The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-08-12
The Oregon Treaty. The Nav
igation Of the Columbia.

1 S f \
The public mind has long since grown
weary Of the agitation Ofthe Oregon ques'
ton, but from recent circumstances we
fear that it is not yet definitely sett!ed.--
One thing is certain; the American and
English journals do not agree in their con-
struction Of the terms Of the settlement, OF
at least Of that article relating TO the navi'
CATION Of the Columbia river. The f0rmEl
contend its navigation to British sub.
jects is limited to the period when the char.
ter Of the Hudson Bay Company expires
1.-The latter assert that its perpetual navi-
cation is secured to them. We will at
present quote from the London Times only.
That paper says:
The territory is not equally divided, nor
is it Of much importance what the division
OF the soil is. $50 We share equally
with the United States, the navigation Of
the Columbia being perpetudIly, not tenn.
Porerily, as has been enormously asserted
by the American prints, secured to us; and
the middle Of the Straits Of Fuca being the
boundary line, to the south Of Fort Lang.
ley, down to the ocean,"
This construction of the terms Of the
settlement conflicts in toto with the opin.
ions which have been expressed in regard
to it on this side of the Atlantic. All who
have expressed satisfaction at the result Of
the negotiation, have done so with the conf.
dent belief that the privilege Of navigating
the Columbia had been granted Great Bri-
tain only for limited period. None while
rejoicing over the establishment of a good
understanding between the two nations,
entertained even a remote thought that our
government had conceded to a foreign pow
er the right to navigate perPstually that riv-
er. We yet hope and believe that they
have not misconstrued, or misunderstood
the terms Of the treaty. A'correspOndent
Of the Philadelphia North American relates
certain facts relative to its adoption by the
Senate, which should remove all doubts on
the subject. He states that when the trea-
ty was before that body an amendment was
proposed defining the limitation, but after
some discussion it was decided that accord.
ing to the second article, the right Of Brit.
ish subjects 70 navigate the river was limi-
ted to the time Of the expiration Of er-
listing charter &c Gtse EEuaAous R4y .CauuAa.
ny. This factP proves cOnclusiyely The view
taken oft BY our government. The wri-
tersays when tits 1.-THE H, B. C's.) existence
terminates, the privilege ceases BY virtue
Of the treaty. =, If Great Britain
should extend the charter, it would be tan.
tamOunt to the creation Of new corpora.
ton, with which our government has moth.
ing to do. We know the limited Hudson's
Bay Company in the contract, and no 9TH
er that may be called into existence" He
also states, among other facts, that Mr..
Pakenham was consulted as to his view
Of the meaning Of the article, and he de.
clared that he regarded "the navigation Of
the Columbia as limited to the existence Of
the Hudson Bay Company"
It cannot be denied that Sir Robert
Peel'S speech in the House of Commons,
nothing that body Of the determination of
the Cabinet to resign, is very indefinite and
unsatisfactory rela tive to the terms of the
treaty. He does not commit himself or his
government in regard to the proper con.
structiOn to be given it.
All these facts prove TO our mind that
when the charter of the Company expires
a controversy will arise as to the meaning
of the treaty. Can it be that the British
Government, argus-eyed, cunning and ever
scheming, has woven a web by which to
our government and to trammel
il in its action hereaferl Can it be that
she has so wOrded her proposal that in fu.
iure controversy will arise as to its mean
ing and is this the method which she has
adopted to accomplish in the end, her pur.
poses Time will prove.
The London Times says, that San Juan