Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-12-19
THE ASPECT OF OUR FOREIGN AT.
FAIRS.

FAIRS,
Ii We are TO give credit to some of our ex.
changes, the present aspect of our foreign re.
latlons is any thing but indicative of continued
peace. Our wing contemporaries tell US that
war with England is not only probable, but
almost certain. That the ground which Pres.
ldent Polk originally assumed on the Oregon
question in his inaugural in March last, and
his bold and fearless retention of that ground.
In the Message which he has lust communi-
Gated to Congress, will almost necessarily
precIpItate US into war with the self STYLED
mistress of the seas. We must confess. we
view this matter in a far different light. Du-
ring the campaign of 1871, the Oregon oues-
ton entered largely into the discussions of The
day. Public sentiment had been deeply a.
reused on the subject. 1t had been detained
upon from the stump; it had been written up
on in almost every press. Under these cir
cumstances. when Mr.. Polk addressed the as
semb)ed multitude on the day of his Inaugural
ton, in accordance with time honored USAGE.
he was literally compelled, in giving his views
on the great questions which agitated the pub
lie mind, to speak of Oregon. He did so; and
having examined the question thoroughly, he
gave it as his opinion, that our title to that
vast region lying beyond the Rocky Noun
taIns, was good against the world. In this
broad assertion, as it was called, Mr.. Polk did
nothing more than to assert the truth, as we'll
as to give utterance 10 the sentiments of the
nation Of freemen who form his constituency.
AT this avowal, however. of the President. the
British Ministry took offence, and on their part.
asserted that England title to the same terrific
ny was equally clear and unquestionable. Thus
the matter has stood for months, if we leave
out OF the account the discussions of the press
on both sides Of The Atlantic.
Mr.. Packenham, the British Minister at
Washington, was charged with powers to ne
gotlase on this vexed question, and according
ly, as will be seen from the summary of the
negotiation, which will be found in another
portion of to-day's paper, the question was
discussed during the last summer, between
the British Minister and our Secretary If
State, MIR. Calhoun, and subsequently Mr..
Buchanan. Although still clearly of the opin-
ion that our title to the whole of the TERRITORY
was good, still, in Difference to what had been
already done by the cabinets of Mr.. Munroe.
In 1924, and of Mr.. Adams, in 1896. in offer
ing the 49th degree as a compromise. the
President thought it his duty again to repeat
the same proposition. Thus exhibiting will
lingness to settle the matter in a manner which
the whole civilized world mus, pronounce even
more than fair and equitable towards ENGLAND.
This compromise has been rejected by the
British Minister. MIR. Packenham's pronosi-
ton to run line from the 49th parallel on the
rocky Mountains, till it intersected the north
east branch of the Columbia river. thence
down the centre of that stream to the ocean.
was promptly and peremptorily rejected by
MIR. Polk; and in this rejection we think everv
American cltizenwill cordially concur. This
British proposition would give 10 England
eight degrees and forty minutes On the Pacific,