. And ifto Spain, the United States az
now her representative.
y Nor does the undersigned perceive in WIZ
. manner the value of this great discovery can
: lessened by the fact that it was first pubshe
n through the journal Of Captain Vancouver, Br
. tsh authority. On the contrary, its authentIcl
, being thus acknowledged by the party having ;
adverse interest, is more firmly established th;
if it had bcon first published in the Unite
a States.
Il From careful review and examination of Il
: subject, the undersigned ventures the assertio
= that to Spain and the United States belong all Il
o merit of the discovery of the northwest coast
: America south of the Russian line, not spot
+ which, unless it may have been the shores
s some of the interior bays and nlets, after the e
trance TO them had been known, was ever behe
l. held by British subjects, until after il had be-
$ seen or touched by Spaniard IAN America
n Spain proceeded in this work of discovery, not
/, means of acquiring title, but for the purpose
l. examining and surveying territory TO which S
s. believed she had an inconestible right. This
Il tie had been sanctioned for centuries by the a
acknowledgement or aequiesCene ct all the Eu
pean powers. The United States alone cot
c have disputed this title, and that only to the {
n tent of the region watcrcd by the Columbia. I
,t Spanish and American titles, now united by {
J. Florida treaty, cannot be justly resisted by GrC
V Britain. Considered together, they constitute
l. perfect title TO the whole territory in dispute e
d since the lllh May, 1892, when Captain Gl
II passed The bar at the mouth of the Columb
is which he had observed in August, 1888.
e The undersigned will now proceed to sh
n that this title of the United States, al least TO
e possession Of the territory at the mouth of (
D Columbia river, has been acknowledged by
'r most solemn and uneqdIyocal acts Of the Bril-
government.
I'd After the purchase Of Louisiana from Franc
IS the government of the United States fitted out
E. expedition under Messrs. Lewis and Clarl