The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-12

c he whose name the island bore, held possession in
= the name of Spain, and a hourshing Spanish set
Element, with the consent and appreciation of the
{ lives, established Without a word the
subject OF restoration, Of sovereignty, or right to
the island but silently and without the knowledge
OF any one, but doubtless with the secret sanction
OF the English ministry Vancouver in his journal
and chart chnstens the island by his name, in
order that England, hafa century afterwards, might
! have another point on which TO rest her random
. and yagrant claim. The Aagrancy Of this act Is
more striking when it is recoected that Spain held
possession, not only at NoOtka sound, but Of the
entire island Of Observation-Disclosures, undlspu-
} ted possesson--from that period until the year
4 l795, when she voluntarily abandoned 1t, because
I tho disturbed condition of Europe was such as TO
prevent her or any other European power from ex-
tending protecting such remote settlements du-
!, ring the succeeding twenty years.
But did England after this abandonment by Spain
come forward with her claim Did she attempt a
settlement Certainly not. No senator can show,
for England herself cannot, that between the par
allels OF 42oand $40 40 she made settlement
asserted "clam" TO Il single inch of ground, unul
II had been previously owned and occupied by
others.
( Notwithstanding her uniform course all over the
world ofelaiming and holding by discovery as her
own right, she requires something more ia others,
whenever 1t suits her purposes than mere discovery
Il Meares, who the origin Of this difficulty at
Nootka sound, IN memorial made TO his own gov
eminent, but which 10 proved by substantial wit
+ nesses to be false, alleged that he had purchased
+ land at Nootka Of tbs native chief Maqunna, and
had thus acquired the right to build, occupy, and
possess.
:. Two American navigators, Captains Gray and
lngraham, were at that point when the difficulty
occurred and state mphsticay that the chief denied
ever giving the right To Meares or any other En-
gishman 10 make settlements there, nor did he 10
any extent admit their claims On the contrary, at
the period of this difficulty, the native chief took
part with the Spanards This fact, even under the
English construction Of the rule for others in the
summation fuue by discovery, gives Spain a per-
feet tite for when the Of discovery is accompa-
MED by permanent settlement with the consent of
the natives It constitutes, according to that consruc
ton, perfect title
So much for the claim Of England to Oregon; for
this is the entire evidence Of title upon which che
rests. She Is just where she was in l759, when she
attempted TO exlort the country from the weakness
and the terrors Of Spain. She has no additional
derivation Of title to point to from that hour to this.
We have purchased the title Of Spain by the Fiorl-
| da treaty. we acquired all her rights, and all her
sovereignty. We stand to-day precisely in the
shoes-lf may so speak--of Spain in 1853. We
occupy in relation 10 Oregon the very position then
occupied by that enfeebled and WORKOUT monarchy.
Now, then, the same domineerlng power is arning
to the teeth TO drive completely from the ground
which poor Spain more than half maintained.
! Shall the mailed hand of England dictate to US
another Nootka Sound convention Shall it do
more shall 1t force US 10 surrender that for
which Spain prepared to struggle. Shall the
twenty millions who now people free America
with energies unfathomed, and believe
unfathomaUle with resources unsurpassed in
| the history Of natIons-shall we, thus endowed,
abandon a position in defence OF which Spain was
willing to hazard contest, the result Of which to
her not doubtful, and upon it was stakcd
her national existence' Even the effeminate
mind of Charles Nv held his nations honor
as dear his nations existence know 1t some
times sneerlnSy asked, what has honor to do with
Il OregonS-and why should there be much talk
about honor? Mr.. Fox, whose auth GRITTY dearly
love to quote-or | reverence his memory-said in
the debate in Parliament | have before quoted
from:
Honor to nations, was PsrhaP, the only Unstable
ons ground OF contest Wars Tor the sake OF conquest OF
dominic" sSs%$HS H. Of sG Sa%
was advocate OF its dearest interests because 10 vnd
cate its honor was to secure its peace"
i And this authority will stand good when the
memory of those who ask "why talk of honor"
shall be forgotten.
But in addition TO the title OF Spain we have one
of our own to contend for-the discovery and en-
trance into the mouth of the Columbia river by
Captain Gray, of Boston. That river has its source
: about the $50 parallel Of north latitude In addi-
ton to this we have the right acquired by the dis
coveries and explorations of Lewis and Clarke, Civ
ing US higher than the 49th parallel, to which the
senator from OOull C"Ollnd WOuIu CONNIE the
American boundary. Is there nothing due to the
enterprise, the prvatons, and the suerngs Of that
gallant party despatched by our government to ex-
pore and take possession Of this territory Is there
nothing due to the privations they endured in their
journey to that region-piercingt the mountains in
region of eternal snow-wntering without house,
or tent or hut aud subsistng on scanty meals Of
horse-fesh Is there nothing due to the gallan, eff
forts Of these ndomitabe men in the service of their
government
~ 6
States to Oregon, no better title exists by discovery
exploration, and infant occupation
E A single remark upon the expedition of Mackcn-
ze, in consequence Of which England, or some per-
sons for her, pretend to found claim north of the
Columbia. He proessed, and, indeed, he supposed,
that he discovered the Columbia from near its sources
but the fact as long since established proves that it
was the Tacoutchee lessee, which rises north of
, the Columbia, and which he pursued for some dis
. tance and without ever having approached the Co