The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-05

i . WAsHlsGTos, Dec. %, l645
I To the Hon. VIM. ALLEN:
MIR. sESAroR--As the debate on the Oregon bill
may soon come up before the Senate permit me TO
note few facts from history, which may not always
be present 10 your mind.
n II appears that England, in 1853, esded ali her
right 10 the northwest coast TO Spain, and received
Florida and all the Spanish right IN exchange. IL
appears also that IN the course OF time new pow
d er into existence called the United States; that
this power 10y various ways, obtained territory
which reached TO the Pacific ocean. u further APP
pears that England, who was cut off by her own
ireues from claiming any portion Of the northwest
coast, said TO the United States, ''Giye me equal
4 rights with yourself of all you claim" The United
States said ''No; will not give you equal rights,
bat will leave the ports open TO your subjects for
4 ten years. Accordingly the treniy Of 1913 was
4 made, which STIMULATES that any country that may
be claimed by either party the northwest coast
Of America westward Of the Story mountains, shall
be free and open, &c, 10 the citizens and subjects
OF the powers first for ten years, and then until
II one years notice. The northwes, coast Of Ameri-
ca extends from Caps 81. Ls'eas, an about latitude
$3.50, 10 Prince Williams sound, Gear latitude 604
or from $50 to Go through 38 degrees Of latitude
i Now, IL either party should claim any part, or the
! whole Of this extended territory, the other party
would have a right TO have the country free and
/ open TO them.
i Britain las we have scent had coded away her
! right TO claim; the United States had the right TO
/ claim California from the original charters Of Vir
gnia and Carolina which extended the jurisdiction
Of these States to the Pacific ocean, far south as
latitude 800. The United States had a right 10
claim the territory Of the Columbia river by discov
cry and settlement, and the territory northwest Of
| that river as a part Of Louisiana. Thus stood the
rights of the two parties in 1918, when the treaty
was made. TWAS not necessary for either party to
4 own any Of the country 10 give rights TO the other
but only to claim H. and IL the United States at any
! time during the continuance Of this treaty claim any
part Of California this claim gives TO British subjects
equal rights with American citizens until one years
| notice.
| Ii will be recollected that this treaty was made
before either party had title TO any Of this extern
sive realm, and that England had repeatedly ac-
knowedged the title TO be in Spain as far north as
latitude 6lo.
The historical facts of the are that the United
States did purchase of Spain in 1919, for valuable
consideration all the northwest coast north Of at.
tude 400; and, at the time of this purchase, all
the civilized world, except Russia, acknowledged
Spain to be the owner; from that moment the Uni
ted States converted her right to claim into an own
ershp Of the SOIL and could at any time, without
any infracton of treaties give Britain notice TO quit
after 10 years from 1878.
| From 1919 TO 1924, Oregon extended from 400 to
Go being 10 degrees Of latitude; the whole Of which
was owned by the United States, subject only to
the claims Of Russia-all which territory was free
and open the citizens and subjects Of the United
States and Great Britain.
To adjust the claims of Russia, and give to each
1
the United States ceded to Russia exactly one
third Of the territory acquired OF Spain-be-
| ing 60 20'--whch brought the dividing line to $40
! 40'; and thus reducing Oregon from 10 degrees,
to IL degrees 40 minutes, clear title to which
was Obtained by the United States. Russia
further ceded TO the United States all her rights
to territory as far south $50 OF latitude,
where she had a isettlement but from $50 TO 42o
| the Spanish tide not extinguished
Britain looked on, and saw contaminated and
,lisbe ACKNOWLEDGED
validity; she went further, and took up the ground
where the United States had relinqushed it, and
made a treaty with Russia, whereby she obtained a
cession of territory from north latitude SAG 4O' to
the intersection OF latitude Go, SangipSse Hlo;
thence due north to the Arctic ocean, thus extending
| Oregon to the North sea.
For the sake of perspicuity I shall divide the
! two parts into north and south Oregon.
North Oregon is all that tract Of country, bounded
north by the Arctic Gin latitude 1907 ocean, west by
! the Russian possessions, divided by meridian OF
longitude l4lo west from London, south by south
Oregon, belonging to the United States, separated
by pa ralIel Of latitude in $40 40, and east by the
/ Rocky mountains. . . .,. /
BY existing treaties it is clear that this north
Oregon belongs to the British; and it is also clear
that all Of south Oregon south of SAY 4V, be-
| longs to the United States. 1t also appears that
north Oregon argerin extent than south Oregon; the
former extending through more than l6 degrees, and
the latter than IL degrees the width being about
the same will give about four square miles IN north
Oregon for every three in south Oregon; IT the
latter contains 100000, the former contains 400OOO
! square miles.
! 1t is possible that our negotiators with Russia
might have obtained more northerly boundary for
the United States, see that Russia coded to
| England the very next year almost the whole OF
| the identical territory-vlz: from 54o 40 TO eIe,
which was coded by Spain to the United States,
and by the United States coded to Russia BE that as
il may the treaty has been made and recognised rs
the law of the land, by all the nations IN
terested now for twenty-one years; and pre-
sumo no American statesman has any desire
to disturb this boundary although we have
much more reason to demand from England
the six degrees and twenty minutes which we
coded to Russia, than England has to claim
any part of south Oregon. We once owned
this part of Oregon, and may make the plea that il
Russia wished to part with it, she should have frst
| offered it to the United States Whereas England
never owned foot Of land south of SAG 4V, and
has kind Of preence for any, either IN law, equ-
ty, or justice. Her treaty with Russia IN 1873, Is
the first treaty on record whereby England obtained
| the sovereignty Of any Of the northwest coast.
| By taking up the boundary in 1925 as the other
powers had left it, and treating thereupon, Great
Britain has acknowledged the validity OF previous
! treaties w..
| When this treaty was completed, the boundaries
! on the northwest coast were truly defined, and the
territory divided between Spain, the United States
Great Britain and Russia and have remained so Tor
| twenty years. The treaty of 1918 still continuing
force, gives 10 the QUEENS OF Ohteu NtnoS
and the subjects Of Great Britain equal rights TO en-
ter and trade in any part Of north or south Oregon
from latitude ago to the Arctic ocean. il also gives
them rights to enter the Russian possessions IN
| America, because Russia made her treaties subject
to the membranes Of the notice. This notice has
been given by Russia to the United States the pres
ent year, and is not considered cause OF war. Inc
United States now give notice that her portion
OF Oregon, south Of $40 40, or south Oregon is no
longer "free and open" to the subjects Of Great
Britain; and this will be no cause OF war, because
| it is in the treaty. .......|.
After this notice, American citizens have still an
equal right with British subjects to enter and trade
| in any part of north Oregon, from $40 40 to the
Arctic ocean; and this right will remain until the
British government gives to the United States the
one years notice stipulated in the treaty .
| Undoubtedly, the titles were all settled twenty
years ago; and, at any time since 1926, Russia had
perfect right TO sell, and could give good title to-