The Arkansas banner., 1845-06-25
inss
From he Tninn

we lay before our readers an article or Srthe Oregon question:" from the ssLondof aEXamlner," of April 26, received by the Brit. N'ahia, and presenting a view more nearly fail @a"o 5 correct ol that most interesting subiee #than any other which we have as vet seer sifom the same quarter the world. Itafford: gus 100, the greater pleasure, because it pro- @ceeds from journal which is generally the Ess EsinoSt outer of all the English papers in it: |5 against our own country. ant sPafucniarly against the moral character oI aour people This spirit, indeed, appears il Sthe concluding paragraph of the article wbicf ss"e now fepu0lIsh. But we are not disposed sto cavli at these indications; and while wt Aadmlt the general correctness of the historica aTieW winch occupies the greater portion ol zlhe aftIcle:we shall take leave to make some afeinafKs upon one proposition, certainly thf J oioS. essential In the case, and which WIG .ss ssshaIl show to be improperly stated.
 a The Examiner says, s.the maximum claim of England, and the minimum of the United otates Is the Columbia; the maximum of Ame- s rlca and the minimum of England is the forty-ninth parallel"
 < NOW, Ii the word offer had been substi- stuted for claim, this proposition would have s been more nearly correct. The American sGoVernment did offer, in the spirit of com spromlse, to surrender its claims to all territo- arIes north of the forty-ninth parallel, pr0rided athat England should in like manner surrender sher claims to all south of that line. This golfer, the minimum of the United States, was sreJected by the British, who refused. by theil ssmaXlmum offer, to admit the possession by sthe United States of any territory north and sWest oi the Columbia, except the small de atached portion in the angle between the strai aot fuca and the Pacific. These offers were aseverally withdrawn after their rejection; the 5PIenipoentiares of each party, formally en- 5terlng upon the minutes of the conference, in < which they were refused, their protests "agains Hue o?Ber of concession being even takenin any a way to prejudice Mc claims of their respec- ltlve goYetnments''
 The distinction between ofcr and claia ! Twill thus be seen to involve important di1e- jrences In the results. Since these offers wert l amade 1927, many changes have taken place sn the position of the two nations with regart
 
 less been appreciated by their ministers, ir ;the negotiation now supposed to be in pro- 'gfess. The tone assumed by the portion oi sthe London press which is considered as senJoylng the confidence of the ministry, is snot, indeed, thus far calculated to induce the that Great Britain will recede sirom her maximum offer; and certainly nc ;true American would expect our government swhlle our felloW-cltizens are removing tc sOregon by thousands, to conGne them within limits more restricted than those for which we contended when our whole population ir that territory did not exceed two hundred. The Examiner proposes, as a fair partition sof the territory, that ''the boundary should be the 49th parallel until it meets the Pacific sand then the sea-" With the recollection ot the bubbles which have been introduced by British diplomatists into the controversy re. 5specting the northeastern boundary, we trus athat i'll any treaty which may be concluded 3Wth regard to Oregon, such distinction may be drawn in 1cords between the strait of Fuc; land thu. Pacific oceans, as to leave no room ] for farther equivocation. The minimum ofle sol the United States comprehended all Amer lean territory, whether continent or island south of the 49th parallel which passes througl 1.-the southern portion of the great island o sQuadra and Vancouver. The portion of tha sisland south of the 18th parallel is small, bu simporant as forming the northern side of tn Sstrait of Fuca, and on account of the man, sgood harbors on its coast; though Nook, sSound, one of the best ports in that part 0 sthe world, lies in 49l degrees. It is for ou Sgovernment to consider whether 1t would b. sexpedient to divide the island, and perhap splant the seeds of future disputes between tn, stwo countries. They will still further hay, sto consider it would be proper to reced zlrom the minimum on that point, in returl afor some equivalent from Great Britain else awhere.
 We have taken some pains to point out tt s -Four fellow-citizens the true distinction betweei ! our claims and our o6erS to Great Britain awith regard to Oregon. Since these offer Rwere made great changes have occurred in tn Epositons of the two nations towards Oregor- Exchanges which are evidently operating in favo Sof the United States, both as to title and a ato the power of enforcing 1t. On the othe Shand, much as we desire to preserve peace (which was never more important than now ssto the welfare of both nations, and of th, Awhole world, yet we wish none but an hon Sorable peace. Our honor and interests ar, Sconfided to men whose character requires nc Fguaranty from us, who possess all the light (which are required for a safe conclusion o &the questions at issue, and whose conduct il fthe matter will in any case be subjected tt the searching tribunal of an enlightened peo Spe, To that people, whatever may be thei Aparty divisions, whatever be their sectiona s feelings, we now appeal Let every gooc scitizen support the cause of our country by shis exertions whenever they may be needed s Let us at the same time, for the present, ab Bstain from trammellng and embarrassing tho Administration to whom we have committed Ethe management of this difficult and delicate Squestion. They have no interests distinc from those of their country. Mr. Polk wil secure your peace if he can; but nothing S Sshort of your essential rights, and an honor Fable peace, can satisfy you or can satisfy ! shimselE
 < From he London Examiner April 9. THE OREGON QUESTION.
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