The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-07
THE QUESTION OF NOTICE.

fu and steadfasl conviction Of the soundness of ia
title to the whole territory Of Oregon, UP to "a deg
40 min. north, repeated, in spirit Of compromise
and concession, and ia Difference TO ts own pacific
policy upon the subject in times past, an offer to
divide thai territory with the government Of GreaI
Britain, along the parallel Of the 49th deg. of north
latitude. This offer the British Plenipotsntiary, on
the 29th Of the same month without reference TO his
government, but doubtless in obedience to its in.
structions, summarly and sternly rejected "as
totally inconsistent with fairness and equity" and
wholly inadequate to the 'reasonable expectations
Of England. On the 30th Of August following, the
American government, having nothing further
to propose, formally Withdrew its rejected offer oil
compromise, and placed again upon record, once
for ALL complete aud whOIiy irresistible dsmOnsira'
lion Of the radity Of its lille 10 the WhOs territory in
dispute.
In this state Of the facts, the President Of the
United States, at the opening of the present ses.
sion Of Congress, expressing his conviction "thai
no compromise which the United States ought to
accept can be effected" has submitted the whole
matter-not to the Senate, the treaty-msking power
but, on the contrary to Congress, the supreme
legislature Of the land, and invoked its atten-
ton to the 'duty of considering what measures
il may be proper to adopt for the security
and protection" Of our citizens in Oregon, and
for the "maintenance Of our just title to that
territory" In making this his solemn appeal to
Congress for aid in the protection of our American
soil against foreign and adversary occupation, and
Of our American citizens against foreign authority
the President has at the same time performed his
constitutional duty of recommending for adoption
such measures he deems expedient to that end
and among these, he recommends that provision be
made by law" for giving to the British government
tho years notice required by the spulatons of the
convention Of 1927, to terminate the existing joint
occupancy of the Oregon territory. The appropri-
ate committee of the House of Representatives, to
whom this recommendation was referred has re-
ported resolution in conformity with it; and thus
the great preliminary question Of our Legislative
ton on the subject-the solemn first step Of our
national policy in the matter-has been brought
fully and regularly, and with all due deberation,
before the legislative wisdom and patriotism Of the
land.
On this great question so arising, our own convc-
tions both to the duty and the true policy Of the
country, are clear and strong. We shall proceed to
set them forth from day to day, with the reasons
on which they stand, as briefly as may be, but with
all possible distinctness. We shall endeavor to
speak throughout our di cussion with all modera-
ton, md with just respect for the opinions and the
arguments of those who may differ from US. And
upon this subject, we prepared cheerfuly to adj
nit that there may be the most honest difference of
opinion; and there should be, consequently, the
most tolerant and liberal feeling towards brethren
who differ from each other.
And on this point, be i, observed, the question Of
this notice to Great Britain as it now arises on the
state of facts have promised, presents itself
ns,o question. The present posture of our developed IL
tie 1t has just been brought ofthe archives
ofdiplomacy, with the strong endorsement of the goy
eminent upon all its muniments, into the broad light
of universal popular belief The whole American
nation has just taken home its mind and heart the
undoubting conviction that, by every principle of
international law and justice, have clear title
to the soil of Oregon. From the pressure of this
new fact, there is no escaping For good or for
evil, for veal or wo, this American nation has
TO knoc, and fully realize that ii has becn by long
procession of events, constituted the rghtfu and
actual owner Of that great region which the most
powerful nation Of the earth now assumes joint
right to occupy, and enjoy, and govern. The eye
of all Christendom, in view of these facts, watches
the great republic to if it have now in the cri
sis, the power and the will to hold for itself the soil
to which il has this title. II is question which
must, in the judgment of all the nations, test, to
some extent, our national honor and character. We
cannot put away from thia gravest responsibility
II is too late.
The posture of our nrrestsin Oregon, is as ae,r as
this new aspect or our title. Our citizens have now
gone and going, forth in masses possess them
selves of their broad patrmony there. Before Con-
gress rises ten thousand American citizens, tling
the soil Of that territory, will stretch out their
to us for the protection which il their manifest
right. To leave them unprotected there, and at the
mercy Of the foreign intruder, il to proclaim our
selves Indifferent before the world to the very first
cardinal, primal duty which every government even
the ceblest owes to all its sons From the burning
shame of such derelicton we cannot readily es-
cape. The convention Of joint occupancy--or rather
OF ColnIHOH COniUeTClhl sttleHleHt VI oTeROn-Wbs
adjournment Of the question Of our national duty
nothing more than an adjournment; an adjourn
ment natural enough and expedient enough in 1918,
before our whole title had accrued, and before our
citizens had passed. the Rocky mountains in any
considerable force--an adjournment Of more ques-
tionable expedency in 1927, when the true aspects
Of the question, and true interest in it, were be-
ginning slowly to unfold themselves. But now,
events involved in our title, in institutions, in the
nature of our people, and in the fixed and seepess
policy Of England, have brought us to point where
our duty can scarcely be postponed without some
reflection on our national honor. The day for ac-
ton has come. No man can deny it. Something
we must do--peacefuly--pe by every high
and most sacred obligation that can sway the con-
sciences Of men--but (as we said in the month Of