The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-22


ring the last quarter of ceniu, ynamely to divide
the territory by the 10th parallel of north latitude;
and that they still adhere TO making the Columbia
the boundary, each nation being free OF It's waters
IL Is our curse to have monopoly OF some KIND or
other always to fight for or defend-some vested
Interest" about which the people IN the aggregate
know and care AS much COW does for astrono-
my, The nation, if noses had been counted, would
have accepted this offer by AN overwhelming MAJOR
ty; but then the interests of the people and the IN
teress of powerful incorporated company diverge,
and the government, like harsh stepmolher, pets
the favorite, and plumbers the family.
IL is painful to speak Of warlike preparations ~
the same breath that we refer In misunderstanding
with friendly country, as il savors somewhat OF
the Miesan mode of settling controversy with up
lifted shillaleh. But the fuss aud pother-the activ-
iy and incessant energy which prevail IN the Eng
lsh dock yards-the surveying of the coast and the
steam navy,--all indicates 'bleck cloud" some
where it may be in the west or in the SOUTH but
the "powers that be" seem to be firmly impressed
with belief that events are transparent enough to
make this activity and outlay necessary. Cap'
tain Austin visited Liverpool last week, by orders
OF the admiralty to guage the capacity OF the hrst-
class steamers as regards the carrying OF heavy met
al. The British and North American, the West In
dian, and other vessels have undergone similar in
spections.
| PARIS Dec Upon the whole, the Oregon
question has not attracted much attention In this
country might have been expected from the vast
interest it excitcs in England and the United States
| Only some of the newspapers have dwelt upon il,
and evidently none thoroughly understand the mer-
its of the dispute between Great Britain and her an
! cient colony. Not one journal has entered into a
serious and impartial investigation Of the differing
pretensions of both parties and not one, consequent
y, can 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 with the United States. That such a
position would be taken up by the clever republican
organ was matter of course for would not play Its
game at all to represent monarchy in the right and
republic in the wrong Besides, the great object OF the
"Na,iona" is to create war; if possible, at any risk
and at any price But, after ALL the opinion of the Ma
onal is not of much mportance-the party it repre-
sents and the circuationt enjoys being
as regards number and character STILL il is right TO
add that earnestly exhorts the people Of the United
States to remain firm, assuring them that II is Sim
| possible" for England to make war upon them for
| any provocation whatever. The Steele, daily op-
position newspaper of large circulation, edited by n
deputy, and representing party anything but well
| disposed towards England declares that the Amer.
cans have taken up can aggressive attitude difficult
to be Justhedj that, shaving for twenty seven years
tolerated a common occupation Of the territory, and
negotiated at different times treaties for an equal d-
vision of it, they seem to have implicitly recognised
the rights of their rivalsn "The position of the
English" it added, 'isp purely defensive, and they
cannot retreat from it. Great Britain wou Id become
for the entire world an object of laughter, if, after
having written its rights in treaties, and declared
that she will maintain those rights by arms she
cedes, without fighting at the first aggression"
From other articles, however, in the same journal,
1t appears that the Steele does not anticipate any
hostilties between England and the United States.
Some friendly power, it thinks, will arbtrae be-
tween them; and it complains strongly of M. Guzot,
that he has 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 to leave the inhabitants
thereof in 70 or so years. to dispose of themselves
| as they may think fit As to England and the
United States the Courier believes they have no
more right TO Oregon than any other country--not
even much as France, which first discovered it.
Nor does the Courier believe that, come what may
will there be war. The Commerce laughs at the
| swagger of cousin Jonathan and the stern defiance
of John Bull, as it calls them, but thinks that it is
call sound and fury, signifying nothing" the two
countries being too closely identified in CONNER
cal and friendly relations to be able to afford to
go to war. 1t admits, however, that John Bull
tleman does fight he will fight hard in fact, the
war, if war there be, will be tough one, for it
will be an "EnglishmayS against an Englshman
and half" The "Frd,csh does not like England
and being ura-monarchial, does not like the noisy
republic; but the France does not believe there will
be hostities--ihe matter will be settled by dipo-
matte arrangement, and the dplomasts of Enel land
will, with their usual skill, completely outwit and
dupe the unsuspectng and innocent Yankees. Poor
things The Constitutional believes that Sir Robert
Peel is anxious to resign, in which case he will he
succeeded by the ultraories, who will Immediately
plunge England into war, partly to avenge the ha-
tired which the aristocracy feel for the United States
and partly TO keep up the corn-laws The Constiu.
tionnel must have been asleep when he perpetrated
such nonsensical twaddle, Of which the least absur-
dlty IS an astounding ignorance OF the state Of pot-
cal parties in England The Constitutional profes-
ses to believe that the threatened war is got up by
the English government distract the attention Of the
people from other matters; but it admits that the En-
glish people, decming their rights invaded are any
, thing but dspleased with it. Neither the Jour
nal des Dsbats, the Presse, the Epogue, the
three principal journals of this country, have made
any observations on the matter which worth CT
ting; the former, indeed, has not said single word
combining itself to IA reproduction Of the American
news. TO this summary of the opinions of the Pa
risian press on what may be called the great ques
ton of the day, may add that the general opinion
of the public appears to be, as far an individual
can speak Of it, that there will be no hostilities-
that, in fact the between John Bull and his cou
sin Jonathan is family quarrel, which will end as
family quarrels generally do, by kissing and hug
ging. Almost all intelligent men, however, are o
!, opinion that, be the consequences what they may
England will not recede from the position she ha.
taken up They think it very probable that Presi
speak Extensively Of England in his address to Con
gress, and perhaps Congress may second him; Blu
they do not think that either the President or Con
gress will venture to follow up their words by acts
when they see that England is not Mexico, and no
q nation TO be buled. In short, they say that on,
country the other will recedc, but that assuredly
+ it will not be England. Co'resp. Europ. Times.
From Paris Journal des Debats, Dec. l.
1 "The difference of opinion between the two gov
ycrnmcns," says that leading ministerial print, il
/, very great. ltwould merely have been cause o
GOODNESS between the cabinets if the dispute had re-
manned enveloped in diplomatic secresy; but offcia
: declarations have been made, which give the ques
ton the most disastrous character from clashine
Of secondary interest," it has become question of
: point of honor. President Polk, doubtless, in vir
tue of pledges given at the time Of his election in
serted in his Inauguration message--he most solemn
] document that emanate from him--a passage
: which nothing had rendered necessary, and which
declared the extreme opinion of the western States
2 The English cabinet moved at this unexpected
incident in the negotiation. Sir Robert Peel ant
c Lord Aberdeen replied, in full Parliament in terms
cita hos y,,aHa nf, in