Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-04-21
THE OREGON QUESTION.

THE OREGON QUESTION.
HOUSE OF LORDS, March IL.
The Earl OF Clarendon rose 10 move for the
production of such OF the correspondence as had
passed between the Secretary for Foreign Analfs
and The British Minister Al Washington, as The
noble Earl should think il moi Inconsistent with his
duty 10 lay upon The table. He had no desire 10
embarrass the Government, or TO interfere in The
pending negotiations, il such existed; but look
ing 10 the magnitude Of the Interests involved in
the question OF peace or war between Great BIZ
tain and the United States, and the influence
which transatlantic intelligence had upon The
commercial and financial affairs OF this country,
he did think their lordships ought moi 10 DE solely
depenGen, upon the American press Tor such IN
formation as had been produced before Congress,
with regard 10 what had passed between the re-
spective Governments on The Oregon question.
lie did not complain, that although Parliamcn,
had been sitting two months the subject had on
y been casually advered 10; on The contrary, he
thought silence was mark OF prudent Judgment,
exhibiting as il did desire, on The one hand Ia
leave The Government uneltcred, and on The
oiher TO obviate any unpleasant feeling which
discussion might possibly originate. This course,
no doubt, was descrvcdly appreciated a, home;
but they ought 10 guard against the possibility
of lis being thought abroad that while England
was determined 10 preserve peace II possible, she
would purchase il by concessions Incompatible
with national honor The fact coull not be dis
guised, that willie The language held by The Co.
veInmentS OF both countries was pacific they
were nsens5y drifting towards war, and, there
fore. he thought the time had arrived when il
was desirable The country should be put in pos
session Of such information on the subject as il
was not inconsistent with The public interest 10
supply.
Without, Tor an Instant impngning The con
duct Of the British Minister al Washington for
suspe nding The negotiations he was satisfied that
the noble Earl, in directing their renewal had
faithfully carried out the wishes OF the people VI
England. The instructions oi the noble Earl 10
reopen them, and declaring The readiness oil The
British Government 10 submit The whole subject
10 arbtrameDt-not merely of any sovereign, but
Of any competent Individual, was proposition
OF which he highly approved because il showed
that England would moi enter into SO unnatural
contest until compelled by The United States SO 10
DO That there was party in the United States
ready and reckless enough 10 engage in war there
was 10 doubt; but 10 say that lhal party expressed
the opinion of The American people, was 10 as
scrl moral mpossibiy he would not inquire
as TO what course The Government InlcEdea 10
pursue in The event Of The Senate cuncur,ing with
10 give The twelve months notice, but he hoped
that such notice, 50 far from being receiTed by
England as a hostile decision, might lead TO a set
lie ment satisfactory and honorable 10 both coun-
tiles.
He was convinced thai an abler negotialor han
Mr.. Pakenham could not be found and that The
Government had acted must Iudciously in every
step i, had taken in The matter for il lad decarel
10 tic world that il would not engage in war until
every means OF keeping peace were exhausted.
|, was morally impossible that two such nations
as England and America shonld embroil Them
selves for a comparatively worthless territory,
and he should conclude By moving Tor the cores
ponience, and BY asking what course the Govern
ment intended 10 pursue in the event Of the Sc
nate concurrng in the twelve months notice.
The Earl OF Aberdeen (Who was al Times al
most inaudible) said: My LORDS, in The very deli
Gale and difficult POSITION in which | am placed,
it might, perhaps, appear natural that should
have viewed with some degree of hesitation the
notice which my noble friend gave yesterday
But. nv lords, however much this might, under
ordinary circumstances, have been The case,
felt certain in the case Of my noble friend that
his sense of public duty, and his intimate know
ledge oil the great interests al stake, would pre-
vent him from adding any thing 10 The difficulties
win which The question is already surrounded;
DISPOSE him 10 make his motion The subject OF
any embarrassment.
Expectation las been fully realized by The
sneech which my noble friend has made. (flear,
bear0 NV lords think that the desire express
sed by my noble friend is quite natural and Iea-
sonab!e | think, when we are receiving, from
lime 10 time. from the United States information
and documents ofthe highest interest and impor-
lance. affecting us in the manner in which these
transactions 90, il is quite natural that your lord
ships and the public should desire 10 receive from
The government Of this country authentic inlor-
nation as 10 those transactions, accompanied by
such other information as il may be safe and pro.
per 10 give. | therefore think ! have no valid
reason ior Directing 10 the production OF those
papers for which my noble friend has moved;
especially as great portion oil Them must be al
ready known TO yonr lordships and The public.
But must reserve 10 myself The discretion OF,
for The present, supprcssing a large portion Of the
cnr.ssrnnJence which has taken place between
her Maiesiy's minister in the United States and
myself The production Of which, al This time,
would be injurious 10 The public interests. (lear)
NV Lords, / will say further, that should not be
disposed voluntarily 10 lay on The table any such
information. In the first place, it is quite unu-
sual, in the midst Of negotiation Of this magni-
tuie, without any special object IN VIEW 10 pro-
duce to Parliament accounts Of the particular po-
si,on we may, for The time being, find ourselves
in. OHeaI0 1t is tine that the government Of
The United States has acted differently, but their
situation is different from ours.
The executive government Of the United States
had TO call on The legislature lutake direct course
on this subject. The President of The United
States proposed TO The American Legislature
certain measure, 10 which he required their as
r. he dr. lat, .t,.
OF furnishing them with the materials on which
10 form an opinion in coming 10 decision on a
question OF snch importance. But that Is not our
case. Her Majesty government have no inten.
lion Of calling on Parliament al this moment for
any opinion, nor do understand that il is The in
lenton ofmy noble friend. or Of any other member
Of Ibis house, 10 call on Parliament al present 10
pronounce an opinion.
These circumstances, therefore, would have
indisposed ME from voluntarily laying on The
table information al this moment Another Tea-
son also would prevent me from voluntarily
coming down with any such information 10 the
house. | must admit that from the aspect OF the
negotiation as reported in The papers which have
been produced in the United States, and which
am in condition 10 produce 10 your lordshps,
an inference might fairly be drawn not favorable
to The result OF the negotiation in which we are
10 augur unfavorably OF The result. Fer this
reason, therefore, should have wished not vo-
UNFAIRLY 10 submit 10 the house insuch stage Of
the Negotiation as that TO which We have now ar
rived, communications which are calculated 10
produce such an opinion. (Hear)
Nevertheless. it IS my decided opinion iha, such
an opinion would be unwarraned. | cannot
bring myself 10 believe, my lords, however the ef-
feet produced by the papers | have referred 10
might be, as l have said cannot, repeat, bring
myself 10 believe that any reasonable doubt 1e-
mains Of our being able TO bring this matter 10 a
satisfactory conclusion. Clear, hear) have
no doubt Of the sincere desire of both Govern
menls 10 arrive at that result; and hope that my
noble friend will not think me guilty of any un-
courteous conduct, if decline TO inform BIN OF
The steps which, in The presentjuncInre Of affairs
her Majesty's Government may think proper 10
take in pursuit OF the negotiation
He may look on it, that, believing as do, thai
war is the greatest calamity that can beiall ma.
ton, and the greatest crime generally that ma.
ton can commit-(hear, hear)-he may rely thai
every effort consistent with the national honor