The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-10

anticipated the result Of AIS propositions TO arbtrate
Il before they were presented. ..tg r-B. b..
J. Ii appears that 10 your interview with the Earl
i Aberdeen, ON the 18th ultimo bis lQrdship com
planned OF the terms and manner in which had de
= ciDed 20 accept Mr.. Pakenhams first proposition d
, arbitrator and "apprehended that, from the natur,
OF the answer and the character OF the debate
in the House of Represenl aves il would be Difficult
10 prevent the conclusion that the President had do
D termned 10 discourage any new proposition on tn,
basis of compromise, and 10 concede nothing Of the
( extreme demand.n ..r1 III .'g.f.... '-.....
The view OF this subject presented by you to his
lordship Is the correct one. My answer was not in
tended either 10 encourage to discourage a re-
! newal Of sbe negotiation. The President has at all
times been prepared to receive and TO treat with the
utmost respect any proposalfo compromise which
might emanate from the British government. Whilst
he has not deemed Il proper TO invite such propo-
sal he has ever manifested an anxious desire TO pre-
serve unieable relations with Great Britain 10 ac-
complish tins purpose he would sacrifice every
sderaton except the national rights and the nation
al honor Lord Aberdeen has drawn an inference
rom my language of which il is not, In by opinion,
fairly susceptible. OF this he will be fully sensible
upon perusing the concluding paragraph Of my an
swer 10 the second proposal of Mr.. Pakenham for
arbitrstioa Ia Is there declared that "the President
cordially concurs with the government OF Great
Britain ~ desiring that the present controversy ay
be amicaby adjusted. OF this he has given the
A strongest proof before the whole world. He be-
lleyes that as there two nations on the earth
more closely bound together by the ties OF commerce
80 there none who ought to be more able or vii.
ling TO do each other justice, without the nterposi-
ton Of any arbitrator" 90 81
This omission relates exclusively to portion Of
previous despatch Of Mr.. McLane relative to con-
yersation between him and Lord Aberdeen on the
subject OF the warlike preparations by Great Brit
ain. Mr.. McLane, in subsequent despatch, states
i that the Secretary Of State had misunderstood his
der this alleged mistake, is not communicated, in
! justice both TO Lord Aberdeen and Mr.. McL,ane.
i You strongly express the opinion, notwithstand-
ing the existing difficulties, "that Il would be ip
my lyourl power, without any improper COM
mtment Of the President, to lead to a renewal
i Of the negotiation by this the BRITISH govern
ment, and 10 the submission, unless another mode
would be desirable, through its minister at
u Washington, of proposition adopting that direct
ed by the President on the the 18th July last, with
some notifications not inconsistent, according to
the sense lyou entertain of It, with our national
honor. OF this (youl should feel quite certain, If
(youl could officially know that the proposition
would probably be acceptable at Washington" ..
The concluding paragraph of my despatch to
you Of the 18th ultimo, mo. p, which you will
have received shortly after making this suggestion
is perhaps sufficient to indicate the course which the
President would pursue, in such offer should
be made through the British minister at Washing
ton.s H .... .... r. . .. -...
The President since the date Of his message, has
seen no cause to change his opinion either in re-
gard TO our title to Oregon, or to the manner in
which II ought TO be asserted But the federal con-
stitution hos made the Senate to certain extent,
coordinate branch Of the treaty-making power.
Without their advice and CONSENT no treaty can be
concluded. This power could not be intrusted to
wiser better hands. Besides in their legislative
character they constitute portion of the war-ma-
king, as in their executive capacity they compose
part of the treaty-making power. They the
representatives Of the sovereign States of this Union
and are regarded the best index Of the opinion Of
their constituents rejection Of the British ulIi-
nation might probably lead to war; and as branch
OF the legislative power, it would be incumbent
upon them TO authorize the necessary preparations
to render this successful. Under these con-
sderations, the President, IN Difference to the Sen
ate and to the true theory Of the constitutional
sponsblities of the different branches of the GOV
ernment, will forego his opinions, far
to submit TO that body any proposition which may
be made by the British government, not in his
Judgment wholly inconsistent with the rights and
honor Of the country. Nor is the fact 10 be dis
guised, that from the speeches and proceedings in
the Senate, 1t is probable that proposition TO adjust
the Oregon question the parallel Of 49 degrees
would receive their favorable consideration.
| But 1t is necessary to be more explicit. In your
despatch you have presented three propositions,
either Of which you believe the British government
would be willing to make for the adjustment of the
controversy; and you express "a strong conviction
that the mode first indicated is entirely practicable
The first would offer adjustment Of the question
on the basis of the Presidents proposition of the
18th July last; "but concedng to the Hudsons Bay
Company continuance of the privileges of joint oc-
cupatlon, including the navigation of the Columbia,
for period of seven or ten years longer" The
proposition made by the President, to which you
refer, was, "that the Oregon Territory shall be div
ded between the two countries by the 49h parallel of
north latitude from the Rocky mountains to the Pa
clhc ocean; offering ct the same time to make free to
Great Britain any port or ports on Vancouvers
island, south of this parallel, which the British gov
eminent may DESIRE" ".~. ~
The President would feel no hesitation in present.
ing to the Senate, for their previous "advice and
CONSENT" this proposition, modified according to
. your suggestion. w. % Of =. ..Ht-. g., ,.0,l
Ii is necessary, however, that there should be a
clear understanding Of what is meant by ga con-
tlnuanee OF the privileges of joint occupation y
If this be understood as securing to the Hpdson's
Bay Company, during that limited period, no more
than the privilege Of enjoying all their existing
establishments, together with that of hunting, fish
ing and trading with the Indians and using the har
hors and rivers south of the parallel of 40 degrees
r this would not prevent the President from submit.
= ting such proposition to the Senate. OF course
. similar privileges would be extended to american
! citizens north of 40 degrees, if there be any such
c north of that parallel, which is doubtful. But nc
II concession could be made to this company which
1, would, in the meantime, deprive the United States
over the whole country south of 40 degrees, and te
n make grants Of land south of this parallel. The
President cannot, however, anticipate any possbl,
change of circumstances which would induce him Il
c submit such proposition, il it should contain
surrender to Great Britain of the perpetual right t.
,- navigate the Columbia. A grant of the free navga
ton of the St Lawrence to the United States woslt
# be no equivalent for such concession. Indeed
this has become comparatively vaueless, in conse
quence ofthe construction Of the railroads and canal
l. leading to the harbors of New York and Boston
which have rendered these the great channels of i'm
r port and export for the region within the Unite,
e States watered by the st. Lawrence and its tribua
!, ries. .'..f 100 a..E .|.. ..... r.. ...r...
a The President is DESTROYS so to adjust the Ore
n gon question not to leave open any source from
t, which might proceed difficulties and new
re dangers, again to threaten the peace Of the tw,
countries. Ii the free navigation Of the columbia
" were granted to Great Britain, this would becom
N perpetual cause Of strife and collision between tn
'. citizens and subjects Of the two countries I
a. would be almost impossible, by any vigilanc
I,.hic he