New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-08-07
The British In Oregon.

possession Of Oregon as indispensable 10 TINS
country and it would have better pleased as nao
the rival claimants Of that region mutually asreeu
10 withdraw from it altogether leaving u 70 oe
settled By whoever chose, and governed as ~
own people should prefer. We kne" tha' 'ne VI
ganization, government and defence Oh d 'eii''o's
so remote would impose heavy charge ." .'.'
country. we deemed our fertile lands TINS sloe
.br,d.,tlv annie and we would have preferred
Tho ,,es,s or the Rocky Mountains 70 the shores
~ The Pacific as boundary All such considera-
.;o,s we're overruled, however, by the bind IN
TT # ACQUISITION the whole Of Oregon was
made party war-cry, aud it proved popular one.
rlo.e who had promised TO vindicate our claim 70
all could not fail TO struggle for all they could get
and in due time Treaty was made with Great
Britain confirming our claim TO the larger portion
Of the territory we had previously termed Oregon.
That Treaty, being compromise Of rival claims
neither Of them utterly devoid Of support, was Of
course very far from what we could have wlsheu
il. The division Of Oregon at all is unfortunate
for the whole region watered by the Columbia
and IFS tributaries ought 70 be under one govern
ment, and must ultimately form one country Inc
surrender Of Vancouvers Island and many Oh Ihe
best harbors on a coast where good harDors are
scarce. was 10 be regretted. The indefinite con-
cession to the British Hudson's Bay Company oil
the right 10 navigate the Columbia was even more
exceptionable. We know no objection to their
navigating that river by the grace or favor OF our
Government 50 long as they may choose TO do it:
that is easily managed but 20 have foreign rom
pany and all British subjects coursing up and
down that river Of rights very different matter
We do not forget the reservation in favor Of our
right TO regulate the navigation but this only
complexities the matter still farther. Anew years
experience would show the impracticability OF
free exercise Of this stipulated right Of navigation
along with the faithful enforcement OF our Revenue
laws. Under such system, there will be three
lots of goods smuggled to one regularly entered
whenever smuggling shall be an object.
The material sections Of the Oregon Treaty are
as follows:
ART l-From the point on the 49th parallel Of North
latitude where the boundary laid down in existing trea
ties and conventions between Great Britain and the
United States terminates the line OF boundary between
the territories Of her Britannia Majesty and those Of the
United States shall be continued Westward along the
10Th parallel Of North latitude 20 the middle OF the chan
mel which separates the Continent from Nsncouvers
Island and thence SOuthery through the middle the
said channel and of fuca Straits 10 the Pacihc Ocean
provided however that the navigation Of the said chan
mel and straits south Of the 49h parallel Of North lat
tude, remain free and open TO both parties.
ART Prom the point al which the 10Th parallel Of
North latitude shall be found 10 intersect the great
Northern branch Of the Columbia river, The navigation
Of the SAID branch shall be free and open 10 the Hudson
Bay Company, and 10 all British subjects trading uhh
me same the point where the said branch meets the
stream with the Columbia and thence doom ne SAID
stream 10 The ocean uh free access into and through
The said rirr ruers It being understood that all the
usual portages along the line thus described shall in
like manner be free and open. In navigating the said
river rivers British subjects with their goods and
produce shall be treated the footing citi
Of the United States ii being, however, always
understood that nothing in this article shall be construed
preventing, intended TO prevent the Government
of the United States from making any regulations re-
speeding the navigation Of the said river or rivers not
inconsistent with the present treaty.
Art 3-In the future appropriations of the territory
south of the 49h parallel OF North latitude provided
the fret Article of this Treaty The posessory rights Of
thc HadsOns Bay COmpdHy and Of all Brush subjects
may be already in the occupation OF land other
property lawfully acquired within the said Territory,
shah be respected
description belonging the Pugets Sound Agricultural
Company on the north side of the Columbia river
shall be confirmed to the said Company. In case how
ever the situation of those farms and lands should be
considered by the United States to be OF public and po
tca importance, and the United States Government
should signify desire 10 obtain possession OF the
whole of any part thereof the property 80 required
shall he transferred the said Government at proper
valuation TO be agreed upon between the parties
This treaty was ratified more than two years
| ago; yet up to this day our Government has not
taken formal possession OF the Territory it seemed
so anxious to secure has organized no Govern
mcnt there; taken no steps TO defend our people
lured thither by its acts against the savages
whom their importing could not fail to alarm and
provoke and has not attempted unless very re-
Gently TO obtain even definition of those vague
"possessory rights "iarms lands and property Of
every description" which were conceded by the
Treaty to British subjec within our territory 1t
evident at glance that the "possessory rights OF
the Hudsons Bay Company, if construed to cover
all the lands their cattle have ranged and their
hunters andtrsppers have camped and piled their
crafts upon, may absorb half the territory And
after our Government shall have surveyed and
sold thousands Of acres, and people shall have
immensely increased their value by improve
ments, we may be harassed with British claims
for "possessory rights, in amount enormous and
in variety inexhaustible.
The whole claim ought 10 be adjusted and
squared off at once, or it will involve endless ex
penditures and irritations. And the Telegraph
gives us reason to hope that such adjustment is in
progress. II, as we infer from the vague report
which has reached us, there is a Treaty or agree
ment on foot which win extinguish at once, for
moderate and just consideration all British claims
10 lands, 'possessory rights, &c. throughout our
Territory of Oregon, we trust it will be consum
mated forthwith, and endless litigations and col
hsions be thereby averted. We await farther de.
velopments with interest
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