The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-11
THE INTELLIoENoERs "EQUIrABLE LINE.

THE INTELLlGENCERs EQUITABLE LINE"
II has become so much habit with us of late to
show up the bigger bunders and to demolish the
smaller sophisms by which the Inelligeneer labors
to subserye British interests upon the Oregon ques
ton, that we really grow weary Of the task. OF
one more, however-the latest and among the most
ridiculous OF the series-of the Integencers vaga-
ries in this matter, we must now make an example.
Some time since the Intellgencer saw fit to pub
lish. with. favorable comments, the following prop
osition FOR an Oregon boundary line, suggested
by correspondent"
"lfthis boundary could be made to run along the
18th parallel TO given meridian in near the
Rocky mountains--say 1850 west Of Greenwich
apd thence due south to that parallel Of latitude
which would strike the Pacific at or Just south of
the most southern point of Vancouyer's island
which would be near the 46th parallel of latitude
it would seem, under the circumstances, equita-
bic sline as could be proposed"
Noticing this dea because we found it quoted to
our injury in England and on the continent, where
the Intelgencer's course in relation to the Oregon
question 10 not well understood and justly
timaed it is at home, and where, therefore, its
suggestions upon the subject do still find some little
consideration, we said, in last Fridays Union, Of
the line Of boundary thus proposed, that it "would
give to Great Britain everything that she could pos
sbly dcsire--the whole Of Vancouver's island and
the entire straits Of Fuca, by which our vessels
would be prevented from entering the valuable har-
bors Of Admiralty inlet, Pugel's sound, and Hoods
canal, making in reality the country between 4so
and tho Columbia river utterly worthless to u.s."
This statement of ours we shall show, in a mo-
ment 70 be exactly and literally true. ,... ..
WeAre compelled therefore, to give the 'Inteli-
genosrr credit for entire ignorance ofthe geography
of the country, and the course Of the boundary about
which IL was writing, when it said yesterday MORN
ing among other statements quite spiteful and alto
ge.hsr harmless, 10 reply to our article; ..
tWAaesire at present only to assist the official
-pspf ip<extsnding knowledge Of its geographical
Sttanments, and It's accurate acquaintauce with the
diplomatic history of the country"
ifThe Unions favorite author, (Mr. Greenhow,)
and Captain Wilkes, who was commissioned by
our government to explore and make charts OF that
country and its waters, both place the harbors and
waters Enumerated south of the 18th parallel and of
course within the territory which, if that equitable
line were adopted, would become the undisputed
properly Of the United States. !; But no doubt Mr.
Greenh6w, who had access to oil the maps and
charts extant, and Captain Wilkes, who surveyed
the straits, sounds, harbors, and rivers, must
cumb W the superior socuracy,of the official paper,
and rscnnt their errors. How yielding to England
the whole of vancouvcr's island, will Of necessity
give her the sovereignty OF the entire straits of
Fucat some ten or fifteen miles wide, and shut us
out Of s1tthe inland waters south is a geographical
problim which only the astuteness Of the officials
writeEoc na work out.p p. s...t
Now,4sit observed, that the single point in is
sue between US and the Integsnsssi is this ,pheihr
line swpsssae de- - Jtarshs tsssk md
touelirg NE souihusmssi poi~l " tsscosvsr, island,
or passax just so,, Of that yoint ssesd, or poall
not, siriks ~ Pacific Ut point sv,ah Of the IN,
tr~sx,ae Ss3s,s .isifs infs ax orra,s% 10 in msnr
ifest that IL the boundary line, SO run, should
strike the Pacific south Of the entrance Of those
straits, then il would leave the ocean access to all
the inland portions Of those waters, known Under
the Names Of Admiralty inlet, Hoods canal, and
Puget's sound, exclusively ia the possession and
under the. control Of Great Britain. 8 r,
Now, upon carefully consulting several of the
latest and most accurate charts Of that coast, we
find that this boundary line, proposed equitable
by the Intelgencer, would strike the Pacific at a
point known as Cape Flattery, being the south
ern shore Of the ocean entrance Of the straits
of Fucs. It would leave a strip of land bor-
dering on the southern side Of that entrance,
and about FIVE miles wide, in the hands of
England; thus making the straits of Fuca.
,0here nsg tnisr N, Pacific, as exclusively British
watersas is the mouth Of the Shannon or the
Thames. This would be the effect of the Intel-
genOer's Equitable" line, if it touched the southern
most point Of Vancouver's island. If il passed
'tjust south Of that point" then it would give
"just so much more land to England on the south
ern shore Of the straits Of Fuca.
And now, in the second place. in reference to the
lnteligencers citation Of the high authority Of Mr.
Greenhow, and Of Captain Wilkes, as to the geo
graphical nosition Of the waters enumerated, we re-
ply tina a. or Of those gentlemen commit any such
gross b r as the IntelIigencer implicitly Strb-
OteS to They place, very properly, the inland
eOntnu Of the straits Of Fuca- "the waters
snums las Admiralty inlet : gets sound,
aOd r,5 canal, south off-4s parallel Of
V de but the entrance from The ocean inic
NJ .. 49, -l--~ r~.--s~- 'he Ae,h snd dah
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