Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-12-11

ahsieffed tG Washington; and, on the
I'D OF August, lS44. was formerly opened,
ander the direction of my immediate pfede-
essor. Like all the previous negotiations
At was based upon principles of "tCompro.
mise" and the avowed purpose Of the par
ties was, 'to treat of tire respective claims
of the two countries to the Oregon terrific
~, with the view 90 establish permanent
boundary betweea them westward of the
Rocky Mountains TO the Pacific Ocean -
Accordingly on the Goth of August, 1914
lhe British Plenlpctentiary offered to divide
The Oregon territory by the forty-ninth par
;.llel of moth latitude, from the Rocky
Mountains to the point of It's intersection
with the north-east-mos' branch of the Col
7lmbIa rlver, and thence down that river 10
the sea, leaving the free navigation of the
river TO be enjoyed in common by both par
fies-the country south of this line TO be-
long TO the United States, and that north of
1t TO Great Britain. AT the same time he
proposed, In addition, to yield to the United
states detached territory, north of the
columbia, extending along the Pacific and
the Straits of Fuca from Bulinchs harbor
inclusive, TO Hoods Canal, and TO make
iree 10 the United StateS any port or ports
south OF latitude fortv-nnc degrees, which
they might desire, either on the main land,
or on Quadra and Vancouvers Island =
With the exception of the free pots this
was the same offer which had been made
10y the British and rejected by the Ameri-
can government in the negotiation of 1896
MS proposition was properly rejected by
the American Pleni2otentlary on the day
at was submitted This was the only pro-
position of compromise offered by the Brit
ash Plenipoentiary. The proposition on
the part of Great Britain having been re-
Jected, the British PIenipotenriary reques-
led that proposal should be made by the
limited States for ian equitable adjustment
OF the question"
When came into Office, found this to be
the state OF the negotiation. Though enter
tanning the settled conviction, that the British
pretensions of title could not be maintained to
any portion of the Oregon territory upon any
principle of public law recognised by nations,
yet, in Difference to what had been done by my
predecessors, and especially in consideration
that propositions of compromise had been
thrice made by two preceding administrations,
TO adjust the question on the parallel of forty
nine degrees, and in two of them yielding to
Great Britain the tree navigation of the Co
iuInbia, and that the pending negotiation had
ben commenced on the basis of compromise,
4 deemed 1t to be my duty not abruptly to
break it of. In consideration, too, that under
the conventions of 1918 md 1927, the citizens
and subjects of the two Powers held joint
occupancy Of the country, ] was induced to
make another effort to settle this long pending
controversy in the spirit of moderation which
had given birth to the renewed discussion. A
proposition was accordingly made which was
rejected by the British plenipotentiary, who,
without submitting any other proposition, suf-
iered the negotiation on his part to drop, ex.
pressing his trust tha. the United States
would offer what he saw fit to call "some
further proposal for the settlement of the
Oregon question, more consistent with fair
ness and equity, and with the reasonable ex-
Dectations of the British government. The
proposition thus offered and rejected, repeated
the offer of the parallel of forty-nine degrees
OF north latitude, which had been made by
two preceding administrations, but without
proposing to surrender to Great Britain, as
they bad done, the free navigation of the Co.
lumbia river. The right ct any foreign power
to the free navigation of any of our rivers
through the heart of our country, was one
which 1 was unwilling to concede 1t also
embraced provision to make free to Great
ra and Vancouver's island, south of this par
allel Had this been a new question. coming
under discussion for the first time, this propo-
sition would not have been made. The ex
traordinary and wholly inadmssible demands
of the British government, and the rejection
of the proposition made in Difference alone to
what had been done by my predecessors, and
the implied obligation which their acts seemed |
to impose, afford satisfactory evidence that no
compromise which the United States ought to |
accept, can be effected. With this conviction.
the proposition of compromise which had been
made and rejected, was. by my direction. SUBJ
sequently withdrawn, and our title to the
whole Oregon territory asserted, and, as is
believed, maintained by rrefragible facts and
arguments.
The civilized world will see in these pro-
ceedings a spirit of liberal concession on the
part of the United States and this govern
ment will be relieved from all responsibility
which may follow the failure to settle the
controversy.
All attempts at compromise having failed
it becomes the duty of Congress to consider
what measures it may be proper to adopt for
the security and protection of our citizens
now inhabting, or who may hereafter inhabit
Oregon, and for the maintenance of our just
title TO that territory. In adopting measures
tor this purpose, care should be taken that
nothing be done to violate the stipulations of
the convention of 1927, which is still in force
he faith of treaties, in their letter and spirit,
has ever been, and trust will ever be, scru.