American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-01-19
American 21tpublito
ANp
BALTIM0RE CLIPPER.
MONUay MORNING, Jas. 10 'S46,

Ous TtrLr. Most Of tho speakers in Con-
gress on the Oregon question, assume that our
title to the whole of that territory to 81 40, Is
iniigpulable. THIS vas the ground taken by |
the President in his inaugural address; and
yat, although it was assumed boldly, and with
annarent consciousness of right, he subse-
1len.ly offered to relinq rish to Eogand a
large portion of this indlsPutable claim and
- ALLEVIATE from US forever at least one half of
thu whole territory. In fact the whole course
Of car government i'll relation to our right to
Oregon, has exhibited inconsistency and want
Of confidence in the justice Of our caim--tor,
whilst urging our title TO the whole, we have
Invariably offered to compromise with England
by yielding all north of latitude 40. 1t is
natural that, in q controversy of this character
with a foreign power, American statesmen
should endeavor t. procure the most advah-
tageous terms for their country; and hence it is
not surprising that they should have alleged the
right Of the United States to the whole territory
in dispute, whilst they meant to be content with
the one-haf In this they were initiated by
the British Government, by whom our offer OF
compromise was rejected, in the hope that the
exclusive navigation of tho Columbia could
be secured to that country. In fact the nav
galioa of this river appears to be the chief OBJ
5taGs TO an adjustment of the difficulty be-
tween the two nations; and we are satisfied
that, if the British Government were to make
the offer tomorrow, to accept the proposition
heretofore offered by President Polk, there
would be no difficulty in closing the contro.
versy, notwithstanding our apparent determine
zion to have ''the whole of Oregon or none
Whatever may have been the justice Of oui
original claim to the whole of the territory, il
has certainly been weakened by our own pro-
seedlings; for our government has always eX.
nibited difhdence Oh the subject of our title, by
Offering to compromise for one-haIf Of what
ton of title was debateabe but it is now urged
chat discussion shall cease, and that we shall
give the decision in our own favor-and some
Of our statesmen (er men occupying the sta
feet to believe that Great Britain will submis-
sively acquiesce in that decision. We enter
tain very different opinion; and, that the two
countries may have another opportunity to
settle the dispute amicably, we are in favor of
the renewal of negotiations. Offers which
have been heretofore declined, may be nov ac-
copied and the horrors of war be thus avcrted;
and these offers can be renewed without incur
mig national dshonor. We should prefer this
course to following in the track of those men,
bers of Congress who Use ''brave wotds,' and
threaten to perform deeds of arms which will
astonish and c0nlound mankind. The bragg
graf is generally possessed of an empty head
and a faint heart--making up for deficiency of
SENSE and courage in clustering and threats.
II IS not small matter to pit two such nations
IS the United States and Great Britain against
each other in a contest Of arms; and our word
FOR it. that, should war occur, those who are
Dew the most forward to ''cry havoc,' will
be among the most backward in encountering
she perils of the contest, and the first to re-
ioice at the rolurn of peace. We have seen
many such patriots in our time-mon who
could b.avely pledge "thor lies, their fortunes,
and their sacred honor" to stand by their coun-
try, but who skulkcd when danger came and
never drow u trigger to redeem their solemn
pledge, --