The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-17
question, and il will no, be settled peacefully beor,

previous negotiation, any sufficient inducement in
the public feeling and legislative action upon the
subject here, in the United States, to lead her to
settle it.
We find the proof Of this in the whole history OF
the negotiation. In 1918 we offered, and England
rejected, compromise on the 49th parallel. Why
should she not reject it them What was the con-
sequence Of rejeciion' Why, joint occupa-
ton--no mora joint occupation, to turn which
to the best possible account, she knew she had the
machinery Of the Hudson Bay Company all ready
made, by which laws might be extended to her peo.
pie, whilst our citizens were left unprotected. And
SO events have but too well proved
In 1924 we offered the same compromise again.
Again she rejected it. Why should she not The
machinery Of her company and her legislation was
working beautifully; through il, the jurisdiction Of
the courts of Canada covered every rod Of Oregon.
What was the consequence to her, il she did reject
the COMPROMISED Why just ths--that Mr.. Rush,
after having exhausted all the of the high
est diplomatic ability, in most luminous aud pow
erful statement of his case, broke off that nego,ia-
ton as impractcable and hopeless, put the Oregon
papers in his pocket, and turned To another large
bundle about the West India trade. And, mean
time, it was as before in Oregon-"joint occupa-
ton"
In 1897 again zoe would compromise. England
would not. Why not Because the alternative was
in oay serious, In strict accordance with all the
known facts Of the case, one can fancy the British
statesmen then saying, "Why should we accept
this proposed COMPROMISED To be sure, we have
no title to Oregon; we have admitted that we
have none. In the official statement made on
the part Of the British government, and affixed
to the protocol Of the sixth conference, held on the
10Th day of December, 1926, we, the British peni-
potcntiaries, have said in terms, 'Greai Britain
claims exclusive sovereignty any portion Of that
territory But what of that' Let us hold on
The Americans show no great sensibility the
subject. Our joint occupation is working admira-
bly, for us. The income of our Bay Company
last year was very near a million. Their stock is
now lao per cent. above par. Doubtless we can
get renewed lease of Joint. occupation possibly
with leave to terminate it by years notice. as
soon ready for other measures" And
so they did hold on, and got at that time just what
they wanted. What has since taken place in the
way Of negotation-what has taken place under
the present administration, we shall probably learn
in the course of a few weeks. When that cur
tain is drawn up shall sec whether Great Britain
has manifested stronger disposition to listen to
our demands, and to participate with US in any fair
division of the territory to which we have clear
and unquestonablc title.
1t seems to us, that this view of our past unsuc-
cessfu efforts at compromise is full of instruction
for the future. If we wish to settle the Oregon
question peaceaby, let settle it seasonaby and,
to that end let us show that in earnest about
it, and united upon it. Protocols alone though they
should cover ream upon ream Of paper, will not do
this We must do by ia,c for our citizens in Oregon
ateast much Great Britain has done for her sub
ects there. We must, as we have said before, Gre
cognise them, protect them, establish communication
with them, and extend to them a participation of
our own FREE REPUBLICAN, oovERNMENr." We
must organize government over the American citi-
zens Of the Rocky mountains, and thus protect
them, and thus bind them to us. In addition to
this, it is the dictate alike of wise and Of peace
full spirit to give TO emigration 10 Oregon proper en-
An Indian agency there-a mail
line of block houses protecting
and securing the Oregon route-additional Dragons
If necessary, to protect them from the lndians-al
these measures and other measures Of protection
such these, Indispensable, and should not be
longer delayed They have been delayed too long
already In one word, our diplomacy has already
that are the rgh.fu owners of that
soil Our legislation should no,o show that it be-
eves what our diplomacy has all along asserted
and proved. Let our legislation do this, in modera-
ton, at once and firmly, and Oregon is ours.
That is, indeed a strange political phenomenon,
that the party claiming title has, under stpua
lion Of joint occupancy, privileges which the party
fully entitled may not exercise.
II the mutualiy of the stipulation be Of that left
handed which gives to the unentitled claimant
srery right, and to the true owner none--then the
sooner that stipulation is torn up and scattered to the
winds, the betterthc better for the honor, and the
better for all the interests of the country. The
right to govern and protect lis citizens on lis o,cn SOIL
is the last right chich Independent nation should re-
iinquish compromise, permit to be oi impaired
We have thus stated our views of the Oregon
question, and of the policy growing out Of it. In
some quarters they have been misrcprcsentcd.
Thai is Of no consequence. We expected it. But
the democratic party and the democratic press have
understood us; and we now leave the question to
The constituted authorities of the country, to man.
age it according to the lights which will soon be
officially exhibited to Congress, and according to
their best wisdom and highest patriotism.
We have uniformly said that, under the relations
which prevail between Mexico and ourselves, we
would not be the first to make overtures to Mexico
But never intended to say that we would not ac-
cept overtures that should be made to us. We
would be willing, of course, to terminate the pres
ent uncertain relations between the two countries
on the first fair and honorable opportunity, and to
substitute a permanent arrangement Of peace for a
very underlined appearance Of war. We have also
said more than once, that if such an overture was
not made by Mexico, and negotiation which
promised TO terminate present relations did not
take place, it might become the constituted author
tics of this country TO change these relations into