Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-05-01

maue peremptory claim to the tch0ie territory, |
and in an unusual and an unwarrantable manner |
called upon the American people TO establish |
their claim, by occupying it with their families.
After this eventit was impossible that the Bril- |
tish Government should fail TO ask Il speedy So |
letion OF the whole question; Impossible that !
this unsettled state Of things should be allowed
to continue. The carrying out of Mr. Folks |
suggestions must produce hostile collision be.
tween English and Americans in the territory it. |
sell; and the consequences of such collision |
needed no prophetic comment.
lie was not prepared to say how much the |
English Government should concede for the sake
OF peace. lie was not prepared TO say that they |
ought to yield anything. He was here inter
rup,ed by vehement cheering.) He thinks no
proposal more favorable than the one made by |
Mr.. Canning can possibly be made. Some per- |
sons think 1t does not much matter which way |
question is decided, affecting only certain ex. |
tent Of barren territory-but it does matter.-lt |
was not to be thought Of that territory to which
England conscientously asserted claim, should |
be yielded TO what he must term mere Lh,sfer-
ing assertion of right-(Loud cheers)--not to be
permitted that the tone and character of English
diplomacy should be lowered by unworthy con-
cessions.
lie repeated that he should have abstained
from alluson to this question had il been allowed
to remain one Of diplomacy; but after the remov-
al OF 1t from that sphere in the manner described
he e't 1t to be his duty TO bring it under consde-
matter, as an unofficial person, what ministers
could not, unless they departed from The course
prescribed by custom and courtesy, while the
subject was still under negotiation. lie could
Slate exactly what the rights of England are, and
upon what those rights are based. But havinu
done so, he should leave matters in the hands OF
Her Majesty's advisers, with the most entire con-
! hdence that they would protect fully the honor
and interests of the country.
Lord j. Russell sat down amid much cheering
from, oil 1. 2
rose to reply.
Sir Robert had experienced neither surprise nor
regret at the speech of the noble lord lie con-
CURED in the noble lords views and statements.
HIS lordship had justly defined the limits of in
Producing matters of negotiation into popular
assembly. While negotiations were pending, it
was certainly duty TO abstain from such course
Popular feeling was SO easily excited, and the
matter OF negotiation so easily pre-udped, that i'm
all such cases the negotators should be allowed
10 discharge their duties without interference ~
The position of the noble lord was widely differ
ent from his own. AS an unofficial person, lord
John Russell was not responsible for the conse-
4uences OF his speech, but Ministers of the Crown
must be guarded in their speeches on smch a sub
Ject. He agreed with his lordshp as to the viz |
tua! removal Of this subject, bv Mr.. President
FOLK, from the sphere Of negotiation, and its re-
terence to other authorities He could not dis !
cuss the merits Of the question. but he could
state the condition of the negotiations.
Dir Robert accordingly gave summary of the
past negotiations In reference to the Oregon, and
expressed the hope that they might be BROUGHT In !
speedy and amicabe termination. He referred
10 Mr.. Iyler's message Of Dec. 3, 1914, in which |
similar hope was expressed, and to his refusal, /
on the 10Th of Feb. in the present year, to Law
the correspondence on the subject before Con-
gress' lest 1t should interfere with pending nego-
iatIons-in which considerable progress'' had
been already made All this was in the most
friendly tone and spirit. Sir Robert gladly re.
coSnzed this friendly spirit, but could not admit
the TACT OF 'progress." He was sorry to say,
very little progress had been made. He then
proceeded TO contrast Mr.. Tyler's tone, with that
adopted, only fortnight aiterward, by his sue
cessof;-sInce which he had received no com
nuncation from Mr.. Packenham. Probably the
negotiations previously in progress, were contin-
ueu win the new administration. He expected
aai'y 10 receive Information on that point, and
ala not despair of favorable issue; but in case
OF contrary result, he would not object 10 Law
The whole correspondence before the House. He
musl express his surprise that the President
should have referred as he did to this matter; he
regretted the tone of that reference, and especial-
~ deprecated the further reference TO other con.
tingences. lie must say, most temporarily, but
most decidedly, in Mr.. Folks own language that
the British nation have ''cear and ndisputable
right to the territory which they claim; and
farther ne added-"1 sincerely trust, trust and
"desIre, that the question may be amcably ar.
"ranged,-but, having exhausted that attemDt.
"ialIng to bring the negotiation TO a favorable
conclusion, if, after such failure, our rights are
invaded, we are resolved and prepared 10 main
tain and defend them" Crhis sentence was
received with most tremendous and prolonged
cheering from all parts Of the housc) Sir Ro-
bert merely added, that discussion upon the sub
Ject MAD bad tendency, and he hoped the matter
would now be allowed TO drop. and be left for
The present in tie hands of the Government
Lord John Russell rose 10 admit the Justice of
uinIhg correction, In a matter of fact, which
OH honert had made in the course of his speech
ana added That he quite agreed with Sir Robert
IN The propriety of abstainipg from further dis
cusSlon OF The subject under consideration. He
(hord j. h.) had purposely forborne 10 make any
Iho'ion upon the subject, his intention being
merely TO direct attention 10 it; and he was per-
iecly sure that proper and honorable course
would De pursued IN regard TO it, by Her Males
iy advisers. His lordship then sat down amid
renewed cheering, and The discussion of the sub
Ject was not resumed.
have not pretended to give you an accurate
report OF these two speeches, but merely a sy-
hopsis OF each, having strict regard 10 the pur-
port oil The remarks, rather than TO the precise
language used. A verbatim report would, of
course, occupy five times the space have devoted
10 this
Inc thing speaks for itself, and comment from
me Is unnecessary. ] will only observe that the
speeches. oil this evening strengthen the convic-
Hon' which have long entertained, that the Br-
tlsh Government are firmly and conscientious
~ persuaded OF the justice of their claim as are
our own government OF the entire justice of our
counter claim. Both Of This evenings speeches
wero characterized by the expression Of the most
friendly feelings towards the United States; and
aithough Mr.. Polk was severely censured, espe-
ciaiIy by IoTd john, not one word of unkindness |
was utteIeo toward our country govern