Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-06
rHE PRESIDENTS MEssAGE.

preceding
columns, and in all its wide extent, the Messag,
yesterday transmitted by the President of the Uni
led States to both Houses of Congress.
The lateness of the hour 1.-TWO o'clock) at which
we were able to obtain copy of it, was such al
to preclude any thing like particular review of its
various topics for this days number. We shall
glance only at the most important of them.
The part of the Message which will most imme
diatey attract the attention of every reader because
SO much has been already said about it, is tina
which concerns our Foreign Relations and, o.
these, the readers eye will first be caught by wha
the President says of
THE OREGON QUESTION.
Freely according to the Chief Magistrate the
same right of opinion upon all public questions as
is enjoyed by any other citizen Of the United States
as well as his duty, as President to recommend to
Congress from time to time such measures as he
may deem expedient we have read with respectful
attention his statement Of the progress of the Oregon
negotiation, and its terminahon-for it is ended
and lis recommendations of measures which he
deems properly consequent upon that rupture.
Though not concurring in all the Presidents state
ments or conclusions concerning the merits Of this
question, we concede to this part of his message
frankness and openness, but, best of ALL temper
aace of .language happily contrasting with that
which the Executive press has been in the habit of
using during the last summer and autumn on the
same subject. Having already very freely express
ed our own views of this Boundary question, we
are not disposed here to re-state them. We are
perfectly willing to submit, without comment, to the
judgment Of our readers, the points in which our
views have differed from those taken by the Pre-
sdent; leaving them also to reconcile the fact of
negotiating for boundary line, thus admitting
rights of both Governments in the Northwestern
Territory, with the assertion now made of g our
title to the Dhols of Oregon" Whether it be ow-
ing to our obtuseness of intellect or to whatever
other cause, we not able to reconcile positions
which appear so directly to contradict each other
The recommendations of the President on the
subject and the discussion into which he enters re-
speeding the right and duty of the United States
to legislate for Oregon whilst under Joint occupa-
ton, covers too wide field for US to attempt to
explore it to-day. His recommendations, founded
upon what has been done in that way by the British
Government plausible, at least; and his deter
mination that, when the proper time comes, I" the
national rights in Oregon" cannot be abandoned,
will meet the general concurrence. NE certainly
do not dissent from it. The question meantime is,
however, what are the national rights in Oregon
territory and that question is not to be settled by
the mere assertion by the President himself of our
right to the whole of Oregon" following directly
after proposition to accept boundary line which,
as the President himself intimates, would have
yielded to Great Britain, as her share nearly one
half Of the whole. Nor does the President at all
fortify the ground which he has taken by appealing
to the celebrated annunciation by President MONROE
In one OF his Messages TO Congress, quarter of
century ago, that the American continents were not
thenceforth to be considered subjects for future
colonizofion by any European Power. Concur
ring entirely in the spirit and almost in the letter.
Of all that the Message says of the pretended right
of any one or more European Powers TO interfere
In any arrangements Except far as concerns their
own possessions) under the claim to regulate
"the balance OF power" on this continent, we
must dissent from il altogether when il would re-
assert Mr. MoNRoE's principle, and apply that prin
ciple to the British settlements of long anterior
date on the Northwest Coast of this continent
The President might as well attempt TO apply that
principle to the British provinces of Canada, Nova
Scotia, and New Brunswick He must have
forgotten the discussion which took place lin
which he himself partook) twenty years ago in both
Houses of Congress, in relation 10 the extent as
well as to the obligation of that pledge But, 50 well
do zoe remember what he has forgotten that we are
enabled nstananeousy refer to it TO sustain our
view of the subject In the debate upon the
Panama Mission, early in the year 1926, Mr..
HAYNE, the distinguished Senator from South Ca
rolina, after protesting against compromising the
peace of our country by engaging in consultations
with the South American States spoke as follows !:
Connected with this object is another, bearing
"a close resemblance to it the opposition to colo
nizdtion OF America by any European Power
If, by this, is to be understood that zoe are to
interfere 10 Obstructive settlement offhe territories
IN fmerica owned 5y Russia and England, it
must speedily involve us in an unjust and ma,ae-
cessary acdr."
Mr. Polk himself spoke in the House of Repre-
sentatves, in the debate on this same subject,
OF thls same annuncatlon by President MONROE, as
follows:
Inc President had no power to bind the Nation
such a pledge" even in regard TO the South
american hepublics and now (said he tits said the
national honor is pledged TO act up 10 the declare.
uon Oh mat Message. For himealf D.. Al -, -