The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-01-31

than one-of arraying them against
each other, and thus destroying the val
idity of both. Does he forget that the
United States o wn both these titles, and
can WELD them either separately or
conjointly against the claim of Great
britain at their pleasure? From the
course Of his remarks, it might be sup
pesed that Great britain, and not the
United States, had acquired the Span
ish title under the Florida treaty. But
Great britain is third party-an en-
tire stranger to both these les--and
has no right whatever to marshal the
one against the other. aaes %
By what authority can Great britain
interpose in this manner? Was it ever
imagined in any court of Justice that
the acquisition of new title DESTROYED
the old one; and vice yersa, that the
purchase ofthe old title destroyed the
new one? In question of mere pri-
vate right, it would be considered ab-
surd, if stranger to both titles should
say to the party who had made set
tlement: You shall not avail of your
possession, because this was taken in
violation of another outstanding title,
and although must admit that you
have also acquired this outstanding IT,
tie, yet even this shall avail you moth
ing, because having taken possession
previously to your purchase, you there
by evinced that you did not regard
such title as valid. And yet such IS
the mode by which the british plenipo-
tertiary has attempted to destroy both
the American and Spanish titles. On
the contrary, in the case mentioned,
the possession and the outstanding title
being united in the same individual,
these conjointed would be as perfect
as il both had been vested in him from
the beginning. ar
The undersigned, whilst strongly as
serting both these titles, and believing
each OF them separately to be good as
against Great britain, as studiously
avoided instituting any comparison be-
tween them. But admitting for the
sake of the argument merely, that the
discovery by Captain Gray Of t,emouth
OF the Columbia, its exploration by Lew
is and Clarke, and the settlement upon
its banks at Astoria, were encroach.
ments on Spain, she, and she alone,
had a right to complain. Great britain
was third party; and. as such, had no
right to interfere in the question be-
tween Spain and the United States
But Spain, instead Of complaining of
these acts as encroachments, on the
22d February, 1919, by the Florida
treaty, transferred the whole title to the
United States. From that moment all
possible conflict between the two titles
was ended, both being united in the
same party. Two titles which might
have conficted, therefore, were thus
blended together.
The title now vested in the United
States is just as strong as though every
act OF dlcovcry, exploration, and set
tlement on the part of both powers
had been performed by Spain alone,
before she had transferred all her lights
to the United States. The two pow
ers are one in this respect; the two IT,
ties are one; and, as the undersigned
will show hereafter, they serve 10 con-
firm and strengthen each other. III
Great britain, instead of the United
States, had acquired the title Of Spain,
she might have contended that those
acts of the United States were en-
croachments; but, standing in the at
titude of stranger to both titles, she
has no right to interfere in the matter. |
The undersigned deems it unneces-
sary to pursue this branch of the SUBJ
iect further than to state, that the Uni
ted States, before they had acquired the
title OF Spain, always treated that title
with respect. In the negotiation ofl
1918, the American plenipotentiaries
did not assert that the United States
lad perfect right to that country; but
insisted that their claim was at least
rood against Great Britain" and the
convention Of October 20, 1918, un-
ike that Of Nootka Sound, reserved
he claims OF any other power or State
o anv part Of the said country. This
eservation could have been intended
or Spain alone. But, ever since the
United States acquired the Spanish IT,
le, they have always asserted and i
Maintained their right in the strongest ,
erms up to the Russian line, even whilst
ffering, for the sake Of harmony and
eace, to divide the territory in dis ,
ute by the 4sth parallel of latitute.
The British plenipotentiary, then has j
ntirely failed to sustain his. position, J
lat the United States can found mol
|aim IN discovarv ax,,l or,,;1, Ill