Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-10-10
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Mr.. Buchanan 10 Mr.. McLne.

DEPARTMENT STATE,
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, IS45.
SIR Your dispatches No l6 inclusive, have been duly
received.
Since the receipt the ultimo of your No have
held several with Mr. Pakenham His purpose
doubtless ascertain whether the President would not
take back his withdrawal of proposition OF compromise
and suffer stand the basis of further negotiation and
this could not be DONE to obtain IN advance
to the manner in which proposition from the British
Government would be received He did not accomplish either
object In these conversations, gave him distinctly to
deand that the President could not consent to recall what
had been already done, to modify IN degree the
withdrawal of offer. At the same time ct served, IN
question propounded by hun, thai the British
Government should think proper make proposition
the Government the United States the settlement Of
the Oregon question, would be espc fully considered by
the President, without however, feef 4, himself committed
any degree by the offer which bad already made and
rejected and afterwards withdrawn.
Mr. Pakenham urged that he had rejected PROPOSE
on but had merely refused accept it, and endeavored by
argument impress upon my mind the dsncionnot very
obvous-between the refusal accept proposition and It's
rejection To this replied by referring him the subsequent
part of his note, in which he expressed his trust that
would be prepared offer further proposal for the settle
Of the Oregon question consistent with fairness
and equity and with the reasonable expectation OF the British
Government This language, observed, necessarily inn
piled not only emphatic rejection OF oe but con-
demnaton of lis character
In consequence my communications with Mr.. Paken-
ham, the President after holding Cabinet councils the
present state Of the Oregon negotiation has finally determined
proposition and remain for the British Government
decide what other further steps, any, they may think
proper take in the negotiation You will not be surprised
the result, you well that nothing but defer
for the repeated action of his predecessors and for the
principle of compromise which the negotiation had been
commenced, well sincere desire cultivate the most
friendly relations between the countries, could have in
duced him far depart from his weknown opinions
have directed the proposition to be made which has been
jectcd and withdrawn
Mr. Pakenhams note Of the 30h Of July, rejecting
proposition became Immediately after its receipt the subject
of grave deberaion by the President Upon full consde
ration Of the whole question, and after waiting month for
further Developments he arrived the conclusion that
duty which he owed TO the country withdraw the PROPOSE
ton which he had submitted This accordingly done by
my note Mr. Pakenham OF the Both of August last The
President thus took his ground from which he will depart
II the British Government have any proposition to sub
nit il proceed from them voluntarily, and without any
previous invitation part and then such
proposition will be respectfully considered by the Government
Of the United States.
This is the posture in which the negotiation stands
and unless in the time should be changed by
ton the part of the British Government the President in
tends lay the whole subject before Congress for their
sideration. ] am, &c.
JAMES BUCHANAN.