American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper., 1846-07-20

potentates The shrewdness Of the merchant
and the liberality of the man have placed him,
pecunarily and socially, in his present dignifed
position. No man deserves the honor better
none will wear it with more real dignity and
less ostentation.
PEEL's sPEECH-THE OREGON QUESTION
THE PROPOSAL OF MEDIATION.
The speech of Sir Robert Peel on retiring
from Office is published at length in the papers.
Upon the Irish question, the retiring Premier
insists upon perfect equality Of rights for the
Irish, and he intimates, that permanent peace
and prosperity cannot be expected, so long as
the least rregularty exists in the spirit and the
government of the two countries The con-
cusion in which reference is made to the set
tlement of the Oregon question, will be read
with so much interest, that we do not grudge
the room it occupies.
Sir, if any thing could have induced me to
regret decision on the part Of the House pre-
maturity terminating the existence of the Gov
erment, it would have been the wish that we
should have survived the day when intelligence
might be received from the United States cloud
cheers) as to the result OF, perhaps, our last at
tempt to adjust those differences between this
country and the United States, which, unless
speedily terminated, might have involved US in
war. The house will probably recollcct, that,
after we had offered arbitration, and that offer
had been rejected, the President Of the United
States sent message to the House Of Congress
in that country, which led to discussions with re-
gard to the termination ofthat convention which
provided for temporary adjustment Of our. DIFF
terences-at least for temporary avoidance of
nd anuhla the tuyp pfria ioipIl,,
To occupy the territory of the Oregon. Sir, the
two Houses ofthe American Congress, although
advising the President of the United States to
signify to this country, as he was empowered to
do, the termination Of the existing convention,
by giving years notice, added to that advice,
which might, perhaps have been considered of
an unsatisfactory or hostile character, the deca-
ration that they advised the notice for the ter
minaton ofthe convention TO be given, in order
that it might facilitate an amicable ad dustment
of the dispute. We thought the addition of
these words by those high authorities, the ex-
preston of hope that the termination of the
! convention might the more strongly impress
upon the two countries the necessity of ami
cable adlustment-we thought those expressions
removed any barrier to a renewal by either
county of the attempt to settle this dispute.
We did not hesitate, therefore, within DAYS
after the receipt of that intelligence, Of wish
expressed by the House of Congress that efforts
might be made for the peaceful termination of
these disputes, although the offer Of arbitration
had been rejected,-we did not hesitate to do
that which, III the present state of the dispute,
it became essential to do,--not to propose re-
newed and heightened negotiations, but to spe-
city frankly ard at once, what were the terms
on which we could consent to partition of the
country of the Oregon. Sir, the President of
the United States, must say, whatever might
have been the expressions heretofore used by
him, and however strongly he might have been
personally committed to the adoption Of diff
ferent course, wisely and patIotieally determi-
ned to refer our proposals to the Senate, e,-that
authority Of the United States whose consent
is requisite for the termination Of any negota-
tion of this kind and the Senate again acting
in the same spirit, has, have the heartfelt salts
faction to state at once advised the adoption of
! the terms we offered them.-Loud chcers-Sir,
perhaps, from the Importance of the subject,
and considering this is the last day ] shall have
to address the House as a Minister of the
Crown, may be allowed to state what are the
terms of the proposals we made to the United
States Oh the Oregon question. In order TO
prevent the necessity for renewed diplomatic
negotiations, we sent convention, which we
trusted the United States would accept. The
first article of that convention was to this ei-
feet, that
"From the point On the 4Oth parallel of
north latitude, where the boundary laid down
in existing treaties and conventions between
!. Great Britain and the United States termi-
mates, the line Of boundary between the terrific
} ries her Britannia Majesty and those oftho
United States shall he continued westward
along the said 49th parallel of north latitude to
the middle ofthe channel which separates the
, continent from Vancouver'S Island, and thence
southerly through the middle of the said chan
, mel which separates the continent from Vancou-
, ver's Island, and thence southerly through the
middle of the said channel, and Of Fuca's
Straits, to the Pacific Ocean; provided, howev-
J er, that the navigation of the said channel and
straits south of the 49th parallel of north lati-
tude remain free and open to both parties"
|. Those who remember the local conformation
Of that country will understand that we propos-
ed the continuation of the 49th parallel of lati-
tude till it strikes the Straits of Fuca; that it
should not be continued across Vancouver's
} Isand-thus deprvng us of any part Of Van
couvers lsland-but leaving US in possession of
the whole of Vancouver's Island Sir, the Sc
cond article of the convention we sent for the
acceptance of the United States, was to this
f effect--that
"FIom the point at which the 49th parallel
Of north latitude shall be found to ntersect the
f great northern branch of the Columbia river,
!, the navigation of the said branch shall be free
!. and open to the Hudson's Bay Company, and
to all British subjects trading with the same, to
: the point where the said branch meets the main
} stream of the Columbia, and thence down the
! said main stream to the ocean, with free access
into and through the said river or rivers, it be-
ing understood that all the usual portages along
the line thus described shall in like manner be
free and OPEN In navigating the said river or
rivers, British subjects, with their goods and
nrOdnce. shall be ireatad tho 1nntinn as