Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-12-11

Fffe%~s~e's
ssia. II we have erred. We bavs erred from tho
honest impulses Of our head and heart; from pat
r,otlc d;.vc.ition 10 stand by our country in her
present controversy with The most gfasPing, srro-
s,s,. and overwhelming Power Of modern times
We have III no time expressed ourselves averse
10 peaceful and honorable settlement Of this ques-
ton. Believing as we do. that our title TO ibe
whole territory 10 perfect; ready as We have syow-
cd ours4yes at all times 10 stand by the Cons,itu-
sional Powers Of our government II they shall stake
thu honor Of our country upon the assertion Of our
,itIe YET with the historical fact before us that
Great Britain has with been 10 the joint occuPa-
ton Of that coantry for many years; that large
British interests have during that time grown up
IN the Northern pc, ton o. he territory, under the
very rsrmi..ion extended BY our Convention TO
,hem--tbat the country north Of the 49h parallel
Of latitude 10 not now and can be Of any value
10 u.;-lhst not ga American citizen 10 perhaps 10
h. found throughout that frozen and iahospitsbls
,.s;o, that South Of the ~ deg. all that is really
valuable in an agricultural and commercial point
of view Is embraced. we should have regarded our
seIve, a. wicked and insane u we could ever have
entertained the idea Of closing oil door for negota-
ton and adjustment between the two countries go
long az we can by any Feaceatie means establish
boundary 90 favorable to our views ano interests.
We feel the less Inclination to discuss this qne'-
sIon further at the present time because the latest
information by the STEAMER CAMBRIA from Eng
iasd, leads to the conclusion, that his Gord'an
knot Of diplomatic difficulties, will, YET be success
fully uaravelisd. through tho peaceful process OF
negotiation; and that the controversy will again
DO very shortly placed in the progress Of adjust
ment, upon basis that will give general 'at'sfsc-
lion to the country. Cod grant thai such msy be
the result! We feel no disposition to depsecaie
MIR. Polk, because we were amongst the number
of those who srdently and bitterly opposed his
election; but the contrary, II he succeeds with
out any sacrifice Of tho honor and interest OF the
country, in terminating this long pending contro-
.versv. upon the terms submitted by John Quincy
Adams a. Secretary Of State under Mr.. Monroe IN
July 1928, and at that time rejected by the British
Government, we shall regard him as entitled to no
uncomfortable measure of the hanks and spproba-
tion oil the country.
We regard the proposition submitted by mr'
Adams in Is23--renewed by Mr.. Polk in 1855
the ony true bu'is, upon wh'cn 'h'' co"'o'e'
can ever be adjusted by negotiation. IL should he
regarded a. the ulimate concession OF the Amerl-
can Government. We are well aware that inter-
mediate administrations have proposed larger con-
ce.sions to Great Britain. such the free navga-
zion of the Columbia River, &c. &C., but we are
perfectly satiste d that such compromise could not
nov obtain the assent Of any American Statesman.
And we re- AFFIRM our conviction that If Mr. Clay
we're now in power, he would not again repeat the
offer which he made in 1927. The 10th parallel
,hro,sb 10 the Pacific. or perhaps dverging at it's
Western extremity, so as to throw the Southern
mar, of Vsncouver's Island TO the English posses
sio,s. giving US the ezeiusiee navigation Of all of
our rivers South Of that latitude and the exclusive
.p,o,men, Of our own barbors, are the only terms
Of od;u,.n,nt that would be satisfactory TO the
American People or consistent with the rights and
honor of the nation. This fair and equitable pro-
oosition was made by the present Chief Magistrate
Of the Country. and as will be seen from his mes
.,y. ,romotIy rejected BY Mr.. Packe nham, the
British Penipo,entiary at Westinghouse procedure
,nor IN. mil of the British Minister which If not
a;.syowed by his Government, must throw upon
that nation all the consequences that may result
from the termination Of the existing Treaty between
the two countries.
But fotther-,he single point 9" issue between
our correspondent and ourselves relates to our TIE
TO the whole territory OF Oregon Our eorrespon-
den, co"fe'se' himself "'mPerjeeny 'yo'med up
on the n6ject." but at the same time msrshslls the
opinions ofa large number OF the pubic Journs's'
both Wing and Democratic without an invest-
gstion Of the merits of the question: he seems to q"
ready to abide by the political s'eta OF those res
pectsbe presses He has OF coursea perfect rsht
thus to arrive at his conclusions IN RELATION TO TINS
momentuous matter. We are -n'rey content
with bic conduct in this respect and therefore ex
rress no classification. with us mas been d"-
ferent. Exercising that privilege winch 's almost
peculiar to the Wing party ct this country We nave
snxiously. studousy. calmly and considerably sp
piled our minds To the investigation, and indePen
dent of all party influences aud predictions have
arrived a, the conclusion that our tide to the whole
territory i. "clesr and unquestionable." This
r ,ka ruds srhit