The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-19


treaty, and thus gave US title TO the territory
tered by the river which Great Britain ought never
TO have questioned
la the course Of the public discussions in respect TO
Oregon, the United States has been charged with
dshonor and bad faith in setting up claim TO that
territory: LIST, by discovery, through the agency Of
her own citizens; and ID, by cesslon Of the rights Of
Spain. For, as has been said il the first ground was
tenabe, she could not without inconsistency, up
claim on the second, because she had virtually de-
MED the second by assuming the first the basis of
her right. But, sir, Is II not quite possible for two
nations TO possess rights by contiguy, or to ac-
quire them by discovery, neither perfect but eapa
bic of being rendered so by a merging Of both in
onei
Great Britain herself claims a right of joint occu-
pancy with the United States in Oregon; and she
will certainly not deny that cession of her right to
u.s. or TO her, would create perfect title TO the
country, without affording cause for any imputation
| of dishonor TO either.
| Great Britain in 1918 had surveyed the strait Of
Fuca, after its outlines were known, but she had
made no discoveries on the coast which were not
comprehended within the boundaries Of the great
districts previously known and visited. She may
have had establishments in the valley Of the Colun-
bia; but if so have been abe TO ascertain the
| fact She had discovered FrazeT's river which emp
ties into the strait of Fuca at the 18th parallel of lat
itude she had traced il from its to It's mouth;
she had formed establishment on il near the 54th
PARALLEL and only remains to settle by the testimo-
ny Of facts the geographical relation which this river
and its valley bear TO the river and valley Of the Co
lumbia.
| pass by, as unconnected with the question, for
the reasons | have assigned, all settlements made
subsequently to 1918 by tho Hudson Bay Company,
on which Great Britain has conferred large and most
important powers in respect to the country west Of
the Rocky mountains. Indeed, these establish nents
rest upon no legal concession, even by.hersef which
confers any right Of domain. The Hudson Bay
Company has a mere right Of exclusive trade with
the Indians, without the privilege Of acquiring any
title TO the soil in Oregon; and in this respect the
privileges Of the company differ materially from
those conferred il in relation TO the territory il
possesses upon Hudson's straits.
| also pass by as idle the formalities Of taking
possession Of the country by Broughton on the Co.
lumbia, and Vancouver in the strait Of Fuca-for-
malities long time before performed in numberess
localities by the Spsniards-especialy as those of
the British navigators were unaccompaned by actu-
al settlement and occupation, and in direct vio-
atlon Of treaty which those officers sent out
TO execute.
have endeavored, Mr. President, in the
first part Of my remarks TO maintain the Spanish
title TO the northwest coast Of America. | re-
gard all attempts to dsparsge II Anticipated and
obsolete, to o founded upon partial and illiberal
views Of the subject. Ii is unnecessary to say to
YOU SIR or the Senate, that antiquity is the highest
element of title, II the chain can be traced down
unbroken and entire TO our own times. The
Spanish title 10 the northwest is almost coeval
with the voyages Of Columbus. Ii is consecrated
by discovery high the 43d parallel of latitude
by the lapse Of more than two centuries. Sixty
years ago 1t stood undsputed and unim peached by
any antagonlft claim or pretenson 10 territorial
rights. IL was confirmed and perfected by occupa-
| ton as high as 49o 30 half a century ago. During
the succeeding twenty years, il was not superseded
by rights Of occupation the part Of other nations,
excepting to the limited extent have stated. During
the last thirty years all rights have been suspended
by treaty arrangements between the only two pow
ers who can, with any face, set up a claim to the
exercise of sovereignty over the territory TO which
it attaches In the consideration Of national inter-
ess IN territorial possessions il is a view to
bind down sovereign states TO all the rigorous tech
nicaes Of private tenures. Great principles of ma
tional right, viewed Literally, and applied according
TO the proc aimed intentions of the parties, the
only guides worthy of statesmen or governments in
the settlement Of questions of sovereignty over
the unoccupied portions Of the earth we inhabit.
The object Of Spain in respect to the northwest coast
was settlement and permanent occupation. The OBJ
ject Of Great Britain commerce, traffic, tran
sient occupation. Tested by the principles have
stated, cannot hesitate to consider the Spanish title
to the northwest coast Of America, which has OF
late been much disparaged, vesting rights in
| us which are unimpeachable.
| | said at the commencement of my remarks that
one of my objects was to defend the Spanish title,
by stating the historical facts which it rests
|
| will only add, that with what | have said, | am
content, far as am concerned, to leave the whole
question where it now is, in the hands of the ad
mnistratlon, relying on its frmness and its sense OF
rectltude to sustain our just rights and TO respect
che Just rights Of others.
! So conscious is Great Britain of the nvalidy OF
her title that she does not venture to assert right to
the exclusive sovereignty of any portion of the terri
tory.
In 1896 she claimed only right Of Joint occupan-
cy in common with other powers, but denied the
right of exclusive dominion in the United States
While insisting that she was entitled "to place
her claims at least upon parity with those of the
United States" she has constantly refused to divide
the territory at the 49th parallel Of latitude the
boundary between her and us from the Lake of the
Woods to the Rocky mountains--a line which
would have severed the coast, and the country in
immediate contiguity with it, into two parts near
y equal as to furnish no reasonable ground even on
the Of equitable division, for the continuance
of controversy. Her desire for territorial extern
sion in this quarter is for the purpose of establish
ing her colonial dominion districts of country
bordering on us and combining our settlements with
in narrower limits Our contest for territorial rights,
which consider indisputable, has no object but
to enable citizens to extend themselves to our
natural boundary-the Pacific Her interest is re-
mote and contingent--ours is direct and certain.
Hers is the interest of state in distant country
which she wishes to coonize-our's is the interest
of country in it's own proper territory and settle
men,s. She is not content with subecting to her
sway the fertile and opuent regions Of The East; but
she comes now thousands of miles the ocean
TO dispute with us the dominion of the uninhabited
wilderness, and curail the area for our expansion
With the least disposition her part to listen to the
suggestions of reason and justice, this question
would long ago have been settled on the fair and
honorable terms Of compromise--nay, sir, Of conces-
sion-which we have more than once proposed
am sure that in the course Of our government in
relation to Great Britain, in negot atoms, and in
the treaties which have been formed between u.s.
no evidence will be found of desire on our part
encroach on her rights, or to adjust any of the ques
tons which have arisen between ether terms
than those Of justice and liberalty. The settlement
Of the northeast boundaryone of the most delicate
and difficult that has ever arisen between us-afords
a striking evidence ofour desire maintain with her
the most friendly understanding. We coded to her
q portion Of territory which she deemed Of vital i'm
portance n means Of military communication be.
tween the Canadas and her Atlantic provinces, and
| l..t, -.