The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-20
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im eDr oy President Polk 10 settle The Oregon CUES
non oy The 49h parallel Of latitude 10 lhs Pacif
ocean, and us rejection by M. Pakeahan.
from the facts heretofore presented, our readers
VIII perceive that the administration of Mr. Poll
found the Oregon negotiation in a state of almos
hopeless embarrassment and difficulty. Firmly con
WINGED, as the President has proved himself to hay,
ever BEEN Of the title OF the United States 10 III.
whole territory he found that title embarrassed by
The repeated acts and admissions Of his predeces
sors. Nay more; upon the face Of the last protocol
between MIR. Calhoun and MIR. Pakenham, Ian ac
o. diplomacy Of the most deliberate and solemn
sharae'erO II was apparent that, without any OBJ
Jecuon by Mr.. Calhoun, Mr. Pakenham had taken
the ground that the American claim TO territory
north OF ago was not entitled to be so much az dis
eussed, and had assumed that parallel to be merely
the basis OF negotiation on the part Of the United
States, as the Columbia river the basis on the
side Of Great Britain. Ia other words, he had
assumed the position, that the country in dis
pute was bounded by the Columbia river on the
one side, and the 18th parallel of latitude on the
other both parties claiming the whole Of the
intermediate territory. In the correctness of this
assumption, Mr. Calhoun had tacty acquiesced,
by signing the protocol without dissent
Such being the state Of the case, al Mr.. Polk
found It, what was then TO be donei To have con-
tnaed the negotiation under this arrogant preten-
sion OF the British government recorded in the pro-
toco, was impossible. Had Mr.. Pakenham per
sisted Ia his refusal to enter into the discussion Of
our title 70 the territory north Of 49o the President
must at once have terminated the negotiation. But
The British minister did not insist upon the advan-
tase lie had obtained, Accordingly we And, from
the first protocol between himself and Mr.. Buchan-
an, Of the 10th July, Is45, that he had entirely
abandoned his position, and that the American title
60 the territory north Of 49o was fully discussed by
both parties, In fact, the negotiation was com
menced anew, precisely though the last protocol
Between Mr. Calhoun and Mr.. Pakenham had new
FF a narf kaas a.
rs whole subsequent course, Of the pretension of
Great Britain 10 make the line Of the Columbia her
basis Of negotiation. This purpose, uhiek she had
kept steadily In rit, and had obstinGey pursued for
more Than quarter Of century, she then abandoned,
and abandon,d forrrer.
The negotiation being resumed under these favor
able auspices, Mr.. Buchanan, on the l6lh July,
ls45, presented to Mr.. Pakenham statement, dated
on the 18th, containing an elaborate argument in
support Of the American title TO the whole Of Ore
gon, and especially to that portion Of it north of the
49th parallel OF latitude We copy the conclusion
OF this statement follows;
'Such being the opinion Of the President in re-
gard to the title OF the United Ststes he would not
have consented to yield any portion Of the Oregon
territory he'd he not found himself embarrassed If
not committed, by the acts OF his predecessors
They had Unrorty proceeded upon the principle
ofoo nprnmlse IA all their negotiations. Indeed, the
first question presented to him after entering upon
the duties OF his office, was whether he should
abruptly terminate the negotiation which had been
com neuce'l and conducted between Mr.. Calhoun
and MIR. Pakenham on the principle avowed in the
hrst protocol, not Of contendng for the whole ter
rtory IN dispute but Of lreaing Of the respective
claims OF the parties, with the view TO establish
a permanent boundary between the two countries
westward Of the Rocky mountains, to the Pacific
ocean
''in view Of these facts, the President has deter
mined to pursue the present negotiation to It's con-
ciuslon, upon the principle of compromise in which
u commenced, and To make one more effort TO ad-
just this long-pending controversy. In this deter
mnation he trusts that the British government will
recognise his sincere and anxious desire TO cultivate
the friendly relations between the two coun.
tries, and tn manifest the world that he is actual
ed by spirit Of moderation. He has, therefore,
instructed the undersigned again to propose to the
government of Great Britain that the Oregon terri
tory shall be divided between the two countries by
the forty -ninth parallel Of north latitude from the
Rocky mountains to the Pacific ocean; offering at
the same time to make free to Great Britain any
port or ports Vancouver's island, south of this
parallel, which the British government may desire.
He trusts that Great Britain may receive this pro.
position in the friendly spirit by which il was die
taed, end that il may prove the stable foundation of
lasting peace and hurmony between the Two coun-
tries. The line pror osed will carry the princI-
pie OF continuity equally for both parties by extend
ing the limits both Of ancient Louisiana and Cana
da to the Pacific along the parallel of latitude
which divides them east OF the Rocky mountains;
and it will secure to each sufficient number Of com
modious harbors on the northwest coast of Ameri-
ca"
This offer by the President to settle the Oregon
question on the parallel of 49 degrees to The Pacific
without, however, surrendering to Great Britain the
navigation of the Columbia, has been the subject Of
much criticism, and strong condemnation in high
ly respectable portion Of the Union. The reasons
on which the offer was made, and which fully
justify il, we shall lranscribe from Mr.. Blu
chanan's letter to Mr.. McLane, Of the 18th July
1S45:
"The President, at very early period of his adj
mnistration, was called upon TO decide whether he
would break off or continue this negotiation
Placed in such responsible position, he first in
quired whether the national honor required that he
should abruptly terminate it by demanding the
whole territory in dispute War before dishonor,
rs a maxim deeply engraven upon the hearts of the
American people; and this maxim ever shall resu-
late his conduct towards foreign nations. But il
was impossible for him to conceive that there could
be dshonor in pursuing the course which had been
adopted by Mr.. Monroe, his patriot revolutionary
predecessor, more than quarter Of century ago
and had been either expressly sanctioned or acau-
esced In by all succeeding administrations.
"fiis next inquiry was, would compromise Of
the claims of the parties, by adopting the parallel of
AZ degrees, materially injure the interests Of the
United Satesi The entrance of the straits of Fuca
Admiralty inlet and Puget's sound with their fine
this parallel. We know but little of the country
north of it, but, from all the information we
have obtained, it is, with the exception of few
spots, wholly unfit for agriculture and incapable Of
sustaining any considerable population. Its chief,
indeed almost its only value, consists in the furs
which may yet be collected upon it; and even in
this particular il is not Of much importance.
Arbitration being out of the question, the alter
natives which remained were either to compromise
the claims of the parties upon terms similar to those
which had often been proposed by the government
OF the United States, and rejected by that Of Great
Britain, or to demand the exclusive sovereignty
the whole territory in dispute, and thus to render
war almost inevitable. In the present enlightened
and Christian age, war ought to be the very last
alternative Of nations and should never be resored
to unless for cause which renders it impcratvely
necessary. To rush into hostilities, if this can be
honorably avoided, would subject the United States
to the condemnation Of all Christendom. The
President doubts whether the judgment Of the civil
lied world would be in our favor in war waged for
a comparatively worthless territory north of 49 de-
k,Io