True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-03-11


The Hudson Bay Company, so often repre-
scented as colonising Oregon has interests di
rectly opposed to agricultural settlements Th
tur,trappers have been (f my information i
correcD aided in establishing themselves on tn
south side Of Oregon Fur-trading companie
usually require their discharged hands to leave
the country, and resist, instead of promoting co
Ionlzation-ot necessity destructive to theil
trade. The Puget Sound Company is agricul
tural, and its settlements are in violation of oul
convention with England and the notice re.
quired is to forbid each infracton of the treaty.
That no right to plant colonies can be deduced
| from the conventions OF 1918 and 1927 is too
! plain to admit OF argument The claim, if any.
must be drawn from the convention between
England and Spain, called the Nootka conven-
ton. If that convention be still in force, it
must be because it was the declaration Of rights
not the grant of advantages; and thus for the
sake ofargument, | will consider it.
That Spain had the exclusive right of occu.
patton on the northwest coast of America. as
FIR as her discoveries extended, was not denied;
but TIN question was, had She without having
occupied the country; an exclusive sovereignty
over It? Denying this prctension of Spain,
Great Britain demanded Naturalization for the
seizure Of British vessels at Nootka sound by
the Spanish authorities This led to the agree
inent upon which Great Britain has built her
claim to territory in the Oregon country Be.
fore entering upon the consideration Of the
terms ofthe convention ITSELF will refer TO the
events that led to it,
Long before the voyage of Meares, the port
of Noolka sound was known 10 the Spanish
navigato:s. 1t is the usual resort ofthe trading
vessels in the north Pacific. Mearcs in l7s6
visited it and built vessel there For the use
of his men he erected a hut on the shore. by
PERMISSION ofthe Indian king, and threw some
dcicnccs around it enclosing. according 10 Van
couver, about an acre Of land. Mearcs, in return
for the kindness ofthc Indian, (NIaquinna,) gave
him pair Of pistols. In his narrative he gives
a detailed account of the transaction, but docs
not call it a purchase; that was an after, thought
and first figures in his memorial Sir, If there
had been nothing beyond the narrative of Mca-
rea, the temporary character Of his location
would be fully established. There it appears
that when about to sail, leaving part of his !
men behind him, he bribcd the Indian king, by |
offering him the reversion Of the hut and chat,
ties on shore, to permit his men to remain in
peace, and complete the building of the vessel
hey had commenced
TO show the character Of Mearcs, the pur.
pose Of his voyages in the North Pacific, and
he country along which Britain claimed the
right to trade, | will refer TO the work Of an
colcmporary with Meares, and
Inc oflhe most cntcrprsing ofthc navgators Of
he north Pacific II is "Dxons's voyage round
lie world" Thus it appears that Mcaros was
furuaier, aud ofpoor character for his call /
nc; onl more important still, il appears that the
oas from Cooks river to King Georges sound I
vas the extent Of the region in which British
ruiscrs traded. This, taken in connoxion with
he 9Th article Of the Noolka convention serves
o fix the latitude in which joint souIcmont
would be permitted.
The message Of the king Of Great Britain,
the transaction at Nootka, re-
crs only to the seizure Of vessels; not a word
bout lands Of which British subject had bcon
isposscsscd.
And when the proposition TO vote an address
fthauks to his Majesty for the conduct aud
ucccssiul termination ollhe negotiation, neither
d the House Of Lords or Commons did any one
lain an acquisition Of territory and TO the bit.
r. irony aud severe assaults OF Mr.. Fox upon
he position ia which the territorial prctenlions
{ England had been lcf, bis great rival, Mr.
'iu, then minister, made no reply but pressed
he commercial advantages gained by England
The only link remaining 10 be supplied. and
the chain Of construction, Is
be examination and final action Of Q1dla and
-ancouver. when sent as commissioners 10 car
r out the FIRST article Of the convouliou.
r. then. no tracts Of land could be found
hitch had been purchased BY Moaros, if no
lilIincs Of which be had been disposscssod,
1ithe Spanish flag was never struck to that
rCrlat Britain. Spain sill maintaining her ST.