The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-01-26
From the London Times, Jan. 81

FROM the London Times Jan.
We think it must be tolerably clear to the generality
right The American republic cannot claim the Oregon
ter cannot be determined at all on grounds Of abstract
right In this respect the United States nearly in
Spain proud and unlimited claim to the whole
northwest coast Of America In the belief assumed
belief Of just title to thi: vast empire, she seized
the ships the cargoes and the Of British Sailors
and destroyed the huts and factories of British settlers
The Spanish minister Florida Blanca supported the vo
pretensons urged by the former in favor of his country
to district extending far the 62d parallel Of north
that these gigantic pretensons rested on vague express
sion in the eighth article of the Treaty Of Utrecht that
no insignia Of Spanish sovereignty had been exclusive
y display cd, NO Spanish settlements exclusively found
eS that coast That there had been Spanish settlers
was true Spanish vessels had been in the habit
had in that and the preceding century been secured
BY Spanish bucaniers But it was afterwards implied
words Of the spanish court that its rights to that coast
andl>ose ports were still not quite certain" What
theh!0d England propose under the counsels Of Mr.
ton of Count Florida Blanca The one proposed and
the other accepted, conditions which every man who
approved then by the friends Of peace and equity
conditions Of Joint occupancy extending over the
claimed by Spain. England did not take advan,
spain and the inability Of the court Of Versailles
pactall circumstances highly favorable to aggres-
sive policy and bold minister No she acauiesced in
he
BILE capuation And this precedent Of policy at once
humane, spirited and just, Is the which ought to be
low, on this new crisis Tho joint occupation Of the
Oregon by British and American settlers longer
sred On what principles ought that partition to be
made Evidently on those of equal benefit and advan
tsge In our view Of the question, the Americans,
having no exclusive right of sovereignty cannot treat
our felowsuhjects tenants at.will, drive
them to Of the Oregon they choose at
fobesance They have both an equal right to the dis.
puted terrtory-a right arising from occupation nearly
Identical ~ time and similar in purpose And great.
other this award must be made not recognition Of
right but Of those considerations which the proximity,
duce az necessary elements in the adjustment of the dis
pute-consderatons which, in all such important mat
law or the minutin Of title.
But the award of territorial district may be modified
by these must be taken that such
on and that though the British settlers may lose in
the superficial measurement Of their yet that they
shall not lose any of those collateral advantages which
are absolutely indispensable for the prosecution Of their
tradesuch as the great water privilege Of the Cclum
be- made - 20 can
and at the same time to give to the counter claimants not
only all that they may demand the right Of their pos
session, but all to which their numbers and proximity
sntte them An equal line Of partition would be a
continuation from the Rocky Mountains not of that line
commencement
OF the boundary but Of line one degree TO the south Of
It, drawn TO the souhern Cape the outlet Of Juan de
Fucas Straits This would nearly as il is possible,
be the divisional line Of the disputed district and would
give US greater extent Of coast land to the north than
to claim But the 49h parallel of north latitude
having already been fixed BY the Convention Of Lon
don the commencement Of the boundary, such divi
sion Of out of the question We only notice II
to show that our starting point is not Of perfect
vention has ratified certain principle of concession We
have not claimed all that the circumstances of the
and the ambiguity of right would have justified in
claiming And, knowing this, feel that bound
by duty to countrymsn resident those dis
trcs TO protest against any wanton careless compro
misc Of their interests. We are not solicituous
therefore i'll not claim for them, for ourselves that
capacou5 district between the south bank of the
Columbia and the Rocky Mountains. We concsde this
we concede il because prefer settlement to a liti
cation, compromise to contest peace to war. We
Soncede naked right for the retention of undenabe
.OS ou nossS 10 ne
'reyy purpose Of boh honor and ners wouid be anssred
the British Minister whom dsrSpss the duty s
States were 10 rsnep, on his part the offer made 10 Eng
and by Mr. Gaiiafin in fac Presidency and Under the d.
ecfon 81 Mr. ddams That proposal to take the 49h
essysins Great Britain iand the harbor
So juan de Fuca, and the tree CATION ef the Columbia
This would be concession as far superficial area OF
ground IL concerned II would leave the United States
masters Of the greater part of Oregon But would
the principal advantage OF the country, tho free
navigation Of the Columbia, to the Of the Hud
ION Bay Company, as well harborage anchorage and
settlements for English vessels trading with China and
possessions in Australia and New Zealand II would
,oncede all that most successful could acquires
Iov ereign but barren domnion but II would secure all
he commercial blessings Of honorable compromise
Ind rational pesce. II would not deprive the native
Americans OF any equitable advantage but IL would
ain for EDgshmen that privilege to which they are
Justly entedthe privilege OF sharing in the traffic be-
North America and the English settlements In the
Pacific. No impartial man can expect that English
In I'D