The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-06
rrom the boston Mornlns rosl

THE OREGON or PARTIEs-DuTY or
| THE ADMINISTRATIONS
! For years the American title to the country Of the
Oregon has been discussed by American journalists,
statesmen, and diplomatisis, and by none, of any
I party, has It been considered either obscure on
doubtful; but by all 1t has been declared clear and
unqnestionable. The sentiment President Polk utter
ed In his inaugural was that Of the whole American
/ people. And this claim, as claim extends not
merely to the 49h degree, but TO latitude $40 40
to the whole of Oregon. We have held that, by
discovery, by occupation, by contiguty, by pur-
chase, Oregon is ours. II was discovered and first
explored by Americans; and TO sustain this, We adj
duce the voyages Of Gray, and the travels OF Lewis
and Clarke IL was first occupied by Americans ;
and to sustain this, point TO the settlement OF
Astoria and the trading posts up the Columbia riv-
err. For the claim from contlguty, we point to ac
knowedged principles OF national law for that Of
purchase, to our treaties with France and Spain
! Our readers may remember, tilat, in common with
our contemporaries, we have presented our title in
detail and also remarked at length upon the British
claim, as set forth by Lord Russell II is not neces-
sary TO repeat this. Such claim has been main
tanned by every administration; and IN no Ameri-
can state paper has it been yielded In the treaty
| for the JOINT occupation of Oregon, II remains un-
impaired; and it is on this ground that the present
administration stands.
| For taking such q stand now, however, the wing
press--and regret 10 see 1t, here and there dem
ocratic paper-accuse the administration of rashness
| being ready 10 plunge the nation into war, unless
the whole Of the territory, up to the $40 40 north
latitude Is yielded by Great Britain. To make such
a war odious in advance, this opposition TO the adj
minstration making 1t out that after all Great
Britain has as good title to Oregon as we have,
and that we, forsooth, have no title at all. Such
keen. scented patriots have come to the conclusion
that, in all their contemplated action, neither Pres
ident Polk nor the democratic party have ofter
motive than to retain themselves in power and to
| this end-as the high proeconisis have it on the
one hand, and the ultra free-traders have il on the
other hand-the administration and its friends deem
it necessary that the tariff question should be smoth
| cred in the blaze of war question.
But, in the first place. the government is evincng
its sincere desire for peace, by continuing to nego-
tate. Every step will he taken, that wise and
patriotic administration ought to take to have this
great question settled amicabIy. Although they
claimed TO $40 40N previous administrations have
offered to settle the boundary, again and again. at
the 49ih degree; but this offer Great Britain has re-
fused. She has insisted upon the Columbia river;
and this is just equivalent 10 claiming the whole of
| Oregon Firmly resisting such claim, the admin
| israon, without doubt for substantial considera-
TONS for the sake of avoiding that last terrible resort
of war, would again settle the question by liberal
and magnanimous concessions. Still, there is linn
it beyond which the country cannot go in dealing
with so grasping and unpflncipled power as the
spoiler of India and the robber of China The peo-
pie may rest assured that the rights and honor of
the nation are safe in the hands of those 10 whom
they have delegated power.
| But while making these offers, the administration
are determined to maintain our rights as owners of
Oregon, to use it and protect it. How stands the
case For years, under the stipulation for Joint
occupancy by Great Britain and this country, Brit
| ish agents have spread over it., and they have car
| red with them British laws. II is they who now
are using this country, and abusing American CHI
zens Is this to be longer permitted. Is Great
Britain who goes strong for this policy, to be al
lowed to continue to enjoy the lions share of this
country Such is not the determination of the
American people. They wish this anomaly to
cease-this joint occupancy to be broken up. They
say there is why this nation should not pro-
tect American citizens, G. Britain protects British
subjects. Hence they desire TO see The hardy pio-
neers, who are subdulns it to the purposes OF evil
cation, shielded in their laborious work by Anieri-
can law. Is there an American that will not pro-
nounce such measure right? Is il a whit more
than bare justicei Would the national govern.
ment do its whole duty not to take this ground! :.
To maintain the title ofths country to Oregon in
violate, to extend over it outlaws to settle the uues-
ton Of boundary amicably if possbe,--ths is the
work for which the people, as we view it, among
other things, elected this administration and
this patriotic duty they will demand at their
hands. And for this they will expect to see
a patriotic Congress Cooperate with the indie
fatigable chief magistrate. The mass of the
| community not rush how settlement Of this
crown the rising fortunes of this individual or re-
trieve the falling fortunes Of that individual Ii is
ptable, 1t is lamenable that any attempt should be
made to connect measure intimately identified
with the glory of the American name with the COM
parativey small moves Of the political chess board.
1t is playing false with it. II is unworthy of an
enlarged, liberal mind. No; the question is not
whether the one wing or the other Of the democratic
party will profit by it, whether the democracy as
whole will gain by il; but it is whether the Amer.
can eagle shall spread over this rich country his
proud pnions, it from the bood-suckine eeches
of kings, lords and aristocrats, and make it the
splendid abode OF free and happy population, re-
jocing in American principles, and institutions and
recoections, and ever ready to defend those sacred
rights won at Yorktown and established at New
Orleans. II is whether the old Saxon stock ex-
panding its energies for the first time on American
soil, shall go on in triumph to be great nation.
stretching from the Atlantic TO the Pacific and send.
ing FORTH in its wonderful achievements of art, and
commerce, and freedom, perpetual anthem in
praise OF the developing powers of republicanism,
| and at the same time uterng its awful speech of
reform to the hoary and legitimate oppressors Of
the Old World. Here is view approaching, at
least the length and breadth Of the subject. How
infnsmal, placed along side of ii, appear
| the petty moves OF partisans. Away with them
The people of this country, scorning the application
of the European doctrines of balance of power for
America have decided, with a unanimity unparal-
leed, that such shall be the destiny of Oregon; and
it is President Folks envable lot TO carry TO sue
cesstul issue such a determination lie, those who
are disposed, out OF narrow jealousies, or out of
spirit Of faciious opposition, throw obstacles in
his path, look to IT, or the power of which he is but
the instrument will turn upon them with whitening
Indignation.
| That the opposition to President Pc k should take
the narrow view they do, and defend the Rritiah
side of this question, as they do perhaps IL rational
They took the same narrow view Of the acquisition
/ of Louisiana. The federaliss could see nothing
LATTER in the democratic party, or in Jefferson, in
making this purchase, than patry struggle TO keen
political power. They took the side Of the same
power in the questions terminating in the last war
| Then, If they are to be credited, Great Britain had
the argument on the expatriation question--on the
right-oi-search question. They have taken side
with Mexico on the Texas question; and We for
sooth are nation of robbers, for carrying on an
nexaon to its conclusion. And now they are sup
plying the enemies of republicanism with language
of denuncistion because as they falsely assert he