Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-03-07

the note addressed to him Of, tie Sd inst;
BY the Secretary Of State OF the United
States, in answer to that which the UNDER
signed had the honor to address to him on
the 9th Of last month"; s tsfsf.
The note Of the undersigned proposed
to the government Of the United States,
that the whole. question Of an equitable
partition Of the Oregon territory should be
referrad to.the arbitration Of some friendly
sovereign or state. -. ..s.-as
! In his answer, The Secretary Of State in
formed the undersigned that his PROPOSE
tion could not be accepted That il did
not propose to refer to arbitrationthe ques4
ton of the title to the Oregon territory
claimed by the two powers respectfully
That in proposing TO refer TO friendly
sovereign or state merely the partition or
equitable division of the territory between
the parties, il assumes the act that The III
tie Of Great Britain to portion Of the ter
ritory is valid, and thus takes for granted
The very question in disputc.. That under
this proposition the yeryterfs OF the sub
mission would contain an express ack-
nowledgement Of the right Of Great britain
to portion Of the territory, and would ne
cessarily preclude the United States from
claiming the whole territory beforethc ar
-bitrator; and this, too, the Secretary of
State goes on 10 observe, in the face Of his
note to the undersigned Of 3Oth August, by
which the President had asserted in The
most solemn form the title Of The United
States to the whole territory. F4.tt /,
N It's not the purpose Of the undersigned
IN the present note to renew the discus
sion as to the title of either party, Great
Britain orthe United States. to the whole
or any part Of the Oregon territory. He
must, however, beg leave, with reference
to the observation which he has Just quot
ed, to remind the United States,Secretary
Of State, that if the government of the Uni
ted States have formally Sadvarted claim
to the whole of the Oregon territory. il is
no less certain that Great Britain has, in a
manner equally formal declared that she,
too, has rights in the Oregon territory, in
compatible with The exclusive claim ad-
vanced BY the United States. .9st' -
This declaration, arising from convic-
ton equally sincere, will, the undersigned
is persuaded, be viewed with the same con-
sideration by the government Of the United
States. as they expect that their own dec
laration should receive at, the hands Of the
government of Great Britain.
This promised, the object ofFthe under
signed in addressing to MIR. Buchanan the
present communication is to ascertain from
him whether, surprising the British gov
eminent to entertain no objection to such
a course. il would sHit the views of !ihe
Lnited States government to refer to arbi-
tralion, not, as has already bocnirr Pesed
theqnestion Of an equitable partition the
territory, but the question Of title in either
of the two powers 10 the whole territory
subject Of course TO the condition that i
neither should be found, in the opinion o
the arbitrator, to possess complete title
to the whole territory, there should, Initial
case, be assigned TO each that portion o
territory which would, in the opinion o
the arbitrating power, be called for Ly
just appreciation Of the respective claims 0
each. !. ...,... 80
The undersigned has suggested refer
ence on the above principle to some friend
ly sovereign or state. l si
This the undersigned believes to be III,
course usually followed in such cases; it il
that which has already been restored to b,
thetwo governments, (and more than once.
Butthere may be other forms Of arbitration
perhaps, more agreeable to the government
of the United States.
There might be, for instance, a nike,
commission, with an umpire appointed b,
common consent; or there might be board
composed of the most distinguished civil
ians and iurists Of the time, appointed il
such a manner as Should bring all pendin,
questions TO the decision Of the most en-
liehtened, impartial and independent minds
In the present position of affairs, AM
feeling how. much the interests of boil
countries require an early as well as al
amicable and satisfactory adjustment OF ex
listing difficulties, the undersigned earnest
ly invites the Secretary Of State to tax,
the subject Of this note into consideration
with view 10 such an arrangement on III,
principle Of arbitration as may seem TO III,
government of the United States to be mos
! just, wise, and expedient.
i The undersigned takes advantage of hi
opportunity to renew To the Hon.. Jane
Buchanan the assurance Of hi, high consi
dcration. r. PAKENHAM. 7
To the Hon. JAMES BpcnANAS, &c., Sc
1 IS &s#
| Mr.. Bnchdndm to Mfr. Pakeahan. sl+
| ri DErARTMENT OF STATE, ra.
Washington, 18th Feb, lSi6.
The undersigned, Secretary Of State I
the United States, has The honor 10 nck
nowledge the receipt Of The note Of M,
Pakenbam. her Britannia Majes,y's envo
Extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
dated on the 10Th ultimo, by which Il
again proposes reference Of tie Ofeco
question to arbitration. Under his pres
ent proposition, The powers ofthe arbitra
tor would not, as in his last, be limited i
terms, 10, the division of the territory be
tween, the parties, but would extend 10 III
question of their conflicting titles. Their
is, however, a condition annexed to Iii
offer which exposes it to The game obiec
ton, in point OF fact, if not in form, who
was prominently presented in The answe
Of the undersigned 10 Mr.. Pakcnham's las
proposal. This condition is, s.that II Meth
er party should be found, in the opinion .
the arbitrator, to possess complete It'll
Il - Al 4 !. n Al