The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-12-20
suppose upon the principle laid down in J. Baptist
Rousseau's eplgram -

"un We'll able sur certsna droits de lief
Fnt consuer IN juge de- Garonne;
Leque lui dit /: Porter votre grief
Chez quelque sage ct discrete personne:
Conseillez.vous au Palsis, en- sorbonns.
Puis qnand vos cas- seront bien decides,
Accordez-voGs, 81 votre anaire est bonnie;
81 votre cause est nauyoise, plaidez."
The locoiocos, with Mr. Polk AT their head, feel
that they have pretepce oil right To that undivided
possession OF the Oregon which they clam; and,
therefore, scornlng all arbitration or accord, they
VIII go 10 war tor It The wiser republicans, how
ever, will hardly indulge them, tor they well know,
that II they force war upon US, the British rights
to Oregon viii not be asserted in the desert, where
the United States must establish their claim, but
upon every sea and upon every coast which ship
can approach.
II the republicans commit the folly of attempting
10 seize the disputed territory by force, they cannot
pretend hereafter that they have not been warned OF
the wlckedness and insanity Of the proceeding.
One OF their own citizens, and he, the wlsest and
best man among them, has plainly pointed OUT both
TO them. Mr.. Webster Is indeed the very man de-
scrbed by the poet, as by the mere force OF charac
ter and wisdom composing the popular tempest.
"Ac velut magno in populo, cum sape coorta est
Sediiio savque animis Ignobile vulgus,
Jamque faces eft saxa volant, Juror mnistrat arma
Tum pietate gravem-ac merits 81 forte virum,
Conspexere silent arrectisque auribus astan
lie regit dctis anmos ct pectora mulcet"
IL remains to be seen whether the igno6ite vnigus
OF The United States smore memorable TO character,
sense and eloquence, than Roman rabble TOR
questionless 1t would be difficult to find better
speech ter Its (pacc) purpose, even IN the treasury
OF Roman eoquence, than the speech Of MIR. Web
ster, which will be found in our next page.
There is something seemingly whimsical IN Mr..
Webster's proposition for the adjustment OF the Ore
gon question but we not that 1t Is not
founded in good sense He proposes that both Great
Britain and the United States should withdraw their
claims upon the disputed territory, and guarantee It's
existence an independent State, formed by emf
grants from both countries. The conception is ut
least noble one, and it would probably be less
agreeable in the United States than IN England
The amount OF the American Intelligence limits our
space much that we can barely add thatlarge pur
chases of wheat ana other grain have been made at
New York for the British market, proof of the
groundlessness of Lord John RusselPs fears.
From Paris Letter, Dec. IL
Upon the whole, the Oregon question has not
attracted SO much attention in this country might
have been expected from the vast interest 1t exces
In England and the United States Only some OF
the newspapers have dwelt upon 1t, and evidently
none thoroughly understand the merits of the dis
pute between Great Britain and her ancient colony.
Not one journal has entered into a serious and I'M
partial investigation OF the differing preensons of
both parties, and not one, consequently, venture
to decide which is right and which is wrong. The
republican National, however, gives this morning
long article to prove that right and justice are with
the United States. That such position would be
taken up by the clever republican organ was q
matter OF course for it would not play is game at
all 10 represent monarchy lii the right and re-
public in the wrong. Besides, the great object OF
the National to create war; If possible, at any risk
and at any price But, after all, the opinion OF the
National is not of much Importance; the party II
presents and the circulation il enjoys being inconsld
cradle regards number and character. Still, 1t is
right add that earnestly eXhors the people OF the
United States to remain nrm, assuring them that
it IS "mpossible" tor England TO make war upon
them Tor any provocation whatever. The Steele,
daily opposition newspaper, of large circulation,
edited by deputy, and representing a party any
thing but well disposed towards England, declares
II. Anna
titude difficult 10 be justified :" that having Tor
twentyseven years tolerated common occupation
OF the territory, and negotiated at different tunes
treaties for equal division OF II, they seem to have
implicitly recognised the rights of their rivals. -
The position Of the English" II Is added, :" II
purely defensive, and they cannot retreat from it :
Great Britain would become, tor the entire world
an object OF laughter, II, alter having written IT.
rights in treaties, and declared that che will main
tain those rights by arms, she csdes without fight
Ing, at the first aggression From other articles,
however IN the same journal, II appears that the
Sieclc does not anticipate any hosulltles between
England and the Unlted States. Some friendly
power, 1t thinks, will arbitrate between them
and 1t complains strongly OF M Gulzot, that he
has not already taken the matter IN hand In the
name of France, and insisted upon settling it
The Courier Francois Is OF opinion that the
best way OF settling the matter would be TO declare
the Oregon territory neutral, and 10 leave the nhab
ants thereof In 20 so years, To dispose of them
selves as they may think tit. AS 10 England and the
more right to Oregon than any other country-not
even so much as France, which first discovered It.
Nor does the Courier believe that, come what
may, will there be war. The Commerce laughs al
the swagger OF cousin Jonathan and the stern def
ance OF John Bull as it calls them, but thinks that 1t
Is ''al sound and fury slgnltylng nothing" the two
countries being too closely identified in commercial
and friendly relations to be able TO afford to 60 to
war. IL admits however. that John Bull seems
really angry, and says, that 1t the old gentleman
does fight, he will fight hard IN iact the war, II
War there be, Will be tough one, tor II will be an
"Englls2man against an Englshman and hall: y
The France doesn't like England, and being ultra
monarchlca, doesn't like the noisy republic but
the France does believe that there will be hostl.
ites-the matter will be settled by diplomatic ar
rangement and the dipomatlsts OF England will with
their usual skill, completely outwlt and dupe the I'M
suspectng and innocent Yankees. Poor things The
Constitutional believes that Sir Robert Peel is
anxious 10 resign, in which he will be succeed.
ed by the ultra Torres, who Will immediately plunge
England Into war, partly to avenge the hatred which
the arstocracy feel for the United States, and partly
to keep up the corn laws The Constitutional must
have been asleep when he perpetrated such nonsen-
seal twaddle OF which the least absurdity is an as
founding ignorance OF the state OF political parties
in England. The Constitutional Processes to be-
ieve that the threatened war got up by the Eng
sh government To distract the attention OF the peo-
pie from other matters but 1t admits that the Eng
hsh people deemlng their rights invaded, are any
thing but displeased with it, Neither the Journal
des Debdfs, nor the PrcSse, nor the Epo9ue, the
three principal journals OF this country, have made
any observations on the matter which are worth ci.
Jug; the former has not said single word, confnne
itself to a reproduction OF the American news. To
this summary OF the opinions OF the Partisan press
what may be called the great question OF the day,
may add that the general opinion OF the public APP
pears to be, far individual speak OF II,
that there will be no hostjtles-that, in fact, the
row between John Bull and his cousin Jonathan is
a family quarrel, which will end, as family quarrels
generally do, by kissing and huggng. Almost all
intelligent men, however, are OF opinion that, be the
consequences what they may England will not re-
cede from the position she has taken up. They
think it very probable that President Polk will have
svely Of England in his address to Congress, and
perhaps Congress may second him but they do not
think that either the President Congress will ven
ture TO follow up their words by acts, when they see
that England is not Mexico and not a nation TO be
buied. In Short they say that one country or the
other will recede, but that assuredly IT will not be
England.