The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-02

70 retain he REMAINDER though neither mas ad
mitted directly the right Of the other to tn
possession Of any spot west of the Rocky noun
tains. Each party has endeavored to appropriate
to itself many Of the advantages derivable from
those regions as was possible consistently with thu
agreement that they should be free to the citizens
subjects Of both; and Great Britain has certainl,
not been backward in this respect or delicate in he
Interpretation Of the agreement. Her Hudson,
Bay Company, endowed by its charter with all bu
sovereign powers over large adjoining portion O
the American continent, has enjoyed the trade O
the Columbia countries, almost unintenuptedly, fol
thirty years; during nearly the whole of which, the
jurisdiction of the British courts has been ex-
tended over those countries. Circumstances have
now changed. The resistless current Of emigration
from the United States is rolling over the great
western chains Of mountains to the borders of the
Pacific, mpelled by the declarations of right thus
repeatedly made on the part of the republic,
Those who have sought home in these distant
lands, claim the fnlflment of the promises thus held
out to them that they should be protected in their
rights, and that the laws and institutions of their
country should be extended over them; and that
claim cannot be resisted with honor or justice.
A British sovereign possesses himself ample
powers to protect his subjects in such case, with.
out reference to another branch Of the govern
ment, much less to the people. He can terminate
the existing convention with regard to Oregon, by
letter from his foreign Office to his minister al
Washington; and can cause the country to be occu-
pied and forts to be erected in it. by another letter
~. Al,
forces in the Pacific, or from his colonial secretary
to his governor general of Canada. He has there
fore need, and certainly no desire, to introduce
the subject in a message to Parliament; and when
Legislative action becomes necessary, his ministers
are in both Houses TO make the necessary arrange
ments, and procure the requisite number of votes
in their own way. A President of the United
these steps until authorized 10 do SO by Congress,
which is itself dependent upon the popular voice.
His assertion that the claim of the United States to
Oregon is unquestionable," means only that he will
exert his influence in maintaining and establishing
it. From British sovereign, the same assertion would
announce to the world his determination to employ
his power for that purpose. 1t is much the duty
of the President to the influence of his declara-
ton upon the people Of the United States, or upon
the world, for the advantage Of the republic, il is
of the sovereign to direct his forces for the benefit Of
his kingdom.
The President is neither in address to his fel-
low-citzens, nor in message to Congress, bound
by the rules or observances Of diplomatic discuss
sion. Ills object on such occasions is to submit
he he shaat
the judgment Of the people Of the Legislature that
they may, in proper way, express their sense
of it. He does so openly; and if he enghtens other
parties to bis views, they have no right to COM
plain oft. Offensive language is of course not to
be employed by public functionary on any occasion;
but the President may assert what he conceives to
be the rights Of his nation in terms of strength pro-
portioned to the importance Of the subject and the
profoundness of his conviction.
The President of the United States cmanates from
the bosom of the people He is their trustee. He
has no hereditary pretensions to the seat which he
occupies. He has no powers which the constiiu-
ton does not confer upon him. He must admins
ter those powers, for his benefit, for his
own honor, but for the good of his country, to
which he is responsible. II becomes his duty,
therefore, at all times, whilst communicating with
the people themselves, In hi. in-usuraf uaa-e.., or
in his messages to their representatives in Congress,
to speak in frank, clear language, in relation to the
common rights and interests of free people.
Whilst he takes care, in performing this duty, to
give no unnecessary offence to foreign Staes he is
bound to speak plainly, and to assert the cIearest
and strongest terms, the rights of his own nation
In his diplomatic intercourse with foreign nations,
he will seek to guide his by his conceptions
of the rights of his country, and to carry out far
as possible, the views which he has formed. II de-
ponds upon his own discretion to decide what course
he shall pursue in the conduct Of foreign negotia-
tons. II will remain for Great Britain to decide
how far she will assume the responsibility of defeat
ing wise and amicable negotiation, by making de-
mands which are extravagant in themselves, and
well calculated to prevent most desirable ADJUST
ment Of our differences.
1t is also problem worthy Of Sir R. Peel's and
Lord Aberdeen's consideration, whether they, who
profess object to Mr.. Folks declarations to his
countrymen in his inaugural address, should, in
their places in Parliament, adopt style of speak,
ing which is equally exclusive, and strongly mark
ed with "blustering" spirit of intimidation. In
other words, whether il is respectful to the
government of the United States for Sir Rob-
ert Peel to declare, in the House Of Com
mons, "That we consider we have rights in
respect of the territory of Oregon which clear
and unquestonable; that we trust still to effect an
amcable adjustment Of these claims; that we desire
to effect that adjustment; but, having exhausted
every effort to effect that arrangement if rights
are invaded, we resolved, and are prepared, to
maintain them"
And it well becomes Lord Aberdeen to consider
whether he can fairly reconcile his criticism on
Presidents language with the spirit Of his own decla
ration in the House Of Lords: "Shoud it be other
wise, l can only say that we possess rights which,
in our opinion, clear and unquesiionable; and,
by the blessing Of God, and with your support,
those rights we are fully prepared to maintain