The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-27
THE UNION
FOREIGN.
THE MESSAGE IN FRANCE.

Some Of is bunders both Of fact and opinion, are
adierous snough bat il is in the main quite as Just
and respectful a. could have been reasonably OK
pected in the irritation naturally produced by tho
Presidents manly rcbuke of the sinister practices Of
aIIy The said p. aefiess all in vain A TAI
syrand said, they we're "wone than a erime--they
we're a biundsr."
From the London Times. December 90.
rAE FRENCH PRESS UPON THE PRESIDENTS MES
SAGE. y
The message Of the President Of the United
States respecting the Oregon question:" observes
the Journal des Djbais; - .. -.....s ..l
"ls not Of a tenor to Indicate that Mr. Polk is an
mated by spirit of eoneiliation. He dwells much
upon ms moderation, but he shows Il little, and
| his tone is such, that should similar tone be as
sumed by the British government the affair must
inevitably terminates In war. Negotiations re-
spectmg the Oregon territory have been pending
since the year 1878. Both powers wish to possess
the river Columbia, the only important stream in
the vest Of the New World. In the conferences
which were held in 1918, 1924, and 1926, II was
sgreed that the navigation should be free for both
countries, but the United States wished to possess
10th banks from the 49th degree Of latitude TO the
OCEAN. England offered the left bank, preserving
he other for herself both countries having the free
right Of traffic with the Indians. Such Is the con-
yention which at present exists, and which Mr..
| Polk wishes to put end to. The President, in
stead Of exerting himself 10 bring the debate TO
pacific termination, appears to have done all in hs
power TO render Il impossible During the negotia-
ions Of 1874, England gave up to the United States
part Of the right bank Of the river, and one or
more ports in the archipelago. Thus England
synced every desire to arrange the affair amcably,
| by offering more than in the former negotia-
IONS. Mr.. Polk, ON the contrary offered less,
i
| the English navigating the Columbia; com
psnsation, he consented to give them one more
ports in the islands Of Quadra and Vancouver
"A compensation of little value. He, moreover,
declared that when he consented TO leave any por-
uon whatsoever of the Oregon territory TO Great
Britain, he did IL, not as acknowledgment that
she had any right to 1t, but simply from desire TO
preserve peace and out Of respect for those of his
predecessors who had negotiated upon the basis Of
partition with England. England having refused
listen to the offer made by MIR. Polk land which
he pleased TO consider most gracious one) the
President withdrew it, and then main tanned that the
whole OF the Oregon territory was the lawful prop
ety Of the Union. Notwithstanding the tone Of the
Presidents message, it does not follow that a war
must necessarily ensue. How often in Europe have
dtaerent powers been near hosttiesi The
chamber OF representatives may vote certain Often
sive measures for England; is even to be expect
ID thai such will be the case the President is do
ing oil in hss pawer toJcxcite j; to do So but il in 10
be hoped that the pacific interests with find refuge
in the Senate. The President breathes war, and
his message in that respect is novelty, sfter
hose Of General Jackson. Mr.. Polk evidently be-
longs to a new schools and the American democrn-
cy, since the taking possession of Texas, abandons
ltself TO ambition which may prove fatal il.
His message is without precedent not merely as re-
CARDS the manner in which the Oregon question is
treated but on account of the general tone which
characterizes IT, Up to the present time, at least
q.
airy in the messages to speak in deferentia tone
TO the European powers. The Presidents were men
who had seen Europe, and who duly appreciated
the power Of the great states of the old continent
In those solemn documents, concocted principally
for the multitude, they showed themselves proud Of
che republican institutions, they made pompous
parade Of the prosperity SIMS egaie hc fnvorte term
Of the country,) but they carefully avoided any
thing which might be regarded at the other side of
the Atlantic as vain and ridiculous bravadoes. They
exhorled the nation conformanly to the last proca-
nation OF Washington, TO confinc itself domestic
Affairs and not TO aim at other copquests than those
which she accomplished honorably as well as
probably, over the wild and uncuvated lands
at It's disposal Mr.. Polk, very different from
his llustrous prede reduces himself to the
level Of the rough cultivators Of the valley Of the
ohIe In whose opinion Europe is collection of
degraded beings, grooming under the weight Of mo-
nachca government, and which it would be no diff
cult matter for The forces of the Union overcome
u Is impossible 10 explain the imprudent language
contained in the Presidents message in any other
manner. But England is not the only power to
which the arrogant message applies. France is like
wise roughly handled with respect to the Texas
affair. France is reproached with wishing TO have
Texas made an independent stnte instead Of going
to swell the American federation and the incorpora-
ton Of Texas is represented as a victory over the
European monarchies. The message reminds
France that she was ally formerly Of the United
Mate. al. - L.
Unlon-that of the freedom Of the seas France is,
IN truth, an advocate for maritime liberty; but this
liberty was not in question in the affair Of Texas
France has been useful and powerful ally Of the
United STATES. She has ever appauded the increase
Of the prosperity and power of America; but that is
no reason that she should applaud the United States
when they gave themselves up TO the spirit Of con-
quest, when, by procedure ever to be condemned,
they took from Mexico one Of its finest provinces
Inappropriate II 10 their use, and for the ex-
press purpose Of re-esablishng what the .Merieans
had so nobty aboiishedpa: the infamous siarefrade
France although not republican, is not the less de.
Ssed 10 the cause Of liberty She loves justice and
could not see America openly violate the rights Of
men without feeling painfully hurt. .qpropos 70 that
SUBJECT Mr.. Polk expresses himself in terms Of the
most deesable hypocrisy, for, in reading that docu
inent any person ignorant Of the real facts Of the
case would imagine that IL was the United States,
and not Mexico which had right to complain.
gotiaed with the the view 10 put period TO those
eneroachments which nothing could justify"
The Presse states that
The message Of the President Of the United
states is more difuse than any previous document
OF the same nature. Il is with difficulty contained
10 nine columns Of small text. The Oregon ques-
uon beng the most important matter alluded to IN
me, mat document merits attention before all others.
Upon that question the language Of the President is
gear and determined, and boldly maintains the pre-
tnsons already manifested last year as the total
" Of the territory. Alter having, at considerable
epg'h, explained that the different proposals made
~ his predecessors 10 Great Britain had been re-
Fe'ed by that rover, ME- Polk declares that, ac-
'ordlhg to his Judgment, the Britslsgovernment
could not legiims,ely prove any right any por-
uoh Of the contested territory according to the rec
ogh'sed principles Of all nations. There were three
proposals made by the predecessors Of Mr. Polk to
we British cabinet II was offered to arrange the
question in litigation by surenderng to Great Brit.
sn ,he portion situated beyond the 18th degrre II
worth lattude and on two different occasions il was
proposed to declare the navigation OF the river Co
euoa Tree. Mr.. Polk considers that those conces.
gons were excessive, and he congratuates himself
thoar n