The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-17
From the Albany Argu.

From the Albany Argus
THE OREGON CoRREsPoNDENCE--Tii MoDERA
TON OF OUR COUNTRY.
To-day we continue the publication of this yer,
important correspondence, comprising the letters
Mr. Calhoun and Mr.. Pakenham, and one from Mr.
Buchanan, FIRST Lottery
In these will be found the offer of arbitration or
the part of the British minister which was declined
by Mr.. Calhoun, under the avowa shat the ques
ton may be settled by the negotiation now pending
between the two countries" and that under thes,
circumstances arbitration might rather retard thar
expedite its final adjustment"
But the letter of Mr.. Buchanan will especially ex
cite attention. 1t is mastery in every sense Of tn,
word First, the strength of the Spanish title to tn
whole Of the Oregon territory, is briefly presented
but IN the clearest manner. He then proceeds tc
state the impregnabe position Of the United States
as the acknowledged successor under the Florid,
treaty Of 1919, of all "the rights, claims and preten
sions of Spain" He then proceeds to examine tn,
.Nootka Sound conventions which is the basis of tn,
British claim. Mr.. q. takes this up at length, ana
lyses it by the received law Of nations compares it,
provisions with the established meaning Of it's con
tested points, as interpreted by the admissions ant
actions of British statesmen Mr.. B does this with
an ability, fairness, and nationality, of which
every American may be proud.
Mr.. B. also insists that the Nootka Sound con-
vention has been repealed, and has even been so
treated by the British government itself He re-
marks with great force, "That the British govern
ment itself had no idea in 1918, that the Nootka
Sound convention was then in force, may be fairly
inferred from their silence upon the subject during
the whole negotiation of that year on the Oregon
question. This convention not once referred Ia
by the British penipotentaries. They then rested
their claims upon other foundations. Surely thai
which is now their main reliance, would not have
escaped the observation Of such statesmen, had they
then supposed it was in existence" This crcum.
stance shows the "vagrunt" character of the pres.
ent British claim.
After perusing this despatch, even those preju.
diced against the United States cannot fail to feel
deeper and more pervading conviction that the righ
TO the whole of Oregon is with our country. But
MIR. B. rested not here. Under the patriotic drec.
ton OF the President, TO "make more effort to
adjust this long pending controversy, he offers Ga
compromise He is authorized 10 saw, ain this
determination he trusts that the British government,
will recognise his sincere and anxious desire to cu-
tiyate the most friendly relations between the two
countries, and to manifest to the world that he is
actuated by spirit Of moderation" The Secretary
of State further adds for the President Gle trusts that
Great Britain may receive this proposition in the
frIcndly-spirit by which it Dictated and that it
may prove the stable foundation oflasting peace and
harmony between the two countries" II will be
called to mind that the British plenipotentiary a,
once rejected this olive branch of peace.
II seems to us that these letters of Mr.. Calhoun
and Mr. Buchanan, when read in Europe, as they
unqueshonably will be, may exert no ordinary in
huence in Fighting public opinion there upon the
strength of the American title, not only to sithe en-
tire region drained by the Columbia river and lie
ches, but to the whole of the Oregon territory
The moderation so obviously manifested by oui
republic, and its earnest desire maintain the peace
Of the world, must place our country in the right
not only in the estimation Of our own people, bu
before the public sentiment Of the civilized world
which, great orator has truly remarked has be.
come "more potent than fleets and armies''