Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1845-05-23

lord. he cOuCurred IN the noble lords
views and statements His loruship had
Justly defined the limits Of introducing mat
tprs ot negotiation into popular assembly,
While negotiations were pending, il was
certainly duty to abstain FROM guch a
course. Popular feeling was 70 easily cx-
cited, and the matter Of negotiation 20 eas.
ily pre-judged. that in all cases the npgoti.
ators should be allowed to discharge their
duties without interference The position
Of the noble lord was widely different from
his own. As an unofficial person, lord
John Russell was not responsible for the
consequences Of his speech, but ministers
Of the crown must be guarded in their apee-
Ches on such subject. He agreed with
his Iordsbp as 10 the virtual removal Of this
subject by Mr.. President Polk, from the
sphere Of negotiation, and its reference to
other authorities. lie could not discuss
the merits Of the question. hut he could
state the condition Of the negotiations.
Sir Robert accordingly gave summary
OF the past negotiations in reference 10 the
Oregon, and expressed the hope that they
might be brought to a speedy and amicahp
termination. He referred to Mr.. Tyler's
message of December 3, 1844, in which
similar hope was expressed, and to his re-
fusal, on the 10th OF February in the pres
ent year, to lay the correspondence on the
subject before Congress, lest it should in
terfere with pending negotiations, in which
considerable progress" had Oeen already
made. All this was IN the most friendly
tone and spirit. Sir Robert Peel gladly re-
cognized this friendly spirit; but could not
admit the fact Of "progres." He was sor-
ry TO say, very little progress had heen made.
He then proceeded to contrast Mr.. Tyler's
tone, with that adopted, only a fortnight al
terward, by his successor. Or.-sinCe which he
had received no communication from Mr..
Packenham. Probably the negotiations
previously in progress, were continued hy
the new administration. He expected da-
ly TO receive information on that point, and
did not despair of favorable issue; but in
case Of a contrary result, he would not OBJ.
ject to lay the whole correspondence be-
fore the House.
He must express his surprise that the
President should have referred as he did to
this matter; he regretted the tone of that
reference, and especially deprecated the
further reference to other contingencies
He must say, most temperately, but mos
decidedly, in Mr.. Folks own language, tha
the British nation have "clear and indispu
table right" to the territory which the!
claim; and farther, he added, ii sincerell
trust, trust and desire, that the question
may he amicHbly arranged-but, having
exhausted that attempt, having failed Il
bring the negotiation to favorable conclu
sion, if, after such failure, our rights are in.
vodPd, we are resolved and prepared to
maintain and defend them" This sen.
tence was received with most tremendous
. and prolonged cheering from all parts Of the
house.) Sir Robert merely added, that dis
! cussion upon the subject had bad tenden
cy, and he hoped the matter would now bC
allowed to drop, and he left for the presen
in the hands Of the Government.
; Lord John Russell rose to admi, the jus
tice of a trifiing correction. in matter o
fact which sir Robert had made in tht
course of his speech; and added that he quite
, agreed with sir Robert in the propriety o
abstaining from further discussion of thu
subjectunde reconsideration. eCord JohI
! RusseID had purposeIy forborne to max,
any motion upon the subject, his intention
being merely to direct attention to it; ant
he was perfectly sure that proper ant
honorable course would be pursued in re
gard to it, by her Maesty's advisers. Hi
lordship then sat down amid renewed chez
ring, and the discussion Of the subject wa
not resumed.
| have not pretended to give Won an ac
curate report of these two speeches, bu
merely a synopsis of each, having stric
regard to the purport of the remarks, rath
, er than to the precise language used. !
verbatum report would, OF course, occupy
five times the space | have devoted to this
The thing speaks for itself, and commen
from me is unnecessary. | will only oh
serve that the speeches of this evening
strengthen the conviction, which | hav
long entertained, that the British Govern
ment are as firmly and conscientiously per
, suaded OF the justice of their claims as ar,
our OWN TOVtIHIntHt VI Tie oHLle Ju5blC'
of our countercaim. Both Of this even
: ing's speeches were characterized by tn,
expression of the most friendly feelings TO
wards the United States; and although Mr.
Polk was severely censured, especially b,
lord Russell, not one word of unkndnes
was uttered toward our country or our gov
. ernment. This firm conviction of right oi
either side is perhaps the greatest barrier tt
the progress of negotiation, for each part,
regards every step towards the views Of tn
other as an absolute and meritorious con
cession, which should receive an equivalent
while The recipient Of this imagined icon
cession," esteems it as only fractional gran
of an absolute and extended right
The tendency of this debate has certain
y not been to encourage the hope that tn
adjustment of the question, however sir
cerely desired, is very near at hand. Ir
deed it seems to establish the certainty tha
. the question will never be amicably settle
except by arbitration. | earnestly hop
that expedient will at once be resorted to
> for the alternative of an appeal to arms !
: revoItiup to the spirt of the age, and ad