Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-02-14
rHE LAST OFFICIAL PAPERS.

"A more careful perusal OF the Diplomatic Cor
respondence communicated by the President of the
Unitsd States on Saturday last to the House OF
Representatives, from the face Of which we drew
inf5rences unfavorable TO early pacific adjust
ment Of the Oregon controversy, has satisfied us
that the body Of it fully sussins those differences.
We speak Of the papers as they present themselves
70 the eye and to the sense, with no allowance Tor
any thing that may have been withheld from Con-
Qress or which may be matter Of mental reserva-
ton on the part Of the Administration. We know
of n0pllng that has bssp suppressed or withheld by
the Executive ;and we are bound to take these pa
pers rs presenting entire and unrescrved discio-
sure Of the actual state Of the diplomatic intercourse
between this Government and that Of Great Britain
DESTROYS of avoiding the reproach Of being alarni-
ists, we pass by the Letter Of our Minister to Great
Britain, giving account Of the result Of the IN
curry which he was directed to PROFOUND to the
British government very maize one, by the
way, appears to us, for him to have been instruct
ed TO make--with the remark that its contents are
such as to excite very uneasy sensations IN the
mind of every one who believes in The possibility
Of awar between the two countries, and reflects
fOf Iu6ilcul uYOi
Of this country for such . contingency. SKI. !.
What is Of more immediate interest to our read
3ers than vague appfehensions on This subjectis to
extract from these documents such information as
they afford of the purpose Of Great Britain in re-
gard to the Oregon question. With this view, let
us coliae those passages in the Letters Of the Bril-
fish Envoy which bear upon this point.
In the note of Mr.. PAkBNHAM Of the 9th De-
cember, he says !" IN attelsiUe confederation Of
the present state Of affairs ,eiih reference 20 the
Oregon question, has induced his Government to
instruct him dgaa TO represent in pressing terms
TO the Government of the United States the ezpe-
dieacu Of referring the whole question" &c.
After stating the difficulties in the way Of negota-
ton, he adds that the importance Of an early set
dement, seems % become at each moment more ur-
GENT He urges arbitration as the step g best
calculated To- allay the sfsrreseenee If popula,
feeling which. might Otherwise greatly epbarass
the efForts Of bed aGovcrnmsnts to prssespe a
friendly understanding betsceen The tuo coa,a.
siriss - and Gas proof or the confidence Of the
i British Governments IN The justice Of their o,cn
elaisss" and " n the readiness ofthe British Go
'yernment TO i,,cnr. The risk Of a great sacrifice
for the preservafion Of peace and Of then
friendly relations with the United States
This proposition he declares to be /" made in q
Esprit Of moderation and .fairnesssof which the
world ,cM judge and expresses the confident
hone of his Government /" that the Government OF
the United States ciH NOT reject a proposal made
with sucha friendly intention, and for purpose so
hoiy," concluding by declaring their conviction that
it is perfectly compatible with the strictest honor
and Just interests of both parties, and by dePre-
ciating the value Of the subject Of controversy 10
either party compared with the Importance of pre-
serving state Of peace and good will between two
such nations"
What is the import Of such language as this, used
not by a weak and timid, but by proud and pow
erful nation! What but that she is thus preparing
in advance, her justification before the tribunal
of the civilized world for resortng to that final arbi
traIneut which the United States forces upon her
by rejecting all her offers of Cancellation!
Let us see how proposition, SO conformabe in
every respect to the most approved nsages OF ma
TONS and stated in terms ounexceptonabie, as thai
of arbitration is answered by the Secretary OF State
In mis- note of the Sd January Mr.. BUCHANAN
saws aThe British Government do not propose
TO refer to arbitration the question of title to the
Oregon territory" but merely the partition OF
Equitable division of that territory between the
parties" and that this assumes the fact that the
title Of Great Britain TO portion of the territory
is valid, and thus takes for granted the very ques
lion in dispuse," &c. - The very terms Of the
submission The adds would contain an express
acknowledgment Of the right of Great Britain TO
portion Of the territory, and would necessarily
preclude the United States from claiming the whole
This too in the face Of the note of the undersign
ed Of the aoth August last" asserting the title O
the United States TO the whole territory, &c.
This note is answered by the British Minister or
the 9Th January, by simply stating that il has beer
transmitted to the British Government But, on the
10th January, the British Plenipotentiary, express
inc an anxious desire to contribute by every
means in his power to a satisfactory conclusion o.
the question:" mobiles his proposal of reference
10 meet Mr.. BucHANANs objection, placing it in the
form Of an inquiry, " Whether, supposing the Br
tish Government TO entertain no objection to such
"a course, il would suit the views of the United
ses Government to refer TO arbitration, not as has
been already proposed, the question Of an equitable
partition Of the territory but the question OF hHt
in either of the f,0o Powers TO the ,ohoic terri
forv, subject, Of course, to the condition that i