Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-12-18
wILIA-l1 ARE


sions to which they have come, as to the proba-
biity Of war with Great Britain On the Ore
gon question, from tho statements and language
Of the Presidents Message. The opinion which
we have already expressed we still think cor
rect one, so far at least as the position assumed
by Mr.. Polk is concerned. wv neither he will be
sustained in it by his friends in Congress, how
ever, is another question. lie says il his Mes
sage that but for the former course of cur Govern
ment he would not have offered the compromise
which he did; although that compromise was
less favorable to Great Britain than those which
had been previously refused by her; and that
now no has withdrawn that proposition and as
serted our claim TO the whole of the Oregon ter
ritory-thus virtually putting an end to the nego-
tiation. Farther, he expresses the conviction
that "No COMPROMISE WHICH THE UNITED STATES
OUGHT TO ACCEPT CAN BE EFFECTED" And
again, he says "ALL ATTEMPTS AT COMPROMISE
SHAVING FAILED, i. becomes The duly Of Congress 10
''eonsider 'chat measures ii may be proper to adopt
1or the security and protection ofour citizens nov
"inhatiting, or ,cho may hereafter inhabh Oregon,
sand for the maintenance Of our just title to that
"feriiory." This is certainly plain and intelIi-
gible language, and unless we are prepared to
believe that Great Britain will tamely surrender
the question, war, to Our mind, seems TO be in
evtable. The only thing that strikes as hav-
ing any mystery about it, indeed, is that Mr..
Polk, after having taken the responsibility OF
precpitating relations with Great Britain into
SO perilous condition, should have failed TO re-
commend to Congress the adoption of adequate
measures for the defence Of the counry.-And il
is this omission, We apprehend, which has en-
couraged many 10 think the President anticipates
no danger himself of rupture; or that he sees
way OF escaping from it. Some too, have even
ven,ured to conjecture what that way may be
namely. to send special Minis r to reopen the
! negotiation at London! This, however, is altoge
Their inconsistent with the language of the Mes
sage; and, moreover, it is positively denied by
the Union, the accredited organ of the Executive
| Since the above was written we have rot an.
other clue TO the composure manifested by the
President, Notwithstanding the belligerent atti-
tude assumed in his Message. The correspon
dence between the Negoiiators of the United
States and Great Britain has been published, and
it gives different account of the actual position
OF the controversy. 1t seems that in withdraw.
ing the proposition for compromise, instead Of
abruptly breaking off the negotiation as we were
led to suppose by the Message, MIR. BUCHANAN
concludes his letter with the expression of the
Presidents hope that this controversy ''may YET
''be finally adjusted in such manner as not to
| "disturb the peace or interrupt the harmony SO
"haPpiiy subssting between the two nalions.''
Moreover, the Union says in publishing this cor.
| respondence, "Since this last despatch the whole
Oregon question seems to have been suspended,''
&c. "There is at present pause in the negoti
alton" So then we are TO conclude that the
President does not consider Negotiation at an
end, and that he has only been staggering a
little with the usual indiscretion in which such
things are done,) in his Message!