Weekly national intelligencer., 1845-11-22
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE OREGON QUESTION.

tons OF the exclusive title of the United States to
that part OF the Northwestern coast of this Cont
nent now jointly occupied under treaty stpulatons,
by the United States and Great Britain, and the
attempt, by an appeal to the Democracy, to make
that question party test, consider the subjoin-
ed temperate and dispassionae view of its merits,
from source purely Democratic, TO be entitled TO
place in our columns, for the use of such of our
readers as prefer Democratic to Whig authority
This exposition is of the consequence as COM
ing from the organ of that party which influenced
and controlled le decisions of the Baltimore Demo-
cratic Convention OF May, 1874.
CHARLESTON 6. CD Mancunr OF ocT. IL.
oREGON--AND OUR "CLEAR AND UNQUES-
TIoNABLE TITLE" THERETO.
The time has clearly arrived when the people of the United
States and especially the South should cherish this
question theme for stump oratory chess-boa
which asprants for Office checkmate each other We
judge from the tone Of " the organ that the Administration
has no longer f il had) hope adjust the dispute
with England bnego,a.ion, and that they will throw into
the next Congress for agitation and action What cansrs
will do unless arrested by the rmness and integrity Of very
few Southern in the Senate, is not doubtful In the
House, any the Administration may recommend, il
it is only strong enough will be carried without difficulty by
the combination Of the Northern and Western men, War
with Great Britain consequently by no means an unlikely
result Indeed from the fh Of March last when Mr. Polk
put forth his deyng assertion that title to Oregon was
clear and unquesonab gave up all hope Of seeing this
question settled by his agency
The absurdy of such declaration SO glang, in the
face Of the diplomatic history Of the question, during which
had twice offered and England had twice refused TO divide
the territory nearly equally the while for twenty
If hnla
with England that convinced there something
besides the territory question that ns,gated the declaa
ton II have been designed either TO condemn the
gotiations already commenced by Mr. TrLgHs Adminsa
ton, render impossible continue il For our title
clear and unquesonable. how could allow to be
questioned by negotiation How could treat with another
nation for that which unquesionaly ousand thus dho
nesy admit in form what deny another that they
have rights that authorize them require and make
concessions If negotiation could be tolerated under such
cumsances be only for the sake of that formal cvty
which prescrbes that challenge mortal combat shah
begin and end with expressions of respect
Great Britain Of necessity construed Mr. PoLKs decla
ration, and all parties Parliament it, felt bound
unite for the honor of their country, and down the
glove of defiance the Executive Of the United States Was
this anticipated, and also its inevitable effect of closing
the door to peaceabe adjustment of the dispute
II is generally said and believed that arbitration has
also been rejected by Government This too is mat
ter of Arbitration implies doubt to the right and
that the claims Of both parties have reasonable grounds.
there is doub-f the British claims have in
themwhch they have if title is " clear and
Questionable then what is there for arbitration Mr.
Polk must then, in consistency, reject all such propositions
What them the plain import of his inaugural declara
ton We can give but answer, without denying him
oil craftsmanship Wan war in policy, if in fact
fhe all who
lss has spite Of his declaration, doubts TO title,
seems follow from the fact that he has submitted nego
tiations concerning for the last six months Believing
do after careful examination Of the subject that neither
the United States Great Britain has any valid title at all
the Oregon territory against each othe respect for the
understanding of Mr. Polk compe to look for the reasons
the which he Is evidently prepared to push the
question: in quite distinct from clear and unques
tionabe right the territory We thought he pretty clearly
indicated these the close Of the last Congress but
forbore to say any thing till threw fuller
light on his policy.
The truth is the Oregon question seized nstru
men OF political power and party ascendency In itself it
has not single element Of danger the peace Of the
try Separated by five hundred miles OF rugged and sten
mountain from the United States, with bu, strip
some sixty miles deep the Pacific coast Of any vaue
only river blocked up by dangerous and shifting shoasou
honor quietly sleeping for twenty years. and thought by
every Administration during that time TO be very safe in
common occupancy Of the disputed territory with antago
who urges peaceful settlement Of the whole matter by
sbaonwhat is there in the Oregon question to endange
the peace of the country But all great questions, under
Government like ours, affect parties, and consequently th'
political position and power of those who head them.
The Democratic party previous the late Presidential cleo
ton consisted Of wingshe Tariff sntTcxas and th,
anti Tariff Texas wings. Van Buren, Benton, and Wngh
were at the head Of the former Calhoun with the South Ice
the latter The Northern sectonwas supposed 10 be
thrown by the defeat Of Mr. VAS BuRES and the Southern
have tiumphed by the nomination Of Mr.. Polk. Thres
things occurred upon the other the close Of tho last
sion which far destroy all conclusions drawn from th
pretty theory The Senators from South Carolina votec
against the bill take possession OF Oregon and defeated il
Mr. CALaouS displaced from the State Department willis
carrying negotiations concerning Oregon and Mr. PoLp
announced in his Inaugural Address that title to the terri
tory clear and unquesonable." The meaning Of Al
this thought plain Mr.. Polk had determined hun
self into the Of the Tariff anti Texas wing Of the party
and look TO the Oregon question the rans
again to power retaining himself II question
inervened, the tariff tho which rule the position
OF men IN the Democratic party On that the West wou,
act with the South did Texas and throw the Var
Buren wing into minority Il absolutely necessary
suppress this question possible and this could only be don
by raising more exciting with powerful foreign
nation.
The Oregon question would break tho union az the Sol
and West, and, uniting the latter with the North overthrow
eesuay the predominance Of the South Should The sou,,
statesmen arrest the tending war; they wou
be denounced cowadly and orous TO their own country