Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-12-18

~ liberal offer of his government was
Indignantly rejected by the British mi
mister, declaring that S'some further pro-
posal for the settlement of the Oregon
question more consistent with fairness
and equity, and with The reasonable ex-
pectations of the British government"
must be offered by the U. S. to meet
his appreciation, Mr.. Polk withdrew
the proposition which had been offered
by his government, under the firm con-
viction, "that no compromise which
the U. States ought to accept, can be
effected" and, deeming the PROPOSE
ton offered BY the British minister tex
traordinary and wholly lnadmissible," "
he asserted sou: title to the whole Ore
gon territory" In this state of the
question, no other course was left for
the president to pursue, as the faith
full representative Of the clearly express
sed views Of the American people, but
to urge upon Congress, in accordance
with the provisions Of an existing trea-
ty, the propriety of notifying the Bit
sh government, for one year, that the
U. States desire that the ''joint occu-
pancy" Of the territory shall cease al
the end Of such years notice. 1t is
hoped that Congress will glue the no.
tice, and that the most speedy and eff
cient measures, consistent with the
justice of our title and the honor of the
nation, may be adopted for its final
settlement. No one desires more than
we do that this long standing question
should be settled in manner more hu-
name and Christian-like than at the
lannon's mouth; yet, if, under existing
ircumstances-if, after showing dis
Position to compromise, upon terms
the most liberal and generous, with the
British governmental, after all this,
the U. States shall be forced into wal
to sustain our title TO the ''whole Ore
gon territory" and which has been
maintained by irrefragable facts and
arguments" whatever may be the con
sequences Of that war, the civiIsed
world will release the U.States from all
responsibility for prosecuting it. We
hope, however, Notwithstanding the
gloomy aspect which the question at
present presents, that ii may be settled
in a manner more dignifed, and more
becoming Christian nations, than by a
resort to the barbarities and cruelties OF
war.
THE TARIFF.
The presidents views respecting the
tariff act passed in August, 1842, are
expressed in the same manly and can
did tone that characteristics his message
throughout; and it is acknowledged by
all that his sentiments now upon that
subject are what they have ever been
even the National Intelligencer, which
is acknowledged to be the grand organ
Of the Wing party, acknowledges that,
son this question the message is ex-
pllcit enough" and adds that, "The
president reaffirms doctrines, which, be-
fore his elevation to his present high
station, he was known to profess, and
has always acted upon, in regard to the
Protective System. He is against 1T ;
and against the Tariff of 1912, as he
has often before declared himselfto be. "
While, then, we maintain that the pre-
sident's views upon this subject are
correct, and strictly in accordance with
the avowed principles ofthe Democrat
lc creed, our opponents, or at least the
candid among them, concede to him
consistency. That is al! very honest
Mr. Polk is opposed to the ''Protective
System;"-that is, he is opposed to
taxing any article SO high as to ex-
clude it from our market, merely to give
the American manufacturer of a SINH
lar article the privilege of monopolising
the market and selling at such prices as
he may fix upon; for, according to the
high protective creed, "protection"
means, if not total, at least a partial
prohibition upon such foreign articles
as come in competition with American