Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-16
THE OREGON QUESTION.
aon rHr NEW ronK JOURNAL op COMMENCES.

oTcSoH qucSuOH. Inc tone OF the TWO is very ulS-
similar. The Foreign Quarterly claims the whole
argument and the territory besides. 1t seems to
suppose that the Oregon occupation BILL which
passed the House of Representatives at the last ses
sion of Congress, is to come up for concurrence by
the Senate next winter; whereas il defnitivey
acted upon (rejected) by the Senate at the last ses
sion, and could not be acted upon at the next ses
sion at any rate except as new bill, requiring the
action of both Houses, nasmuch the Congress of
last session (the 2Sth) has no longer any constiu
tional existence. I" We venture TO predict" says
the Foreign Quarterly, that il will be thrown out
simply because it cannot be carried without war
with England; and there are three sound reasons
why America cannot go to war--she has neither
men, money, nor credit" And again it speaks of
our being overwhelmed with debts" If the Ma
tional Government is meant, the amount of this
overwhelming debt is about g3,000,000, or say the
one hundred and twentieth part Of the British debt
Even including the debts of all the States, America
does not owe twentieth part as much as England;
certainly not an eighteenth part And as to "men,'
we are inclined to think few might be found in
our population of 20000,000 If the reviewer lives
fifteen years longer he will have the pleasure of
knowing that the population of the United States
exceeds that of the United Kingdom. Again, the
credit of the National Government and of most of the
States, unfortunately there are few exceptions,
is perfect Its promises are better than gold, and
If drawing interest, uery much better. Besides, if
we were to get into war with England, the large
amount now paid by indebted States TO English
bond-holders could be invested in cold lead and STEEL
and transmitted in that shape to its destination. We
can tell John there is trouble on either Of the
grounds mentioned. We have plenty of money
men, and credit; but we agree with him that they
are not likely to be used in such foolish way as
that above indicated. mo; America will not 90
to war" Neither will England. She, too, is wise
enough to avoid collision. She knows that she
can turn us to much better account by selling us
broadcloths, &c. than by shooting us. She has
spent near ten years of her life in attempting the
latter, and has found il an Improbable business.
The article concludes as follows:
he British Minister has solemnly announced that he is
not only resolved but prepared the rights of the Br
fish Crown in the Oregon Territory This is not idle
threat and has been echoed hack by the universal convc
ton OF country well instructed in its power, too
confident in the integrity Of its cause and well assured Of
the advantages of peace to embark hastily in expensive
We have the of indicating rights, and
will employ them should it become necessary The
addition navalestmaes this year 100000
terlinga nearly equal to the total naval estimates Of
the United Staesand squadron in the Pacific under Adj
mra Seymour sufficient pledge Of the sincerity Of
tentions in that quarter.
But do believe that America viii submit the
queson solution the field Of battle. She
condition for such dangerous experiments and, if she were,
dspassonae investigation Of the finally satisfy
her that the claim she sets up could be settled much
speedily to her honor and ultimate advantage by
u arbitration II is the of both countries settle
their claims amicaby but is chiefly the interest of America
for the experience of all history in this warnngthat
when subject in litigation between Powers removed
from the cabinet to the camp be the of the
| weaker party
The writer in the Edinburgh Rerie,o claims lit
lie for England on the score Of title 10 Oregon and
comedies little to us. He says there are only five
sources OF title, viz. discovery, settlement, treaty
prescription, and c0nfiguity; and that under no
one OF them except the last has any civilized ma
ton acquired any title TO Oregon. The claim on
the score of contiguity is confined TO the Unit
ed States and Engand-Russia and Mexico having
respectively quit-caimed. On this basis, England
would be entitled, says the reviewer, :" 10 the por-
ton north of the 49th parallel, and America to that
SOUTH" He adds: This is, without doubt the
weakest of all titles; so weak, that when expressed
in words it seems almost to disappear; for what
can be less substantial than claim to territory |
which is not yours, merely because it is bounded
by that which is Still, il must be admitted to be
source of title however slight, where there is no
other" The article concludes as follows:
''The negotiation for partition is resumed and
trust, with fair prospect of II is much that the
real wohlesness Of the country has been established All
that any prudent Englshman American wish that
the controversy should be speedily and honoraby settled
weeks interruption condencesuch for instance as fol-
lowed the reception Mr. Folks inaugural speechcosts each
party twenty times the value Of the matter in dispute.
The obvious is to refer the whole question
baton The decision of arbitrator necessarily saves the
honor Of each party and in the present there nothing
else TO contend for We have heard that America objects
arbitration and that her objection is founded her conyic-
ton that the right her sde But there few dis
putes in which each party convinced that he is in
the right it follows that if such conviction were bar
arbitration, that mode Of adjustment could scarcely take
place. Assuming the honesty and intelligence Of the pro-
posed arbitrator the only valid objection arbitration is the
conviction not merely that in the right but that the
opposite party knows that in the right II believe
this, believe his claim be fraudulent and vexaous and
we justified if the object in ITSELF affecting our
honor be adequate in refusing allow the question to be
discussed England would not allow her title to Quebec or
America her title to Rhode Island to be the subject Of ar
btraonno merely because each nation convinced OF the
validity Of her title, but because each knows that its va
diy is known the other. In the present America,
with that ignorance Of international law which is the glazing
defect of American statesmen may possibly be convinced that
her claim the whole Of Oregon valid but she cannot be-
eve that England knows il to be valid She cannot deny
that we honestly believe of controversy and if
fourth negotiation should fail bound by friendship, BY
prudence and by regard to the welfare Of the whole civilized
world to allow it to be settled by arbitration.