The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-02-13


Butlsh Government las repeatedly decli.
nod
In consideration, too, that under Tic
conventions Of Isl 3 aud 1927, The citizens
und subjects Of tie two Powers held Joint
, occupancy Of The country, | was induced TO
make eno,hor effort 10 settle this long pend.
ing controversy in the spirit Of moderation
which had given birth TO the renewed dis,
cussion. a proposition was accordingly
made, which was rejected by The British
| Pienlpoientiary, who, without submitting
any other proposition, suffered tie nepola.
lion on his part 10 drop, expressing his trust
that the United States would ctiar what be
saw fl 10 call some further proposal roi the
! settlement Of the Oregon queslira more
consistent with faimoso and equity, and
with The reasonable expectations Of The
British Government The proposition thus
offered and rejected rejected the ofar Of
the parallel Of 80 degrees Of north latitude,
which bad heen made by Two preceding
Administrations, but wi,hnu, proposing 10
surrender to Great Britain, us ,hcy had
done, the free navigation Of the Columbia
river. The right OF any foreign Power To
the free navigation of any Of our rivers.
through the heart Of cur country, vas one
which | YEA unwilling 70 concede."
In making this proposal, already twice
, refused Ito President thinke il necessary
to apologize 10 his Democratic supporters.
He pleads, Sith all the humiliation Ct ono
bound by proscfipiiye coapliances, that he
had been obliged 70 proceed on tie basis Of
compromise, and asks The public condo.
nance Tor that, under This bondage, be has
offered what il was known By repeated TIT.
uIs would not be accepted. To laake a
mcnts fer thls self imposed indguily, be
declares thai The day Of compromise is now
over:
Had this been new question, coming
under discussion for the first time, this pro,
position would mol have been made. Tie
extraordinary and wholly inadmissible de.
mands Of the British Government, and The
rejection Of the proposition made in defer.
ence alone to what had been done by my
predecessors, and The implied obligation
y hich their acts seemed TO impose, afford
satisfactory evidence that no compromise
which the United States ought 10 accept
can be effected. With this conviction the
proposition Of compromise which had been
made and rejected waa, by my direction,
subsequently Withdrawn, aud our title 10
the whole Oregon territory asserted, and,
il is believed, maintained BY irTeiIagable
| facts and urgumUnf=' aso-~ 's!a4aed-R nIld
will see in these proceedings spirit Of iib.
eral concession on the part of the Unlied
States and this Government. will be re-
lieyed from all responsibility which may
| follow tie failure to settle the controversy"
GAN attempts at compromise having fail.
ed" Mr.. Polk recommends that notice
should be given TO terminate the joint oc.
cupa,ion Of the country that the laws aad.
institutions Of the Union should be extend.
ed 10 the American settler 10 Oregon; aud
tlhat military posts should be established
fer their protection. All formidable enough,
could we believe ii possible tina; any civil.
- nation would really plunge into so fatal
md s1<dal an error, as TO defend by war
H. ,nara Of occupation, end the still
,no,a ;ao,asn claim 10 which Mr. Polk
III. ~, - IL >scedeu, right Of the
I'D and undecided
Lnon to all the uuseIe -. %, 1,nan,.
Territory ca The North At1d -. q - -.
The declaration IS TOO prematds~
TO be really alarming. Il propose
IhIugs to an immediate issue, y
mediate issue must be one
no; arms. A slower G.
/ been more Insldious aR
2 hul IF
pushing the uHds
pancy TO the uitS
the course of ten
,Ition OF the gal
the original Dec
Oregon, should
would no! long rem
t..I -.r------,- t-~-e
Is not a right, and depeG
arms.
The terms Of the messag
the alternative OF war or coucN
ilatlon. War is too monstrous 10 81
of for momebt, except after ever
at compromise has been exhausted. b
ain snd America must be too sensible OF
their mutual benefits, mutual dependence.
and mutual respect, TO peril the substantial
blessings they now enjoy end are daily nul.
Iipylng in the relations Of peace for the
bloody aud precauous gloriss of war; 1t
is all but impossible that two great add
kindred nations, after healing SO wide q
breach and helping one another 10 so great
common prosperity, should become again
mutual and unnatural destroyers for mere
point of honor, for remote wilderness,
separated from both by Journey of mary
months by stormy seas and almost impas
sable rocks and deserts Unless Mr.. Polk
is merely trifling With words, and secretly
scotfing at the universal sentiments Of hu.
mainly, he is himself incapable OF so great
an outrage and injury on the county Of his
ancestors, on the land of his birth, and The
whole race of man. What means he BY
saying that he has adopted the maxim $40
ask nothing that is not right, and to submit
to nothing that is wrong 7" And his further