Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-10-07
THE TrihuEc SAYS


The Webster Ashburion treaty. which in
ls42 had finally settled tie question of the
north eastern boundary. had failed TO settle
the north western boundary and left the con-
vention of 1928 still in force, But the emf
grafton to Oregon still continued, the iuha j.
tants of the " est began 10 feel a good share OF
interest IN the American claim, and finally
the Democratic party to reconcile the w est to
the policy of the annexation of Texas, insert
ed into the same platform bv which the De.
mocracy was committed to that measure an
agreement To INSIST ABSOLUTELY AND UNcox-
DIrIoNALLY Upon THE BOUNDARY OF 81 DEG
40 MIN. roR OREGoN.
But after the object of annexing Texas had
been carried. some Sinking began to appear
rs to the matter of Oregon MIR. Polk IN his
inaugural re- echoed, indeed. the declaration
which had been made part of the Democrat
ic platform. that our title to the whole terri
tory in dispute up to 81 deg. 40 min. was
complete. and must be maintained but fnd-
ing that the British were not frightened, the
President with Mr.. Buchanan, his Secretary
of State, soon resolved to break faith with
their Western Democratic allies, and to ac-
cept the aid Of the opposition il they could
get it. in compromising the matter by dividing
the territory with Great Britain. they renew
ed the negotiation, and MIR. buchanan agreed
TO accept the parallel of 40 deg. as the boun-
dairy. which, however. the British minister re-
fused. The knowledge of this offer. which in
some way leaked out, raised a great storm in
the Democratic party. The Western Demo-
Gratis greatly feared that. if made by the Brit
ish. the President would accept it; and head
cd by MIR. Cass, they raised most indignant
cry over this anticipated breach of faith.
The West had been persuaded TO 60 for Tex
rs by the promise of the whole Of Oregon. and
the fulhllmcnt of that promise vas now loud
ly demanded. Articles how ever. in Demo
cratic platform for the benefit of the North
are one thing articles for the benefit Of the
South quite another; and having first ascer-
tanned that the Opposition Senators would as.
sis, him in ratfying it, Mr.. Polk. with Mr..
Buchana an, proceeded to make the treaty out
of which the pending dispute arises. He not
only sacrificed 81 deg. AZ min, but he sacri-
feed 40 deg. He agreed to take that lire as
lar as "the middle Of the channel separating
'the continent from Nancouver's Island,
"thence souiherly through said channel and
"the Straits of Fuca to the Pacific Ocean" 1t
is upon tie true Interpretation OF the word
'channel'' in the above clause that the settle
ment of the dispute must depend. Should
that word as here used be understood as mean
ing the whole body of water which separates
Vancouver's Island from the continent, that
cupied by Gen. Harvey TO the British, as il
lies nearer the British shore thar ours. The
contrary representation has. indeed, been
made. and the Island claimed for US on that
ground. But this. though it be true OF some
of the Islands of the Haro groupe archi-
pelago, of which San Juan is one, docs not ap-
pear to be the case with that particular Is
land. Our claim to it rests on the ground
that, in common with the whole group to
which it belongs. it lies on the continental
side of the MAIN SHIP CHANNEL, by which ves-
sells enter the Gull of Georgia, it being insist
ted on our side that the word channel in the
treaty is 10 be understood in this restricted
sense. The ownership of .hese islands has
been for some time matter of dispute, and
was one Of the subjects submitted to the late
Boundary commission. but, as is usual in such
cases. the British and American Commission
ers came to entirely different conclusions.