The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-05

He proceeded, however, tsst, eursorly TO run
over the question Of title. BY the right OF dIseoys-
~ and exploration, setting aside any title We may
have acquired from Spain, he believed could claim
an indsputabs title to 49o--perhsps To 1870 north
latitude. He would not be unwilling 10 take the az
hrmaive Of this question in action Of eectmeni,
and he would rest upon tho strength Of our title,
not uponthe weakness Of the title Of our adyer-
sary. r" #|E
But we had rights beyond ihis--rghts on which
he placed some stress. In liza or l775 Spain en-
plored the north west Of Americs an high up az
$50, il not ~ high a. 6lo north latitude. This OK
ploralion, he believed, was FASTENED on the part OF
Spain IN consequences Of a difficulty that occurred
between her and Great Britain somenme previous
10 that in reference to the Falkland islands Mr. d.
proceeded 10 notice successfully and very briefly the
settlement made by Spain al Nootka sound; the diff
Guilty arising between that government and England,
out Of the seizure by the former Of vessel owned
by citizens Of the latter government; the Immediately
subsequent assertion by Spain Of her title to the
whole territory; and the treaty Of Nootka sound IN
which these difficulties terminated BY this treaty
he had heard il asserted on this floor, and par,eu-
larly by the gentleman from South Carolina, Mo.
HoLaEs, that Spain conceded rights TO Great Brit
ain. lie did not understand from the terms Of that
treaty that such The case; but while Spain claim
ed tie right of sovereignty TO the entire country,
an agreement on her part, that between certain
points, governed by certain restrictions, Great
Britain might use and occupy the country jointly
with her. ..-.. ...
Now, air, (said Mr.. d. how does the case standl
We have acquired oil the rights OF Spain under the
treaty Of 1919. IL Spain had any claim to the ter
ritory, we have il from her. He agreed that it was
necessary that discovery and exploration should be
followed by actual settlement, in order to perfect a
title; for il was not 30 followed a sort Of statute
oflimitations would apply TO the claim. But Great
Britain could not set up any such limitation bar
10 our claim. II two neighbors, having a claim u
piece Of land, agreed to Joint occupancy, would
that enable OF the parties TO set 40 limitation
barrier TO the claim Of the otheR The rights
which Spain acquired from seoyery could not be
Invested from her while the treaty of jninl oecu-
pancy was in existence. He alluded TO the course
Of q eat Britain in reference 10 her right to Oregon
in 1918. She then laid claim N the whole coun-
try and sovereignty over il. This was before we
were possessed Of the Spanish title, and we then
claimed il by the right Of discovery and exploration
IN regard TO the country watered by the Columbia
river. At that time Great Britain set up a claim to
sovereignty over the country but in 1927 she aban.
doned the claim TO sovereignty, and went back to
her Nooika Sound tr'aty, and claimed merely the
right Of settlement under that treaty. Great Britain
claimed no exclusive sovereignty over any pOr-
ton of that territory. Her present claim not IN
respect TO any part, but the whole, and was Limited
to right OF joint occupancy IN common with other
States, leaving the right Of exclusive dominion in
allegiance. The rghissclamed by Great Britain in
this territory were defined In the following proys-
ions Of the Nooka Sound treaty, to wit
Thatthe respective subjects OF the two parties should
not be disturbed moested either sting carry.
ing their fisheries 10 the Pgeidc In the south
In landing the coasts OF those in places not
already occupied for the purpose Of carrying their
with the natives OF the country OF making settle
nsn here that in all places where the subjects Of either
ak.lk IL. H. a
shall hereafter make any the subjects Of the other
have free access and shall carry their trade without any
molestation.'
Could we not 60 back and take our stand precise
Iy where Spain stood at the date Of this treaty.
Which was the best title, then, that of Spain or
Great Britain No neglect on the part Of Spain
could be awaited Of, and we were entitled to take
the same position which Spain had at the time of
the Nootka Sound treaty.
He did not profess to be a profound constitution
al lawyer, but these were the views which he had
been led by much reflection to take Of this subject
He had said all he had intended say on this point
and he had submitted the considerations which
should govern his actions, whether they were worth
anything nothing.
1t had been said that we had various other titles
under which we could claim Oregon, without refer.
ence to the titles which he had maintained. In the
first place, IL was said that we had a title under
Adams will. In the next place, manifest destiny,
il was said, had given US a title. A third title we
had derived, according to the suggestion Of gen.
deman, from the will Of the Creator. He (Mr. ID }
had heard it suggested that title, under will,
could vest until the tesator was dead and therefore
he was disposed to doubt whether we could derive
any claim from the last mentioned title. He did not
claim Oregon upon any such ground. Nor did he
rerosnise the Ida supposed a-hs dsriysd from
manifest destiny. He greatly feared that doctrine
Of manifest destiny. He feared that il was one
that would delude us into extuvagant and disastrous
measures. 1t WIS said Of glory that it was like a
circle in the water, always enlargng ITSELF until IL
was at last lost So It had been said in this debate,
that the people the United States had spread, and
were spreading, and would continue to spread from
generation TO generation. He feared this system of
spreading, for il must ultimately lead to the destruc.
tion Of the country. Its identity would be lost He
would press the acquisition Of any territory not
properly belonging u.s. for he believed that such
acquisitions would Ultimately do us moro harm
than good Mr.. d. made some reference to the ac-
QUESTION of Texas, for which there was no apology
ii, the pretension that it would extend the area OF
freedom One Of his objections TO Texas annexa-
ton was, that it was founded upon doctrine that
would ultimately lead--as had, indeed, been admit.
tedto extension Of our territory over the whole
continent. He greatly feared that this was now
growing sentiment He would not add any new
territory, but for that which had already he would
contend as well against the strong as against the
weak hazarding for it even a war, if necessary.
Wnat WOulu De the eHecL OF this notice! he
thought that it would be salutary and anicsble He
did not apprehend that it would give occasion for
war. But il was said the measures which would
necessarily follow it would lead TO war That Mr.
D. sad) would depend very much upon what we
should do after giving the notice. 1t could hardly
be supposed that two nations, in forming a treaty
for amicablo settlement Of question, should in.
troduce a stipulation, compliance with which
would necessarily lead to war He thought that
the proper course to pursue was to sweep away all
the impedments which were now before us in the
way Of occupying and settling the country, and AZ
ter ards to take such steps az prudence, caution
and Justice should demand. So far as the notice
was concerned, we should have Justice on our side
Let us give this notice, (said Mr.. d. and give il
now; for neglect to do it would ultimately lead to
the most evil consequences. ."
What was our situation now Were we not in
volvcd in the disastrous consequences ola long de-
lay In the settem,n of this question: The misfor
tune was hat at the Baltimore convention il was ne
cesssry to make some new issues. The South wa.
an xoust 10 obtain Texas, and il was necessary fol
the success Of the party to crafty the South
But this could not I've done without season
ing the dish in such way as to mike
IL rala,sble To other sections of the countrv