The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-11

cpnnsctieu Win me unfortunAae aefion o.
preceding administration. Oregon. north
g ne oh parailea. was tost to the Union.
WnaJe the history 81 a0nsxatscn IN the
United States shows various Obstacles BY
which Il has besp retarded. yet the chief
anpeng theas wns the diseosdant element OF
alaIyexy. Thus 10 was s1ax. while the free
otatoo TO . gTant extent oppOoed the acQua-
01fton Of ljave territory, the dave states
opposed tbs acquisition Of free territory.
But for thess opposing principles. our area
WonA b far greater than II 10 now. On
o1fjnguiahing siasery, Ne have removed
The principal cause which retarded annex
afjan- We see already the good elects Of
the dfaappeAfance ~ this fnstitufion IN the
ojpoet unanimous vote Of the senate by
which the Aiaaka treaty Was raffned. Be-
eose the determination OF slavery that
treaty would have been defeated upon the
Game principle that Oregon north OF the
9th parallel was coded to England. .
eomitting quotations from letters Of Pses'-
dent Polk).
'sThis correspondence needs no comment
II u due. however. to my late excellent
3riend and chlsf. James X. Polk. to say
that he was moee sincerely dessrous Of re-
1atulng the whole OF Oregon, and only
abandoned II when he arrived At the con-
cIus1on that congress would not sustain
him In the MEASURE
EFT n due to the secretary Of state. James
Buchanan. TO say that he yielded with
great reluctance 10 the sacrifice OF any por-
ejon Of Oregon"
Whether Mr.. walkers statement may
now b accepted ~ the truth Of history.
ar b re&aSded ~ mere excuse for the
action taken contrary 20 the pledge upon
- President Polk, II ~ least IN open Ques-
ton. viii not TAXA time 10 discuss u
now Taken either way. Mr.. Walkers ex-
olAuAfton serres 10 emphasize the fact thai
our government WAS generous In dividing
Oregon BY . line proposed by Lord Aber-
deem II was supposed that when this was
done . perplextnG controversy. which was
started during President JeRerson.a admin
Sssnatton. had been brought 10 an end, but
SCARCELY had the Ink used In signing the
treaty tina 20 dry before thu Hudson Bay
Company gonewed the agitation. and soon
thsfs were rumorp that the British would
Insist upon construction OF tho treaty
rnaah would give them the group Of Islands
8noWn - The HAso archipelago. THE 20 be
e6scted by drawing the line from tho point
who're the 9th parallel crosses the middle
Of the channel which separates the cont
mont from Vancouver island 10 the east
ward Of the archipelago and then take .
eoufher1y course through RoaaEio strait, iA-
etead Of taking the direct southeriy courve
from the line q tho 9th parallel through
not finally sflenced until the year fs7a II
r not sxtravaxant 70 cay that probably ID
cese our government - much to maintain
our rights under sAs treaty Of l1l6 90 Il
would have cost ~ to hava retained the
NAoas Of Oregon up 10 tho line Of $40.
When the frst ramor Of this claim was ~
eooet. our ministes ~ the court Of 81.
Ja1neo. Hon. George Bancroft made In
curry concerning II. with the result that
the impression became fixed upon his mind
that i Was only tho Hudson Bay Company
enae Was trying 70 claim the isiauda ana
Shett the home government would not sup-
port any such contention. However. ws
were not left long 10 our dream OF peace.
xor with the frst proposition made BY the
British minister at WAshinston In January.
9sl4 for Joint commission to ix definite.
y the water boundary. there was submit
ted draft Of instructions 20 tho proposed
commission to draw the boundary line
through ROsas4o strait. The suggestion for
3oant instructions was not aanonted 70, but
IN 1ok@ commissioners were appointed. Tho
American commissioner was left untram-
meled by Instructions other than the
words Of the treaty. but the British COM
whatsoever had to act under instructions
o. Rosario strait a. the proper line. and
In case Of failure 10 secure the assent Of
ehe Americai commissioner TO that line.
then to propose A compromlsa . line
through an intermediate channel which
would give San Juan island. the largest Of
the group. TO the British. The claim and
che offer TO compromise were both reject
which .heir claim rested. the representa-
lives OF the Britain government answered
that 1t was baaed upon the peculiar words
OF the treaty. taking tho middle OF tho
channel. which separates the continent
from Vancouver island. instead Of adopting
phraseoiogy consistent with the idea OF
separating the smaller body from
the greater tina, II. separating VAN
couver island from thu continent. In
this We have rare specimen
OF the refinement Of the tweedis-dee
tWeedle-dum argument. These distinguish
ed diplomats gravely assumed that there
could be a difference between the middle
of the channel which, separates the CONT
uent from Vancouver Island ana the middle
of the channel which separates Vancouver
1sisnd from thu continent The only evil
deDce as 10 the intention OF the contracting
parties offered In support OF this remark
able theory was the fact that In drafting
his proposal To be- submitted 20 the United
States. Lord Aberdeen at first though, Of
mentioning the Canal DE Harc sr~cincaf-
~ by name. but had rejected that form or
words and had deliberately chosen the
words which ! have quoted. q fact which.
* X proves anything. proves that Lord
aberdeen himself bad the Canal De Haro
In mind as the proper boundary ~ the
British were &C. be permitted To hold NIL
OF Vancouver island. and tia, he eonsia-
cred the words chosen 20 be the exac. equiv.
ai~nt Of specific reference 20 the Canal
DE Haro by name, and so IL viii appear %
any ore who considers the question with
the map before his eyes. OF course, tia
commissioners were unable 20 complete
their work Proceedings az the county Of.
fieers of Whalccm county Go enforce ray,
ment OF the taxes Assessed upon properly o.
the Hudson Ray Company situated upor
San Juan island. became the basis OF ar
enormous claim Which that company pre-.
ferred against the United States govern.
snent for dams g~s. in consequences % which
ahe county officers were subsequently hans
pered In enforcing sho laws Gron the island
by instructions from President Pierce. q
Gov. Stevens. Rut notwithstanding tass At.
tempt cn tho part 81 oar national govern
ment 81 aveas al orca@san fer disturbance
OF peaceful relations. the issue was force
sn the year l>ss ty a thrsa; 80 the Part o
AT agent - tire Hudson Fay Company q