The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-11-18
From the N. o. Picayune.
The LobOs Puzzle.

There is, it seems, substance in the report
which has been flying about in the newspa-
pers, that an agent had been sent to Madrid,
to apply for a grant or lease by the Spanish
crown of the Lobos Islands. The New York
Courier and Enquirer announces on authori-
ty in which it has confidence, that this appli-
cation proceeds from merchants in that city,
concerned in the guano trade. We thought
the report was mere quiz, but the scheme
appears to be really entertained Spain is to
he informed, from the United States, tIttrt
she has a rich possession in the Pacific of
which she knows nothing, and promised, of
course, good bonus for releasing her title,
and giving quit claim to the discoverer of
her dormant wealth
The argument of these astute gentlemen
is, that Spain, if any body, was the original
owner of these islands, having discovered and
named them and put them into her maps,
and Peru only claims from Spain, She can
have no better title than Spain had. Now
Spain never exercised any exclusive control
or reduced them to occupation, but on the
contrary left them open to the world. There
fore Peru is bound to do the same, having
discovered what Spain did not, that they are
Of immense value. This is not very con
yincing position, and helps very little towards
advancing the project of getting lease
from Spain of property which she aband-
oned long ago as worthless. 1t is only a
contingent assumption that if it does not be-
long to Spain it belongs to nobody, and any
body may take it all, and how that is to be
used to get an exclusive title from her, is not
at all clear.
The original title of Spain is, however, SCI
up with another object. 1t is said that hav
once belonged to her, Peru could getno title
except by conquest, which includes success
full revolution, or by cession. Spain never
consented to the independence of Peru, anC
therefore admits nothing of her regularly
claimed possessions. Peru, in enumeratint
her possessions as an independent power, die
not mention or include these Lobos Islands
Therefore, Peru has no right to them
Spain may reclaim them, notwithstand
ing she abandoned them century ago
Every body may go there on their own right
but they who say this ask to be fortified b
6 license from Spain, who never claimed an
herself
How Spain may take this amicable sug
gestion is doubtful problem. She want
money. The Lobos Islands are better tina
gold mine; and Peru is not only weak
but occupies towards herth political relatio
of an insurgent province not entitled to an
rights. Spain, then, may set up title fc
the purpose af selling it out. What are W
to do in the United States about it? 1t wi
hardly do for US to admit the want of a vail
title in Peru acquired by revolution AM
after the first declaration that the islands al
the exclusive property Of no government
> and the qualified admission afterwarc
? that they may belong to Peru, it woul
. be puzzling case to get out.a clear OPT
II ion that nevertheless they may be now r
le duced to possession under an anciel
q claim, and sold to Americans by the CROW
% of Spain.
es Wedo not think theapplicants will ever
!; able tie take anything by this motion.
as -.-s-o-e-s-
a There are six steamers contracted for, al
n some Of them commenced, of the largest {
- mansions ever built upon the lakes, to RI
- on Lake Erie, and to be out in the sprin
er No pains or expense is. to be spared in n