The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-02-19
To the Hon. J. BUCHANAN, &c.
Mr. Buchanan 10 Mr. Packenham.
Department Of State, ;
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. 1916.

knowledge the receipt OF the note Of Mr.
Packenham, her intanic M jes'y's en-
voy extraordinary and minister pIenipo'
Tertiary, dated on the 10Th uItmo, by
which he again proposes reference oil
the Oregon question 10 arbitration. UNI
der his present proposition, the powers OF
the arbitrator would not, as in his last, be
limited in terms 10 the division Of the ter
ritory between the parties, but would ex-
tend to the question of their conflicting
titles. There is, however, condition an
nexed TO this offer which exposes 1t 10 the
same objection, in point of fact, if not IN
form, which was prominent presented IN
the answer of the undersigned 10 Mr.
Packenham's last proposal.
This condition is, "tha! if n-lther [par>
ty] should be found, in the opinion OF the
arbitrator, to possess complete title TO The
whole territory there should, in that case,
be assigned TO each that portion Of terrific
nv which would ia the opinlon of the ar
oiira'iog power, be called for by Jn:t ap.
probation OF The respective cIaims OF each"
If The government of the UnIed States
should consent to az arbitration upon such
condition, this might, and probably
would, be construed into an intimallon, II
not direct in ialioo, 10 the arbitrator 10
divide the territory between the parties.
Were i, possible Tor The President, under
any circumstances, to consent to refer the
subject to arbitration, the title, and the nl!e
lIone, detached from every other consld-
Grafton, is the only question which could
be submitted.
If no, confined to single point, so
strong is the natural disposition of arbnra-
tors 10 please both parties, that in almost
every instance, whether of nat onal or IN
dividual controversies, they make a com
promising award. We have a memorable
example of this in our last arbitration with
Greal Britain. Notwithstanding that the
arbitrator under the terms OF the submls,
sion, was clearly and explicitly confined
10 the decision of which was the line OF
hioh!ands described in the treaty OF peace
ofI789, vet instead of pursuing any range
{ If n;nhIands whatever, he advised mat the
! line should run along the bed OF a RIVER
and actually DIVIDED he territory IN a's'
pute between the parties Gy "'he h'ooI =,
of the deepest channel of the ST. Jun 9
The undersigned might content HIM
self, in answer 10 the present proposition,
with a reference 10 the observations con-
tanned in his last note to Mr. Packenbam
of the Sd ullimo. 10 that, it was plainly
animated not only that there ore "other
conclusive reasons for declining the prop
osition, independently Of the one which
had been prominently stated, but 1t was eX'
presslv asserted as the belief OF the Pres
ident, "lbat any attempt 10 refer me qnes-
ton TO ,hird power would on Y involve
it in new difficulties.
The undersigned will, however, pro-
coed to state single reason which, apart
from intrinsic difficulty of selecting suit
able arbitrator, as well as other considera-
lions that might be adduced, is conclusive
on the mind of the President against a
reference of this question to arbitrator, 10
any form which can be devised, no matter
what NAV be the character OF the arbItra-
tor whether sovereign, citizen o: subject
This reason is, that he does not believe
the territorial rights Of this nation TO be
proper subject for arbitration. 1t may be
trde, that, under peculiar circumstances u
the Interests at stake were comparatively
small, and if both parties stood on eqna
footing, there might be no nsuperable Oh
lection 10 such a course.
But what is the extent OF territory II
dispute on the present occasion 1t en-
braces nearly thirteen degrees Of latitude
f alon~ The northwest coast OF the Pdclfc
and stretches eastward to the summit o
the Rocky Moun,ains. Wllhln us limI
several powerful aud prosperous STATES 0
the Uuion may be embraced. IL lies con
tiruous, on this continent, TO the acAnow'
edgpd territory Of the United States, an'
is destined, at no distant day, to be PEG
. nled by our citizens. This territory pre-
SCENTS the avenue through which the CON
, merce Of our Western States can be pFohI
, ably conducted with Asia aud the wes'er
= coasts of this coniuen' and is por's, tn
only harbo;s belonging 10 the Quite
States to which our numerous Whaer
. and o,hpr vessels ia that region can reSor
. And vet, vast as are its dimensions, II con
tans not single safe and conmodIou
p haIbor from its southern extremity unit
i, we approach the 49,h parallel OF latNadt
o It is far from the intention OF The unde
n signed again to open the discussion of III
II conflicting claims Of the two powers to IN
o Oregon territory. II is Sufficient for HI
TO state The continued conviction OF u
d President, that The United Safes hold II
~ best tile in existence to the whole OF tn
a territory. UHder this conviction, he cal
ID not consent TO leopard for his country
/ the great Interests Involved. aud by an
II pcsslbJi,v, however remote, TO drpT',
,e the republic of all the good ha'boFs on Il