The New York herald., 1846-04-19

dsinittUe claims OF this country and iCdt are the con-
cessions England is prepared to make. Nothing is
gained by the secrecy Of diplomacy in treating with
tho United States, because public opinion III that
country is the last arbiter ofthe national policy, and
the government has shown itself less disposed to
peace than the more enlightened part OF the com.
munty Whatever be the proposals OF the Ameri-
executive we must trust TO the fairness OF our
own views, to our ability to defend the ground on
which we stand, and TO the magnitude OF the alter
native. But as we observed more than two months
ago. In an article which has been much discussed in
the United States tcs cannot acquiesce IN the sven-
der Of positive long enjoyed benefits and the naui
cation Of the Columbia. the harbor Of Sc Juan de
Fuca aud Hamcouyers Island. are included in those
zoe undoubtedly and rightf,ttty possess.
From the London Times March III
The statement OF the Washington correspon-
dence of the Neo York Herald, that Mr.. Paken-
ham submitted his Atin,atun to the consideration
OF the American government on the evening OF the
18th Of Feb, and that Cabinet meeting was mmedi-
ately held to deliberate upon that defnItive propo
sal, is we have reason TO believe, wholly without
foundation. 1t is equally false that Mr.. Champion
brought out instructions to Mr.. Pakenham to re-
open negotiations BY an Offer Of the 4sh parallel
ton of the Columbia for twenty years" These
statements are, however, made by certain
gans Of public opinion IN the United States with
such an air OF confidence, that we are not
surprised that some Of our contemporaries In this
country should have been imposed upon by them, in
spite OF the manifest absurdity Of the terms suggest
ed. The correspondent OF the Neto York Herald
affects to know what the nature OF the British
Minister'S proposition was, although unwonted scru-
pies deter him from revealing 1t. The fact is that
such proposition could have been made at all, es-
peciay pending the debate on the resolutions which
was then actually going on in the Senate OF the Uni
ted States. The last attempt maze by Mr. Paken-
ham, in pursuance OF the instructions he had received
from home, 10 reopen the negotiation by proposal
OF arbitration, was abruptly frustrated by the prompt
and peremptory rejection OF that expedient In Mr.
Rur me dac ~ he of ahr,o and hv
the immediate publication OF that correspondence.
On the following day but one the debate the
utions for terminating the convention by notice
began in the House of Representatives. A similar
debate soon afterwards commenced In the Senate,
and was not finished when the last advlces lett
Washington. 1t is clear from the position in which
the question stood after the rejection OF the last
overture made by the British Minister, and
also from the positive injunction TO negotiate
which is contained in the second OF the
resolutions under discussion in both Houses
OF Congress, that the American Cabinet should
make the next step towards the adjustment
OF the controversy II, however, Mr.. Polk
and his advisers should give the notice terminating
the existing convention, without accompanying
that act by fresh proposal, calculated to promote
an amicable settlement, we trust that there will be
no hesitation on the part OF the British government
IN replying to that act by precise intimaron OF
what our definite claims to the Oregon territory
really are. 1t would have been premature and ill
timed tor Mr.. Pakenham 10 anticipate the " action
VI OOuSiCcc, NoS uCV Cdu ~ LA OultCu OtdtCS,J
by offering wtipsatwm, or any other proposal,
that particular monlenl. But as soon as the deci-
sion OF Congress, and the course which the Presl-
dent is prepared TO take upon 1t, are officially
known, we have no doubt that Mr.. Pakenham will
be furnished with instructions to enable him TO
meet the emergency with Cancellation and with
moderation, but without the slightest surrender OF
the dignity the interests OF this country AT pre-
sent no such final instructions have been called for
by the state OF the question.
We have read with ct the lanUuaUo of he
WashingtoH Union, the avowed organ OF Mr..
Poke government, upon the receipt OF the pacific
intelligence which had just reached the United
States from England. The construction which that
journal puts upon the pacific tone OF the British
press, and OF some OF the leading men IN Parlia-
ment is, that " England has been made to feel, by
the stand taken by the President on the Oregon
question, and so tar rlumphantly sustained by Con-
gress, that the Americans are in earnest In short.
that our pacific demeanor and temperate language
have been directly caused by the conviction that the
Americans are united and firm in their resolution
to deprive us OF our Just rights In Oregon, and that
Mr.. Polk is now certain to reap the fruits OF his
successful buster, by obtaining an immediate and
settlement Of the question. The Ame-
rican government mputes TO the policy OF the mes
sage and the notice, change In the whole face OF
things. No more threats OF war from England;
after such demonstration " the tone Of England
may well be pacific"
Il is unnecessary to point out to any human being
in this country, capable Of reading these lines the
total delusion, the perverse mlsconstructon and the
Iatal consequences contained in these expressions
Of the Hhshington Union. 1t is In the highest de-
gree dangerous the peace OF the world, that such
statements these should 60 forth with authority
in foreign couatryto convey the supposed feelings
the aSors Of hs he British press and the deca
ions OF British statesmen traduced In this manner,
we could almost regret that we have not employed
rougher language and coarser arguments In the dis
cussion OF this question: a, better adapted 70 lne
Our reluctance to rriate and embtter public feeling
on this question, either at home abroad, s misin-
erpreted into doubt OF our own rights and re-
cogntion Of the superior rights OF the other party
yield we are calm, that il sign that the violent
policy and language Of Mr.. Polk are on the eve OF
signal victory.
Whoever knows any thing Of Englishmen and
England knows how false and mischievous these
views Of our national conduct are. Few instances
nave occurred in the history Of nations of people
more completely and unanimously resolved than we
ire now to maintain the rights we have long pos
sessed and enjoyed; yet England has not shown
he slightest indication OF brutal passion Tor war,
but, on the contrary, an earnest desire to avoid
conhict,in which we have nothing to tear ana every
hing to infiict on our antagonist. This full conn.,
1ence in the justice Of a cause, which claims no
more than halt the object in dispute, ana actually
ess than the territory now our possession-thc
reliance on the couclllatory disposition and In the
firm resolution of the Cablnet-this consciousness
Of possessing the most tremendous naval resources
which ever hurled destruction on an enemy-hsvc
allowed the English people to remain calm,
even TO apparent indifference. But the Ame-
rican Government, which builds its hopes OF
speedy triumph on this foundation, deceives the
people OF the United States. No such indifference.
40 division OF opinion, no hesitation the course
1 NAV be necessary TO pursue, exist at all in Eng
and We are told of the unanlmiiy of the United
States, the .ace OF debates and divlsons, even
hese preliminary resolutions, which indicate an ex;,
RENE diversity Of opinions, and great doubt on all
iands as TO the result. Ia thus country and in the
British Parliament we are confident that the unani-
nifty would be absolute. II is absolute both ways
Nobody is for war if il can be avoided BY an equf
lbe partition OF the territory; nobody will hesitate
o give the war the whole support Of our nanonsi
,ower and our individual might II It be forced upon