New-York daily tribune., 1845-05-08
LET TER OF
HENRY CLAY,
The Oregon Question
ms 2t

There appears TO have been very general but
most uufOunded expectation that the Hiberna
would bring out some farther British demonstrations
On the Oregon Question. There was in truth nothing
more to be said or done on that side until some
farther step is taken this. The history and pre-.
sent state OF the controversy are very simple The
United States and Great Britain are rival claimant
OF (or ln) Oregon They attempted, twenty years
since, 10 settle the matter by negotiation or com.
promise, butunsuccessfully. As the next best Thing
they mutually agreed that either party might occu.
py much OF the territory il pleased, only
taking not TO disturb the other and this al
rangrment was TO stand ten year. al any rate, ami
thereafter until one party had given twelve months
notice 10 the other of its intention to terminate It,.
No such notice has yet been given by either
plrty, though several attempts give it have been
made in Congress, but always voted down. Mean
time, we rapidly occupying and settling all the
more habitable portions Of the territory, while the
British hold upon it is Cor has I'LL very recently
been) gradually relaxing.
But one year ago, the National Convention thai
nominated James X. Polk for President, saw fit to
drag this matter into party politics, by resolving
that the right OF this Country 10 the cote OF Ore
gon THAT is, to $40 i0 North is clear and unques-
uonable." Now this not merely at variance
with fact, as well as grossly out of place, but i;
conveyed papabe reflection the conduct Of
our own Government, which, several years ago.
offered 10 compromise the difference by running
the line straight through on the parallel Of 49o
North from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific.
But the Loco-Foco party promptly took the cue,
began to vocferate in favor of our exclusive right
t1 Oregon, and condemn subServlent 10 Great
Britain all who counseled forbearing and con-
clatory course The Globe was especially ruff
fanly On the subject AT last came Mr. Folks IN
augural, which, regardless of the fact that Oregon
was then the subject OF negotiation betweeen us
and Great Britain, quoted and reatfrmed the Bal
timore assertion that our right TO Oregon Is clear
and unique stionable," though onlttlDg TO say the
.chole" of Oregon Such public declaration be-
ing made by the head of our Government the
British Ministry were compelled 10 notice. The
Opposition leaders questioned them on the subject,
and Sir Robert Peel III the Commons and Lord
Aberdeen in the Upper House declared that, while
they were most anxious TO preserve peace with this
country, they could not consent TO be thrust out OF
Oregon, but would defend their rights in that coun.
try, if driven to defend or surrender them. THIS
was on The 4,h Of April, the day before the Gale
donia sailed. Since then, nothing has been said
by ,hem because there is nothing more 10 say.
The matter is reduced TO these simple elements
Great Britain is ready to compromise, to arbilrate
10 leave things as they are, or 10 fight. We have
our choice of these four alternatives, and until ou
Government makes its selection all farther paavei
is superfuous. Meantime, the wors, portion OF the
Press of each country Is engaged In lntianng pre-
judices and hatreds and increasing the difficulty OF
adjusting the controversy But newspaper decla-
NATION is not National sentiment by considerable.
The Union, the new Executive Organ, is very
decided improvement on the staggering bully II
has suppan,ed. II says:
Ne certainly do understand that the negotiation
about Oregon is end that Administration is
oetermined willing Interrupt IL that there is ITO
prospect amcaoly settling the dispute; that IL mus,
necessarily end IN breaking up 'he peace OF two great eoa'
We yet trust that tho NAV forward in IT,
pescefu aud reasonable decsl and In spite too, Of a"
OF The British Ministers and al
tho eus,erinss Of the London journals
We infer from this that MIR. Polk means, after all.
TO settle the difference am,cably-that IS by COM
promise or arbitration. If he does not mean this
the talk about negotiation is at once empty ano
fraudulent. Negotiation, named in good faith, can
mean nothing else Several years ago each part!
offered 10 abate something OF lis extreme preten-
sions to settle the dispute peaceably. Oar Govern
ment offered TO run the line strash, across the con
,ineat on The parallel OF i9o Norh cedins all ouI
NN.'N''''>"
that Grea, Britain should cede all hers 10 LANDS
soath Of IT. She decliaed this but offered 10 d
vide by The Columbia River, giving us all South
and taking all North of that River We dissenteo
and ,he negotiation failed. Now does not even
man OF sense perceive that any peaceful adjustment
mus, be made rsthin the limits here indicated =
We, certainly, will never give Great Britain more
than she then offered 10 be satisfied with ; nor will
she give US more than we proposed TO be conlen,
with One of the two bases of compromise then
proposed, or something intermediate between them
mus, now be adopted, or nothing will be. Topro
fess willingness % negotiate, an anxiety 10 set,,
the dispute peaceably and yet insist on having ,h'
whole territory at all events. is papable knaverl
and babblins folly. Men who cannot talk mor'
sensiby should save their breath, even although thei
characters are beyond salvation.
The Courier des Etats Uais states that Messrs
Buchanan and Bancroft are jointly preparing al
elaborate defence OF our title 10 Oregon. The!
will doubtless make good one, but whether the!
can add any thing 10 the lacts SO labonousy com
piled by Greenhow is doubtful, and the brillan
rhetoric of The Secretary OF the Navy viii no; g.
far in such matters To arbi.rate or not 10 arbl
trate. comprernise or NO, compromise, is the nat
Ter in hand and the fewer words are thrown ava
pn,;l we decide what TO do, the better. The Sc
c,e,arics should reserve their thunder for The aro
uat;on.
co. The Birney ccnrention yesterday was "a
tner sEnly attended Birney and Avian Siewsr
made speeches; the former in vndicahon OF nm
self; the latter in savage denunca,ion OF Hem!
Clay and the Wing Press The best speech oi
the occasion, hearer informs us, was made by
colored gentleman of Troy.
tS- Hon. THro FRELrscRrxsES. Rev DR., BEn
srAs and other eminent citizens VIII speak a, the Arni
ersary OF the Peace Society evening the Broome
st. Church. a, "A O'clock
IL y- The african Chures lOl Anihony-st. is hold