Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-05-07
VOL. XVI
FOREIGN NEWS,
Important Debate ON Oregon


| Important Debate Oregon.
HOUSE OF LORDS. April Observation-Disclosures
Clarendon, in tho House Of Lords, introduced the
subject of the Oregon Territory, in order to
elicit from tho Government some information as
to our relations with tho United States upon this
question, and tho course it intended to pur-
sue IN case Congress, acting upon the expressed
opinion of the President. should proceed to take
possession of the country, to annex it to the
United States.
| His Lordship, after briefly noticing the con-
duct of America towards Texas, and The extra
ordinary terms in which Mr.. Polk had declared
tho unequivocal right of tho United States to the
whole territory tempe rately reviewed the grounds
on which the British claims founded and con
GLIDING by expressing his anxious hope, that
whilo whatever could bo justly claimed should
be readily conceded, tho Government would not
shrink from indicating, if necessary, the ma
ton honor, upholding her interests.
Tho Earl of Aberdeen--I think It is perfectly
natural that in such a conjunction the present
tho noble lord may reasonably expect to receive
such information from her Ma jesty's Government
as they, in the discharge Of their duty, may feel
it possible to give. am far from Directing to the
course of putting questions to the Government
upon any matter of public Importance, and
tainly not Of such paramount interest as
this.
My lords, if followed my inclination in
this matter, | should at be disposed to lay
on the table of the House every part of tho nego-
tiation which had taken place upon this subject
from the period Of tho treaty of Washington up
to the present day. ] am that if | did so
should not only receive from the candor of my
noble friend opposite opinion approving tho
course WHICH has been pursued. but might fairly
appeal to the public at large, and even
whole Of Europe for its confirmation.
A time may como when such course may
possibly be necessary. AT prescn, it would
10 "A ct
for opportunity to explain little at
length the state of this question effects tho in
tcrcst and tho claims Of this country tho dispu
tod territory. The noble lord has curiously de-
scrbcd tho claims of this country and Of tho u
ni,od States with sufficient accuracy, far as he
has Como.
They, however, would admit Of much moro
detailed examination, and, although | might now
enter into that examination without injury to the
public service, feol that could not do it with
out Inconvenience to your lordshps, and this also
think it bettor to defer to a future OCCASION
the inquiry of my noble friend. wish to
state that the negotiation which has taken
place, and which is still pending upon this sub
icct, was commenced Immediately after the sign
ing Of tho treaty by my noble friend near me-
Without, of course, explaining to your lordshlps
any Of the steps that have boon taken IN tho pro-
gress of that negotiation, wish to draw your at
tention to tho last act of tho late President before
his resignation from office. Tho Senate o! the |
L. States having addressed Mr.. Tyler 80 long a.
90 as the month Of December, requesting him to
with them and inform them as to
tho progress of this negotiation, Mr.. Tyler in his
answer which was not delivered until the 18th of
February, states:-
ain my opinion. as this negotiation is still pend
ing tho information sought for cannot be commu-
nicated without prejudice to the public service. (
but doom it proper to add, that considerable ,
progress has been made in the negotiation. which
has been carried on in a very amicable spirit be.
tween the two governments and that there is rea-
son to hope that it may be brought a close with
in short period.
l have delayed answering the resolution Of the
Senate, undor the expectation expressed in my an
nual message, that the negotiation would be ter
minated before the close of the present session,
and that the information called for by that reso
luton might be communicated l am bound to
say that think the late President took somewhat
too favorable Wow Of the state of tho ncgotia-
ton whom he made that answer to tho Senate.
At the Same time, as an indication of friond-
ly feeling, and Of desire to bring it to an ami
cable termination, such a declaration of opinion
must be highly satisfactory. My lords, in fort
night after the delivery of this answer to the ad-
dress Of tho Senate. the new president made the
inaugural speech referred to by my noble friend.
wish to observe that this speech is not an ad
1rcss mace to Congress-it Is q speech made to
he public.
The Congress not being sitting no speech Of
he kind could be made by tho President of the
Jnitod States without drawing towards it the
most serious attention. Nevertheless, it does not
possess the importance Of an official document,
Tor can it DO regarded as forming part of legisia-
i've proceedings. do not undervaue its impor
ance but must observe, that it has not quite the
character of an address made to the Congress as
he foundation Of any legislative measure.
have already mentioned that that declaration
IF the late President is the last act of which we