The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-02-07

southern entrance of the Straits of Fu-
ca. In his journal he admits that he
had heard some account Of the Spanish
voyages Of l774 and I775, before he
left England; and il is beyond question
that, before his departure, accounts Of
the voyage ofQuadra had been publish
ed both in Madrid and London. From
Nootka Sound, Cook did not again see
land until he reached the 9th degree
of north latitude.
In 1897, it is alleged by the British
plenipotentiary that Captain Berkely,
British subject, discovered the Straits
of Fuca; but these Straits had been dis
covered by Juan de Fuca nearly two
centuries before. Besides, if there had
been any merit in this discovery of
Capt. Berkeley, it would have belong
ed to Austria, in whose service he was,
and under whose colors he sailed, and
cannot be appropriated by Great Bri-
tain..
And here it is worthy OF remark, that
these discoveries of Cook and Berkeley,
in 1878 and 1897, are all those on which
the British plenipotentiary relies, pre-
vious to the date of the Nootka Sound
Convention, in October, 1890, to de-
feat the ancient Spanish title to the
northwest coast of America.
The undersigned will now lake a
position which cannot. in his opinion,
be successfully assailed; and this is,
that no discovery, exploration, or set
tlement made by Great Britain on the
northwest coast of America, after the
date of the Nootka Sound Convention,
and before it was terminated by the war
of 796, can be invoked by that power
in favor of her own title, or against the
title of Spain. Even according TO the
British construction of that convention,
the sovereignty over the territory was
to remain in abeyance during its con-
tinuance. as well in regard to Great
Britain as to Spain. 1t would, there
fore, have been an open violation of
faith on the part ofGreat Britain, after
having secured the privileges conferred
upon her by the convention to turn
round against her partner and perform
any acts calculated to divest Spain off
her ultimate sovereignty over any por-
ton Of the country. The polpable
meaning Of the convention was, that,
during its continuance, the rights ofthe
respective parties, whatever they may
have been, should remain just as they
had existed at its commencement.
The Government of Great Britain is
not Justly chargeable with any such
breach Of faith. Captain Vancouver
acted without instructions in attempt
ing to take possession of the whole
northwestern coast of America in the
name of his sovereign. This officer,
sent out from England to execute the
convention, did not carry with him any
authority to violate it in this outrageous
manner.
Without this treaty, he would have
been mere intruder; under it, Great
Britain had right to make discoveries
and surveys, not thereby to acquire title,
but merely to enable her subjects 10 Sc
lect spots the most advantageous, to
use the language of the convention,
"for the purpose OF carrying on their
commerce with the natives Of the coun-
try. or of making settlements there"
If this construction of the Nootka
Sound Convention be correct-and the
undersigned does not perceive how it
can be questioned then Vancouver's
passage through the Straits OF Fuca, in
1892, and Alexander Mackenzie's jour
ney across the continent, in 1898, can
never be transformed into elements of
title in favor of Great Britain.
But even if the undersigned could be
mistaken in these positions, it would
be easy to prove that Capt. John Kend-
rick, in the American sloop Washing
ton, passed through the Straits of Fuca
in 1889, three years before Capt. Van
couver performed the same voyage
The very instructions to the latter, be-
fore ne lett England, IN January, lISl,
refer to this fact, which had been COM
municated to the British Government
by Lieut.. Meares, wl.o has rendered
his name so notorious by its connection
with the transactions preceding the
Nootka Sound Convention. tits, more
over, well kno wn that the whole south
ern division of the straits had been ex-
plored by the Spanish navigators, Elisa
and Quimper--the first in 1890, and the
latter in 1891. .. NJ
After what has been said, it will be
perceived how little reason the British
has for stating that his
government has, "as far as relates TO
vancouver's Island, as complete a case
IF discovery, exploration, and settle
nent, as can well be presented--giving
o Great Britain, in any arrangement